This is our third stay at the Bristol. We like it because it's just around the corner from a trolley stop and there are various attractive dining options nearby. We like the Mendocino Farms Deli and the Corner Bakery Cafe.
We travel to the area by train, so we have no experience with the valet parking. The Bristol is a few blocks from the Santa Fe train station, which you can reach by trolley or by walking.
Downtown San Diego, like all big cities, has its share of street people. You will have to deal with the sight of them if you want to use the trolley or walk to other amenities in the area. I don't feel unsafe when I'm there, but your mileage may vary.
We book a room with 2 double beds. We have found the beds to be comfortable. Our room this time was on the 7th floor, and we found it to be very quiet. The TV was probably about 55 inches and it worked well.
The young woman who checked us in did not seem very happy to be there. We were the only guests in the front desk area at the time, but she did the bare minimum to check us in and seemed annoyed that we asked how to get to the elevator. Other than that, our stay was pleasant and we would happily stay at the Bristol again.