Hotel review: I spent a weekend at the brand-new Guild Hotel in San Diego, part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection - here's why I plan to go back

Alyssa Powell/Business Insider

• Downtown San Diego is chockablock with hotels - and tourists - but The Guild San Diego is a new property that offers a real respite from the crowds with a peaceful courtyard and charming, historic details.
• Formerly a 1920s-era Army-Navy YMCA, the building was thoughtfully reimagined as a tribute to San Diego, while delivering on the style and upscale decor expected from a Tribute Portfolio hotel within the Marriott Bonvoy family of hotels.
• With rooms starting at $170 a night, there are certainly cheaper hotels in the city, but you'll be hard-pressed to beat the intimate vibe at this price point. I spent a night in an Artisan Room and think it's worth the money for the overall experience.

Ships have been sailing in and out of San Diego's bay since the 16^th century, but it's easy to forget the past when staying in vibrant, revived, and bustling downtown.

The Guild San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is a newer addition to the neighborhood, housed in a century-old Armed Services YMCA. Yet rather than erasing the building's past, the owners have lovingly embraced its former life in an effort to honor San Diego's rich maritime heritage.

Ornate, Italian Renaissance Revival exteriors were maintained, while run-down dormitory-style interiors were totally transformed. In fact, standing in the lobby now, it's hard to believe that this former Y was once a low-budget hostel. But before it fell into disrepair, in the 1920s, millions of servicemen and women passed through its doors for recreational dances, pool laps, and runs on the track.

Now, it's a 162-room luxury boutique hotel from Marriott Bonvoy, with a tranquil courtyard, two-bedroom penthouse with a private rooftop, and an urban garden for all to enjoy.

I spent two nights in an Artisan Room on a recent busy weekend and loved the witty nods to yesteryear with cozy but modern velvet furnishings, and an intimate, friendly vibe that extended all the way from the front steps to the bar and restaurant.

But what I really loved was the subtle balance the hotel strikes, while still being located within the heart of downtown San Diego. There are lots of corporate big-box hotels here, and it can be hard to find a middle ground between modern and intimate at a reasonable price point.

With rates starting as low as $170 per night, and the opportunity to use and redeem Marriott points, I'd happily return to this rehabbed Y, where a late breakfast in the pale pink courtyard felt far more like the south of France than San Diego.

• The first impression
• The room
• On-site amenities
• What's nearby
• What others say
• What you need to know
• The bottom line

• Book The Guild San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, starting at $170 per night

Keep reading to see why I was so impressed by The Guild San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Subscribe to our newsletter.

Find all the best offers at our Coupons page.

Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Insider Picks team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.