Name: Kona Kai San Diego
Address: 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, 92106, US

6/10

Pleasant

06 Aug 2026

Ricky K

This resorts is old. Complicated to call the front counter.

Bathroom is old.

It needs restoration

8/10

Excellent

03 Aug 2026

Mrs Daksha

The staff were great, from reception team, the bar staff and the restaurant staff.
The hotel room was nice and spacious. Very clean. We thought this hotel was good.
The only downside was that, that there was mentioned that there was a private beach. Yes there was a private sand area but no sea to swim in. One of the reason we chose this hotel was for the beach. So we were very disappointed when we got there.

6/10

Pleasant

29 Jul 2026

Melissa

The facilities are nice and very clean. Marina views beautiful and nice big balconies.

They work on a skeleton staff so for the cost of the hotel you don’t get much in terms of services. We ordered the champagne to be in our room at arrival and it wasn’t :( so we went to the pool bar and when we came back to the room the champagne was there but it wasn’t even in an ice bucket and there were 2 glasses when our res was for 3 adults in our room

One of us arrived 30 minutes before check in and the front desk would not allow her to go to the pool bar to wait for us! At check in I felt like we were given more a set of rules than like a valued and welcomed guest. I had told the hotel that we were there to celebrate birthdays but more Importantly that we were there with friend whose husband had died a few weeks prior- I only mentioned this because the hotel asked what the reason for our stay was.
I had planned to stay again in October when we return for my friends husbands celebration of life at the Portuguese hall but this hotel was just not worth the cost

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2026

Lindsey

We had a great stay at Kona Kai. The front desk staff is very helpful and friendly. We had massages at SpaTerre, which were fabulous. We’d stay here again.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Edward

Great stay!

4/10

Poor

22 Jul 2026

Danielle

Unfortunately, our stay was extremely disappointing due to multiple issues throughout the property.

There were several large events taking place during our stay, and the lawn and common areas consistently smelled like a bar or fraternity house due to the amount of alcohol being consumed. Because of this, we did not feel comfortable using many of the hotel amenities, including the pool.

At night, wedding guests continued partying in their rooms well into the early morning hours. The hotel felt more like a college dorm or apartment complex than a resort, with people partying at all hours. Security was unable to get the situation under control, and eventually the police were called. The following day, we were horrified to see that a member of one of the wedding parties was taken away by ambulance under what appeared to be very serious circumstances.

We ultimately asked to move rooms. Unfortunately, we were moved from our suite into a smaller standard room. The air conditioning in our original suite also did not work properly, and we slept terribly the first night.

The front desk appeared significantly understaffed. Nearly every time we needed assistance, there was a line and a considerable wait.

The standard room we were moved to on the marina side was also disappointing. It felt dated and run down, and the bathroom felt grungy and not particularly clean.

We stayed for five nights and paid approximately $3,000, and the experience was absolutely not worth what we paid.

4/10

Poor

13 Jul 2026

lidia

The rooms were full of dust , smelled the urine and the bedding / pillows smelled . I had to put towels on the beds . my son and husband didn' t even sleep in the room they went and slept on our boat .

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

11 Jul 2026

cynthia

I loved the location, the private beach, the pool and spa and access to marina frontage, lobby courtyard was simply beautiful! The room however was in need of maintenance. The curtains were hanging off the hooks on arrival. The wall paper was heavily stained from previous water damage and peeling off the wall. The counters were not very clean (dusty). In room coffee bar had only a very minimal coffee mates and stevia (2). So for the $$$ price I paid, I def expected more from the room I was given. Still would stay again if in a room that was maintained and ready for occupants.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

James

I was very impressed. Love the place and the surrounding I will be back. Thank you.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2026

LEONARDO

We loved the location of our room. Close enough to the pool and “beach” but also far enough to not hear all the noises. The staff is super friendly. The only thing I would say about our stay is the high daily parking rate. I’m sure it’s the going rate but paying $400 for our 4 night stay was a little steep. Just our opinion.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2026

Derek

Delightful!

