Marriott Vacation Club San Diego

[SUMMERBREEZE]

Has anyone stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club San Diego. Any info will be much appreciated. Will I need to rent a car? Is this a safe area to walk around? Thanks

 

[ljmiii]

Has anyone stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club San Diego. Any info will be much appreciated. Will I need to rent a car? Is this a safe area to walk around? Thanks

Yes, it was wonderful. Great villas, service and location on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter. We just walked/Uber'd where we wanted to go, the neighborhood around the Club formerly known as Pulse was quite safe. I have read that the parking garage is quite annoying...but we didn't have to deal with it.

My one suggestion would be to ignore the tourist-y Mexican restaurants of the Gaslamp and head up to Cocina de Barrio, a Oaxacan restaurant with staggeringly delicious food and drink.

 

[Shiba]

Yes, we’ve stayed there. We drive into town, but primarily keep our car parked if staying in the Gaslamp Area. We take the free ride now named Circuit when we are at MVC San Diego. They have an app and you can request a ride that takes you all around Gaslamp, Seaport Village, USS Midway and to Petco Park for free. The bummer part is the last ride is 9pm weekday or 10 pm weekend.

Parking is expensive at MVC at least $45/night last time we went, but it’s like that around Gaslamp.

I’ve walked to MVC San Diego before from Petco Park, but probably wouldn’t do it again. MVC is a little removed from the rest of Gaslamp and the last couple of blocks can be desolate late at night.

Go to the Donut Bar if you’re into donuts. Not your typical donuts and there is usually a line.

 

[davidvel]

People in San Diego would not consider the Pulse to be in the Gaslamp, though it is only about a mile to Petco. You will walk through unhoused camps on your way to the gaslamp depending on your specific route; I wouldn't want to late at night alone. The area around the hotel is mostly businesses, with residential to the north.

 

[LeslieDet]

Has anyone stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club San Diego. Any info will be much appreciated. Will I need to rent a car? Is this a safe area to walk around? Thanks

The location downtown San Diego is a business centered area, so lots of activity during the day with lawyers, banks, etc., but I would not walk to or from the property (the building complex is a city block, framed by A and B Street, and then 7th and 8th) when dark. It is much better to use the trolley or ride share, and I believe (but am not sure since I no longer work downtown) that there may be some sort of free transportation within the downtown area that shuttles folks around.

If you take a car, be aware that the parking garage is shared among the office buildings that occupy that city block, it is expensive, and it is a tight spiral maybe 10 floors up to get to the first level of parking. I just don't recall, but it can be confusing because it provides access to all of the buildings on that block, including the San Diego Symphony and an appellate court.

 

[mjm1]

We enjoyed staying at the resort with easy access to the Gaslamp district and Balboa Park, including the zoo. As others have mentioned it is an urban setting. We didn’t have issues walking around, but agree it is best during daylight. If parking fees are a concern you can park at the Park It On Market parking structure, which is at 6th and Market. It’s about a half mile walk into the Gaslamp District. I believe it’s about half the cost.

 

[ljmiii]

People in San Diego would not consider the Pulse to be in the Gaslamp, though it is only about a mile to Petco. You will walk through unhoused camps on your way to the gaslamp depending on your specific route; I wouldn't want to late at night alone. The area around the hotel is mostly businesses, with residential to the north.

I agree that the SD Pulse is (as I wrote) on the edge of the Gaslamp Quarter...but we had no issues walking southwest to its heart. No idea about walking north or east from the Pulse though.

 

[Volcom32001]

A couple years ago my family almost got car jacked while unloading our luggage in front of the hotel. Long story short, I went up to check-in while my wife and 2year old son, at the time, stayed in the car. When I came down to get my luggage and family(check-in is upstairs), my wife said a guy walked by with a dog and looked a little sketchy. I told her there was nothing to worry about. We've been to SD about 30+times without any incidents. While we took our son out of the car and unloading the luggage from the trunk, I heard my wife scream and I saw someone from the corner of my eye running to the drivers side door. He got the door open but was unable to shut it due to me sticking my arm in the door preventing him from closing it. I ripped the door open and told him to get out. He refused so I had to take action into my own hands. He ended up jumping over the center console and running out of the passenger door. Luckily he was only trying to take the car. While all this was taking place, my wife took our son and started to scream and look for help, but no one was around. This was at 10am. It was a good eye opener to always keep your head on a swivel. I'm 6'6" and around 220lbs so I thought no one is stupid enough to try and do anything but I was definitely wrong. Since then we haven't been back to that hotel but we still visit SD from time to time. My wife still has PTSD from the incident. SD is like any other downtown with quite a few transients roaming around.

 

[10spro]

I've been following because I have a conference in SD this summer. I've heard similar concerns about the parking garage and surrounding neighborhood, especially after business hours. As a single woman, I think I'm going to use my Bonvoy points and stay at the Marriott Marquis.

 

[davidvel]

I've been following because I have a conference in SD this summer. I've heard similar concerns about the parking garage and surrounding neighborhood, especially after business hours. As a single woman, I think I'm going to use my Bonvoy points and stay at the Marriott Marquis.

Great idea. Being on the water in summer is much better.

 

[Shiba]

Volcom, I’m sorry that happened to you and your family. For those who don’t know there is valet in front of the hotel and you have to take an elevator to registration.

The parking garage is on a side entrance and you have to go up a tight spiral entrance. Trucks are not recommended. Once parked you have to take another elevator to registration. If you’re in the garage there is no street traffic.

We like the space MVC offers our family rather than traditional hotel and no extra resort fees.

 

[SUMMERBREEZE]

Thank you all so much! This is all such great information and much appreciated. And Volcom, so sorry that happened. What a scary incident to have to experience. Sounds like I wouldn't need to rent a car, so I would be using Uber to get around. I know we would have walked backed from a baseball game, so really appreciate the warnings and would not walk back now. Will take all this and any other info into consideration and make our decision on where to stay. Thank you!

 

[claraj]

I last visited San Diego in Fall 2022 and for some of these concerns, I decided to stay in Mission Bay instead of Gaslamp. I hung out in the Gaslamp area one or two nights and it didn't seem that bad. I think things have gotten worse though.

 

[ljmiii]

I last visited San Diego in Fall 2022 and for some of these concerns, I decided to stay in Mission Bay instead of Gaslamp. I hung out in the Gaslamp area one or two nights and it didn't seem that bad. I think things have gotten worse though.

The neighborhood around the SD Pulse wasn’t that bad this May. Obviously, @Volcom32001 had a horrible experience a few years ago.