We arrived much earlier than check in so they couldn't accomodate us but there was no place to wait. First impression of lobby and hotel was not good. The cleaning cart was just inside the front door making the small, much smaller than picture implied, look run down, Not inviting. Front door locked at 9 am. The valet had to use a key card to enter the front door. We returned briefly before our afternoon/evening activities around 1:00 pm. It was still before checkin so the front desk person offered to let us sit on the roof top deck until our appointments at 2:00. That improved our opinion as the deck was very nice. Had coffee and water available. Wished he had offered deck earlier when we arrived in the morning as it was before check in, no real lobby, no nearby restaurants and Neighborhood rough with homeless. So being forced to walk around all morning was not good. When we returned about 8 pm after our afternoon and evening appointments we were allowed to access our mini suite which we had booked and paid for (not an upgrade). It was spacious and nice but on the 3rd floor. It was too late to ask for something else. The street noise was horrible- NO sleep. If you go to Gaslamp Plaza Suites, insist on a higher floor. Maybe less noise. If you are young and like bars, the location could be a positive. Note I can say the very pleasant hotel staff was a plus.