San Diego hotel choice
 

My husband and I are planning a late April-May trip and we need to choose from the following hotels because of a package:
-Catamaran Mission Bay
-Bahia, Mission May
-Sheraton Hotel/Marina, San Diego Bay
-Courtyard Marriott, Old Town

We're in our 30s, not bringing the children, we love the beach, and plan to do some driving up and down the coast. We do like some "medium" luxury.

Can anyone help us choose?

I can only speak to the Sheraton which I would not consider luxury, but fairly basic. Not a place I'd look forward to staying, more like a roof over my head kinda place. If I were you I'd wade through the reviews of these places on fodors and tripadvisor.com.

I attended a wedding at the Catamaran, and while the prices were luxury, the rooms I saw (friends stayed there) and the service was not. It's on a beach, but not the ocean. Lots of families with kids. Would not pick that.

If you're beach people, I'd stay either on Coronado or in La Jolla. The Scripps Inn in La Jolla gets good reviews and there's even a Best Western there that's in a good location.

I lived in SD for 2 years, and like Pacific Beach. The Crystal Pier Hotel is nice and you stay in rooms actually on the pier over the ocean. It comes highly recommended. But since I lived there, I usually stay in more budget hotels than the crystal pier. Have stayed at the Empress Hotel La Jolla, but it's nothing fancy and needs some updating. But in a prime location. Also like the Hampton Inn but the location in Kearney Mesa is out of the way.

If I were you, I'd pick the Marriott Coronado Island or the Lowe's Coronado Island. Friends stayed at the Lowe's an loved it. My other buddy always stays at the Marriott.

The Crystal Pier is on the beach, the Lowe's is near the beach, and the Marriott is on the bay. All are good choices I've heard.

Otherwise I'd pick the best reviewed hotels on tripadvisor.com.

NYgirl is stating she needs to choose out of the hotels she has listed. Only those is what I am "hearing."

Courtyard Marriot is great location, but not what I would call "medium luxury." Certainly not on the beach more like on the freeway as I recall. The Sheraton is a great location but on the bay across the street from ships restaurants etc.Very close to downtown, Seaport Village the Gaslamp section. Not a bad choice the Bahia and Catamaran are both old, but location is very close to the beach, across the street basically. I would just let tripadvisor make the choice between the 2 and any recent reviews.

Forget Courtyard Marriott..OLd TOwn not the "fun" it used to be and has not so safe areas..not luxery.

Catamaran/Bahia both Mission BAy area about 20 minutes from airport...near Seaworld...NOT the ocean. Bahia has more of a beach resort feel. LOts of cheap local college kids restaurants nearby. Close by BAleen Restraunt at PAradise POint on water..gourmet nice seafood.

Sheraton is across from the airport on San Diego Bay and is the closest to the downtown, Gaslamp restaurant, BAseball stadium and easy access to entire SaN Diego area.. Typical Sheraton with nice amenties and you can walk outside along the Bay, water views. Nice new restraunat Island Prime on water down the street..

I would choose the Sheraton. Even though it's right across the road from the airport, you will hear no airport noise. I prefer rooms on higher floors which face downtown, the view is really great.

Between the Catamaran and Bahia, I would probably go with the Cat. as there's more to do in the surrounding area. While both are situated on Mission Bay, they are across the road from the ocean.