SAN DIEGO HOTELS
The Centrally-Located San Diego Marriott Del Mar
After a staycation at this family-friendly San Diego hotel, I understand why it’s a popular choice.
Page 40 of 40
My San Diego travel guide will help you plan a trip that suits your budget and interests whether visiting with kids, on business, as a couple or on your own.
This is a brilliant place to start researching the best places to stay, restaurants, museums, outdoor activities, water sports, and other fun things to do.
Start Here
How to Start Planning a Trip to San Diego
People decide where to stay and when to come based on the following things:Flight prices
Hotel prices
Weather and time of year
Preferred neighborhood
Hotel prices often determine which part of town to choose. For example, many families looking for nicer beach resorts choose The Seabird Resort in Oceanside if Hotel del Coronado in Coronado is pricing high. Your activity itinerary typically falls into place once flights and hotels are booked.
When to Come
Best Time to Visit San Diego
Our local’s guide by month will help you decide when to visit San Diego, but here’s a quick run down.Weather
Our average temperature is about 70 degrees year round. Some months are sunnier than others.
May and June can be overcast along the coast in the morning, and sometimes all-day. It’s still shorts weather though.
Mid-July through first or second week of October are typically sunny.
It can rain and it does about 40 days per year.
Layers are always advised.
Price
Shoulder seasons are the best times to plan San Diego travel because the kids are in school and there are no major holidays. These include:
Between Labor Day and mid-October.
First week or two of November.
January after winter break through February (MLK and President’s Day weekends excluded).
Mid-late April to the first week of May.
Plan by Month
Read the guide for your month
San Diego Month by Month
Comic-Con, the County Fair, Kids Free San Diego, whale season, the holidays. What’s happening often decides when to come, so I keep a detailed local’s guide for every month of the year.
Where to Stay
Which San Diego Hotels and Resorts to Choose
No one keeps tabs on San Diego hotels like I do. My lists are put together by neighborhood, travel style, hotel features, and budget. You can upgrade your stay by using the VIP programs I have access to at many 4+ star and luxury hotels around the county.
Traveling With Kids
Family Vacation Considerations
Most of the clients we help are visiting with kids. Because we are also a traveling family, I know what amenities are helpful to families traveling with babies, toddlers, grade schoolers, tweens, and teens. Traveling with multiple generations? No problem; we’ve got you covered.
If you’re traveling with kids, see our full guide for planning a San Diego family trip.
Things to Do
What to Do in San Diego
Whether you are visiting with kids, on your own, as a couple, or on a business trip, you will not run out of things to do. We have plenty of outdoor activities and gorgeous beaches, famous theme parks like the San Diego Zoo, and world-class museums.
Save on Tickets
Save Money with Sightseeing Passes
These are the two most popular sightseeing passes. Go City has way more attractions, but CityPASS is good if you’re going to LEGOLAND and/or SeaWorld.
Free Calculator
Passes vs. Tickets: How Do You Decide?
Pick the attractions you want and we’ll do the math on whether a sightseeing pass or individual tickets saves you more.
Run the Numbers ›
Where to Eat
Where and What to Eat
Our local restaurants have stepped up their game. While you should eat fish tacos and hearty cheap burritos, look forward to colorful farm-to-table cuisine, fresh seafood, local wines, and (lots of) craft beer ranging from fine to casual dining.
Getting Around
General San Diego Travel Tips & Discounts
I estimate that half of the people get rental cars while the other half rely on Uber and public transportation.
Know the Areas
Guide to San Diego County Neighborhoods
Depending on which neighborhoods in San Diego you visit, you might find yourself in a vibrant arts and culture enclave, a charming 1950s-style small-town, or a laid-back beachy paradise. Not sure where to vacation in San Diego? You can find out a lot more about each in our area-specific travel guides.Swipe to explore all 9 neighborhoods ›
La Jolla
This luxurious La Jolla neighborhood is surprisingly laid back. Million-dollar homes sit on cliffs overlooking San Diego’s beautiful beaches, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this San Diego neighborhood is inaccessible! Tourists and residents alike flock to La Jolla (which residents affectionately call ‘the village’) to dine, sightsee, and to watch the famous La Jolla seals and sea lions doing their thing.
Downtown San Diego
The thrumming heartbeat of San Diego can be felt in our urban center. Downtown San Diego is a buzzing neighborhood (which includes the historic Gaslamp Quarter) that has it all, from chic boutiques and fine arts to family fun plus a sizzling nightlife scene. It’s also where you’ll find attractions like Petco Park® (home of the San Diego Padres®) and the New Children’s Museum®. The San Diego Zoo® is just north of downtown.
