Name: The Alcala Hotel Mission Valley Seaworld
Address: 2484 Hotel Circle Place, San Diego, California, US
Price range: $58–$196 per night
Rating: 7.07

What guests think

Riverleaf Inn Mission Valley draws mixed reactions: travellers like the budget price and freeway access, but many describe dated rooms, uncomfortable squeaky beds, frequent odors, noise from neighbors or traffic, and maintenance problems that aren’t always resolved.

Cleanliness feedback skews negative, with multiple reports of stained linens, moldy bathrooms, pests, and lingering smoke or chemical smells. Staff at the front desk are frequently described as friendly and helpful, though service and housekeeping can be inconsistent and only periodic. Facilities feel worn, and several guests encountered a dirty or closed pool and a janky elevator, while the surrounding area can feel sketchy. Expect a basic, budget stay if location and price matter most.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Facilities are worn: many reviews cite a dirty or closed pool and hot tub, and the elevator is slow or rickety. Gated parking exists, with shared microwaves and laundry on the second floor, but upkeep is inconsistent.

Related guest reviews

4

WALTER

Dec 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The elevater was only on one side of the building and and it took to long to get to your floor. Might as well take the stairs it was faster

8

Robert

Jul 28, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Really good hotel. Pool and jacuzzi needs to be remodeled and maintenance. Other than that 5 stars

10

Olga

Apr 21, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The pool could use a cleaning but overall we enjoyed our stay.

8

David

Feb 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Swimming pool and hot tub not available

2

Tosha

Nov 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

I'm so glad we only had to stay one night. It was dirty and literally everything was gross. The pool and Jacuzzi looked like a murkey swamp. There was only 1 elevator at the end of the building making everyone walk a long way and wait or use the stairs. The furniture in the room was old , tarered and turn. The towels were hard, stained and they only provided one wash cloth. The phone was missing several buttons. There were ROACHES in the room. The tub didn't have a stopped to hold the water in, the toilet was constantly running. It was pet friendly , but there was no pet relief area, so people were letting their dogs go to the perimeter of the parking lot and not cleaning up after them. It was the worst. I'll never stay in that roach motel again. Pat a little more and stay across the street at the best Western it has to be better!

2

Bonnie

Jul 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was the worst experience in our 50 years of staying at hotels. Bad front desk service, unhealthy pool & jacuzzi, no outdoor tables to sit at, no wash clothes and 1 hand towel, musty smelled room, bed sunk 4" when sitting on it, a/c made funny noise, sketchy elevator, outdoor stairs felt unsafe, etc. We really want our money back for the one night's stay!!!!!

4

Bryan

Nov 3, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was amazing and the parking secure. The hotel was a age but the pool and jacuzzi not maintained, the show water pressure would only dribble out and the tv did not work. Unfortunately a Motel 6 would have been in better condition. The location for work and ease on and off the fey perfect.

6

Rebecca

Aug 28, 2023

·

As I got there to check the 2 women we’re discussing shutting the front desk early after you check in everybody. The room was ok. As we open the refrigerator there was a bad odor. The pool looks green and disgusting. The property was very ghetto.

4

Farshid

May 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very old building Pool and hot tub looked disgusting Worst mattress ever, bed made noise even with slight turn. And definitely very pricy for what you get.

6

Heather

Jun 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was clean and comfortable. Was looking forward to the hot tub but it was green so didn’t brave that.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Cleanliness is a recurring problem, including stained bedding, hair, odors, mold, pests, and poorly maintained bathrooms and common areas. A few guests reported clean stays, but the trend is largely negative.

Related guest reviews

4

Eduardo

Jun 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was dingy, sheets were dirty and the room smelled. Elevator was disgusting and pool was unswimmable

4

SIMONA

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

I will not be booking here again. Chipped paint on walls, no trash bags for the rooms. (It’s not what they do there, is what was reported to me) Community trash bin at the end of the halls pilled high. Bed very uncomfortable. Uncleaned bathroom. ( was reported to the front desk, I was not offered housekeeping at that time, until 24hr later) At that point I was ready to leave. Try disappointed.

2

Elizabeth

Jun 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel was very dirty and smelled like mold. Bed was sunken in and there was no trash bags. Overall very run down properties

2

Michele

Jun 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

A lot of homeless people around the property and staying in the property. There was a homeless encampment right out back. Blood splatter on our restroom wall, housekeeping came to clean it but nothing else was offered. The beds were also made but nothing was changed from the previous tenants it seemed.

