Surfer Beach Hotel

Hotels
7.8 (691 reviews)
711 Pacific Beach Drive , San Diego , us

Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Family rooms
Pets allowed
Lift / Elevator
Luggage storage
Fax/photocopying
Facilities for disabled guests
Non-smoking throughout
Outdoor furniture
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location near the beach
Exceptional service from staff
Cons:
Rooms could be better maintained
Building is dated

Categories

Cleanliness
7.76
The hotel was noted to be clean, but it is an older establishment which may have some age-related wear.
Service
9.23
Multiple reviews highlighted exceptional service, particularly from staff members like Rafa and Alex, who were helpful and welcoming.
Location
8.77
The hotel boasts a fantastic location near the beach, making it convenient for guests.
Room Quality
7.22
While generally comfortable, some guests pointed out that rooms are old and could use more hooks or shelves.
Amenities
7.25
Standard amenities provided; however, there are mentions of some dated features like elevators.
Value for Money
7.71
Room rates are considered reasonable for the location and cleanliness, albeit with some areas for improvement.
Food and Beverage
6.76
Breakfast facilities were not mentioned; however, the location’s proximity provides access to local options.
Overall Experience
7.73
Overall, guests had a positive experience with specific highlights on service and location.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-08 11:16

Property Description

Beachfront Comfort and Convenience

Heated Pool and Activity Desk
The Surfer Beach Hotel offers a heated outdoor pool and an activity desk with a knowledgeable staff to assist guests in planning their adventures.

Cozy Guestrooms with Ocean Views
Guests can relax in comfortable rooms equipped with flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, and most importantly, balconies that offer breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.

Dining at World Famous
Adjacent to the hotel, World Famous restaurant provides guests with a taste of contemporary regional cuisine in a beachfront setting, perfect for enjoying breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Book your stay at Surfer Beach Hotel for a perfect beachfront getaway with all the comforts and conveniences you need.

Important information:

Please note that only 1 parking space is permitted per room. Oversize vehicle spaces are not available.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SAN

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.

  • Parking

    Public parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 37.50 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 3 years old stay for US$20 per person per night when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 12 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$40 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

7.8
Based on 691 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.76
Service: 9.23
Location: 8.77
Room Quality: 7.22
Amenities: 7.25
Value for Money: 7.71
Food and Beverage: 6.76
Overall Experience: 7.73
D
DGuimaraes solo_traveller br
7
Local excelente, mas banheiro pessimo e limpeza a desejar.
Pros:

Cama muito confortável, com quatro travesseiros grades.

Cons:

Bom do banheiro pessimo, a ducha fica na altura do pescoço para lavar a cabeça tem que abaixar.
A limpeza pessima, tinha poeira nos móveis e sujeira no chão.
O ar uma loucura, é do tipo que fica no chão do quarto, parece um motor ligado à noite toda.

2026-02-14 via Nuitee
P
Parisa couple us
4
Don’t stay here!
Pros:

Location! Right next to the beach. That’s the only good thing about this place !

Cons:

Don’t stay here!!
The rooms were very small! Even the updated one that we eventually got was just not good enough. We had to go 3 times back/ forth!
To get a semi ok room !On 3rd day we were locked out, due to confusion of being in a new room. The front desk didn’t even apologized/ acknowledged their mistake! Poor customer service!Not enough toiletries, we had to ask. Also you need to ask and reserve for room to be cleaned. One staff was trying to help us out/ but, was worried if the changes in our room would cause him to get fired !!the other girl wasn’t really helpful/ poor attitude. Room had min furniture. Not even a chair / fold on to open your suitcase on.I would go to another place! NOT RECOMMENDING this place!

2026-02-14 via Nuitee
C
Clinton couple us
9
Pros:

Convenient location. Easy beach access. Parking is extra but I’d patient cat find street parking

2026-02-11 via Nuitee
M
mary couple us
10
2026-02-10 via Nuitee
R
Rebecca couple us
10
Very healing and can’t wait to get back!
Pros:

I lived being on the ocean and everything is within walking distance! Also, the staff is AMAZING!

Cons:

N/A

2026-02-09 via Nuitee
A
Alex solo_traveller au
10
2026-02-08 via Nuitee
J
jennk300 Family Walnut Creek, California
10
Great staff and location
Pros:

I have stayed several times at Surfer and have always had great service. Kudos to them for finally remodeling the rooms. A nice improvement. Great location too.

2026-01-30 via Tripadvisor
A
avar850 Couples
10
10/10
Pros:

I absolutely loved my stay at Surfer Beach Hotel! Alex at the front desk was super duper helpful and friendly! The beach view was stunning.

2026-01-28 via Tripadvisor
3
308michelineg Couples
10
Affordable, clean, great location.
Pros:

5 star location. Clean, spartan rooms that do the job at a responsible price point. Great customer service from the front desk staff with a special call out to Hunter. This was a great stay!

