San Diego hotel advice
 

I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in November and attending a convention in San Diego. We will be at the Marriott marina for the conference but then want to go to a different hotel to celebrate my birthday which is also the week of Thanksgiving. Looking for an upscale, unique and innovative experience- we don't golf so that is not important but we enjoy spa services, good food, shopping, etc.
After doing some research I have narrowed it down to the following:
Grand Del Mar
Hotel Parisi
Hotel Valencia

Open to other suggestions as well. Thanks!

Grand Del Mar is gorgeous, great spa and food, and the best rooms in SD. (I'm a travel agent & local, and have seem most of these) but not sure what else you want to do? Safari Park is nice in November, too cold for beaches. Old town is fun, and hop over to Coronado of coarse for a look through the Del and eat lunch or dinner at Peohe's.

Lodge at Torrey Pines is really nice-and good ocean vista views-you might want to look at that.

Hotel Parisi is right down in La Jolla, so if you like shopping, it's great, but you will have to deal with traffic every afternoon. Valencia is older, but the views are the best of all of your choices.

Happy Birthday!

Thanks for your response-We will have a car so I guess we can easily get to La Jolla if we stay at the Grand Del Mar. If we stay in La Jolla it sounds like you would recommend La Valencia?

Oh-so different! Valencia is small lobby, and smaller hotel with older but nice rooms. Great views of the ocean-

Grand has NO ocean view rooms,it looks like a Tuscan Village with fountains and larger grounds and pools. Since it will be too cold to do pool/beach things you may want the La Jolla location and views-and you can acess the walkway along the cove. November is usually very pleasant weather-cold at night though-bring a coat!

You never know, it could easily be beach weather in November.

I'd pick La Valencia from your short list. You can walk to shopping and multiple excellent restaurants, not to mention La Jolla Cove, from the hotel.

I assumed you meant La Valencia, but you may mean Rancho Valencia which is great, but like the Grand you have to drive to anywhere else. I'd take Rancho Valencia over the Grand.

In November, the ocean water is too cold for dipping much more than a toe in it, but the beaches are still great for walking-or sitting if the weather is hot, always a possibility here.

The Estancia is a really lovely hotel with a great spa and excellent dining. It is up by UCSD, so about 5 minutes into La Jolla proper.

Agreed that Rancho is far nicer and beautiful than the Grand, but that's more for tennis, spa, golf and peaceful relaxation. La V would be more for shopping and in town stuff and lovely ocean views - I love it too!

Thanks for your comments- I think La Valencia in La Jolla will be the best bet for that time of year.

Any ideas for a special birthday dinner-what's the best in San Diego?

What kind of food?

I really enjoy the Fish Market / Top of the Market for seafood.