TH
Te Hetaraka
Sep 16, 2026
We stayed here for 2 nights on Shelter Island, and the location itself is gorgeous with really pleasing zen vibes and water features around the entrance. The waterfront and pier give you great views of the city skyline and the naval base, and it was fascinating seeing naval helicopter exercises and special forces operations right in the bay. Just note that the small beach right next to the hotel is dingy and definitely suited for boats and fishing, not for swimming or lounging. The hotel is a bit further out from central San Diego spots—about 15 to 35 minutes depending, to get to Balboa Park, SeaWorld, or the local public beaches.
Parking was easy with plenty of spaces close to the room, though it does come with an extra fee. We arrived early and our room wasn’t ready yet, which was fair enough since the hotel was flat out busy, but they kindly called us and had it sorted 30 minutes before the official check-in time. Check-in was smooth, and Alexander at the front desk was super friendly and accommodating.
The biggest gripe of our stay was the room view. We paid extra for a "water view," but because of thick vegetation directly outside our room and windows, we couldn't see anything other than a very limited view of the marina. To get an actual view of the marina, we had to physically go outside, which was really frustrating considering the price upgrade for very little view, and just of boats, not really any water views, when you think “water views.”
Otherwise, the room was very spacious with a comfortable king bed and pillows, a coffee bar, mini-fridge, and a TV that had high-quality picture and sound and was super easy to set up for streaming. The bathroom was a 10/10—large with an amazing shower. However, when we first checked in, the AC was very dirty and barely cooling, making the room stuffy and warm. We reported it to Alexander at the desk, and to his credit, maintenance cleaned it promptly, after which the room stayed at a comfortable temperature and the fan turned into quiet background white noise.
The pool area is great, especially for families. The saltwater pool goes up to 8 feet deep with lots of loungers, and you grab pool towels straight from the front desk. The hot tub was lovely, warm, and relaxing, though pool shade is very limited so you definitely need to be sun smart. The public amenities and facility toilets were kept very clean.
We had dinner at the attached restaurant, The Blue Wave, and requested a table in their lovely outdoor seating area. The service was top tier (a solid 5.5/5—super lovely staff!). Food was an overall 3.5/5, desserts were 4.5/5, and my husband really enjoyed the ciders, though the pina coladas were a bit weird and not for me. Just remember to use the 15% off coupon they hand you at check-in (my husband forgot to use ours!).
Overall, a scenic, relaxing spot with great staff and fantastic pools, just don't waste the extra money paying for a "water view" room that looks straight into a garden