This post contains affiliate links from some of my advertising partners. I may receive a small commission on purchases, at no additional cost to you. While you don’t have to use these links, I appreciate your support of my blog when you do. You can read my advertising disclosure here.
Located at the heart of downtown San Diego, The Guild Hotel, San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel showcases the unique architectural features of its 1924 structure while offering modern amenities and a sophisticated style. During a recent stay, I benefitted from the hotel’s prime location within walking distance of the bayfront, Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy, and enjoyed a thoughtfully designed and wheelchair accessible hotel room.
The hotel features 162 beautifully appointed guest rooms and amenities that include a lobby bar, European inspired courtyard/restaurant, outdoor garden area, and meeting and event space. The property’s exceptional location and high degree of guest room accessibility make it one of the top wheelchair accessible hotels in San Diego, and one that I will look forward to enjoying on future trips to Southern California.
Room Rates & Reservations
The cost of a hotel room at the The Guild Hotel varies considerably, with typical room rates ranging from approximately $200 to more than $600 per night over the next year, inclusive of taxes. The hotel is a popular event and wedding venue and rates naturally increase substantially during periods of high occupancy — sometimes exceeding $1,000 per night. Travelers are encouraged to book early to take advantage of the lowest rates at this wheelchair accessible hotel.
Room reservations for wheelchair accessible hotel rooms can be made via The Guild Hotel by Marriott website.
Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at The Guild Hotel San Diego
My “City View Cozy King” was a standard room type, but it felt anything but standard! Spacious despite the “cozy” moniker, and with lovely design touches, the first-floor guest room (number 112) featured a large, nearly floor-to-ceiling arched window that overlooked the bustling West Broadway street.
The large and comfortable bed offered a tremendous sleep experience. It was lowered and accessible on all sides from my power wheelchair. The bed height was 21 inches measured from the floor to the top of the mattress, with 6.5 inches of clearance underneath (on the left and right sides only). Removing the platform and placing the mattress directly on the floor would lower the height to roughly 13.5 inches.
Lighting controls (with dimming), power outlets and USB ports were found directly alongside the bed and above the nightstand. This made charging my power wheelchair convenient!
On the wall opposite the bed was a wall-mounted television, desk, full-length mirror and armoire. The desk was 29.75 inches high, with 27.5 inches of clearance below.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom with Roll-in Shower at The Guild Hotel San Diego
The beautifully appointed bathroom is really where this hotel stood out, with all of the accessibility features that I needed to feel safe and secure.
The bathroom featured a roll under sink with an easy-to-operate faucet. The sink measured 33.5 inches high, with 29.5 inches of clearance below.
An adjacent toilet, measuring 17.5 inches from floor to seat, was surrounded by grab bars that measured 34 inches tall. There was space to park my wheelchair directly alongside the toilet for a safe lateral transfer, however it was blocked by a small shelving unit for bath towels, tissues and other amenities. Relocating the shelf was easy enough, though the hotel’s staff could have assisted upon request.
The roll-in shower was superb and, although it wasn’t my preferred layout (this is the “alternate” roll-in shower type per the ADA Design Standards), it had all of the expected accessibility features. A handheld shower head and water controls were within reach of the wall-mounted seat, and grab bars were placed on the back and side walls at a height of 35 inches.
The shower seat was 17.25 inches high, and was an L-shaped design. The seat was 31.5 inches wide, by 13.5 inches and 20.5 inches deep. The hotel’s luxurious Le Labo Santal 33 soap, shampoo and conditioner was placed on a nearby shelf, with large bottles that were easy to handle. These expensive Le Labo products land on my list of 10 Luxury Hotel Toiletries You’ll Want To Take Home — though beware, The Guild Hotel will charge $69 per bottle if you do!
Dining at The Guild Hotel San Diego
The hotel’s small size leaves the property with just one restaurant, The Guild Café, located on the first floor with a smart lobby lounge and a stunning outdoor courtyard.
I enjoyed a fantastic breakfast of steak and eggs in The Guild Café before starting my day and, upon returning to the hotel, observed many guests enjoying wine, cocktails and craft beers there in the evening.
Location & Transportation
The Guild Hotel is located at 500 West Broadway, approximately two blocks from the Santa Fe Train Depot, where the city’s Blue and Green Line trolleys stops, as well as Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and the local COASTER Commuter Rail. Numerous city bus lines are within a block or two, making this the best place to access public transportation in San Diego.
Within walking distance of The Guild Hotel, guests will find the incredible USS Midway Aircraft Carrier and Museum, the city’s Gaslamp Quarter Historic District, the children’s museum and so much more.
Final Thoughts
For The Guild Hotel, it is clear that accessibility was thoroughly considered at every step of the historic’s building’s renovation and conversion. During a recent trip to San Diego, I stayed in several hotels to compare accessibility, and this property is the one that stood out. That high level of access set me up for a wonderful trip, and gave me the confidence that comes with knowing you have an accessible place to rest and relax after a long day of exploration. If you have the opportunity to include this hotel in your travel plans, you are sure to have a marvelous stay!
