Planning 4 nights in San Diego this summer and am clueless about how to even begin picking an area for hotel. We are family with 2 teenagers, will have car, want to see ocean (from near hotel would be nice), will just have come from AZ/UT National Parks and want some creature comforts. Suite would be nice, but not essential - can get 2 rooms. May use Priceline, but they have about 10 areas - including Coronado, Downtown and Harbor Island, Mira Mesa, Miramar, Mission Bay, Mission Valley, Rancho Bernard, Rancho Penasquito, Shelter Island/Point Loma, Torrey Pines/University Center. Can identify these areas on map and can check hotels in zones, but could use some help narrowing down areas to include or exclude. Thanks.

Good a.m. Gail, well they do cover a vast area. Your request at wanting to see the ocean automatically rules out many areas you mention. Depending on the budget, Hotel Del Coronado on the Island is great. With teenagers, Pacific Beach would be good, or Mission Beach area. Not as pricy as Coronado, and a lot for teen-agers to do. Pacific Terrace is on the beach. The Catamaran is across the street. There is also the Bahia on Mission Beach and it is across the street from beach. There is also La Jolla to consider. Trendy, quaint upscale town. Very close to the ocean. May not be as much fun for teens as previously mentioned areas as PB and MB. They are better locations for teens. Boardwalk, roller blading, riding bikes, restaurants you can walk to. More activity. I hope this helps. Shelter/Harbor Island have water views of the bay but not the beach. Closer to the downtown area.

if going with priceline, i'd only put mission beach or coronado (expensive. mission valley is going to be inexpensive but you are surrounded by freeway.
i would suggest you try the pacific terrace (right on the beach) or the catamaran - a block from the beach, lots of restaurants around, on a bay so you can blade, walk, bike around the bay or along the beach of the ocean. has a nice pool area too.

Just returned from San Diego and went through the same problems you are having. Hotel Circle is a great area to stay if you just want a place to stay and will have a car. There isn't a beach view but the hotels are very reasonable. Coronado is pricey and teenagers probably wouldn't like it as well as habor island or SHelter Island. Staying close to the bay is great.

Coronado is best, but very expensive.

Mission Valley is inexpensive but 2 miles from the beach.

Hard to strike a good balance between price and all you want. If price is not an issue, Coronado is the spot for all you want. Could be $400 a night or more though retail. Better deal on Priceline, I'm sure, but maybe nut too much better...

I forgot:

Harbor Island has all you need at good prices, but you must endure airplanes passing nearby every few minutes

I was a teenager in SD, still live her. I am not sure what these people are thinking teens would enjoy about Shelter/Harbor Island. Just a few restaurants and you can walk along the bay but no beach or shops, movies that teens would enjoy. Pacific or Mission Beach would be my first choice, although the only hotels with any kind of creature comforts would be the Catamaran #1 or the Bahia #2 (getting a little old). Here there is an amusement park w/rollercoaster and lots of people watching, shopping, exploring for teens along the boarwalk. In downtown La Jolla teens could find some things to do and the hotels are nicer but probably much more $$$. Coronado would also be a possibility. Again, not as much for teens to do but a very family friendly little town with some very nice hotels.