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

05 Jul 2026

Erin

We booked a staycation here for my husband's birthday and had a wonderful overall experience. The property is beautiful, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, our room was spotless, and the bed was one of the most comfortable we've ever slept in.

The only disappointment was the room category. We paid extra for a Marina View Junior Suite, but our first-floor room (172) overlooked the gate to the adults-only pool, a reserved cabana, and a chain with a reservation sign. The marina was technically there but only barely visible beyond all of those obstructions. We joked that we had more of a \"pool gate view\" than a marina view.

If you're booking for the view, I'd strongly recommend requesting a second floor or higher. The first-floor rooms in Building 7 may technically face the marina, but the actual view is largely blocked and looks nothing like the photos used to advertise the room category. I would have gladly paid more for an upper-floor room had I known.

That said, we truly enjoyed our stay and would absolutely return. Next time, we'll just be sure to request a higher floor so we can enjoy the marina view we were hoping for.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

04 Jul 2026

Samer

Worn out property. Not worth price.

8/10

Excellent

27 Jun 2026

Blaine

This might sound petty, but the toilet paper was rough and the mattress was weak.

All the amenities and staff were outstanding.

Family

2/10

Poor

26 Jun 2026

Tony

Overall very bad experience. Room was very dirty and old. Front desk staff were very rude especially Jesse. Will not recommend this hotel.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jun 2026

Nancy

We loved the pools, gym, walking paths, location, tropical resort feel, seeing all the yachts in the marina. Our room was also nice.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Michelle

We had a very pleasant stay! Beautiful views! If we ever are in the area again, we will likely stay here again.Thank you!

Partner

4/10

Poor

22 Jun 2026

Wyatt

I would like to say we loved our stay at the Kona Kai, but I just can’t. It started off with an hour wait to check in after their self check in kiosks didn’t work. Then we requested a room refresh daily and that didn’t happen. To top it all off we paid a $48 parking fee per day to park in their secured parking lot only to have them over sell the permits and leave us with no place to park. When we brought it to the front desks attention they told us to park on the street and figure it out.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Victor

The place it’s very nice

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jun 2026

Thomas

The bed was terrible. The bathroom door did not work or close properly. The outlets on the lamp were broken. There were very few USB ports. A document was provided that they wouldn’t clean every and was upon request, yet kept getting interrupted with housekeeping. The private beach, pools, and fitness center were top notch.

8/10

Excellent

16 Jun 2026

Clara

The hotel is in a beautiful location, and some of the newer rooms are much more comfortable than the older ones. However, the price is higher than what the overall experience justifies.

The common areas could be better maintained, particularly the hot tub, which was not as clean as expected. The service was average and did not consistently meet the standards one would expect at this price point.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

12 Jun 2026

Jennifer

This property reminded me of an aging debutante who owns the family castle and reputation but cannot keep up with modern times…think Downton Abbey on a marina.
From the reading room loft that you see when you walk into reception but the walls aren’t lined with old tomes; instead it’s just wall paper. The spa has limited, overpriced services- all co-ed. I heard someone say the bicycles you can rent aren’t well maintained and the restaurant, while it had good food, isn’t open on Sunday or Monday dinner.
For the exceptional price, there was nothing exceptional except the location.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

11 Jun 2026

David

Pools were nice.. Staff was friendly and view were great!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2026

Richard

Resort and staff were nice.
Paying to park is annoying. I’m staying at your hotel why am I getting charged to park my car.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

Robert

Enjoyed the service at check-in provided by Bino. After checking in, he help us with the location for our dinner plans . The following evening he provided suggestions for dining on Shelter Island. Service at breakfast was also excellent. Our valet at check in and check out was also excellent.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

Jack

This place is great. Excellent and very clean. The fire pits with s’mores were fun.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

27 May 2026

Tatia

If you are there midweek before June 1, plan for the advertised amenities to be closed. Unfortunately, I was unaware of this and so the adult pool did not have food and beverage service, and similar issues throughout my stay.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Michael

We had a wonder visit from the moment we step into the resort. The Front desk staff help out us out with checking in, they even waived the parking fee. The rooms were clean and very comfortable. the views of courtyard and boats were great to see.

