I recently visited San Diego for a little romance-on-a-budget. My experience at this inn was very positive, a far cry from a reviewer (elsewhere) who believed he was sleeping next to a "crack house." (If the residents of the quiet, single-family home next door are in the drug biz, they're going broke, because the only activity I saw was some children's inflatable toys appear by the pool one afternoon.)
The neighborhood is working class Latino. It is safe and characterized by Sweetwater Blvd, which is lined by a middle-brow assortment of shopping centers and businesses, including Robinsons, JC Penny, Outback Steakhouse, Appleby's, Denny's, and Starbucks.
Now the hotel itself, it's a modest, no-frills sort of place with faux Cape cod exterior styling in pale gray wood, built in the mid 80's. My non-smoking room was clean and tastefully decorated with a reasonably firm, sleep able bed. Other furnishings included the usual bedside tables and wall lamps, a chest of drawers with a 20-inch color TV on it, a conference table with two padded, black lacquered chairs, and an attractive floral print over the bed. All the furniture, except the chairs, had matching pale oak veneers with about average wear for a hotel.
The ceramic-tiled dressing area and bathroom were spotlessly clean with no hint of mildew whatsoever. The tub's water faucet is one of those two-part deals that allow the traveler to set the temperature once and then turn on or off the water with the "Volume" knob. The larger knob nearest the wall is labeled "Temp" with arrows pointing in opposite directions and labeled, appropriately, "Hot" and "Cold." The small knob in front was labeled "Volume." (I read a traveler elsewhere complaining bitterly about this type of faucet, but for the cognitively unimpaired it's a convenience, not an ordeal; just pay attention to the labels.)
The thermostat-controlled air conditioner/heater worked flawlessly. I didn't know San Diego was experiencing a 110-degree heat wave until I stepped out of my room.
The staff was uniformly solicitous, friendly, and helpful. There is a small-but-clean swimming pool with lounging chairs. The 7-11 next door surprised me with some very nutritious, pre-packaged, meals (sushi, stir-fry shrimp, Creole-Cajun rice dish, organic sandwiches, etc) and they have a microwave available if needed.
The inn is privately owned and some of the family members work the desk. Don't take someone here to impress them, but if you need a clean, budget place it's hard to beat.