4

Razmik

Sep 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The cleanness was terrible. The bathroom was even worse. They gave me a room in the beginning when we went to the room it was al hairs everywhere. Bathroom was very dirty and hair everywhere. It looked like no one checked it before. We asked to change the room and they gave us another room that wasn’t so great. Almost the same. The elevator was smelling horrible. We just left the room and only slept there. Never go back.

4

ILIANA

Jan 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Customer service was good but the hotel itself was horrible. The rooms have mold and smoke smell. You can feel the springs on the bed. The doors were falling apart. Luckily I was able to get a refund for a night’s stay. People were hanging outside my door smoking. I just did not feel safe. Staff was understanding and helpful though I will give them credit for that.

2

Terri

Jun 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Walls, door, baseboards, floor, curtains were all dirty. Floor wasn’t swept or mopped. Toilet wouldn’t flush and door handle to bathroom fell off. Room was just disgusting. Bed sheets and blanket smelt really bad and blanket wasn’t warm enough.

2

Alicia

Jan 28, 2023

·

Stayed 4 nights

DO NOT STAY HERE. The pictures do not capture how dirty the rooms actually are. Save your money and find a different hotel. This one is extremely dirty. There were stains on the walls, rust in the mini fridge, stains on the bathroom towels, hair all over the bathroom floor.

2

Maia

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Yes this is a cheaper option in San Diego however, the pictures felt like I got catfished. Also the room was dirty. The floor I didn’t want to take my shoes off. The shower was obviously dirty with dirt marks. For next time I will plan ahead and not book last minute.

2

Hailey

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel room was absolutely disgusting. Walked in and immediately smelled like cigarettes. There was a dirty bandaid and used bar of soap in the bathroom. Part of the floor was messed up as well as some rust like stain on it. Wet spot on the side of the bed as well.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms feel dated with worn furnishings, very squeaky or sagging mattresses, and notable noise from neighbors, trains, or the highway. Guests also mention small spaces and aging fixtures, weak water pressure, and a lack of in‑room microwaves.

Related guest reviews

6

Theresa

May 6, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It was in a good location. And reasonably priced. But our room needed repairs. There was a hole in the floor. Lightbulb missing from the bathroom. Nightstand drawer would not open. Towels were small and flimsy. It sounded like the bed was wrapped in plastic because it made a lot of noise, when you sat or laid down.

4

kaihoo

Dec 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

bed was squawky whole night long. The queen size bed is a bit too tight for 2 adult.

2

victoria

Oct 24, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The beds are uncomfortable and you can feel the springs. I felt itchy sleeping in that bed. It squeaked when you sat on it or moved around. The sheets were rough and cheap. You only get one super think blanket. The floors were dirty. The flooring outside of the room was chipped and a wood plank was placed on one part to cover or fix the damaged floor. Elevator was old and it needed to be cleaned. Overall, the place was not worth the money I paid. I would not recommend it to anyone.

2

Nikolas

Mar 25, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Sandwiched between people making noise all night long and smoking riverleaf. Management didnt do anything about it. Train comes by every 15 min. Thin wall. Gaps in door frame. Floor made my feet black. I moved bed frame to locate smell. Filthy behind it. Stairwells and halls filthy and crumbling. Odd neighbors. Some idiot warmed up their 50s car every morning at 6am. Maids start early and cart makes lots of noise. I think almost every other hotel on the street would be an upgrade.

4

Robert

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The bed was big and kind of uncomfortable. The bedding or the bed was loud every time you moved around. The room itself was not as nice looking as the pictures on the website. The pool area and jacuzzi were not maintained properly, you could see the grime spots in them from the 3fl. The parking lot has stragglers that look like they didn’t there . The stairwells up to your floor are not secured. Anyone off the stress could access them. One other thing my bathtub had a black grime on the inside of it it was pretty gross but I used an old scrubber I had to clean it off. The pro is the hotel is close proximity to everything. The staff was friendly and nice. The room need better improvements and cleaning, hopefully it was just a fluke job by someone. But if you’re in the area give them a try and see what your experience is.

4

Michelle

Apr 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Super noisy room, was on the third floor, people above were stomping all hours of the night, the metro rail system also coming by every 30 minutes or so. Came in late and stayed for less than 12 hours just to try and get some sleep but did not. Furniture and bathrooms also very worn and dirty. I guess you get what you pay for. Would’ve rather stayed across the street.