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to book another visit.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

25 May 2026

Joanne

Great hotel - just clearly understaffed. Basic needs cant be met - like the front desk being able to answer the phone, or handoff door dash in under 20 minutes. Also, paying for a suite and being given a mobility suite where you cannot hang clothes up to not be on the floor or have 2 people in the bathroom because the shower cannot be contained should be an option at the price. The staff was gracious and the views are great. The bed was very comfortable

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

22 May 2026

Jamie

They charge $48 for overnight parking for each night on top of so many fees. The breakfast buffet was delicious though. The bonfires were great too.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 May 2026

Cameron

The property is old and the front desk clerk was the worst very poor customer service.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

01 May 2026

christine

Very beautiful place...its extremely pricey. The amount booked on Expedia was not what was charged. There are alot of additional charges once at the property. In addition, the rooms we booked were not what we received. We booked 2 deluxe kings but received one standard and one deluxe king room. We were told by the general manager he would deduct $200 dollars for the wrong room, but never received the deduction. When we went to check out the Supervisor told us lies that the king deluxe was the standard and a bag of lies. We requested the general manager, but she said he was not available and she would call us after they sort out the room price. We never received any phone call. We received a final bill for $714.14 for the standard. The room should have been a little over $600 for the deluxe king.
So beware of the bait and switch.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

28 Apr 2026

BORIS

Nice property. not so convinient location at end of Shelter Island

Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2026

Anthony K

We came for the first time on our honeymoon and 10 years later we came back and it was just as incredible as the first time. Perfect location, gorgeous views, the staff is amazing. Love all yhe amenities from the pool, the spa, and thr fire pits, all of it. Our room was a tad dated but nothing to fuss over. Got hit with resort and parking fees but thats to be expected so budget accordingly. Otherwise its an incredible experience staying here. You're less than 20 minutes away from all SD attractions- downtown, Balboa Park, La Jolla, Coronado - all relatively close. We may come bacl for our 20 year!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Apr 2026

Ulises

There are NO ELEVATORS on the property!

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

06 Apr 2026

Amir

Had an initial problem checking in with the self checkin and had to have 2 ppl help us checkin. When entering the room it was not clean. Cobwebs, cracked bathroom tub, bathroom door wouldn't close, dirty lamp shade, patio door stuck closed. Maybe OK issues if it was a motel or a 100-200 dollar location, but this was a 400 dollar room marketed as an upscale resort. Furthermore the advertising was deceptive. It only showed the upper level balcony view (we got the bottom floor and couldn't even access the patio) and the advertising seemed to show fully tiled showers, but they deceptively kept the camera above the bathtub area so you could not see there was in fact porcelain tubs, and on top of that the tub wasn't in the best shape). On top of all that there were only a couple towels when we entered so we ordered a few extra towels, and an hour later had not received them so called again to get extra towels. I was waiting to shower until the towels came so my wife wouldn't have to answer the door, and once they came i jumped in the shower, then the same person re-delivered the towels again while i was in the shower (assuming because of the 2nd call but it was the same person who delivered the first time...). In addition the electricity went out during our stay for a little while. It did come back shortly though. We left early the night before our checkout day because the pillows were very uncomfortable (got flat and hard) and we felt we would rather sleep in our own beds

Partner

4/10

Poor

25 Mar 2026

Gina

My shower was not clean and I have a picture of what looks like a finger print right next to the towel the fold and hang for you. The tub had messy cocking in it like was barely hanging on to life. The lap shade was cracked and the place was not clean.

I went there for a work conference and the food was bad- eggs were horrible and the bathrooms were a mess, tiles buckling on the dirty floor, 4 of the restrooms stopped working and it smelled bad.

Check in is at 4pm but they do not have many employees so we did not get out room till 6:30pm which sucked cuz we had to change in the sauna changing area!!

