Britt Scripps Inn

The Inn itself is beautiful — the room (Library Room) was beautiful and spacious. Bed very comfortable. VERY disappointed in the cold breakfast — no protein options. Also disappointed there was no real «innkeeper» or owner in sight — just someone who checked us in, and a different person who checked us out. I will be looking elsewhere next time I go to San Diego.

This Inn is set in a beautiful 1800’s era Victorian home. However, that’s about where the positives of this place end. There was mold in the bathroom, the bathtub leaks and floods the bathroom whenever used, the mattress was so hard that we couldn’t sleep, and the TV is too small and placed too far from the bed. The A/​C didn’t work, the front door was broken, and the «on site» parking is actually across the street. Overall, a horrible place to stay.

Please READ! My husband & I had the please of staying here about 10 years back– Carriage House (free standing little Cottage). Place was amazing the Owners OMG felt the Class, COMFORT, Customer Service, Food, it matched this HISTORICAL GIFT of an INN.
This year thought lets return… a month prior of our actual stay (12÷31÷15) asked for the Carriage house and it was reserved. Then next person on phone suggested the Gothic Room (most INNS rooms are NAMED rather than Numbered). Little porch thought ok… why not perfect way to add to our NYE Celebration.
NIGHT before our stay (mind you this is NYE) received a call stating we can’t stay in the Balboa ROOM, and to call before 11 pm that night. First was confused … Room isn’t what I booked then became naturally confused and CONCERNED… mind you received this call from the INN roughly 7:30 PM the night before our stay… of course I returned the call. Called OVER 4 TIMES leaving messages and so forth… which sure all of you would of done. NO ONE RETURNED the CALL!
ALL NIGHT (imagine the night before our actual stay)– couldn’t really sleep was concerned and CONFUSED!!!
First thing in the Morning CALLED… and error was no biggie. Think they were confused we were not staying in the Balboa anyways and had room stated.
OMG after my 4^th call the night prior why couldn’t they simply called back and resolve this…
OK…here go. Go to check in EARLY because felt it was too weird and unstable ! Met the hostess to find out She’s only been there 2 days on the job. When she ran our card through the credit machine it was out of paper — replaced the paper and of course being new she ran our card the second time… charged us up twice. — took about 30 minutes to resolve this. Come on folks we already had gave enough time with the mix up the night prior to our stay. How could the NEW OWNER place someone that has two days of experience on NYE of all days? MY GOD ! Realized this Hostess is a Family Member! Its not her FAULT… how could the OWNER place a person with NO PROIR Experience never mind the CARD MACHINE…
Doesn’t CARE!!!
Go to take a shower in the CLAW TUB Housecleaning left the Nozzle on top when turned it on it FLEW off… hit the walls, my NYE Clothing SOAKED, water ALL OVER THE PLACE. Here go again another half HOUR CLEANING UP THE FLOOR! There is NO CARE or REGARD!!!
Now Breakfast (will be posting once up load pictures) HISTORICAL BEAUTIFUL INN the was created by TWO ARTISTIC CARING MEN (Past OWNERS) now its Plastic DIRTY FOLDING TABLE, NO COFFEE the MACHINE was BUSTED — even helped MAKE IT ! The KITCHEN was FLITHY NO JOKE… its better dibs at hotel 6 than THIS. NO CARE!!!
HORRIBLE. Feel in my opinion NEW Owner purchased this place as a tax write off… doesn’t CARE!
WHEN YOU SEE these high RATINGS this based off of past feelings of the other OWNERS.
Its HORRIBLE. Believe its a CRIME to have such an HISTORICAL BEAUTIFUL WELL CARED (At one time) PLACE! Please don’t be fooled !!! Yes its Beautiful, its HISTORICAL, this is because of Owners in the Past that CARED. ITS NOT WORTH IT! TRUST ME!!! In my OPINION SD has too many other places that offer CUSTOMER SERVICE — !
Wish the CITY GOT INVOLVED!
DON’T DO IT!!! Best part of this whole thing when we LEFT! SO ANGRY if it doesn’t make sense that is how UPSET and FUSTRATED this WHOLE TIME was !
Don’t be FOOLED PLEASE! Read other reviews encourage you to do so…

I love this hotel! The staffs are very friendly and willing to help us in everything while we stay in here. The night view in our room was amazing, so I recommend you to stay in the room with the balcony which can make you feel like being a queen in the medieval times. If you personally prefer antique pieces or historical architecture, it will be the great chance to experience it vividly. I wanna stay here if I visit to San Diego again.

