The Sofia Hotel in San Diego
There is nothing I enjoy more than a little history and a lot of charm. The Sofia Hotel, which originally opened in 1927 as the Pickwick Hotel and was renovated in 2006 to its current status, has seen San Diego grow and change through the years. The hotel has a knack for personally tailored hospitality, from valet to check-out and everything in between.
I pull up to the Sofia Hotel valet and the gentleman are very helpful, setting the stage for a great experience. The hotel allows you to charge the fee to your room with in and out access all day. My bags are taken in by cart and I am greeted by a cheerful man at the front desk. He makes sure to explain all charges and possible fees, so there are no surprises in the end. Oliver, my dog, is greeted with a goody bag filled with treats. The Sofia Hotel provides dog-friendly rooms and information on great pet-sitting services.
The rooms are accessible by elevator or stairs and everything feels very natural and peaceful. The rooms are filled with shades of beige and dark browns. The hotel extends the hospitality with free Wi-fi and bottles of water in your room. The pillow top mattresses are bedecked in fine linens and down, or what I like to call clouds.
The out-of-room amenities include first come-first serve bikes with helmets, a complimentary yoga studio, and a signature dining experience at Currant. On this overnight stay I did not have time take a spin on the bikes, but it would be a great way to check out the town.
The yoga studio is peaceful and has a lot of fitness equipment available 24 hours a day. Travelers can even book a private lesson with on-call trainers. After a good workout, I suggest a spa package like the Sweet Surrender, which includes 90-minute fusion massage, 75-minute facial, 60-minute sea mud and Reiki session. It will leave you with that ahhhhh feeling all day.
Once relaxed, I insist on a meal at the American brasserie, Currant. They employ French technique on American home cooking and it does not miss a beat. I finish off my evening with a stroll through the Gaslamp District. It is just blocks away, and the front desk with provided me a with a great map and personalized directions. The hotel is located in the downtown district and I would not walk the streets alone at night, but with my husband I felt very safe. The Gas;amp District has a bunch of wonderful pubs and restaurants to enjoy a few cocktails.
The bed was so comfortable at the Sofia Hotel that I had a hard time getting up in the morning. Late checkout solved that problem and a quick text to the valet had my car ready in a jiffy. The Sofia Hotel is there to serve their guests, and they are ahead of the curve with the services they offer. I cannot wait to go back again.
