This was honestly one of the worst hotel experiences we have ever had. We completed pre-check-in and were assigned a first-floor room. Upon arrival, we were told it was not ready. Later we received a text saying our room was ready, so we drove back — only to be assigned a completely different room in another building on the second floor. I am a disabled veteran and retired Fire Captain, and my wife has an injured knee. We specifically needed a first-floor room for accessibility reasons. On the second day, when I contacted guest services to ask why we were moved, we were told the reason was that the elevator in the building of our original first-floor room was broken — yet we had been initially assigned a first-floor room in that same building. Ironically, the elevator in the building we were moved to broke the following day. The room itself was very dated and poorly maintained: • Paint chips and sloppy paint work (not cut in along edges) • Bugs inside light fixtures • Missing screws in fixtures • Thermostat cover missing • Rust and dirt on the toilet paper holder • TV was not a smart TV • DirectTV box had intermittent connection issues • Hot tub did not work (no signage posted, and it still wasn’t working the next night) There was also a dirty sock left on the sidewalk outside for two days while housekeeping and maintenance staff repeatedly walked past it. During our stay, my wife became sick and vomited, which only added to the stress of an already frustrating experience. I attempted to speak with the manager but was told he was “having a busy morning.” My number was taken, but instead of the manager calling, another employee contacted me three hours later asking if there was anything they could do. I specifically requested to speak with the manager and never received that courtesy. This stay was part of a promotional package to attend a Hilton Grand Vacations presentation. We raised our concerns again during the presentation and were told they would “make it right.” Nothing was done. This is Carlsbad. This is marketed as a resort. I have stayed in basic motor inns that were cleaner, better maintained, and better managed. Extremely disappointing experience.

This was our first time at Mar Brisa. We stayed in a 2 bedroom lock-off unit. It was a nice room with plenty of space for the 4 of us. We also liked that there was a private entrance to Legoland. This was convenient for us because we can just leave the property and walk the trail and head into Legoland.

The staff at MarBrisa are genuinely nice and welcoming, and the hotel itself is overall clean and well maintained. The property has a pleasant feel and housekeeping standards were solid throughout the stay. That said, there were a couple of disappointments. There was no indication that Gold status carried any meaningful recognition or benefit during the stay. While this isn’t a major issue, it was noticeable that the status seemed to have no impact or acknowledgment at all. The biggest drawback by far is the parking fee. At $38 USD per day (roughly $60 CAD), the cost is excessive and painful, especially converted. This is a price you would expect to pay for valet in downtown San Francisco or New York. This fee honestly made me regret staying here as it was almost a third of the cost of the stay. Overall, a clean hotel with friendly staff, but the parking cost alone would make me think twice before booking again.

I visited here for the first time in six years, and it’s my favorite place after the Big Island of Hawaii. The woman at the front desk was friendly and courteous throughout, which made my stay even more enjoyable. Although some services have been reduced, I was still very satisfied. I’ll definitely come back again.

It's a great resort. We've been going there for years and have even bought one of our timeshares there. It's a great location in North County and right next to Legoland. We used to bring the kids there when they were younger, but not so much anymore. We enjoy the quiet, the pools are fantastic. It's like a home away from home. All condos, from studios all the way up to a 3 bedroom.

We stayed in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom suite—perfect for a family and very comfortable. The Cove rooms are a fantastic perk, providing a private entrance to Legoland, which makes coming and going easy and even lets you experience some rides from the back while others enter from the front. A great choice if you’re visiting Legoland! The only downside is breakfast: it’s only available at the pool bar during busy times, or you have to go to the neighboring hotel.

We stayed at Hilton MarBrisa Carlsbad for two nights (Oct 24–26) and had a really great time. We’re Hilton Diamond members, and Kyle at the front desk made check-in so easy and welcoming — honestly, his hospitality stood out and made a big difference since we got there late. Our room (5123B) was clean and super comfortable for the four of us. Loved the complimentary water, internet, and the shuttle service — really convenient. We also had dinner at 20/Twenty Restaurant, used our two drink vouchers, stacked the 15% discount with the dinner-for-four special, and even watched the Dodgers game while we ate — fun night! Dmitri helped us check out smoothly, and overall it was a fantastic stay. Definitely planning to come back next year.

We came here both this year and last year and our experience between the 2 visits were night and day. Last year, our stay was nearly perfect. The location was wonderful, convenient, and quiet. I was excited to stay here again for our yearly trip down to Southern California. I've never missed home more this time around. This year we had 3 spider roommates (above the fridge, next to the nightstand, and inside the toilet paper roll) and a dead baby roach on the floor in our bathroom. We also heard the occupants staying above us stomping around for HOURS throughout the day and night. What really made us want to go back home is how often they brought up the timeshare presentation they wanted us to attend. 3 phone calls during the 7 o'clock hour in the morning (waking us up) on different days, twice in person by giving us a second welcome package, and while we were requesting TOWELS. I had specifically requested that they email us and we would respond if we were interested after their 2nd (out of 6) attempt. My request was disregarded. It felt way too intrusive that we didn't even want to report the bugs that we found in the room or ask for anything else. We just wanted to be left alone until the day we checked out. None of that happened last year. I'm very concerned as to what changed between September 2024 and October 2025 that made this presentation so important but it definitely scared us off. It's a shame because the property itself is beautiful and we appreciated the complimentary drinks that we got at check-in but not enough for us to tolerate this again. Last year's experience and the location is why I didn't give it 1 star.

My wife and I have been proud Hilton Grand Vacations owners in Waikoloa, Hawaii, for over 20 years, and our recent stay at Hilton MarBrisa Resort in Carlsbad was one of the finest experiences we’ve ever had with Hilton. From the start, Kyle at check-in set a welcoming and professional tone. We then met the amazing Diana Kaushik, who went above and beyond in every way. Diana is truly first class, a living example of the warmth, care, and excellence Hilton is known for. John, who conducted our presentation, was equally first class. He provided several thoughtful possibilities but never pressured us. Unlike some experiences at other resorts, where friendliness turned unfriendly the moment we declined an upgrade, John treated us with consistent respect, kindness, and professionalism. His approach left us feeling deeply valued as decades long Hilton owners. We also wish to thank Rick, who promptly and professionally repaired a faulty shower in our unit. While the fixtures themselves clearly need updating, Rick’s attentiveness and service were exceptional. Though the accommodations would benefit from upgrades, the staff at MarBrisa delivered hospitality at a level that exceeded all expectations. Under the leadership of General Manager Megan Conner, this resort sets the gold standard and could serve as a model for all Hilton properties.

We reserved a room on the 1st floor Upon check in we were told that they over booked and upgraded us. When we got to the room, our room was right in front of the slides for the pool, so unless I wanted to watch bikinis all day I had to keep my curtains closed. As for the cleanliness, floors were not swept or vacuumed, bathroom sink had dried toothpaste in the bowl, and the TV remote did not work. Then the front door card reader stopped working, my husband couldn't get in. We called maintenance and the front desk for all these issues, all we got was oh I'm so sorry, but nothing was fixed. What help is that? Then finally, check out is 10am, with a grace period as per Kyle. As we were loading the car at 9:30, we saw housekeeping in the breezeway on their phones. We left the room at 10:00, as soon as they saw us go in the elevator, they went into the room. They just stood there outside our door for a half hour waiting for us to leave? That is extremely rude and disrespectful. Like what if I had to go back in there to grab another bag? How do you know that we had fully checked out. I am a paying customer, but the service that this hotel provided is not worth the money. We won't be coming back and we will definitely not refer them to anyone we know.