AVOID THIS HOTEL!
We should have noticed the red flag when they asked us to pay for the entire 7 day stay as soon as we checked in. But sadly we did not. Here’s a list of a few things that went wrong.
— the pricing from the website did not match up.
— our shower did not work in our first room.
— the Windows did not have screens. We woke up with spider webs in the room.
— the DVD we rented from red box did not play in the DVD player. This was due to the incorrect cables from the DVD player to the tv.
— we had an iron but no ironing board.
— the 2^nd room we stayed in had a shower that required 2 people to use it properly. We we asked for repair they said «there was nothing they could do» after trying to fix it. Literarily one person had to hold the shower head so that it wouldn’t spray outside onto the floor.
— the 3^rd room had a shower that leaked so bad that it flooded the bathroom.
— the note on the AC stated that they cannot go below a set temperature. Lies, this is them trying to save money.
We asked to leave 3 days into the stay but they said «no refunds» needless to stay we were stuck. Do not stay at any hotel that requires payment upfront. This «inn» looks «nice» but does not deliver. Save your money. Also there is no room In between you and other guests. What I mean is what you do in your room will be heard by all.
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Stayed here for a night while exploring san diego. The area is only 1 mile from the harbor and gaslamp district. It is also in a non-​busy street, it’s a 2 min walk from a grocery store which is also a deli which was really convenient.
The building is soo nice. We fell in love with it, inside was nice and warm and clean. Checking in was easy and they give you a parking pass to a covered parking building across the street.
We stayed in the carriage house which is a separate room from the main building. It was really cute and spacious. I really liked the carriage house because it was more secluded and you had your own porch and have breakfast there. There was a tv in the room as well. The bathroom was well lit and clean. There was a thermostat for heat and AC. They also had breakfast in the morning which was just fruit some breads and juice and coffee, that was ok because we just got more food from the deli that was around the corner.
Overall we will stay here again we love the location and the place, I’m taking one star off because the room was kind off dated and stuffy because you can’t open the windows and the tub was broken. But overall great location and customer service!

What a disappointment! Sure the house itself LOOKS nice, its vintage, but the lies! We were told we would receive a full «made to order» breakfast and paid EXTRA MONEY for it. We got up at 9:30am, husband went down close to 10am, «Sorry breakfast is over»! It was a «continental breakfast» — a roll and coffee, and we didnt even get that!!! Also stated we would get wine and cheese in the afternoon — sorry we don’t do that anymore! We got ONE washcloth for two people! The funky «vintage» shower dripped endlessly ALL NIGHT LONG. By the time we discovered that, the front desk gal was already gone for the night and nobody else there to help us! We were told to park across the street in a garage, given two «cards» that were supposed to operate the gates, we parked the car with some difficulty, after finding no restaurants within walking distance, we decided to get the car and drive into town — guess what? The GATE WOULDNT OPEN! The guard there was no help at all either. So, we had NO dinner, and then NO breakfast the next day! Oh, did I mention that they are currently constructing a SEVEN STORY BUILDING RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from this place? Any idea what that sounds like at 7AM in the morning when we didnt get to sleep until 2AM!!! Guess they forgot to mention that little item also! Take my advice, stay far away from this place! Go to a nice CHAIN Motel, Sheraton, or Hilton, or Marriott, you’ll enjoy your stay far more!

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of me and my lovely wife and with that came the need to get away. Unfortunately, I was unable to pull off my first 2 ideas so it was on to plan C, sunny San Diego.
I had originally planned to spend 3 – 4 days in San Diego but do to switching jobs recently I was unable to get time off work and thus our 10 year anniversary was shortened to just a quick Saturday night and Sunday morning type trek (something I still feel bad about as this was supposed to be something better). After looking at hotels in the area, I came across the Britt Scripps Inn and absolutely loved the photos I saw and the majority of the reviews I had read on various sites.
After booking this lovely little bed and breakfast, I came across a handful of negative reviews and criticism for the paint of the building or small little issues with chips in the wood as well as numerous negative issues with the staff and double booking rooms. I am happy to say that none of these were an issue during our stay and I found the staff to be quite nice and extremely thorough in explaining how things work. The parking for guests here is built into the cost of the rooms which was nice and there is ample parking available in the underground structure across the street. Please be sure to have your electronic valet parking card to ensure access both in and out of the structure.
The room we stayed in was the Gothic room and it was spacious, had an old style claw foot tub and a nice view of the garden out back. The balcony was perfect for sitting on late at night and enjoying some cool San Diego breeze and relaxing with a cold beverage. I am definitely happy with the room I got even though I had intended to book a different room altogether (not sure who messed up but it all worked out for the best). The hotel itself is beautiful decorated with a grand piano downstairs and a fantastic wooden staircase and stained glass windows throughout. The place is small but has all the amenities you would need for a short stay and its proximity to Balboa Park and some high end neighboring restaurants is well worth the price of admission.
I was definitely happy with the stay and would not hesitate to book this place again for future stays as well. Please note that the site states that there is no front desk for check-​in and that you must call to setup a check-​in time to ensure someone is on site. This is no longer the case as they have a small desk downstairs with a person present throughout the day and most of the night and the check-​in process was quite easy when we arrived.