6

Lisette

Jun 27, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The mattresses were old. Every turn we made, they made so much noise.

4

Ebony

Nov 12, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

This hotel was not good at all! You can hear every noise , every foot step, every spring inside the bed. the floors were super dirty and not swept. bathtub flooded every time we showered. it was not a good hotel at all. you can hear EVERYTHING. please stay at a better hotel than this. i never wrote reviews but if i could warn one person i would. pay more for a nicer safer hotel.!!

2

Judd

Jun 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The mattress was by far the worst ever,the room itself was marginal at best!

8

Jameelah

Sep 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The water in the shower kept getting hot even when i turn the knob to the cold setting. There is no microwave in the rooms. It would be convenient if there was. Curtains get in the way of the A/C.

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Service

Front desk teams are often praised as friendly and helpful, with some smooth check‑ins. However, housekeeping is infrequent (every few days) and responses to maintenance or noise issues can be slow or inconsistent.

Related guest reviews

6

Louis

Jan 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The girl that worked the late night shift (Ellie) was friendly and helpful. However, we paid $40.00 for a late checkout (an extra hour) and we were woken up an hour before our paid checkout time by housekeeping knocking on our door. Then the front desk called us and asked "are you checking out soon", to which I replied "yes, at 1:00pm" ( the agreed upon time). They said "ok, I see that now". Then at 12:30pm, housekeeping knocked on our door again. The $40.00 charge for a late checkout is a little expensive but acceptable if we are not harassed to leave. I feel we should be reimbursed for the charge. That is not our decision, but it should honored.

6

Robin

Oct 16, 2023

·

Stayed 14 nights

Checkin was pretty seamless and staff friendly. We were there for extended time to search for apartments and they only clean every 4 days. I had to ask multiple times for it to be cleaned, asked multiple times for fresh towels and wash cloths which were not provided, especially wash cloths. Key card had to be replaced at least 5 times as it quit working.

10

Dazmyne

Mar 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were super nice and helpful! Love the location!

10

Wolf

Apr 21, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Front desk staff was professional and smiling. Nice security for cars. Nice stay

2

Nikolas

Mar 25, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Sandwiched between people making noise all night long and smoking riverleaf. Management didnt do anything about it. Train comes by every 15 min. Thin wall. Gaps in door frame. Floor made my feet black. I moved bed frame to locate smell. Filthy behind it. Stairwells and halls filthy and crumbling. Odd neighbors. Some idiot warmed up their 50s car every morning at 6am. Maids start early and cart makes lots of noise. I think almost every other hotel on the street would be an upgrade.

10

Mar

Jun 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff at front desk were all absolutely genuinely friendly and courteous, and very welcoming. Housekeeping were also nice and helpful and not intrusive. A very comfortable stay for sure and I would highly recommend staying here to anyone.

10

Rachel

Nov 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The late night front desk attendant, young Latina woman with blue in her hair provided exceptional service! SO helpful and nice!

10

Jordon

Jun 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was friendly and helpful.

4

Gabriela

Oct 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The property was dirty & in need of repairs/basic upgrades. Most staff were nice but one guy in the evening was rude & unprofessional

10

Kailey

Jul 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Safe property. Staff was out of this world amazing. Nice, helpful, respectful, and professional. The front desk staff was incredible!!

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Location

Convenient Hotel Circle spot near freeways and attractions, making it easy to reach Old Town and other sights. Some reviews note traffic or train noise and say the immediate area can feel sketchy at night.

Related guest reviews

10

Paul

Jan 11, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

pretty cool and good location.easygoing.

6

Jason

Dec 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The location was great. Less than 20 minutes to Sea World. Pretty quiet for being right off a major highway. And there were lots of restaurants nearby, some that offered delivery for a very reasonable fee. Unfortunately, the lobby was decieving as compared to the rest of the place... Most of the building was in desperate need of remodeling. The 3rd floor walkway around the outside of the building had dips and bubbles in it, I was cautious that my foot would go through the floor. The paint on the walls outside the building was also stained, peeling or flaking. Some of the "no smoking" signs were faded or completely scratched out. When I got inside the room, the bathroom door looked like it had been pulled off the hinges, wouldn't shut all the way. The water pressure was low, and not kept as hot as expected. Lastly, the one-cup coffee maker in the room was extremely poor quality, barely deserving of a dollar store price tag. I know they aren't a standard for budget lodging, but these should have been left out. My family checked in late in the evening, slept comfortably, and then checked out early in the morning.

