kooryh
Couples · November 20252/10
Kona Kai Hotel/Resort – San Diego, CA; Why You Should Avoid Staying Here
I am writing to share my disappointing experience at the Kona Kai Hotel/Resort, which I booked through Costco for my wife’s bir...Kona Kai Hotel/Resort – San Diego, CA; Why You Should Avoid Staying Here
I am writing to share my disappointing experience at the Kona Kai Hotel/Resort, which I booked through Costco for my wife’s birthday. Despite its advertised four-star rating, my stay was closer to one star. Here are the reasons:
1- The property resembles a budget motel rather than a resort. and operates like one
2- Rooms are too small and the ones in the main budling where the lobby is smell like raw sewage, the smell gets worst at night
• Our Bay view room smelled so bad we could not sleep the 1st night at all
• Room’s central Air was disabled or not working, so they installed a window mount A/C, which wasn’t working properly and was very loud during the night (just like any Motel)
• The Balcony door does not have a screen door, so if you open the door, brides fly in (as it did in our room) and so as bugs and misquotes
• There are water bottles in the room, but for sale ($7.00 each), the room has small old cabinet/TV stand which has coffee and water, asking the front desk he said use it and you have to pay for it, why this cheap “motel” is charging a resort fee?
• Shower’s water pressure was so bad it felt like someone pouring water on you with a bottle
• Rooms and the balcony were poorly maintained, look at the pictures to get a better idea
3- Most staff members were unwelcoming and unhelpful. not smiling, with exception of 2 (Roy and Ray) great guys, helpful and accommodating
4- Resort fees are $50/night (waved for Costco members) with not much to offer, not even a complimentary coffee /Tea in the lobby
5- Parking Fees are $46. / Night ($23.00 for Costco members)
6- they have small gift shop at the lobby and another one at the spa prices were outrageous, they charged us $26 for small metal water bottle which is good for cold only and not hot, same ones are sold, elsewhere for $7.00
7- they have a small coffee/tea stand at the lobby but you have to pay for everything (see the photo)
For my wife’s birthday we booked this miserable “motel” through Costco, with 4(*) rating, I will give them one (*). we were greeted by a grumpy staff at check in. With little or no explanation of the facilities on Oct-31-25, and had another couple with us for the 2nd room
Once we entered the room the heavy raw sewage smell was overwhelming, I retuned to the lobby and complained to the same person, and he assured me he will send housing staffs to our rooms immediately, no one ever showed up
Next morning I complained and requested to see the manager, I was told they were not available. Then I asked to be moved to another room, Ray (very nice and accommodating) tried and show us 4 other rooms in the main (same) bulling but they all had the same strong raw sewage smell. And finally, a room on the 3rd floor of another building, with far less smell, but had issues to be fixed by maintenance crew before we could move. We packed our stuff, left them at the lobby with the assurance that they would be delivered to our new room as soon as it was fixed
After wasting ½ day looking for another room, we left the “motel” and came back around 6pm to the new room but no languages, so I called the housing 4 time to get them and each time they said they will bring them right over, but it took them over an hour and 4 calls, to bring them, making us late for our dinner reservation.
During our 3 nights stay, no manager ever talked to us and or apologized for the incomitance, only Roy did (a night shift person at the front desk.)
The front desk was consistently understaffed, with only one person handling check-ins, check-outs, and guest inquiries. I waited over 20 minutes just to ask a simple question.
Conclusion What was supposed to be a special birthday celebration turned into a frustrating and unpleasant experience. The Kona Kai Hotel/Resort fails to deliver on its advertised rating and operates more like a low-end motel than a resort. I would strongly caution others against wasting their money here.Show More