The best part of this place is the location followed by it’s Victorian trappings. Unfortunately it’s a shadow of what it seems once to have been. Our room, while spacious, was in need of a paint job, with chipping paint and black marks on the walls from furniture that had been removed. And while the room had a/​c the common spaces did not, so it was impossible to sample their uninspired cold breakfasts in an overheated room without breaking a sweat. That room was also crowded with 3 tables that shared the space with the desk that the staff used to check people in. And if you like coffee, unless you like flavored water, you may want to make a trip to Starbucks
Apparently the owner, Gordon Hattersley III hasn’t been interested in putting any money into the place in the recent past. And while his outdated brochure states that he’s «created a one of a kind Estate Hotel offering discrete, intimate service refined and elevated to a level to be found only in the finest of private homes» I seriously beg to differ. The «superbly professional staff» seems to be long gone, and while we were met by an eager, upbeat woman, she had an accent that was so heavy and difficult to understand we had to ask her to repeat herself multiple times. I applaud anyone who can learn our language, but if you don’t have a command of it, you shouldn’t be the face of a B&B. And the dress code of this «professional staff» ranges from jeans and flip flops to cut-​offs and crop tops. Can’t say I blame them, having to work in the heat of the common spaces.
Our bathroom shower had an incessant leak that no one seemed to care about, (drought or no drought), and it seems, to save money, Mr. Hattersley III prefers providing only Costco sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Do I really want to use a container that the previous guest used? Overall the place lacks attention to detail.
For those folks who have raved about this place in their reviews, I can only assume they haven’t experienced a quality B&B before. Sure, it beats a motel, but at these prices, one expects a «superb» experience.

This place is terrible! It looks good but all the rest is beyond bad. The room was in disrepair. The breakfast was worse. Only coffee, cold dry cereal, fruit, juice and yogurt. They lost their permit to cook some time ago. If I could give this place zero stars I would. Stay away!

This hotel provides the absolute worst customer service I have ever experienced. Less than 24 hours prior to my reservation, the Britt Scripps Inn notified me that the hotel was overbooked and my room was no longer available. The front desk then offered me another room within the hotel for a 10% discount. I asked to personally speak to a manager, at which time I was informed that such a request could not be granted. The receptionist informed me that she would inquire with the manager directly as to a potential 20% discount and call me back.
After one hour with no return phone call I called the hotel once again. I asked for the name of the new room in order to take a look on the hotel website, after which I would let the hotel know if I wanted to proceed with the reservation in a new room. I was then informed that my new room had been booked and there were no longer any rooms available throughout the entire hotel. The receptionist told me that she was sorry but nothing more could be done.
In summary, if you have a reservation at this hotel please be aware that your reservation may not actually exist.

Gorgeous, Victorian B&B right next to Balboa Park! A co-​worker and I were in town for business during Comic-​Con. All hotels were booked, so we stumbled upon the Britt Scripps Inn. We arrived late (around 10PM) and had to check out the next morning at 8PM. I was sad we couldn’t stay longer. This property is like a little slice of heaven right in San Diego! I stayed in the Carriage House. A charming little cottage just through the garden. The woodwork, Tiffany lamps and Victoria era furniture were beautiful. The bathroom was fully updated and even had a hot tub/​jacuzzi.
The breakfast was disappointing. It was just a basic continental breakfast. OJ, Coffee, Tea, Chex, Milk, Fresh Fruit, Nutra-​Grain Bars. It filled the void, but I expected more from a B&B.
All in all, I would stay here again and would recommend it to others.

Very disappointing «breakfast» of store bought pastries and mini donuts (the kind you find at 7-​Eleven). Plus yogurt and fruit with standard coffee and one tea — hope you like green. Would have expected much better fare at a B&B of this caliber. Found out there’s a new owner this year. What a shame. I even wonder how they keep their B&B status. I’ve had better at the Days Inn for goodness sake. So you can pretty much disregard any posting before January 2015. Stayed in Governors Room over July 4^th weekend which was nice. Yes, it’s beautiful and in a great area of SD, but it’s a «B» not a B&B.

