If you remember from our Instagram a few months ago, my husband, Dusty, and I had the amazing opportunity to visit Southern California in the dead of winter. We spent some time in San Diego for a few days before whisking away to Anaheim and Disneyland.
We had been to San Diego before, and honestly, we weren’t all that impressed, but looking back on it now, we barely made a pit stop into the city at the end of a very long 10-day California tour baseball trip. We were younger and travelled very differently than we do now as well. So when we heard that we were getting sent out to San Diego for my company’s annual holiday party, we were excited for the warm air and sunshine that we need in the midst of the January cold; however, we really did not know what we were going to do or where we were going to go.
Our trip prior we stayed in the heart of the Gaslamp District, just blocks from AT&T Park; however, somehow just those few blocks into the city center, and boy, did we miss a lot! That’s why I was so thankful that we got to experience the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego and all that it has to offer!
I recently stayed at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego during a business trip and was able to enjoy the location's amenities during my stay, including dining, office amenities, and the hotel gym. While I did not partnered with Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego on this post, I wanted to be clear that my opinions and thoughts on my experience are my own.
First of all, it is massive. It comprises of two huge towers and over 1,600 rooms. The entrance is grand and feels so luxurious. The rooms are newly renovated as well, and our room specifically had an amazing view of the bay. Guestrooms include signature Hyatt Grand Beds, blackout drapes, 46” HD flat-screen TVs, spacious work desks with ergonomic chairs, nightstands, and stylish seating areas. Rooms also have coffee makers, in-room safes, and individually controlled heat and air conditioning. En-suite bathrooms are spacious and stylish with deluxe June Jacobs bathroom amenities, hairdryers, and magnified makeup mirrors.
I do like the location of the Grand Hyatt since it’s right on the water. Admittedly it’s a really touristy area, but there are great restaurants in the area and I do love the views from there. Since it was in the heart of everything, each adventure we went on was a short walk to and a really cheap Uber ride, if we chose to do so. Near the Seaport Village, USS Midway, and just blocks from the Gaslamp District and the ferry ride to Coronado Island, it truly was an ideal spot to stay.
Beyond the location, the hotel itself had wonderful amenities. Guests at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego have seven restaurant choices, plus in-room dining. From the fine dining experience at Sally’s Fish House & Bar to the popular MARKET | ONE 24-hour casual takeout and market, you’ll find a little bit of everything. We personally grabbed some food to-go at Brew 30 California Taps one afternoon. We ordered it at the bar, and snagged it in to-go containers to share as we showered for one of our evening events. Our gourmet burger was delicious––so much that I wish I didn’t have to share with Dusty!
We also was able to spend some time on the rooftop pool deck. There are two rooftop decks with sparkling pools, perfect for soaking up the sun. Both pools feature whirlpools and private poolside cabanas, as well as panoramic vistas of San Diego Bay.
The Family Pool is located on the 4th floor and is open to all ages. It is the larger of the two pools with cool features like the Pool Bar & Grill, and a children’s play area featuring a giant Connect Four game, foosball, Ping-Pong, and Cornhole. This area also has fire pits where you can bring your own marshmallows to roast, or you can purchase a s’mores kit from the hotel.
The Adult Pool is located on the 3rd floor and is only available to adults 21 and over. It’s the smaller of the two pools and has a pool bar, which is open seasonally. The Pool Bar & Grill can deliver food to this pool as well.
Additionally, we really enjoyed complimentary access to the StayFit Fitness Center. The incredible views of San Diego Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows while working out on state-of-the-art cardio equipment was one of my favorite downtime moments of the whole stay. This fitness center includes more than 30 elliptical, treadmill, and stationary bike machines. There are also strength training exercise machines and free weights. Built-in televisions, headphones, filtered water, and towels are provided, and it was truly everything you need for a full workout.
Other things that we did not get to experience either due to time or seasonal availability was the pool bar & grill, several of the on-site restaurants, Top of the Hyatt cocktail lounge, the spa, tennis courts, volleyball court, basketball court, kids’ club, rooftop cinema club, and more.
As you can see, this is truly one of the best destinations downtown San Diego!
