The Don CeSar

Amazing place

Amazing hotel overall, great service and a terrific staff, room service was excellent as well as the room attendant and the cleanness of the room. Perfect amenities and location was second to none. The beach and pool area as well as the beach lounge chairs and umbrellas all great and hotel food was excellent as well.

The Don CeSar is a beautiful historic hotel in an outstanding beachfront location. The facilities, the room, and the overall atmosphere lived up to our expectations, and we enjoyed our stay.

Unfortunately, our first impression was negatively affected by the front desk service. When I returned to the reception to complete our check-in, the staff member assisting us was unexpectedly rude and dismissive. There was no greeting, no empathy, and the interaction felt rushed and unwelcoming.

What disappointed me most was not the wait itself, but the lack of courtesy. At a property of this caliber, guests expect to be treated with professionalism and warmth, especially during the first interaction upon arrival.

Fortunately, this seemed to be an isolated incident, as the remainder of our stay was pleasant and enjoyable. I hope management addresses this, because the service at the front desk should reflect the same high standard as the rest of the hotel.

I would gladly return, but I also hope future guests receive the level of hospitality that The Don CeSar is known for.

I loved everything about this place . Housekeeping service was wonderful came back to my room it felt very clean after a long day of being on the beach all day the housekeeper ebony was very detailed I got service the next day which was a different housekeeper service wasn't so good as when the housekeeper ebony did it room 434

We have wanted to stay at The Don CeSar to experience the stay at this grand old hotel. We stayed for two nights. The hotel has recovered from the 2024 hurricanes & the hotel's appearance has been restored to it's classic style. As expected, our room was nicely furnished, but the room was small, but comfortable. The bathroom was very small & did not accommodate the two of us very well. These issues are expected because of the age of the hotel & the limitations to working with the given space. The staff from the front desk to the servers at the restaurants & lobby bar were all very friendly & responsive to our needs. The grounded were beautiful & well maintained. Overall, an enjoyable e stay at this classic beach hotel.

I recently visited The Don with a group of friends for my bachelorette celebration and had an incredible experience. The recreation team went above and beyond to make our day feel special, delivering exceptional service from start to finish. Joseph, our server, was outstanding—attentive, friendly, and a big part of what made the experience so memorable.

The property offers a true luxury pool experience with upscale cabanas, comfortable loungers, premium amenities, and a beautiful atmosphere. The food and beverage program was excellent, with delicious cocktails and high-quality offerings throughout the day. Our group's favorite was The Don Frosé—a must-try if you're visiting.

If you're looking for a luxury day pass experience in San Diego for a girls' getaway, bachelorette party, pool day, or special occasion, The Don is an excellent choice. We would absolutely return.

Localização e estrutura

Beautiful property. The staff members were very friendly and accommodating. The spa services were top notch.

Just not what was expected from a luxury class resort category for the high price we paid. Should be classified as a hotel not a resort. Hotel is definitely showing its age and in need of some TLC in some areas. Beach is beautiful though, but you can stay at much cheaper hotel on the same beach for the same experience.

The Tennessee Crew had another amazing trip. We spent hours and hours at the Pool, Katie is a Rockstar.
She is absolutely THE Best.
She makes our trips to THE DON special each summer.
We need drinks....She takes care of us.
We need Ice for the Buckets....she has us covered. We need something to eat, Katie has us covered.

This was, without question, the worst hotel experience I’ve ever had especially for a “luxury” hotel.

We paid over $600 per night before fees and expected the level of service associated with a luxury resort. Instead, the experience felt closer to a budget motel than a high-end destination.

The most disappointing part was the complete lack of empathy from staff. I was pregnant and traveling with my 2-year-old daughter. After spending time at the pool waiting for our room to be ready, she began screaming and crying because her skin was burning and irritated from what appeared to be an extremely heavily chlorinated pool. Our room was still not ready despite the stated 4:00 PM check-in time, and when we explained the situation and simply asked if there was any way to access a room so our toddler could rinse off and lie down, we were told to wait in the lobby in our wet swimsuits until 6:00 PM. No accommodation was offered, no concern was shown, and there was no attempt to help a distressed child or a pregnant guest. She cried herself to sleep in my arms in the cold lobby.

To make matters worse, we were celebrating our babymoon and had noted this in advance. There was absolutely no acknowledgment of it whatsoever.

The pool area itself was disappointing. Several of the communal pool toys appeared old, dirty, and poorly maintained. Some looked unsanitary and borderline unsafe for babies and young children.

Service throughout the resort was consistently poor. Beach service was nearly impossible to get. At the pool, there appeared to be only one server responsible for the entire area, leading to waits of 30 minutes or longer just to place an order. Staff seemed overwhelmed and understaffed at every turn.

The room was also underwhelming. It was not particularly clean, the bathroom ventilation fan did not work, and there were no robes in the room—something that is a basic expectation at this price point and category of hotel.

The food was equally disappointing. For a resort charging luxury prices, the dining experience was remarkably average and failed to justify the cost.

What frustrates me most is that luxury hospitality is not about marble lobbies or historic buildings—it’s about service. When a pregnant mother and a crying toddler need help, great hotels find a way to help. The Don CeSar showed no flexibility, compassion, or urgency whatsoever.

Beautiful location but far from everything (coffee shops, shopping, restaurants) and the service, cleanliness, amenities, and overall guest experience were nowhere near worth the price. We left feeling disappointed, frustrated, and shocked by how poorly we were treated.

We will never return and would not recommend this property to families expecting the level of care and service that a luxury hotel should provide.

Localização muito boa

My hubby and I thoroughly enjoyed our 5 day stay at the Don. They have an amazing staff, including Andrea, Katie, Jackie and Mike at the pool area to Pat and all the other Lobby bar staff. Ana at the check in desk was very accommodating and even was able to allow us to check in early upon arrival! We're already planning our return trip in October.

Staff was amazing! Really enjoyed my stay!