Later this month, my brother’s Navy ship is heading off on deployment.
It’s going to be a long deployment this time, so my parents are flying in from Florida and we’re all driving down to San Diego together to see him off.
Seeing as I’m a travel blogger, you’d be right to guess that I’m planning this down to a T, and sharing my entire process with you all!
This post is about my criteria in searching for hotels in general and the options I found in my search for a San Diego hotel.
I normally travel solo (and write for solo travelers) but this family trip will have to be an exception. Don’t worry though, this post will still have my fellow solo travelers in mind, as will the trip blog series.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase any of my recommended products at the bottom of the post, I will earn a small commission at no extra charge to you. Keep in mind though, that I only post affiliate links to products and services I personally love and use myself! Purchasing through my page ensures that I am able to keep writing useful content for all of you.
Table of Contents
What do I look for in a Hotel?
As a young woman and Millenial, I struggle with keeping the balance between “go budget-friendly so you can travel more often” and “I deserve this! I’m going to treat myself!”
Please don’t tell me I’m the only for whom the struggle is real!
So in this constant battle in trying to treat myself but still stay within budget, there are a few main things I look for in a hotel:
- a fridge in the bedroom for snacks and leftovers 😉
- breakfast
- distance to attractions and must-see places
- pet-friendliness
- amenities
[mailerlite_form form_id=10]
Potential San Diego Hotels
In my plans for this trip to San Diego, one of the first things to pin down is where we’ll be staying so I’m looking at a couple of different places so far.
Holiday Inn Express San Diego South-National City
The Holiday Inn Express San Diego South-National City is one of the options closest to the naval base (and tons of San Diego attractions) so it definitely has that going for it. Luckily it has a pool, gym, and exercise room so it’s not down to the extreme basics when it comes to finding budget-friendly option.
A hot breakfast is included so you get to save some cash on meals – always a plus.
And another added bonus is that it’s pet-friendly!
Dobby is a service dog so she is legally allowed at any hotel but I know lots of you travel with your pets too, so this would be a great place to stay. It’s not only economical and Fido-approved, but also lets you keep your exercise routine without too much interruption.
Quality Inn San Diego I-5 Naval Base
The Quality Inn San Diego I-5 Naval Base is a fair comparison to the Holiday Inn, with access to a gym tennis court, and golf course and near enough to the highway and trolley to visit nearby attractions.
This option also includes a hot breakfast, so if I end up booking our stay here, we’ll have to make sure to have a big meal!
Even though Quality Inn is not pet-friendly, if you’re traveling with a service dog, remember that your right to bring your service dog with you is protected by the ADA.
Best Western Plus Marina Gateway Hotel
It’s dreamy-looking isn’t it?!
The Best Western Plus Marina Gateway Hotel place is another great budget-friendly option and even though they don’t include breakfast, they do have some great amenities.
Best Western is pet-friendly, has a fitness center, and even though we don’t play golf or tennis, the golf course and tennis court would probably make for some great photos.
Not to mention that beautiful lobby!
Loews Coronado Bay Resort
These San Diego hotels are beautiful, but this place is just amazing. Just look at it shining against the sunset sky!
Since we will have some downtime on this trip, I’m considering the Loews Coronado Bay Resort as a splurge option, since it has soooo many amenities!
Being a beachfront hotel with a tennis court, hot tubs, a spa, gym, restaurant and bar/lounge deck, I’m sure we would all find something to keep us busy.
And they’re pet-friendly!
So if you’re looking to treat yourself next time you’re in San Diego with your pooch, know you’ll both be welcome here. 🙂
Oh… and in case I didn’t make a big enough deal about the pool when I mentioned it earlier… check out this pool area!
Restaurants near these San Diego hotels
You need to have a place to sleep, but good food is pretty darn important too so I always make sure to have some good food options close by. ?
Near these hotels I’ve found:
- Family House of Pancakes for some great breakfast options
- Wings & Things Restaurant for some hot wings
- Golden Chopsticks Restaurant for some Chinese food
- Chicken Rotisserie for a fast food option
- Barbecue Pit for some good barbecue
- Hilberto’s Mexican Food because you can’t visit SoCal (especially San Diego) and not have some Mexican food
- Plaza Donuts for an unhealthy but oh-so-good breakfast or snack 😉
[mailerlite_form form_id=10]
TL;DR
With a trip to San Diego right around the corner, I just wanted to let you in on my planning process and the sorts of places I consider when planning a trip. I hope my plans for a trip to San Diego (including my search for San Diego hotels) come in handy for you in case you’re planning a trip to the area soon!
And be sure to check back soon for the second half of this post, where I’ll chat about San Diego attractions!
StephanieCristi’s Top Recommended Travel Products
With all my love,
SC xo
8 thoughts on “San Diego Hotels Without the Headache”