The price was outrageous and there is a best western nest door that is probably cheaper and prolly has a food served past 5pm. This is on a peninsula and they stopped serving food at 5pm and drinks 8pm- totally sucked! Worst venue I’ve been too for a conference.

The only reason the for 2 stars is because both sides of the hotel have water and you can see boats and I saw dolphins and it was very peaceful. Other than that this hotel offers nothing worth stopping by for.

Business

6/10

Pleasant

25 Mar 2026

Appu

The beach view is good but everything else is kind of meh. Overall I thought the resort was very overrated for what it is. There are many other better resorts in SD. That being said shelter island is awesome

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Gari V

Wond

8/10

Excellent

22 Mar 2026

Rhonda

Very clean comfortable room. Nice view of the Harbor. Enjoyed the private beach with the fire pits. 2 nice pools and 2 jacuzzis except 1 was down while we were there. Both pool bars were closed as well. Very nice restaurant and good food. My only complaint was the people on the private beach sitting at one of the fire pits were smoking pot. They were not being discreet about it at all and I’m pretty sure employees saw it and smelled it as well. There were families with kids all around. Should not have been allowed. Very annoying and disgusting! Went up to our balcony and the smell from the pot was coming up to our balcony. I’m pretty sure it’s posted everywhere there is no smoking on the property anywhere. We stayed at a hotel in LaJolla as well and had the same problem with the pot smell. I guess everyone seems to be smoking pot in CA. So tired of the disgusting smell and smoke!

Family

4/10

Poor

18 Mar 2026

Michelle

Run down

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Mar 2026

Justin Craig

It was okay

8/10

Excellent

14 Mar 2026

Paul

There was

6/10

Pleasant

11 Mar 2026

Charlene

Badly managed!

The first room had a bush in front of the view, so I moved.
The second room was much older, the refrigerator had a loud sound so I turned it off and on. It froze everything.
My water in the room was charged heavily.

I will never stay here again and you shouldn't either!!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2026

Claudia

I had such a wonderful stay at this resort! Everything was beautiful, peaceful, and very well taken care of. The staff were kind and welcoming, and the whole atmosphere made it easy to relax and enjoy every moment. My favorite part was spending the evenings by the fire it was so cozy and calming under the night sky. It truly made the experience feel special. I would definitely love to come back again

Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2026

shilpa

Premium location for a laid back vacation with lot's of walking around. Just 10-15 minutes from GasLamp district -San Diego. Friendly staff and clean premises and room

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2026

Martin

Everything it was great

Partner

2/10

Poor

17 Feb 2026

Brad

We booked Kona Kai Resort & Spa to celebrate our 41st anniversary and were extremely disappointed with the experience.
Upon arrival, our reserved 3rd-floor water-view room was not ready. After waiting over 40 minutes, we were told to accept a 1st-floor room instead. This is not what we booked, and no meaningful accommodation or compensation was offered at check-in.
We were also surprised with nearly $100 per day in added fees: a $46/day resort fee and a $46/day parking fee. These charges were not clearly disclosed at the time of booking. If they were transparent, we would not have chosen this property. This felt misleading and excessive.
In addition, the resort restaurant was closed, despite being advertised on the website. After a long day of travel, we were forced to drive elsewhere for dinner. This is not what you expect when booking a “resort” stay, especially for a special occasion.
While the location is nice, the hotel itself feels worn and does not match the price point once the hidden fees are added. Between the downgraded room, undisclosed charges, and unavailable amenities, this stay fell far short of expectations.
I would not stay here again and would not recommend Kona Kai to others looking for a special or romantic getaway.

Be careful of the unmarked water bottles. They have hidden prices under the glass on the nightstand. $7.00 per bottle. Noticed it too late. Another loss for me.

Partner

2/10

Poor

17 Feb 2026

Ivette

The room was not ready at 4pm and the hotel agent called to let us know it was ready at 4:50pm. The front desk agent was very rude and did not explain where to park and where the room was located. The hotel played very loud music in the morning and woke our family up at 7:00am. Will not return.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2026

Juan

It is very good clean!!

