I was expecting more
My average rating for this hotel is because they charge a lot for what it is. For 450usd (or less, depending on how many people in your party) you get to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel and it is a HUGE difference!
The Bristol hotel is old and you can tell. The doors, walls, furniture in the lobby and carpets in the hallways are quite TOO old! I felt like I was staying at a hotel for granny's. 
I choosed this hotel based on the good reviews here in Trip Advisor but no one mentioned (or at least the ones I read) that the hotel was old. They really need to change the carpet, remodel the lobby, change the doors and the wallpaper on the walls. I felt ok inside the room but opening the door was terrifying! LOL, I hated that carpet, it was hideous! from 1940s. Along with the doors and the lobby.
Other that that, the hotel is good. It is located near fifth av and the convention center, also the bus and the trolley pass by, so that's very convenient. The room, as I said, was ok, just like that ok. The bathroom doesn't have a ventilator so it get's steamy, the good thing is that the windows of the room can be opened so you can open the windows to prevent the room from getting humid or with odors. The beds are very comfortable! And if you are a girl and always have a hard time with the hotel hair dryers, this has a real one, not the tiny ones attached to the wall that get hot and stop working, a real hair dryer, so that's was also good. We were 3 in my party and I felt the room small, I've been with 3 in bigger rooms than that.
The bathroom was nice, very nice, the floor, the mirror, etc. but it was also very small, the tub was tiny. 
The furniture inside the bedroom was also nice, you can plug in your I-Pod and listen to your music, that was very cool!!!
I couldn't hear any neighbors while in the room, so that was also nice!
The people at the lobby are very friendly, that's also a plus.
So, this is my contribution and I hope it will help you choose your hotel in San Diego. And by the way, no matter what hotel you select, as long as you are staying in downtown, everything is within a decent walking distance! 7 blocks or so, so keep that in mind.