I will be staying 1 night in San Diego this June. I would love a great place to stay on the beach or close to the beach. Easy access to the airport would also be a plus. Not necessarily close to the airport. Just easy to locate and easy traffic managing if that makes sense. I would like to stay under 150.00 a night but I would go higher for the right place.
Thanks,
Annika

Best Western Blue Seas Lodge in the Mission Beach area- one of the few right on the beach -
rates might be a little higher than 150 though -
have stayed there a couple of times-
was pretty easy to get to from the airport

Best Western Blues Seas Lodge is not available and it is pricey for what you get at $300+ but it is usually sold out all summer with the AZ tourist..
I have 2 Hotels that would fit your budget and are 4 star Hotels in one of the prettiest places on earth.La Jolla.
Cab ride each way is around $25-30
hotellajolla.com
2-3 blocks from the beach and you can get an oceanview King with sweeping views and the beach is gorgeous for swimming and the restaurants are Fab!
georgesatthecove.com
thegrandecolonial.com
Great Hotel in downtown LJ and it is a block away and if you can get a on-line special or corporate rate..
lajolla.com
Anywhere in SD is going to be difficult to find a halfway decent hotel for $150.. The hotel LJ is your best bang for the buck if you can get it for under $200..but if you can get the Grande Colonial for around $200 I would go there first!
Have a wonderful time in our gorgeous city!

Thanks I will look into those! If you think of anything else let me know.
Annika

I have never paid $300 for a room at the Blue Seas Lodge - more like $180
And I loved being right on the beach where I could hear the ocean waves all night long.

Hey annikany..Living here and knowing the best hotel for the price and location is what I try to do.. and if something else pops up, I will respond back to you..
sunbum1944.. it is summer and the rates basically double from June-Sept..
a partial ocean with a King is $295 with a 2 night min. $335 for a King with oceanfront.. this area is ok but for the price and the craziness that goes on there I would go somewhere else to maximize your 1 day here!
Best to you and book quickly because everyone wants to come and be in SD for the summer..

Best Western Blue Sea AAA rate is 206.10 and the place looks just fine! I will keep this in mind. It is available as well. Thank you sunbum!

Hotel Lajolla has AAA rate at 189.00. Also available. This place looks very nice!
Thanks Tahititams!

Anyone else know of a place?

Good advice! I will book tonight.
Annika

Hi annikany..The rate at BW if it is $206 that is a good rate but check first because I just called the hotel and they said that they are sold out and it is a 2 night min. and that rooms start at $295 for a partial ocean view.. heads up on the crowd.. college age and alot of homelessness are around the boardwalk there..I am sure you will be ok but I and others know that it can be dicey..just be careful!
Hotel LJ is a 4* upscale Hotel and the beaches are world renowed and the shopping and restaurants and the scenic beauty cannot be beat anywhere in SD..
Keep us posted..

When I booked the Blue Seas in the past I called the hotel direct and got a better rate than the internet
Also if you are a Costco member they
have a discount rate with Best Westerns so might give them a try.

I know there are some scruffy looking people in that area - but MOST of them looked perfectly normal- families, college kids, I never felt threatened or intimidated.
There is a great boardwalk that goes for miles for walking.
My favorite restaurant is the Green Flash- just a short ways from the hotel.
Outside dining right on the beach .

sunbum1944..
I love the Green Flash! Great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.. the best bloody mary's..
If she can get the rate for $206 or less either from Costco or AAA at the BW that would be great deal but I want her to make sure she gets an oceanfront room..
Best to you..

Hi sunbum and tahititams
The room at Best Western for 206.10 was a partial ocean view. Does that persuade you in one way or the other? I do understand your concerns about the people in the area because I had the pleasure of staying at the Pacific Terrace just a year ago. I loved the beach and the area. I had fun renting a bike and traveling all around the area.I was by myself then too.
However, I have heard from many people how nice it is in Lajolla. I did drive through but did not get to see the beach area and what it has to offer. I am compeled to see this place. The Hotel Lajolla sounds like a great place to stay in the area. Will let you know what I decide.
Thanks for all your help.
Annika

HI annikany..
Since you have already stayed in PB, I would do Hotel LJ for the $189 but make your request for a higher room toward the north end and they have shuttle to take you into downtown LJ and for the gorgeous beach is a 2-3 block walk amongst gorgeous beach houses and the swimming is stellar..visibility is around 30ft+ and there are some restaurants but you really want to walk downtown LJ and sit upstairs for lunch at the Terrace of George's or if you feel like Mexican go to Alphonso's..
Did you try the Grande Colonial?
Sounds like you are going to be by yourself and LJ all the way around is stunning for the short period of time and if you want to rent a Kayak or learn to surf its all there in LJ Shores..
Elario's at the top of the Hotel LJ is really good for dinner too..
Keep us posted and I wish you all the best!

La Jolla is very nice and our favorite area to stay but you said you wanted easy access to the airport. La Jolla is not anywhere near the airport. You ought to stay downtown. There is a beautiful Hyatt (Manchester) where we stayed in Feb. There is also a W Hotel and other chains nearby, all with bay and city views.

I decided to book a room at the Hotel Lajolla. The price was right and the area looks fabulous. I did a map quest on getting to the car rental locale at SAN from the hotel and it's only a 10 mile / 13 minute drive with easy driving directions. That's perfect.
Thanks all for your suggestions.
Annika
I will post back about the hotel and location when I get back.

annikany

I will be looking for your report on your stay at Hotel Lajolla. This hotel is on my short list of possible places to stay when visiting San Diego and I will be most interested in your comments.

TahitiTams - How unhappy will I be if there are no higher room toward the north end as you suggested to annikany.

Thanks for your help.

Sandy

I know TahitiTams loves the Hotel La Jolla, but keep in mind that it is more than a couple of blocks walk to the beach (which you can see on any map) and it's located on a very busy traffic corner.

i'll throw out a few more names to consider in the pacific beach area.
http://www.surfermotorlodge.com/ - nothing fancy but right on the beach
catamaran hotel - 1 block off the beach
ocean park inn

in la jolla, there is also a best western on fay avenue - basic hotel but good location. no ocean view but 1 block from the main area of la jolla

Thanks for your replies. I can see that it is a walk to the beach and that is fine with me. I really don't mind that and I will have a car so I can drive to the beach as well. The place looks so charming on the website. Very inviting to me so I'm going to give it a try. I can deal with a busy street corner as well since it makes for good people watching. (I also love the Hotel Laguna and Waikiki). I like that it has a complimentary shuttle to shops incase I just want to leave the car parked for that. I'm leaving next Wednesday so I want to have a place all set up now but I will look at any other suggestions since their cancellation policy is only 48 hours.
Thanks for the comments they are very helpful. No surprises right!
Annika

Have a great time- La Jolla is beautiful.
A nice place for lunch or breakfast overlooking the cove is Brockton Villa.
Its an old house and not a fancy place-
but good breakfast and great views overlooking the cove.

Since you have a car, drive up the coast highway to Carlsbad- there are many cute beach towns in between-
My daughter lived in Carlsbad for 1 1/2 and I do miss my visits there.
Lunch at Georges is a good recommendation.
Another place I like is the DelMar Plaza
in DelMar- great views and I believe they have a nice happy hour with music.
Sigh- wish I was there too