10/10

Exceptional

06 Feb 2026

Susan

Great room. Helpful staff. Fabulous location

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2026

Brittney

The staff was great. I got “stuck” an extra day due to east coast weather and they were so helpful!

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jan 2026

Lindsay

The room had thin walls. Parking lot view

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

25 Jan 2026

Jeff

Comfortable rooms and beautiful grounds. The hotel was understaffed from check in to the restaurant and quite rude. Check in took a while due to understaffed front desk (~15 minutes). I asked for a late checkout and the staff scoffed at me. At breakfast staff wouldn’t let me sit at any of the numerous open tables (it’s a buffet) and made me wait around 10 minutes for a table. All in all good property, sub par experience.

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2026

Erika

Nice staff

2/10

Poor

02 Jan 2026

Sara

There was no clarification that you would pay a resort fee as well as a $50 parking fee. When we booked the hotel we were only aware of the resort fee. Very disappointing to have that thrown at us unexpectedly.

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

29 Dec 2025

Donna

We booked this room specifically for the bathtub and the water pressure was so bad. The bathtub did not hold water. The drain didn’t work. The air conditioning was on stuck on. We had to call maintenance three times. The heater would not work. This was the worst experience I slept with my jacket and shoes on because the room was so cold.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

24 Dec 2025

Taylor

Toilet seat wasn’t attached to the bowl, and there was a lot of banging around in the morning. Other than that property was great and staff were all very kind.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

22 Dec 2025

Samantha

I paid $38 each for the brunch buffet. However, the restaurant actually ran out of food! Isn't that amazing? On top of it, there wasn't any plates available. This is first time ever I encountered a buffet ran out of food. The room is also on the small side. It has a huge bathroom for some reasons but the rest is quite small.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

09 Dec 2025

Ernie

I’ve always wondered about this hotel on the bay, besides the view you get, the aesthetics of it was great! However, first experience wasn’t what I expected.

Checked in using the kiosk they had, and unfortunately got stuck while making my room key. I then stood in line to finish the process at the front desk. Was told a room number, and even double checked what he wrote on the card sleeve, and walked to that room to open it up, and encountered a do not disturb sign hanging. Figured I do my due diligence and try a different room that had the first and last 2 of the same numbers and it worked.

However, when I walked in, I was a bit confused as to why it wasn’t the layout I requested and book (but was never communicated regarding the change at the front desk). I decided to go back to the front desk and addressed the issue with another employee, and asked him about the room number first since I was confused why I was told different.

I then asked why didn’t the other employee tell me when checking me in, and he said so the guests don’t walk away. Honestly, I would rather be told up front rather than walk into a surprise. I asked if the room layout I requested is available, and he said unfortunately they’re all sold out after trying to accommodate my request.

I just dealt with the change and went back to the room since I was already exhausted. Room was mediocre at best for the price, and the parking at $50. I would’ve been nice to get accommodated for the change w/o notice!

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Nov 2025

Barbara

Room nicely appointed. Great view of boats. Service and food at conference was very good.

I had a very enjoyable stay

Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Nov 2025

James

Great spot. Was a dream.

8/10

Excellent

31 Oct 2025

Sima

Good

10/10

Exceptional

28 Oct 2025

Yolanda

I didn’t like my room but overall the trip was great. The hotel was really nice.

8/10

Excellent

24 Oct 2025

Christopher

The rooms were good sized. Their products smelled amazing. The property had a great courtyard with games and a variety of sitting areas. The breakfast was very expensive and they had 25% in additional surcharges. We won’t eat there again however we will stay there again.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2025

Anna

had a wonderful time for our honey moon here

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Oct 2025

Mary

When we travel to San Diego, we always stay on Shelter Island because we like the area. The staff was very friendly and helpful. For the price, Kona Kai is not worth the amount of money you pay to stay there. The resort was nice, but the cost of the rooms and resort fees are excessive. I believe the other hotels on the island are just as nice and far more affordable. Other issues: the bar at the adult pool closed at 5pm on Thursday, the hair dryer in our room was sticking with hair on it, the bathroom door was a barn door and did not lock- very little privacy, and the room was a bit dusty. My family enjoyed the fire pits at night fall and our view of the marina was nice.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

13 Oct 2025

Bethany

Clean & updated , very pricey for what it is. Basically a hotel room with pool access in a nice area. Not with the price in my opinion. We had a good deal we thought but after the additional cost of parking and resort fees we won’t be back.