2026-01-27 via Tripadvisor
M
mssarahantonia Friends getaway San Diego, California
10
Outstanding Stay
Pros:

My stay at Surfer Beach Hotel was amazing from beginning to end. Check‑in was a breeze and incredibly easy. Adin was working the front desk when I arrived, and he was so, so nice — welcoming, friendly, and made everything feel effortless.
The location is absolutely perfect — right on the beach, close to great food, beautiful views, and everything you could possibly want within walking distance.
Since this was my first time in San Diego, I really appreciated all the help from Elijah. He was incredibly kind and took the time to tell me what was in the area, what to do, and where to go. He even helped me with my bags, which meant a lot. His warmth, knowledge, and kindness were a huge part of what made my stay so comfortable.
Both Adin and Elijah truly went above and beyond and made my experience memorable.
Thank you so much, Adin and Elijah — you both are AMAZING!
I would absolutely stay here again. Highly recommend. 🌊✨

2026-01-26 via Tripadvisor
A
ashlyp636 Family
10
Highly recommend
Pros:

Great stay at Surfer Beach Hotel!! Shoutout to Alex and Elijah for being so kind and going above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and welcoming. Also, the beachfront location is amazing . Would definitely be back!

2026-01-26 via Tripadvisor
D
demarisc2018 Friends getaway
10
Amazing location & great staff!
Pros:

We stayed here and had a great time. The property is right on the beach, which made the whole stay feel relaxed and special. Elijah was very helpful and made everything easy for us. We really enjoyed our time and would definitely stay here again.

2026-01-25 via Tripadvisor
D
David couple us
6
I would definitely stay there again, maybe select a different room that does face the parking lot.
Pros:

The location is great! Good value for the location.

Cons:

Noise from a nearby restaurant/bar, noise from people in the parking lot. There is a big gap around the door that allows sunlight, noise etc from outside.

2026-01-24 via Nuitee
I
ivyann11 Friends getaway Fargo, North Dakota
6
There are probably better choices available.
Pros:

There are some good things about Surfer Beach Hotel. The staff at the front desk were super friendly and helpful. The location is great and so is the coffee. The hotel, not so much.

We reserved a junior suite. The balcony was covered in sun flower seed shells and overlooked the hood system exhaust from the restaurant below. The room itself was okay, but there was a lot of room for improvement. The common areas, like the hallways and elevators were filthy.

We enjoyed our trip to San Diego, but would not choose this hotel again.

2026-01-23 via Tripadvisor
K
K4266LKgiog Solo travel
10
Hunter & Elijah took great care of me checking in. They made me feel safe with check in . Ask for them if your in doubt
Pros:

My rating for the hotel check inn was a 6/5 experience. Came across this hotel last minute and lucked out. Highly recommend if you’re in the area .

2026-01-22 via Tripadvisor
R
rodneywN8543SU Business
10
Excellent customer service.
Pros:

Hunter was amazing and very courteous. Was able to get me checked in and assisted with an issue we had with an online booking.

2026-01-22 via Tripadvisor
R
Road473775 Solo travel Toronto, Ontario
10
Great Hospitality and Location
Pros:

The Surfer Beach Hotel is the perfect pet-friendly hotel for me, an active solo traveler, who wrote her doctoral dissertation on travel narratives and critical tourism studies. Needless to say, I am a frequent traveler who has traveled around the world as an anthropologist.
When booking a hotel, decide what is most important to you. With an ocean view close enough to hear the roar of the surf, I slept like a baby. Although a frequent traveler, I once lived in North Park (San Diego) before moving to Canada. When I return, I come for the waves, high tides in the morning, sunsets in the evening. I want a locals experience of San Diego with the hospitality of a small hotel. When staying at the Surfer Beach Hotel, ask for Rafa or Adin or both; they are friendly and welcoming guides to the hotel and surrounding community. Lastly, Grace, my very active Chihuahua/Terrier mix, loved the attention.

2026-01-22 via Tripadvisor
M
Marie couple us
8
2026-01-22 via Nuitee
M
marvelousm73 Couples
10
Love this place!
Pros:

Love Surfer Beach Hotel! Ali has gone above and beyond to accommodate my needs. He is a true asset to their team! The room is great..it's clean and has amazing views! Thank you!

2026-01-20 via Tripadvisor
T
tylerbH1546XY Family
10
Friendly staff and great views
Pros:

Such a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean from my bed. I could hear the waves crashing while I slept. I also enjoyed swimming in the heated pool. If you want a terrific location with a great view and you especially appreciate that every staff member seems happy to make your stay enjoyable, then I suggest you stay at the Surfer. Enjoy excellent food at the World Famous downstairs. I forgot to mention the hotel was very clean.

2026-01-20 via Tripadvisor