By Katie Dillon • Last Modified: October 13, 2024
No one knows more about San Diego hotels than I do.
If you’re looking for hotel advice, you’re in the best place possible. There isn’t anyone who keeps tabs on San Diego hotels as well as I do. I talk to readers and clients about where to stay daily and have contacts at most of the hotels listed below who keep us up to date. Plus, I live in San Diego, and I lived in a luxury hotel, so I know what a good stay should be like. I can also offer awesome value-added benefits at some of the hotels and resorts across the county (and the world) at no extra cost to you.
What you’ll find here
My Favorite San Diego Hotels
If you’re going to ask me what my favorite San Diego hotels are, they are here, and you can click to read my full reviews on each of them:
I believe that hotels can make or break a vacation. These are chosen because I can offer value-added perks and have people behind the scenes who take care of guests who book through me. I trust the service and have had my own positive stays. Just because a hotel isn’t mentioned here doesn’t mean it’s not great — I tried to keep this list short.
After taking a look at my San Diego hotel reviews and lists, if you decide to choose a hotel in my portfolio (these are clearly marked), you’ll have access to extra benefits at no extra cost to you that I can share as an Independent Affiliate of Cadence Travel. If you want to shop now, check out my San Diego Virtuoso hotel page. You can send me your dates for Four Seasons and our higher-end Hyatts, as we need to manually book these hotels to attach the extra benefits for you.
Top Areas to Stay In
These are the most popular areas that people choose when they’re wondering where to book hotels in San Diego.
Tip: Read my full write-up on where to stay in San Diego.
How to Choose the Right San Diego Hotel for Your Trip
San Diego is as laid back as it is beautiful, but it’s also a sprawling, busy city. There are amazing San Diego hotels in just about every neighborhood that run the gamut from ultra-luxurious to budget-friendly.
Because of its size, where to stay in San Diego can be tricky, and there are usually some trade-offs involved. Ask yourself these questions to narrow down the choices.
You will have to find a balance as there is no one-size-fits-all San Diego hotel. Through the content I have written on this site, you should be able to find a hotel after you really think about your needs. If you’re a list person, I have about 30 for you to read.
What Determines Price?
(Aka, why can San Diego hotels be so expensive?)
Understanding what influences price can help you narrow your search. Here are the factors.
Tip: I think that between Labor Day and mid-October is the best time of year to visit because the weather is typically still sunny and hotel prices are lower.
Before selecting a hotel, you must decide how important beach access is. It may surprise you to know that despite our 70 miles of coastline, we actually don’t have that many truly beachfront hotels.
Even a budget hotel on the beach or near the beach may price much higher than a like hotel in other parts of the country, especially during peak season. One of the things that drives San Diego hotel prices is the proximity to the beach, so keep that in mind when looking at rates.
If you must be on the beach, our best full-service resort is Hotel del Coronado (even with its ongoing renovation), and its luxury enclaves Shore House at The Del and Beach Village at The Del. In fact, the latter is the most luxurious beach vacation possible in San Diego County.
If you prefer La Jolla or would like a more relaxed beachfront hotel experience, sister properties La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club (LJBTC) and La Jolla Shores Hotel are located on my favorite beach. LJBTC has a private beach area with food and beverage service and rooms as close as you can get to the beach in San Diego. Both are three-star properties, but we love staying in them for the experience, which you’ll understand by reading my article on activities possible at La Jolla Shores Beach.
There are waveless bay beaches in Mission Bay, a water sports haven, that are not to be confused with our Pacific Ocean beaches. Mission Bay hotels are popular because they price reasonably (relatively speaking) and provide people access to water. However, some are not short walks (or walkable at all) to the ocean beach. Catamaran Resort Hotel is an exception that give guests easy access to both beach types.
My Top Picks for Hotels on the Beach
Hotel del Coronado
Beach Village at The Del
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club
La Jolla Shores Hotel
Pacific Terrace
Catamaran Resort
Shore House at The Del
Alila Marea Resort Encinitas
Mission Pacific
The Seabird Resort
The Best Time to Book San Diego Hotels
We are lucky to have gorgeous weather year-round. There’s really no off-season, so occupancy rates in the best hotels in San Diego almost always tend to be high.
My advice generally is this. Book your hotel as soon as you know your dates. When you do this, make sure the rate is a cancelable rate. If rates drop, you can have the rate adjusted by the hotel (I do this for my clients all the time) or cancel and rebook.
The reason is that San Diego hotel rates usually rise closer to the date, especially during peak season. Things slow down a little bit in September after Labor Day, early November before Thanksgiving, early December before winter break, and January after winter break through the week before President’s Day weekend.