Leisure Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

12 Oct 2025

Noel

Fees were crazy...I have stayed at 4 star resorts in Hawaii where the resort fees were just over half of what they are here and the valet parking was included...Kona Kai gets you for an extra $100/Night for these 2 fees. Room was very comfortable, but probably not worth it in the end.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2025

Todd

We were on our Honeymoon and we fully enjoyed our stay. It was clean and convenient with so many amenities. We are totally going back for our next San Diego trip.

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

10 Oct 2025

Guy

Room a bit small and bed not comfortable. Consider mattress replacement for room 123

Leisure

6/10

Pleasant

07 Oct 2025

Jeremy

Pet friendly a must!!!
We were happy they accommodated our pet

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2025

Stefanie

We enjoyed the beautiful views of the Marina and sitting at the Fire pit in the evening.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Sep 2025

Rosario

Staff was very accommodating beautiful location loved bombfire. Very clean

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

13 Sep 2025

Selma

What a great facility! Really liked it.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

10 Sep 2025

Mitchell Trent

The property is amazing, clean and very safe. The dining option is mediocre at best, you will need a vehicle during your stay or plan to Uber. The $45 daily parking fee is pricey in my opinion. The new energy efficient rooms will shut off your AC and refrigerator when you aren't in the room. Our AC failed night two of our stay and the property was kind enough to credit our account $50.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

08 Sep 2025

Jose M

Lo único fue que no estaba incluido el desayuno . De resto excelente

10/10

Exceptional

06 Sep 2025

John

Very nice accommodations & a fun, relaxing, pretty property. Thank you!!

8/10

Excellent

06 Sep 2025

LOBATO,

Loved our stay, was very happy that it was pet friendly. Disappointed dogs are not allowed in the pool areas. The photos online show a dog at the pool which was one of the reasons I booked and to find out pups are not allowed in the area was a bummer.

Leisure Pet

10/10

Exceptional

04 Sep 2025

Linda

I loved staying at this property on shelter Island in San Diego. The Bay trail that’s nearby overlooking the bay, and the city itself was just beautiful. The hotel property was well appointed love the amenities like the pool and spa. The food was very good

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2025

Debra

This location worked very well for us. Check in was a little strange, our room wasn't ready at 4pm and we had to remind them that we were still waiting at 5:30pm. Even though they said they would call us when the room was available.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2025

Duane Douglas Fansler

The staff was fabulous and extremely friendly! Room was very comfortable and clean, but the bathroom could have had more storage/ towel hanging options (only one towel rack in the shower and one little hook on the wall; nothing near the sinks for hand towels), along with a working vent fan (it was so humid and muggy without a fan in the bathroom). Also, the coffee offered in the morning was a pretty ridiculous situation for a luxury resort; put out much later than advertised and gone before we could get any, even if we came to the lobby by the 7:00 AM timeframe. However, the good stuff at Kona Kai FAR outweighs the negatives. The pool areas were amazing and the views couldn't be beat. We would definitely stay at Kona Kai again.

4/10

Poor

01 Sep 2025

Emma

This was an extremely disappointing stay. This property is way too expensive to be in this bad of quality. The room was old and run down looking, there were several holes in the curtains, there was hair in the shower and on the dresser, and there was also a massive spider in the room. There’s barely any beach and the pool also had bugs in it. The water was cold and dirty. We will not be staying here again.