8

Jennifer

Jul 17, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff at the hotel were friendly and helpful. Decent room, although the bed and pillows could have been a little comfier, but they were ok. The Hotel Circle location is convenient too.

6

UMIT

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location!

8

Linda

Jun 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Enjoyed my stay, good location near the freeway. Affordable, easy drive to nearby food, gas, and shopping. Elevator access, 2nd floor has laundry room, microwave, and ice machine. Would stay there again.

8

Clint

Dec 22, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

Property did not match description. Did not feel safe in area

6

Jesus

Feb 25, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location but kinda dirty.

8

Yolanda

Jun 9, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The hotel is situated in hotel circle which makes the location in a pretty good area and at a good price. The attendant(s) were very nice and we felt welcomed. There was even a sign welcoming the Rock-N-Roll runners! Unfortunately there were people coming back late (I guess) and were quite loud. You can also hear the train. The room is a little small and smelled musty so we had to have the window open.

10

Steven

Jan 6, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

I have stayed their before and enjoyed it then, close to the freeway.

10

Zachary

Mar 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Location was great.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

On‑site options are minimal: several guests noted no breakfast service, though free coffee is mentioned. Some relied on shared microwaves to reheat food.

Related guest reviews

10

Alan

May 14, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

My only challenge was using the microwave to eat in my room. Only one of them worked and it was in a common area.

8

Linda

Jun 11, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Enjoyed my stay, good location near the freeway. Affordable, easy drive to nearby food, gas, and shopping. Elevator access, 2nd floor has laundry room, microwave, and ice machine. Would stay there again.

10

Martin

Mar 16, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast

10

Asser

May 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It is over all nice place to stay at , clean room , ( doesn't have microwave ) , safe parking

6

William

May 21, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The room and bedding were very clean. Stairs could use painting. If you are comfortable with a variety of people and shaing a couple of microwaves to re-heat your food you will find this place an excellent bargain.

10

Jordon

Jun 2, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

I liked the putting range and hot tub. The free coffee was nice. Friendly and nice staff. Reasonable rates. Lots of birds and noturnal animals: cats, skunks, racoons a bunch of homeless folks walking by the Inn.

8

Kim

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

It was OK. The room was average. Everything was clean and neat. When I first arrived the heater was broken. My first night was uncomfortable, but they fixed it right away the next day. There wasn't any place to eat within walking distance, and I don't drive. Some kind of simple breakfast fare would be nice. Cereal, muffins, bagels, maybe some fresh fruit, that kind of thing.

4

Kody

May 13, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The best part about this property was the staff. The check-in and check-out staff were both so kind and cheerful. The bad part about this property is that it is a low-budget hotel and you get what you paid for. The parking lot security gate "arm" was broken, and remained in the "up" position, so it seemed unsafe to me. The shower stream was also poor.

6

Dawn

Jun 12, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff at this hotel are wonderful, everyone was kind and helpful. However, the room was kind of terrible... especially for the price! The beds were very squeaky, the pillows were small and rough, the blanket was paper thin and old, the Bathtub/shower was old and worn, only two bath towels, one hand towel and one washcloth was provided for three people, the room was very small and plain, no dresser at all, one coffee was provided in a double queen room and no coffee in the office for visitors in the mornings. They don't have any convenient stores/gas stations near by(walking distance) or restaurants to easily get coffee. This room should have been half of what we paid.

8

Jameelah

Sep 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The water in the shower kept getting hot even when i turn the knob to the cold setting. There is no microwave in the rooms. It would be convenient if there was. Curtains get in the way of the A/C.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$68
February	$97
March	$84
April	$108
May	$90
June	$114
July	$162
August	$117
September	$112
October	$121
November	$73
December	$65

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15 $58	16 $105	17 $94	18 $136	19 $170
20 $85	21 $85	22 $86	23 $86	24 $89	25 $193	26 $196
27 $85	28 $86	29 $86	30 $85

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $86	2 $137	3 $137
4 $86	5 $86	6 $86	7 $86	8 $89	9 $130	10 $130
11 $86	12 $86	13 $86	14 $86	15 $86	16 $130	17 $130
18 $86	19 $86	20 $86	21 $86	22 $86	23 $120	24 $130
25 $86	26 $86	27 $86	28 $86	29 $86	30 $131	31 $130

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Accessible

Room, 1 Queen Bed

Double Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about The Alcala Hotel Mission Valley Seaworld

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