Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina

Hotels
Best Western Plus
8.8 (1900 reviews)
2051 Shelter Island Drive , San Diego , us

Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Friendly staff
Beautiful views
Cons:
Dirty towels
Overcharging
Small rooms

Categories

Cleanliness
8.55
Some reviews mentioned dirty towels and issues with cleanliness.
Service
9.55
Multiple reviews highlighted friendly and helpful staff.
Location
9.55
Consistently praised location alongside the marina and beautiful views.
Room Quality
8.05
Reports of small rooms and issues with room amenities.
Amenities
8.55
Amenities were noted as good but lacked certain features like coffee makers.
Value for Money
8.05
Concerns about overcharging and unexpected parking fees.
Food and Beverage
9.05
Restaurant received praise for good meal choices.
Overall Experience
9.05
Overall good stay despite some issues.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-06 09:30

Property Description

Luxurious Waterfront Escape

Private Marina & Spectacular Views
Indulge in the beauty of Shelter Island with our private marina and breathtaking views of San Diego Bay.

Delicious Dining & Relaxing Amenities
Savor fresh seafood and juicy steaks at The Blue Wave Bar & Grill while enjoying outdoor dining with stunning bay views. Unwind in our bay-side pools, fitness center, hot tub, or by the outdoor fireplace after a day of exploration.

Convenient Location & Nearby Attractions
Located just 13 minutes from San Diego International Airport, our hotel is a short drive from the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter and the sandy shores of Ocean Beach.

Book now for an unforgettable waterfront experience at Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina.

Important information:

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.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Location

Property Accessibility

Public Area
  • Hill Located: No
  • Ramp: No
  • Entrance Type:
  • Entrance Door Width: 82
  • Entrance Leveled: No
  • Pet Friendly: No
Reception And Restaurant
  • Reception Hearing Accessible: No
  • Reception Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
  • Restaurant Wheelchair Accessible: No
Elevator
  • Elevator Audio Signals: No
  • Elevator Braille Numbers: No
  • Elevator Contrasting Buttons: No
  • Elevator Visual Signs: No
  • Lifts Accessible: No
Show all accessibility features

Guest Reviews

8.8
Based on 1900 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.55
Service: 9.55
Location: 9.55
Room Quality: 8.05
Amenities: 8.55
Value for Money: 8.05
Food and Beverage: 9.05
Overall Experience: 9.05
S
Sightseer42287103615 Family
4
Outdated dirty rooms - good location, but know what you are paying for
Pros:

We frequently visit San Diego to spend time with family, and Best Western Plus Island Palms is in an ideal location because of the nearby activities and fishing pier.

Our first stay a few months ago was acceptable, despite the outdated rooms. The staff was friendly, especially the restaurant, so we decided to stay here again. Unfortunately, this visit was much less enjoyable due to the condition of our room.

The room was located on the first floor of the Casa Del Mar building with a parking lot directly outside. We did not mind the parking lot, but the overall cleanliness was disappointing. The patio was littered with, chairs dusty and stained, the sink areas were not properly cleaned, and the room appeared to have been only minimally vacuumed. We bought our own disenfecting wipes and tried to wipe everything down. Most concerning, we found a pill left under the table. As parents of a special-needs child who still puts objects in his mouth, this was a serious safety concern.

The walls also had red and brown splatters on them, which further suggested that the room had not been thoroughly cleaned. Additionally, while we had the patio door open to let in the bay breeze, a stranger, possibly unhoused, walked onto our patio. The experience was unexpected and unsettling.

We also attempted to park near our room for wheelchair accessibility and to keep our vehicle within view. However, the area was closed because of an event scheduled for the following day. It was frustrating that parking was restricted an entire day in advance. After parking in a nearby area with signage indicating restrictions for the following day, a member of the parking/security staff yelled at us not to park there, despite the posted notice suggesting parking was still permitted that day.

Fortunately, we spent much of our time with family and away from the hotel.

My overall impression is that some hotels in prime waterfront locations rely on their convenience and views rather than maintaining clean, updated accommodations. While the location is excellent and the staff friendly, the cleanliness issues and safety concerns from this stay make it difficult to recommend this property to travelers looking for a comfortable and relaxing hotel experience. We would have rated this one star however the staff was friendly so we added another one.

2026-08-07 via Tripadvisor
M
maryline family_with_children fr
9
Pros:

Bel hôtel très bien situé, dans un quartier plein de charme.Grande chambre,bien équipée (micro onde,frigo). La terrasse est un plus.Literie confortable.
Belle piscine,proposition de bouées gonflables et jeux pour piscine.

Cons:

Dommage que le "service" des serviettes pour la piscine ne suive pas. Il faut passer les chercher à l'accueil systématiquement . Pareil pour les serviettes sales qui s'accumulent hors des bacs sans que personne ne les ramasse.
Chambre très mal insonorisée, on entend tout ce qui se passe dehors.
Le service de ménage qui tape à votre porte à 9 h pour savoir si vous avez besoin de quelque chose. Comme nous étions encore en chambre( ma fille dormait), je répondais non, mais du coup il ne repasse pas après pour faire le ménage en chambre ( vider les poubelles, remettre des verres,etc)

2026-08-07 via Nuitee
E
Enrique couple us
10
Amazing stay.
Pros:

Property was located in a great location. Pools were nice and also had a great view. Staff was very friendly. They also have tenis/pickleball court available. The staff was kind enough to let us borrow some paddles and pickleball. Definitely did not feel like a Best Western.

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
P
patrick couple us
10
Always sad to leave
Pros:

We stay at this property at least a dozen or more night a year for past 5 years! It is the most special hotel in San Diego! We are locals and could stay with family instead but choose The Palms!!

Cons:

Everything and everybody who works there!

2026-08-06 via Nuitee
H
Hein family_with_children nl
10
Geweldig!
Pros:

Gewoon top! En het personeel is een 10+🤗

Cons:

-

2026-08-05 via Nuitee
F
Fran family_with_children be
10
Superplaats om te verblijven
Pros:

De locatie is super! Ook ruime mooie kamers en een prachtig zwembad! Heel lekker eten in restaurant!

Cons:

/

2026-08-05 via Nuitee
M
Michelle couple us
10
Relaxing
Pros:

Location

2026-08-04 via Nuitee
V
Vera family_with_children us
10
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
N
Nicholas couple us
9
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
J
Joseph solo_traveller us
10
2026-08-03 via Nuitee
G
Gignac solo_traveller us
7
San diego
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Don't tell the housekeeping to come back after you have left the room, they won't.
Also do not leave or forget anything by the pool it will disappear

2026-08-02 via Nuitee
Y
Yvan family_with_children ch
8
Pros:

on a été surclassé dans une grande chambre. La piscine est proche et le restaurant est bon.

Cons:

une odeur d'humidité avec la moquette

2026-08-02 via Nuitee
P
Paul solo_traveller us
6
2026-08-02 via Nuitee
B
Barry solo_traveller us
7
Pros:

Location

Cons:

Lack of Parking

2026-07-22 via Nuitee
C
Charles solo_traveller us
10
2026-07-22 via Nuitee
T
TOKAHI family_with_children pf
3
2026-07-22 via Nuitee
P
Perry solo_traveller us
10
2026-07-21 via Nuitee
J
Jorge couple mx
9
Muy confortante
2026-07-18 via Nuitee
K
Kathie couple us
8
Cons:

Beds could be updated

2026-07-17 via Nuitee
R
Ruth couple us
10
One of the best vacations ever!
Pros:

Beautiful view of the Marina, water and boats!

Cons:

Nothing

2026-07-17 via Nuitee