I'll start with the good:

Location: Although some on here have complained about the location, it all depends upon what you are doing in the city. The hotel is walking distance to the marina, the seaport and all of its restaurants and shops, Horton Plaza, and the Midway. Yes, you will hear Amtrak. You will hear Amtrak from every downtown location, though.

Views: Excellent. Our balcony overlooked the Coronado Bridge and the bay. It was beautiful, and we were able to watch the Fourth of July fireworks from there while the babies slept. It was terrific.

Next, the 'mixed bag':

Breakfast/Manager's Reception: The included breakfast and reception each evening adds a great deal of value to your stay. On Saturday, we couldn't enjoy either. The lines were wrapped all the way around the atrium, and there were no tables. Lines like that are no places for two year old twins. On Sunday, we knew better and went down to breakfast at 7AM. The lines were smaller, but still substantial. We did get a table and high chairs, though. The food is good, and there are healthy choices. The manager's reception on Sunday was not busy at all. We went down for sodas and some chips. A warning, though, chips and pretzels and drinks are all that is free during the reception. Some very bad pizza was $2 a slice (a decent price), but really inedible.

And, the awful: I booked what is called the "Suite Shopping Package" after much review of all of the available rates. For our purposes, this provided the best value for our dollar. it was to include:

1. a 'Special Welcome Gift' at check in;
2. a $25 gift card per night to Westfield Horton Plaza;
3. a Starbucks Coffee Mug with a free Starbucks drink, and
4. complementary valet parking with full in and out privileges.

The problem began at check-in when they had no idea what the "Suite Shopping Package" package was. I find this hard to believe, since it was customized for that particular hotel. If they had no idea, it is very poor planning and training.

The person checking me in told me I would be charged an additional 28.99 per day for valet parking. I told her that it was included in the pkg. (and fortunately I had printed off the package details to take with me). She said, OK, I'll take care of that.

I told her the other items could just be delivered to the room, but that we planned on using the Westfield gift cards for dinner that evening, so please don't delay it too long. About an hour before we planned to go to dinner, I called down to inquire. Oh, we'll send everything right up. They sent up a Starbucks mug and some coupons for discounts at various Westfield merchants.

At this point, I decided to go down to the front desk. It took the gentleman 30 minutes and THREE different trips to 'talk to my manager' to get the gift cards. (Why on earth didn't the manager ever come out and deal with this directly?) Anyhow, I got the gift cards and told the agent that when they determined what the welcome gift is, just send it up. We're travelling with our infant twins, and this was really taking up too much time.

The worst part of all of this is that I was made to feel like I was being petty or demanding. I was simply asking for (and I shouldn't have had to do that) what my rate promised me. I really did put a lot of research into the rates, and with the gift cards for dinner, the free coffee, and the free valet parking, this rate was less expensive than even the discount Internet rate.

The welcome gift never materialized, and the valet charges - of course - were on the folio. I decided not to pursue the welcome gift, as it was just pointless and very annoying by this time. The valet charges were removed, but - again – it was yet another trip to the front desk.

I would have phoned down to have the charges removed, but the phones in our room did not work on Sunday morning. I reported this from the house phone, but it was never fixed.

This hotel has potential, but it is very poorly run.

One final item: The swimming pool is on the first floor and just outside the four elevators. The floor in the elevator waiting area was always soaked with water from dripping swimsuits, and so were the floors of the elevators. During my lengthy time at the front desk, I heard two complaints to the front desk about this - including one from an elderly woman whose husband had fallen earlier in one of the elevators. She was told they hear this complaint often but there is nothing they can do. They will put up a 'wet floor' sign, though. Good grief, people. This is California. Can you say, "Lawsuit?"

As I said, great potential, but not again for these travelers anytime soon.

Checked in at the Embassy in June as an alternate site for a conference across the street at the Hyatt. Glad I did. Free breakfast, free happy hour large room that accomindated my family. All in all it was pretty good - for the price. Good location -walking distance to the gaslamp district.

They gave us a room that hade a great view of the bay and overlooked the Midway. One nght there was fireworks and the view was great.

If you are expecting a five star hotel, stay at the Hyatt across the street for a lot more money. If you are looking for great value the Embassy is the place.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites following a less than adequate stay at another hotel on our honeymoom. I called the property directly after midnight to check on availability for the next day (4 night weekend stay). After I explained my predicament the woman who took my call told me she could put us in a Bay view room. When we checked in they put us on the top floor with a great view of the bay and Coronado Island.

The staff was very helpful and cordial. The head valet even called pizza places for me after 11pm using his personal phone to check if they delivered. The added features of the hotel, complimentary manager's reception and hot, made-to-order breakfast are a nice touch and ones we took advantage of every day. The room was comfortable and clean with a microwave and refrigerator.

The hotel is across the street from Seaport Village and the USS Midway. The Gaslamp Quarter is approximately a mile from the hotel, but very walkable. There is also a trolley stop a block from the hotel.

Really enjoyed our stay for three nights. We have a 2 and half and 5 month baby, the suite was very comforatble, clean, and spacious. Beds and sheets were very comfy, view of the seaport great. The room faced west, good blackout curtains, so we enjoyed the room being darker in the morning. The complementary breakfast was extensive and we also enjoyed the manager's reception of free drinks and snacks in the early evening while the kids watched a video in the children's corner. My husband and son enjoyed the indoor pool. The front desk was helpful. The only negative is the overnight parking was expensive but they infomed us we could park on the street for less, appreciated the tip. Its walking distance to the trolley, seaport, gaslight district and baseball park which we enjoyed, especially since the weather was great. I was able to pick up milk and water in a little market adjacent to the hotel, very convenient.