A hidden gem in the middle of Banker’s hill.
Britt Scripps is a beautiful Victorian historic house that was converted to B&B some years ago.
The location is perfect, its very close to downtown, a short walk to Balboa park or Hillcrest area. The Inn is located right across from iconic San Diego restaurant Mr A’s, where you can go for a fancy dinner or a fantastic happy hour and taking the breathtaking views of dowtown SD and the bay.
This was our second stay at the Inn and yes a few things have changed. Hotel is now under a new ownership and doesn’t offer a full breakfast like the previous owners did. There is no wine and cheese hour in the afternoons. Otherwise everything else stayed the same.
We stayed at Renaissance room on the second floor. The room was very spacious, the bed was heavenly and incredibly comfortable. Each room in the Inn has its own character, décor and color.
The shower is kind of tricky to navigate, there are way too many switches. The deep claw tub is very relaxing.
There are not TVs in the room, so i suggest you bring your tablet or a laptop for entertainment, however there is free wifi.
The grounds are well manicured, there is a small garden on the side of the property with a few tables and chairs.
Note to the management, it would be nice to have running fountains, 2 ones that are located on the property are turned off for some reason.
If you area looking for slow paced relaxing stay, this Inn is for you.

We are so disappoint when we get there on Thursday night. It’s not like what we saw in the web site with nice pictures and rate 5 star. We got there almost 7 PM. I was shock when they show us the room, it’s too small, and look so old, the bed is make noise every time you move plus the noise from the street and people talking at night we could not sleep. We both had to take the sleeping pill to help get thru the night. We woke up early in the morning with all the foot steps from upstairs. The continental breakfast was bad. Totally, I rate this is 1 star motel, that is the best I can do for them. I wish the owner should refund back our money for the false advertising.

The location is perfect… 1.5 miles to gaslamp (S), 1.5 to Hillcrest (N), and close to an access point for Balboa Park. The manse itself is amazing. Take some extra time, you will end up exploring the building and the grounds. Staff was super friendly and accommodating, I slept in and they agreed to come back mid day to clean my room. Daniel at the front desk (he’s from Spain) was very down to earth and extremely helpful, going out of his way to make sure my needs were met and offer tips about places in the area. Would definitely stay again and recommend.

The building was great however the Christmas décor was still up. I wish they had a restaurant on site but they do not. I emailed them before our stay to let them know it was our anniversary and asked if they could write a note or something noting it in the room and they did not. They have the potential to be amazing but they are not utilizing the resources they have. Also there is a window in the bedroom above the door that let’s in alot of light at night and it would be great to have curtains up there. Parking is pay parking or meter. So bring change…

First and foremost, this place is amazingly gorgeous.
That’s what you come here for. It’s this gorgeous historic building.
The place is very clean, very nice, with nice staff, we enjoyed it.

I booked Britt Scripps Inn through a through a third party website in mid-​January 2015, about a week before most of the one star reviews on Unilocal came out. I was very excited about the B&B but completely unaware of any of the problems. I discovered these reviews after trying to contact the place, only to find the initial problem of trying to figure out their phone number. I land in SD way before the check-​in time and need to drop off my luggage, so I wanted to see if that was possible. I called the first number (provided on my booking confirmation e-​mail) but got a machine saying, «The number you have called has not set up a voice mail.» It hung up on me. The second number I called (from their website and on Unilocal) kept ringing until a machine answered saying, «The party you are calling is not answering. Please hang up and try again.» I called this number multiple times throughout the day and got the machine every time. It was then where I went back to Unilocal and saw the reviews.
Their Facebook page (
) says it’s permanently closed. How is it possible I booked a room in a place that is permanently closed? How is it possible there are multiple 1-​star Unilocal reviews all posted just one week ago on a place that is permanently closed? If it actually isn’t closed, they definitely fooled me. I canceled my reservation immediately.
By the way I just typed in «Britt Scripps Inn» into Google and found a third phone number. And a fourth number from a different booking website.

This was my very first B&B experience. The BF and I decided to try something new for our anniversary and I thought this place would’ve been a nice little getaway in San Diego. The location is very nice. It’s tucked away next to Balboa Park and Hillcrest is nearby. The house is beautiful. The outside architecture is stunning and you can tell they maintain it very well.
I know this B&B is going for that old antique-​y theme, but after initially walking in, it’s what I imagine a haunted house to look like. There are portraits of people staring at you (the ones where you think their eyes follow you as you walk by), antique furnishings, grand piano, and the wall paper… all tell-​tale signs of what a haunted house looks like in my head. Maybe I’m just too young to appreciate this kind of place?
Our room was the Garden room. It was downstairs which I was a little disappointed about because I wanted to see the upstairs. The room was nice, but still a little creepy. There was a portrait of a lady staring at us right next to the bed. Let’s just say I slept with one eye open…
Since the house is pretty old, you can hear through the walls and footsteps creak and people walk by. After making it through the night, we sat down for breakfast. Our host took down our order and they cooked it in the back. From what I remember, it was pretty good.
It was an interesting first experience. I won’t be back here, but I’m willing to try another B&B somewhere else. Probably in another state… in like the country or forest or something.