Coronado
Just across the bay from downtown San Diego, you’ll find Coronado; an exclusive beach community that has a quaint, old-fashioned vibe. There are quiet, tree-lined streets, old-timey storefronts, and friendly sidewalk cafes, plus miles and miles of walking paths, a great public golf course, and plenty of beaches to enjoy. It’s a popular resort destination and home to the iconic Hotel Del Coronado®, which you can enjoy at the Virtuoso rate if you book through me.
Pacific Beach
Called PB by the locals, this San Diego neighborhood is a hub of students, young professionals, and surfers, so the vibe is hip and energetic. In Pacific Beach, you’ll find plenty of flip-flop friendly restaurants and bars — this is definitely the hub of San Diego’s beach culture — along with Pacific Beach hotels catering to every type of traveler. If you’re traveling with kids, there are quieter spots that will still give you access to great restaurants and the boardwalk.
Mission Beach & Mission Bay
This casual San Diego neighborhood is a whole lot of fun! There are amusement parks, including SeaWorld San Diego®, and waveless beaches on Mission Bay that are just perfect for young kids. The paths that wind around this neighborhood are lined with vacation properties. There are great hotels for family travelers in Mission Beach, too. Enjoy plenty of fantastic restaurants, bars, and a hot volleyball scene.
Balboa Park
This area of San Diego boasts the largest urban cultural park in the US. It draws visitors from all over the world who come for the 17 museums, gorgeous gardens, beautiful Spanish-Renaissance architecture, art installations, performances, musical events, and of course, the famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park should be a part of any visit to San Diego — in fact, you could probably spend an entire vacation exploring this area’s attractions.
Del Mar
I used to live in Del Mar and it’s pretty fantastic. You have a long stretch of quintessential SoCal beach with swimming, surfing, volleyball, and even dogs. A couple of coastal hotels like L’Auberge Del Mar put you within walking distance of excellent shops and restaurants. It’s particularly busy during racing season at the track and the early summer San Diego County Fair.
Carlsbad
Known as “The Village by the Sea,” this wealthy San Diego neighborhood has so much to see and do, including LEGOLAND® California. It is a shopper’s paradise and a foodie hotspot, with a huge variety of restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops to enjoy. That said, if you prefer outdoor amusements, Carlsbad also has plenty of gorgeous beaches where you can go to catch a wave and there’s also Carlsbad Lagoon, a popular spot with paddle boarders and kayakers.
Oceanside
We have a lot of people choose Oceanside lately for various reasons. There are two newer beachfront hotels that are part of Hyatt that price lower than many others in the County. Not to mention the beaches are fantastic and all sorts of casual, excellent dining is popping up in the beach area as well. It’s a place where you get more value, if you don’t mind the drive (or Coaster train ride) to downtown attractions.
Before You Go
Good to Know
Getting Around
A rental car is advised, but Uber and Lyft are everywhere. Public transit works for some trips, though it isn’t robust. See our guide to getting around San Diego.
Kids Free in October
Time your visit for Kids Free San Diego, when many attractions, hotels, and restaurants offer free or discounted admission and extras for children throughout October.
Tipping & Sales Tax
Tipping is customary, around 18–20% at restaurants. Sales tax is added at checkout and is not included in listed prices.
San Diego Travel Articles
San Diego
LA JOLLA
Yes, We Have Scorpions in La Jolla
Luckily, our resident scorpions aren’t deadly, but there are precautions to take.
BALBOA PARK
Why You Should Shop at Balboa Park Museum Stores
Consider holiday shopping at Balboa Park museum stores, especially if you have people on your list who are difficult to shop for. Here’s what I found.
SAN DIEGO
The Oldest in San Diego County: Bernardo Winery
Bernardo Winery is a hidden gem with not only a tasting room and fabulous wines, but 12 shops, a cafe, a restaurant and more.
SAN DIEGO RESTAURANTS
San Diego County Wineries: Cordiano Winery for Wine and Pizza
When people visit Cordiano Winery, they talk about great wines, the view, the gracious owners, and the pizza!
SAN DIEGO HOTELS
Grande Colonial La Jolla Hotel Review & What to Expect
The Grande Colonial is a family friendly hotel in La Jolla with a superb location and exquisite food provided by NINE-TEN restaurant. I recommend it.
