San Diego, CA hotels: best choice?
 

I cannot seem to decide the final choice. Would you help me with your own choice & personal input? Thanks! :-)

We are 36 years old, married 7 yrs with no kids. Hubby isn't much of a swimmer (phobia of deep waters), but we both like the pool. We like to relax on the beach; we don't like wild waves.

Actually, we would like to stay at a hotel on the beach or within short walking distance to the beach. It would be a big plus, if the hotel had nice swimming pools with a tropical feel.

Money isn't an issue with us, but comfort & pleasant enjoyment & relaxation are important to us. "The same old hotel chain" is not our style this time (i.e. Sheraton, Motel 6, etc with NO happy frills & extras).

Actually, we would like to stay at a hotel on the beach or within short walking distance to the beach.

What do you make of these hotels below:

~ Hotel Del Coronado
~ Hilton San Diego Resort
~ Glorietta Bay Inn

Name any other hotels that we may have missed. Thank you so much!! :-)

Ooops, I forgot to mention that we are going to San Diego in the last week of July of '04.

Of those, the Hotel Coronado seems to be the best choice...

Our friends in Phoenix stay at the Gloriette Bay every year and love it. We visited them there a year ago and now want to stay there ourselves. Afternoon tea on the terrace is a lovely way to finish off a relaxing afternoon, and you can walk to any number of nice restaurants from the hotel.

A fun hotel is the Catamaran.

The Glorietta Bay Inn is very nice, but not on the beach. Not a far walk...You cross orange ave (quite wide and busy at that point, then walk thruogh the Del or around the block to the beach.

I think you would like the Hotel Del the best. It is a classic beach resort, on a wide, long, white sand beach (you can walk for about 1/2 hour to the far end), has a nice pool and tennis. The hotel has lots of little shops on site and there are lots of other shops and restaurants within walking distance in Coronado.

Is the Hilton the one on Mission Bay? If so, it is on the bay, not the ocean.
I haven't been there in years, but it always seemed kind of isolated-not near good beaches or good parts of town. The grounds may be nice, but I'll let someone who has been there recently comment.
The new inn at Torrey Pines may also be of interest to you. Absolutely stunning hotel and grounds.

Sorry, I meant to say the Lodge ( not the Inn) at Torrey Pines.

Hi
We stayed at the Hyatt in Mission Bay and really liked it. You could walk to the beach but it a real short drive and usually free parking is available. You are also right around the corner from Sea World, we could watch the fireworks at night from the Hyatt.

Of the three hotels you mention, I would go with the Hotel Del. But, I strongly suggest you take a look at L'Auberge Del Mar in Del Mar.

Forgive me if I'm telling you things you already know. Coronado is an island just over a bridge (and a short ferry ride away) from downtown San Diego. It's wonderful there and there are shops and restaurants on the island. The Hotel Del is historic, famous (watch the movie "Some Like It Hot"-the scenes meant to be in Fla were shot at the hotel Del). You have the benefit of being on the beach and really close to downtown SD. The pool there is large and nice but not what I would call tropical. The only downside is I think some of the rooms at the Del are small and some are not really updated. Have a look at tripadvisor and here for reviews.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines also has a wonderful, big pool but again not so tropical. It's not on the beach (I think a drive away). It's next to a golf course so attracts a lot of golfers. Another "classic" historic (arts and crafts style) but recently "done."

I don't know your other choices. I will be attending a wedding at the Catamaran but haven't been there yet.

You might have a look at the Hotel Parisi in La Jolla. They have some great sounding special packages.

i really like the look and location of the catamaran. 1 block walk to the beach and they are located right on the bay. you can get bay view rooms. the pool area is quite nice and probably the most "tropical" look i've seen in san diego.
the del is very nice for the convenience of the beach but while their pool is large and nice, having all the tourists that come there staring down on me doesn't sound relaxing. many people have commented on the small rooms.
i've always liked the look of glorietta bay and the picture of their pool on the website looks really nice. it's just a short walk to the beach.
the one mentioned above in del mar always gets good reviews but i think it's very high end.

Don't forget the lovely LaValencia in LaJolla. Great pool and location.
M

I think you will be happy if you listen to those who are telling you to stay in La Jolla. San Diego is a confusing, framgmented place. When I toured Hotel Del Coronado, they showed us a guest room that they were proud of (I suppose) but it did not impress me. La Jolla is a delightful place.