Leisure Friends

2/10

Poor

01 Sep 2025

armen

Not worth the price for that area hotel was old i felt like i was in a motel

Business_and_leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2025

Ernesto

Our second time visiting this property and we really do like it.
I read several negative reviews but figured let’s give it a second try regardless. The property is a little old could use a little TLC, but it’s beautiful view of the bay make it worth it. They were giving away away T-shirts at the pool bar, La Paloma. We had the drink. I asked the girl my wife could have a shirt and she said asked if she wears a small. I said yes and she said sure and then she placed a tray of drinks on top of the T-shirts. It made it awkward, so I left with no T-shirt. I could have been forceful, but I felt she really didn’t want to give me a T-shirt so I walked away. I think she could have handled this better.
Not sure if we’ll be back
But the bartenders of the pool will were great

Leisure

8/10

Excellent

31 Aug 2025

Gloria

The Kona Kai is a beautiful property - although not downtown it still offers a convenience to most attractions with some travel- with some opportunities for dining and music on the same avenue , however the hotel shop for amenities and snacks are very much overpriced - the staff is generally accommodating and I always appreciate a 24 hr desk and that's what Kona Kai provides

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

31 Aug 2025

Wendy

Staff treated us kindly. Property was beautiful, exceptional stay. We will be back. Thank you Kona Kai!

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2025

Desiree

Great front desk staff, beautiful facilities

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

20 Aug 2025

Marissa

I rarely write reviews, but my experience at Kona Kai Resort San Diego was disappointing and misleading.

I booked a Bayview Junior Suite King months in advance, expecting the waterfront views and layout shown in the photos. What I got instead was a completely different room — different furniture, layout, and a parking lot view. The front desk even admitted the room didn’t match what was advertised.

At over $400 a night, that’s unacceptable. After pushing back, they finally offered the correct room — but not until the next day. We had to cancel our anniversary plans just to pack, wait, and switch rooms.

This wasn’t just about aesthetics — it was about getting what we paid for. I hope management does the right thing and refunds us for the first night. A resort advertising itself as luxury shouldn’t leave guests feeling deceived.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Aug 2025

Ashley

One of our favorite, family friendly, beautiful, quiet resorts to sneak away to

Leisure Family

2/10

Poor

19 Aug 2025

Christy

Needs to be updated

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

18 Aug 2025

Joseph

This is a chill relaxing place with a chill staff. I pretty much stayed at the resort the whole time

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Aug 2025

Terrence

The hotel is in a beautiful area. It has a terrific gym, pool, and other amenities. There is a lovely walking path near the water. The staff was professional and helpful. The room was clean and comfortable. Most movies were on demand and generally it seemed that the hotel made most eating options geared toward using the rather expensive restaurant. Free coffee in the morning was only available from 4-7 am with no free pastry or fruit options provided in hopes you would pay for the $28 breakfast buffet in the restaurant. The coffee urn was removed promptly at 7:05 am. This seemed a little chintzy for an otherwise good hotel. The parking was an extra $45 per night unexpected expense and the use of the room key card to enter and exit the parking lot was a little inconvenient. Overall we enoyed our visit and would stay here again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Aug 2025

Jill

Family friendly property, beautiful location with views of the water.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Aug 2025

Gina

The property was beautiful and amazing. The only downside was they didn’t have prices posted for dining and their prices were a little extra.! Also when booking through Expedia, we were charged an additional $46 a day resort fee that was unexpected. So the prices we got on Expedia we’re not the actual prices we ended up paying.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

10 Aug 2025

Alina

No access to charge my phone , not clean

10/10

Exceptional

08 Aug 2025

Barbara A

Clean, comfortable bed, friendly staff.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

03 Aug 2025

Laurie

There was a room charge on my room that was not mine and it’s been impossible to get it resolved. The hotel did bot repond to my message for almost 2 weeks. Just been awful

8/10

Excellent

29 Jul 2025

Christina

It is a beautiful area in and out and everyone is so friendly. I only gave it a 4 because its expensive and i didnt see the reason for it except I guess the view..

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jul 2025

Rocio

The restaurant view

Leisure Family