10 Interesting Hotels in San Diego
San Diego is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the USA (especially among locals). This city, nestled in the southwestern corner of the USA, right next to Tijuana across the Mexican border, offers a huge variety of attractions for the whole family. San Diego combines all possible accommodation options – beach resort getaways, urban hotels downtown, motels from familiar chains near Balboa Park and SeaWorld, and unique lodging in La Jolla and Pacific Beach.
So before you rush to find a flight to San Diego, want to get to know the city at the southwestern tip of the USA?
For the complete travel guide to San Diego, click here…
Looking to book a place to stay in San Diego already? Click here to check availability and prices at San Diego hotels…
Great Urban Hotels in Downtown San Diego
Kimpton Alma San Diego, an IHG Hotel
The Kimpton Alma is the flagship hotel of the British hospitality giant IHG in San Diego. It's a five-star hotel located right in the heart of downtown, on Broadway and Fifth Avenue. The hotel boasts large and modern rooms, high culinary standards both at breakfast and throughout the day, a cool rooftop pool for guests, a spacious lobby, and more. The modern design of the hotel sets it apart from the InterContinental, the luxury brand of the chain, even though the service level and facilities are identical.
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Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
The Marriott Marquis is a four-star hotel in the most perfect location in San Diego. The hotel is situated right on the San Diego Marina, close to the Convention Center (home of Comic-Con) and Seaport Village. The hotel features large, stylish rooms with stunning views of the marina's boats and yachts. Besides the breathtaking view, the hotel boasts excellent culinary offerings, a large lobby with plenty of public amenities, and a particularly fun and large outdoor pool next to the marina.
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Pendry San Diego
The Pendry is a large and high-quality urban luxury hotel, positioned on the edge between the Marina and Downtown San Diego. The hotel is five-star rated, featuring large, luxurious rooms, high-level culinary standards, a giant and indulgent rooftop pool, and many more high-standard facilities and services. The hotel offers a great abundance of luxuries yet is an integral part of the Downtown San Diego area, making it an excellent base for a city center tour.
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Hotel Z – A Staypineapple Hotel
Hotel Z is a special urban hotel with a three-star rating, located in the heart of the trendy Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. The hotel is situated on Sixth Avenue, right by the central Market Street, in a building painted with unique pastel colors. From the hotel, you can reach the San Diego Marina and the Embarcadero with an easy ten-minute walk. The hotel features stylish rooms, a not-too-large lobby, and a breakfast restaurant, all showcasing pineapple-inspired design. The hotel is considered one of the best and most cost-effective in central San Diego, offering great value for what you pay.
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Beachfront Resort Hotels in San Diego
Pacific Terrace Hotel
Pacific Terrace is a large four-star resort hotel, just a minute's walk from Crystal Pier, the heart of the popular Pacific Beach. It's a unique resort with rooms designed in a meticulous Spanish Colonial style. The hotel features a charming pool right next to the beach and, of course, a beachfront across the Ocean Front Walk, the district's narrow and beautiful boardwalk. The hotel combines a peaceful and pleasant beach atmosphere, ensuring a great guest experience in both design and service.
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Ocean Park Inn
The Ocean Park Inn is a perfect blend of a three-star motel (including free parking, of course) and a resort hotel. Located on the beach line of the popular Pacific Beach district, it’s just a short walk south from Crystal Pier. The hotel offers typical and spacious motel rooms, a basic but really good breakfast, a small pool surrounded by the rooms, and a small lobby. But the huge advantage is, of course, the beach being just a half-minute walk from your room.
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Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton
Hotel del Coronado is probably the most iconic and well-known hotel institution in San Diego. It's one of the largest and most popular resorts for vacations in Southern California and a central symbol of the city (just be prepared for the steep prices). This vintage hotel opened in 1888 and has since undergone several renovations. Although it's an old facility, it's undoubtedly a full California experience, not only because of the hotel's unique appearance but especially due to the magnificent beach it's located on. The hotel is currently owned by the prestigious Hilton brand, Curio, with a four-star rating. There's a large and fun pool, but the beach is undoubtedly the main attraction, along with the stunning resort view built like a colonial Spanish palace.
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Good Motels Near the Center of San Diego
Holiday Inn Express San Diego – Sea World Area, an IHG Hotel
The Holiday Inn Express is a roadside hotel by brand standards, at the most strategic location for families in San Diego, between Old Town San Diego and the giant SeaWorld Aquarium. The two-and-a-half-star brand of the British hotel giant offers a very comfortable hotel with large rooms (with two queen or king beds), a basic breakfast included in the price, a small lobby, and that's it. While the hotel is not unique (there are a million of them worldwide), due to its location, high standard, and of course the affordable price, it is definitely worth considering if you're visiting San Diego with kids.
