Hotel In San Diego close to the beach, Family Friendly?

[goingquackers]

I posted a similar question last week, but we had a change in plans. (Thanks to all for the help!) We are scrapping legoland in favor more time in San Diego.

We are spending 5 nights in DLR, then 3 nights in San Diego and back to DLR for 5 nights.

Can anyone recommend a hotel? I would love to be close to a Family friendly beach, would like something more of a “resort” style and not a business class hotel. Preferably close to shops and restaurants. We never been to San Diego and I am totally lost. So much different information is out there. Fellow DISers should be able to help.

Thanks!

 

[jenniferrose]

This place came highly recommended to me: http://www.paradisepoint.com/

They stayed there with their 3 kids under 5 years old so I would say it is family friendly!

I have not tried it out yet but the website looks amazing and the prices don't seem too outrageous for staying right on the beach. I LOVE San Diego. Have fun!!

 

[skiingfast]

First you should know that San Diego is not centralized like Chicago. You won't easily find a place to stay that is near the beach, dining and shopping. Be prepared to drive daily.

The only "resort" place the comes to mind is the Hotel Del Cornado. It's historical and on a perfect beach. It's not by shopping or dining. It's expensive but probably the closest to what you are looking for.

The Other place that are more hotel/motels but near shopping dining and an ok beach. All walking is in La Jolla near the cove the beach is great but not a strip of yellow sand like you probably think of. The places that are right in the sweet spot are on Coastal and Prospect streets. It's a nice place, fancy shops and expensive resturaunts.

The other place that is less expensive but has a nice beach is Pacific Beach. It's not touristy but has more mixed commercial stores resturaunts.

There are also hotels in down town SD but they get more business like. There is a little shopping area next to downtown. I forget the name but it is on a marina and has a carousel.

 

[kkmcan]

I second the Paradise Point Resort! We stayed there this past March and it was amazing! We originally booked a Lanai patio room and upgraded to a beach front room on our second night. It changed our whole vacation just doing that! You literally walk out the door onto the sand. There are adirondack chairs at each door for your beach use. We would take our coffee out there and walk up and down the beach in the morning. The kids played out there all day.

It is a huge resort since there is no high rise tower. There are several pools, tennis courts, bike rentals, even a mini golf course.

We are staying there again next month for a couple nights after our DL trip. I can't wait!

 

[disneymom23]

This place came highly recommended to me: http://www.paradisepoint.com/


We stayed there last spring break. It was very nice. I have 3 children. There was a king size bed, a queen sofa sleeper and a rollaway. The grounds were beautiful. There were fun activities- smores, mini-golf. It is located near Sea World. It was pretty centrally located. Nothing was more than 20 minutes away. We did the zoo, sea world, old town. San Diego is beautiful.

 

[KCmike]

Hotel Del Coronado. Very expensive but very worth it. Consistently rated as best family beach in California. Still my kids' favorite vacation when coupled with Disneyland. There are shops and places to eat on Coronado. The Grand Floridian at WDW used this look to build theirs. Take a look.

The courtyard

Other notes. Marilyn Monroe filmed Some Like it Hot there. Every President has stayed there as well as other famous people.
The pool is saltwater. There are also shops on the premises as well as restaurants as well as an ice cream shop. If you have any questions feel free to ask. They usually run a buy 2 nights get the third night free. I will warn you again though it is very expensive even with the free night. They like to charge for everything.

 

[GrandBob]

This place came highly recommended to me: http://www.paradisepoint.com/

We stayed there last spring break. It was very nice.

Well, since there are 3 of you who love Paradise Point, it makes me wonder if we're talking about the same place. But check out my comments and those of momrek06 on this thread. We both agree -- stay away, far away.

 

[munchkinsmom]

If money is not an issue, then the Hotel Del Coronado rates right up there.

With regards to Paradise Point, DH and I enjoyed our stay there 12 years ago. We actually had our wedding reception there. At the time we got married, the resort had just changed ownership and switched to its current name from "The San Diego Princess Resort" (owned by the same company as Princess Cruises). Granted, it's been 12 years, so I don't know what the current quality of the rooms and service are, but DH and I were very pleased with our stay there.

Another hotel to consider would be The Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa.

HTH!

 

[kkmcan]

They are finishing with renovations in every room there at the Paradise Point. We did get a renovated room this past March and it was beautiful. The pics they have on the website look just like the room we had.

I know that some don't like that they charge $25/night for parking but the plus is that you get a designated parking space right outside your room. You don't have to hike to your room from a parking garage or worry about getting a space in the evening. All the resorts charge $15-$25 for parking anyways so at least here you are getting something for that charge.

We went to the grocery store ( 2 miles down the road) and bought our own firewood, smores stuff and even hotdogs and buns for roasting. Our main goal with this trip was to relax and swim and walk the beach and lazy kinds of things. We also bought lunch fixings and a styrofoam cooler to keep cold items in. We didn't eat out much and we just hung out and played on the beach.

Recent reviews on trip advisor have been more positive than in the past.

 

[GrandBob]

They are finishing with renovations in every room there at the Paradise Point. We did get a renovated room this past March and it was beautiful. The pics they have on the website look just like the room we had.

Aha! So that's the difference! The rooms really, no REALLY, needed refurbishing. As noted on the other thread, my in-laws' room was so old and moldy that MIL couldn't breathe; and after spending a couple of hours in their room, neither could I.

If they've refurb'ed all the rooms, great! And if not, then I'd caution to be VERY careful to only stay there if they can guarantee a refurb'ed room.

I'm very glad to hear that they're working on it, though!

-Bob

 

[momrek06]

Well, since there are 3 of you who love Paradise Point, it makes me wonder if we're talking about the same place. But check out my comments and those of momrek06 on this thread. We both agree -- stay away, far away.

GrandBob!

I would NEVER stay at Paradise Point again even IF SOMEONE PAID ME TO ... that was one big nightmare, from the bathroom door literally rotted out and falling off in my arms as I closed it. All our towels had HOLES in them. They moved us upon my request as that room was dark, dreary and smelly. The second room was NO BETTER. I was able to get my money back. This was Thanksgiving weekend '09 and DH wanted to LEAVE completely but being the holiday we would not have found anything else. I posted a review on TripAdvisor.

JMHO, RUN don't walk from this place!!!

 

[momrek06]

We do live in San Diego NOW but DH was offered a position in SD and we were relocating from Orange County. We started looking in SD for a new home hence staying at different hotels in the area. We did stay at the San Diego Hilton Resort & Spa and it is LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY!!! We also stayed at the Marriott in La Jolla, lovely lovely as well but not on the beach at all.

The DEL is absolutely one amazing hotel. We have never stayed there but living here, we go to Coronado Island ALLOT and just walking around that hotel is fabulous. Sooooo much history. Such a beauty. AND it was Walt Disney's inspiration for the Grand Floridian!!!

I will say in reference to Paradise (nightmare) Point it was under huge renovations when we were there last Thanksgiving but that still does not mean that the rooms they are booking for customers should be LACKING and we were in TWO that weekend and BOTH were HORRIFIC. The walls are PAPER THIN, $25.00 to park your car, A RIP OFF.