If you’re wondering what the cheapest days of the week are, it’s usually Sunday–Thursday, assuming none of these days fall on a holiday or school break.
My Top Picks for More Moderately Price Hotels
La Jolla Shores Hotel
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club
Catamaran Resort
Mission Pacific
The Seabird Resort
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Andaz San Diego
The Pearl Hotel
Carte Hotel
Bahia Resort Hotel
Research and Book on your own
We offer two tools if you’d like to research hotels with VIP programs on your own.
In both cases, you’ll need to understand the occupancy and bedding of the room or suite you’re booking. You can find this information on a hotel’s website directly. We’ll receive your reservation within minutes and will follow up to help make sure everything is correct.
Virtuoso
You will need to create a free account and log in to see the most accurate rates.
Travelwits
This tool allows you to see other VIP rates, such as Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Hyatt Prive, in addition to Virtuoso.
Best Hotels in San Diego for Families
There are so many fantastic things to do in San Diego with kids, so it’s no surprise that many families choose it as their vacation destination. I’ve carved out a niche for helping visitors plan San Diego family vacations because I have a lot of opinions about kid-friendly amenities. I’m a big believer in win-win.
The hard part isn’t finding San Diego hotels that welcome kids — it’s figuring out which of the best kid-friendly hotels in San Diego is right for your family. You can read more about the decision tree I walk people through in my San Diego family vacation guide.
You’ll find many hotels in the area catering to little ones with kid-friendly amenities such as fun swimming pools, kids’ programs, water slides, and babysitting services. Some even have game rooms and equipment rentals for activities like biking and surfing. Many on-site restaurants also offer kids’ menus, so you don’t have to worry if you have picky eaters on your hands.
All the best hotels in San Diego mentioned in the beachfront section above are family-friendly. If you don’t mind injecting chaos into your family vacation, the LEGOLAND Hotel and LEGOLAND Castle Hotel will blow a child’s mind. They are fun places, but not relaxing for parents. 🙂
My Top Picks for Family Resorts
La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club
Catamaran Resort
The Seabird Resort
San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Bahia Resort Hotel
Hotel del Coronado
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
Omni La Costa Resort
Park Hyatt Aviara
Four Seasons Aviara
Find Your Fit
What Our Clients are saying…
San Diego Hotels Articles
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Sheraton La Jolla Review: Who Stays at This Hotel & Why
Before you book your stay at Sheraton La Jolla, read my in-depth review to learn about the hotel and ensure it’s the best place for your trip. -
Embassy Suites San Diego La Jolla Review: Who Stays Here & Why
Learn why people choose Embassy Suites La Jolla and what to expect at the hotel and in the surrounding area when you stay there. -
Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Review for Golfers, Families, & Business Travel
Learn why you should (or shouldn’t) stay at Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines with this detailed review. -
11 Things to Do at Fairmont Grand Del Mar During the Holidays (2024)
The winter holidays at Fairmont Grand Del Mar will feature outdoor ice skating, a Nutcracker holiday tea, and more. -
14 Best Shelter Island San Diego Hotels and Other Nearby Options
An overview of the four Shelter Island San Diego hotels plus ten other good options in nearby Point Loma and by the airport. -
11 Best Hotels Near Sesame Place San Diego That Are Wallet-Friendly
A list of the best hotels near Sesame Place San Diego that are affordable and family-friendly in the Chula Vista area. -
10 Best Casinos & Casino Hotels in San Diego County
Try your luck at one of the popular casinos on this list. Some are simple while others offer lavish amenities like spas, pools, and hotels. -
Shore House at the Del Review & Very Detailed Guide: Your Access to VIP Rates
Why we prefer the Shore House at The Del neighborhood at Hotel del Coronado and what you’ll get that main resort guests won’t. Plus, how to book with our VIP perks. -
18 Things to Do at Hotel del Coronado During the Holidays in 2024
An always up-to-date list of Hotel del Coronado holiday events and activities at San Diego’s most popular beach resort. -
Mission Pacific Hotel Oceanside: Review & How to Book VIP
Learn why Mission Pacific is one of my favorite Oceanside hotels and why you’d book with Hyatt Prive benefits for extra value. -
8 Best Hyatt Hotels in San Diego Our Readers and Clients Book Most
My top picks for Hyatt hotels in San Diego include one of our best luxury resorts, three beachfront options, and downtown hotels. -
11 Best Marriott Hotels in San Diego
Earn and use Bonvoy points at these best Marriott hotels in San Diego from luxury to boutique.
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