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Humphreys Half Moon Inn
The Humphreys Half Moon Inn is a unique accommodation that combines a motel with Caribbean-style ground-floor rooms together with a roadside hotel. The three-star hotel/inn is located next to the massive marina of Shelter Island in Point Loma, north of downtown. The hotel has large rooms with a private garden, offering views of boats and yachts, a particularly fun restaurant also overlooking hundreds of sailboat masts, a huge interior courtyard among the rooms with gardens and palm trees, and of course, a fun pool in the heart of the garden. The hotel is a perfect experience for those who love an almost Caribbean atmosphere and especially a vibrant marina view.
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Hilton San Diego Airport / Harbor Island
The Hilton Hotel on Harbor Island is the perfect blend of tons of features that make it one of the most economical choices in the city. The hotel is located on Harbor Island, right next to the city's international airport and a large marina filled with boat masts. The three-star hotel offers the advantages of an airport business hotel, along with motel benefits, primarily its large and free parking right next to it. The hotel also boasts resort-like qualities, with high rooms offering stunning views of the marina on one side and downtown on the other. It's not a luxury facility, but the hotel has plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the scenery.
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6 Tips from Guy for a Perfect Stay in San Diego
San Diego is California's fun city. The city is full of unique tourist attractions like the world's largest zoo, the legendary SeaWorld, the popular Comic-Con convention at the convention center, and the rare quality museum row in Balboa Park. The city's downtown is mainly known for the trendy Gaslamp Quarter, nearby the waterfront and harbor, where the iconic Midway aircraft carrier is located. To the north, the historic Old Town is the base of California's settlement. The city offers plenty of options for family trips, a unique urban vibe, and a popular recreational area on the beautiful cliffs of La Jolla.
San Diego has a plethora of accommodations, from beachy hotels with atmosphere, to urban hotels in high-rises, and serene motels along major thoroughfares. Since it's impossible to explore San Diego in just one day, it's definitely recommended to find a place to stay in the city. The location should also consider vehicle and parking aspects.
- City Hotels in Downtown San Diego and Gaslamp Quarter – In the heart of San Diego, you can find classic American downtown hotels, including boutique hotels rated four stars, standard hotels rated three stars, and luxury hotels of the major international chains. Most of the hotels in Downtown are located in the Gaslamp Quarter, between Seventh and Fourth avenues in Downtown San Diego.
- Coronado – Another unique place to stay is the Hotel del Coronado. This spectacular resort in the vacation city of Coronado on the scenic island is just a 10-minute drive from Downtown San Diego. It's one of the most famous historic resorts in Southern California. The hotel was built in 1888 and has since become a symbol of luxury and leisure.
- Unique Hotels in La Jolla – In La Jolla Village, unique hotels for a vacation in the heart of the central area above the famous coves. This is the lively area of the city north of downtown San Diego.
- Resort Hotels at Pacific Beach – The Pacific Beach district, north of downtown San Diego, features a long sandy coastline ideal for a getaway. The beachfront hotels include a pool and direct access to the charming beach. These aren't modern resorts or hotels but are very popular among the local population.
- Motels and Hotels in Mission Valley on Highway I-8 near Old Town San Diego – The large motel sector of Mission Valley offers very convenient accommodations in an excellent location in San Diego. Along Highway 8, there are numerous motels from all major hotel chains. The location in Mission Valley is just a short drive from the city's attractions such as SeaWorld, Balboa Park, Old Town, and downtown.
- When to Visit San Diego – The weather in Southern California is perfect. In San Diego, it’s never too hot or too cold; winters are very pleasant, and in summer, the average temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius. The city is lively and vibrant all year round, with swimmers at the ocean beaches even in winter (mostly surfers, as the water is cool year-round), but in summer, the beaches in San Diego neighborhoods and surrounding areas become a vacation hotspot for relaxation.
Where to Stay in San Diego?
- For families, the giant Balboa Park is the place to be. It is home to the famous San Diego Zoo, the largest urban zoo in the world. The zoo was built as part of the Panama-California Exposition, and today the Expo pavilions have become home to the city's important museums.
- Downtown San Diego hugs the San Diego Bay, which opens to the Pacific Ocean between Coronado and Point Loma. It's a sheltered bay that has become one of the key bases of the U.S. Navy. Nearby are massive military bases, with a plethora of attractions directly related to the U.S. military, right under the shadow of the (modest) skyscrapers of downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter.
- The beach in Coronado to the south and Pacific Beach to the north have become popular lounging destinations, with wide sandy beaches packed with bathers and sunbathers.
Map of recommended areas to find a hotel in San Diego
