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In San Diego, you could plan a luxurious vacation at the beach, staying at a resort with panoramic ocean views, private balconies, and a full-service spa. Or you could stay Downtown, steps from the bustling Gaslamp Quarter, in a modern hotel featuring lively rooftop pools, complimentary wine receptions, and high-tech entertainment systems. But with some flexibility—maybe opting for a partial-view room a quick drive from the action—it's possible to experience San Diego at half the price.
Sharing the city’s postcard-perfect sunny skies are neighborhoods and coastal communities that offer great diversity; San Diego is no longer the sleepy beach town it once was. In action-packed Downtown, luxury hotels cater to solo business travelers and young couples with trendy restaurants and cabana-encircled pools. Budget-friendly options can be found in smaller neighborhoods just outside the Gaslamp Quarter such as Little Italy and Uptown.
You'll need a car if you stay outside Downtown, but the beach communities are rich with lodging options. Across the bridge, Coronado's hotels and resorts offer access to a stretch of glistening white sand that's often recognized as one of the best beaches in the country. La Jolla offers many romantic, upscale ocean-view hotels and some of the area's best restaurants and specialty shopping. But it's easy to find a water view in any price range: surfers make themselves at home at the casual inns and budget stays of Pacific Beach and Mission Bay. If you're planning to fish, check out hotels located near the marinas in Shelter Island, Point Loma, or Coronado.
For families, Uptown, Mission Valley, and Old Town are close to SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, offering good-value accommodations with extras like sleeper sofas and video games. Mission Valley is ideal for business travelers; there are plenty of well-known chain hotels with conference space, modern business centers, and kitchenettes for extended stays.
When your work (or sightseeing) is done, join the trendsetters flocking to Downtown's Gaslamp Quarter for its eateries, lounges, and multilevel clubs that rival L.A.'s stylish scenes.
With antique furniture, pull-chain toilets, and a veranda overlooking Old Town State Historic Park, the Cosmo offers guests a taste of Victorian-era living. A restoration in 2010 brought back the 1860s, but with air-conditioning and Wi-Fi, and some rooms have walk-in showers while others have claw-foot bathtubs; some have full closets, while others have wall hooks.
Clean and comfortable, the Crowne Plaza may not have the frills of downtown hotels and coastal resorts, but it's a reliable pick for budget-minded visitors. A popular conference location with more than 30,000-square-feet of meeting space, the hotel is best for business travelers and guests looking for an affordable and modest jumping-off point for exploring what San Diego has to offer.
A few blocks from the ocean and Girard Avenue's upscale shops, this five-story hotel blends Southern California beach style with a touch of European flair, making it one of the more affordable and convenient options in La Jolla. Bright and airy rooms have hypoallergenic beds, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, local artwork, microwaves, and small refrigerators. Thoughtful touches are in the soft and fluffy robes, slippers, towels, and pillows that adorn the contemporary turquoise and beige rooms. For more space and perks, upgrade to a suite with a separate living room, wet bar, and Jacuzzi tub. Guests can dine in at the hotel's Italian restaurant, Manhattan of La Jolla, or order room service.
The main building on this property is an Edwardian-style mansion built in 1908 for sugar baron John D. Spreckels, who once owned much of Downtown San Diego. Rooms in the mansion and in the newer motel-style buildings are quaintly furnished; some have patios or balconies. The inn is adjacent to the Coronado harbor and near many restaurants and shops, but it's much smaller and quieter than the Hotel Del, across the street. Complimentary breakfast is served each morning; coffee, tea, and fruit are available throughout the day; and seasonal afternoon refreshments make for a nice pick-me-up (hot chocolate during the winter and lemonade on hotter days).
This former budget motel has transformed into a contemporary hotel-motel with modern furnishings, a stylish restaurant and lounge, a fitness center, and even a hair salon. The brightly colored rooms are outfitted with pillow-top beds and interesting wall art; suites offer wet bars and some have marble bathrooms with whirlpool tubs. The on-site restaurant, the Glass Door, has fourth-floor harbor views, a stellar weekend brunch, and late-night happy hours. Complimentary shuttle service is available to the airport, cruise terminal, and convention center.
