I've just spent an hour looking thru posts on this topic and still cannot decipher where to go in San Diego. My husband and 5yr old son.
Coming in August for 3 days on my way to Maui. We love the Beach and a nice pool as well. However, I imagine we will try to visit Sea World, the Zoo, Legoland. Maybe all or just one. I like upscale hotels but not two businesslike. I'm leaning towards Coronado area but am having trouble understanding the difference between that area, La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Mission Bay. The Catamaran seems nice too. Typically we like to visit an attraction in early am and hang out at pool/beach in afternoon. Restaurants are not a big priority because with a little one we are limited with time. So nice casual good food but not overly fancy. We have a car. I'd like to keep budget to 200 per night and definetly not more than 300. Any advice, tips would be greatly appreciated.
Janine/Long Island NY

I would suggest the Pacific Terrace Inn in Pacific Beach. It's upscale without being stuffy, right on the beach, huge ocean view rooms, nice pool and right by Sea World. We read lots of good reports on this site and tripadvisor and stayed there last year and liked it a lot. They have a good website that shows you the whole place in detail.

Whoops, I guess It's called the Pacific Terrace Hotel.

Coronado & La Jolla are two of the more upscale communities in San Diego. Coronado has some nice beaches and is about a ten minute drive to downtown San Diego (Gaslamp District, zoo, Seaport Village). La Jolla is about a 20 minute drive from downtown. The community has some beautiful coastal views (La Jolla Coves) and a protected beach for seals (Children's Pool). Mission & Pacific Beach lie between La Jolla & Coronado. These two communities are your more typical California beach towns and are connected by a boardwalk, used by joggers, skateboarders and bicyclists. These communites would be the closest to Sea World. Recommended resorts would include the Hotel Del Coronado & the Marriott (Coronado); Catamaran & Bahia Resort (Mission Beach); Pacific Terrance & Ocean Park Inn (Pacific Beach); La Jolla Shores Inn (La Jolla). I would consider all these resorts "upscale" and they all should have their own web-sites. For your consideration, the Ocean Park Inn has no pool but sits right on the beach, as does the Pacific Terrace, which has a small pool. Best bet for a resort on the beach with a nice pool would probably be the Hotel Del Coronado.

janinelouie:

You have received some valuable information from poster sceneisle however one small correction The Ocean Park Inn does have a pool but it is small. Details at www.oceanparkinn.com. This hotel is right on the beach and close to the life guard station. When we stayed it cost less $$ than the Pacific Terrace Hotel. Also free under ground parking at The Ocean Park Inn and adequate breakfast. Go to www.tripadivsor for reviews. If you want the beach and boardwalk this is the area.

Our most recent stay was at The Inn at Sunset Cliffs which has 24 rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Completely renovated and beautiful views. Wonderful cliff walks from here. Inn has a big pool and wonderful area to sit and view the ocean. No beach access or boardwalk. www.innatsunsetcliffs.com Don't be put off by the room prices on their website I found that part was not working correctly and I phoned and got a much lower rate. Staff here was very friendly. Breakfast is only served on the weekend but their is coffee provided daily.

Also look at www.sandiego.org which is the official tourist website for lots of information, coupons and discounts at hotels.

Your family and little son will love San Diego. Do report back.

Sandy

A word of advice. San Diego's peak season is July and August. The town, and the beaches, are jammed packed and hotel prices are very high. Make your rezzies ASAP. Pacific Beach will be very expensive and crowded. Fun though, and a bit noisy bc there are kids and people everywhere.

pacific terrace hotel always gets good reviews. so does the ocean park inn for the price. i love the location of the catamaran. right on the bay and 1 block to the beach. the pool area is nice. some people who like upper scale hotels say they were disappointed considering the price. some friends stayed and they were pleased but they aren't that fussy. one hesitation i'd have with la jolla with kids is there is a decent size hill you need to go up when coming from the cove. i wouldn't want to have to carry the kids. consider the glorietta bay hotel in coronado.

i would also add that the pacific/mission beach areas are much more kid friendly, especially restaurant wise then la jolla or coronado.

Thank you everyone for the great info.
So helpful. Keep it coming please. I hope to be able to decide soon with what you all have told me. Definetly will report back.

Best, Janine

Hi I went to San Diego lastAugust and did lots of research before deciding on the Bahia Hotel in Mission Bay. It is on the Bay but a short walk to the beach. Sea World is right there, and you can day trip to Coronado, La Jolla, Seaport Village. This area is more casual with lots of nice restaurants. The hotel is very resort-like, not a high rise hotel, and I suggest you get a suite, some people have complained about the regular rooms. Where on LI are you from?

Forgot to mention there's a small amusement park on the beach near the Bahia

I would go with the Catamaran. Nice hotel, GREAT location and GREAT pool area for kids. The Bahia is owned by the same company but a much older property.

Hi We stayed in the Pacific Terrace 3 years ago. It was very nice, but outside of the hotel I was not that comfortable taking my then 5 and 8 year old children. A year ago we stayed at the Loews Coronado and loved it. I find Coronado very kid friendly, and if you have a car it is 15 minutes to the SD Zoo, 20 Min to Sea World, and 45 minutes to Legoland. We originally had reservations for the Hotel Del, but got a really good rate with Loews. Less than $200/ night. We would sight see in the morning and get back to the great pool and La Cantina( there fabulous poolside restaurant) by the afternoon. The staff at the hotel was very accomadating- even bringing my 10 year old son a putting green and ice cream sundae to our room for his birthday. San Diego is great! Mission Beach/ Pacific Beach gives you the true southern cal flavor, but with young children I would highly recommend Coronado. I hope this helps. Have a great trip.

Well I just came back to the message that I posted after a long week of unrelated home stuff and see more info on my sandiego question. Thank you. I ended up booking the Catamaran and now am wondering if maybe the Loews Coronado might be a better choice. I decided over the Bahia because I wanted to be closer to the beach. Now I've just got a regular room at the catamaran. Do you think spending more $ for an upgraded room is worth it?
I'm going to go back now and reconsider the Loews. Any other replies, I'd be grateful.