Balboa Park Hotel offers 50 accommodations with hair dryers. This San Diego hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access, with a speed of 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices). Refrigerators and coffee/tea makers are provided. Housekeeping is provided daily.
Our customers tell us they can't get enough of the helpful staff at Balboa Park Hotel. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from San Diego Civic Theatre.
Free WiFi (speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices))
Guests have great things to say about the helpful staff and the clean accommodations
Just a 2-minute drive from Port of San Diego and a few minutes from Petco Park
Balboa Park Hotel offers its guests express check-out. The front desk is open around the clock.
This San Diego hotel is smoke free.
Languages
English, Spanish
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
In-room WiFi speed: 100+ Mbps (good for 1–2 people or up to 6 devices)
Parking and transport
No on-site parking available
Family friendly
In-room refrigerator
Conveniences
Limited-hour front desk
Guest services
Housekeeping (daily)
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
6 steps to reach entrance
Front entrance ramp
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
More
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Towels provided
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Refrigerator
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: 2:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 75
Express check-out available
Special check-in instructions
The front desk is open daily from 12:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions and smart lock details; front desk staffed during limited hours
Prior to arrival, you must complete online registration via a secure link
You will be asked to provide the property with a copy of your government-issued photo ID after booking
The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification, and other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours), smart lock
Pets
No pets allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome.
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cribs (infant beds) are not available.
Payment types at the property
Important information
Fees
Guests will be asked to pay the following charges at the property:
Deposit: USD 100 per accommodation, per stay
We've listed all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.
Late check-out fee: USD 75 (subject to availability)
This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
The front desk at this property is open daily from 12:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Prior to arrival, guests must complete online registration with the property via a secure link. Guests will be asked to provide the property with a copy of their government-issued photo ID before arrival.
Guests planning to arrive outside of normal check-in hours will receive an email with special check-in information and smart lock details. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property. The credit card used when booking the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo ID. Other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
We should mention
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
Property is also known as
Hotel Occidental
Balboa Park Hotel Hotel
Balboa Park Hotel San Diego
Balboa Park Hotel Hotel San Diego
Hotel Occidental Balboa Park Downtown
Balboa Park Hotel Reviews
Reviews
7.8
Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 190 out of 415 reviews
10 - Excellent
190
Rating 8 - Good. 88 out of 415 reviews
8 - Good
88
Rating 6 - Okay. 64 out of 415 reviews
6 - Okay
64
Rating 4 - Poor. 32 out of 415 reviews
4 - Poor
32
Rating 2 - Terrible. 41 out of 415 reviews
2 - Terrible
41
8.2/10
Cleanliness
8.4/10
Staff & service
7.2/10
Amenities
8.0/10
Property conditions & facilities
7.8/10
Eco-friendliness
Reviews
10/10 Excellent
Iris Y
25 Apr 2025
Iris Y
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
6/10 Okay
Luis
Travelled with partner
25 Apr 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The room is decent and clean, if tiny. Only saw staff once, the walls are paper thin, you can hear everything the other guests are doing or saying, and even the people outside. It has no dedicated parking and the area is riddled with clearly drugged homeless people.
This place is great! It was what we needed to be be close to sites and have cycling access to San Diego at large. Affordable, super clean, and kind people.
Nicholas
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
4/10 Poor
Allan
Travelled with partner
20 Apr 2025
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Had no table, chair or any place to hang up clothes
There is literally no service. Check in was online, I never spoke to anyone. And upon arrival there was NO staff in the building. I could not contact anyone. The number listed for the hotel was a personal cell that “was not accepting calls” at the time. It sounds ridiculous, but I couldn’t find my room and there was no one I could reach out to ask for help. I went through the building several times and never found it. And again, there was NO staff on site to assist. I ended up giving up on finding the room, leaving and getting a room where I usually stay instead.
Overall it was a pretty good stay. The room and bathroom were clean. Not too many people on staff but the ones that were on are pretty helpful. The price is reasonable.
The only con(s) for me is that there is no parking lot. Only street parking and most of it, you have to pay for. There are some free spots but they get taken quick or can be a bit of a walk to get to. And the neighborhood doesn't feel the safest. I feel it's good for a night, maybe 2 but not for anything longer and if you're on a budget. It was decent and there was more good than bad. Enough to appreciate
There was a smell in the room and it would not go away with anything. The lady came to check it out but the smell did not go away.
Maria Alondra
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
8/10 Good
Nicole
11 Apr 2025
Nicole
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
8/10 Good
David, Marion
Business traveller
10 Apr 2025
Parking in a nearby lot costs $40 per day. CVS, a Mexican food joint, and a coffee shop are within walking distance. Gaslamp area is also within walking distance.
Disorganized Check-In Process Ruined My First Night
I arrived at the hotel past 11 PM, only to find that I had not received any check-in instructions for the virtual check-in process. I tried contacting the after-hours support line—no one answered. With no way to access the property, I had to rely on Expedia's chat support, which turned out to be equally unhelpful. I was passed between multiple agents for over an hour, standing outside the hotel late at night, with no resolution.
The only "solution" offered was to book a different, significantly more expensive place for the night. Thankfully, I had rented a car and was able to find somewhere else to stay—parking in that area at night is a nightmare.
The next day, I came back and was finally able to check in for the rest of my stay. I had to provide proof of my attempts to contact support (call logs, etc.) just to get the first night refunded—something that was initially denied.
The rest of the stay was fine, but the first night’s ordeal was completely avoidable and extremely stressful. Having a real support person available after hours would have made a huge difference. Very disappointed in how poorly this was handled.