Off Topic: San Diego hotel help

[steve_rob]

Wonder if anyone on here could help me out. Planning our honeymoon for May next year in which we're touring California. Got pretty much everything sorted out for most of the trip, but neither of us have been to San Diego before and we're needing advice on hotels.

The main thing is that we need a hotel that either has a coin-operated laundry (or one close nearby). With it being such a long trip (17 nights), if we don't get washing done, our clothes are going to be able to walk home by the end of the holiday!

Trouble is, while all the hotels I've looked at seem to list "Laundry facilities available" in their listings, this can mean a whole host of things. I've stayed at plenty of hotels that have said this and it can mean anything from actually having a laundry like we require, to just having a bag in the room in which you can put anything you want sent to their dry-cleaning service. Which of course is fine if all you want done is one shirt, but a whole suitcase of clothes would cost a fortune!

We were originally looking on Hotel Circle or thereabouts, but are willing to consider anywhere - just as long as it's less than $100 a night. Anyone got any recommendations?

 

[disneyberry]

what are you planning to see in San Diego?

San Diego is a spread out city, and you might want to stay somewhere that is most central to the sights you're planning on visiting.

as far as coin-operated laundry goes... call the hotel to ask.
especially if there is a hotel that you are really considering because you like everything else about it. call to check.

otherwise, one hotel i can recommend is the Embassy Suites Downtown (right next to Seaport Village). this is only because we did our own laundry there one night, they have 2 floors with coin-operated laundry machines.

as far as Hotel Circle goes... i wouldn't really recommend staying there as it's not very scenic. San Diego is such a gorgeous city, please don't stay next to highways and malls!

Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Downtown, Coronado Island are all much nicer options.
have you looked into Priceline + Hotwire also? that might help you save some money.
anyway, i'm sure there are lots of CA natives that can also help you out here. i only just came back from my first visit to San Diego, so these are just my thoughts.

 

[steve_rob]

Actually I'm not too bothered if we are in a fairly unscenic (is that a word?) area. We don't plan on spending much time in the hotel apart from at night, so if it means getting a cheaper hotel because it doesn't have a nice view, then that's fine. On our recent trip to Orlando, we overlooked a car park and I-4!

Our plans are to do at least one day at SeaWorld, one each at the Zoo and Wild Animal Park, a side trip to La Jolla (although may do that on the way down from LA) and plenty of shopping!

 

[monte]

Hmm, lets see being an employee of Marriott I'd have to say:
San Diego Marriott Del Mar (858-523-1700), Marriott Hotel & Marina (619-234-1500), La Jolla (858-587-1414, Mission Valley (619-692-3800), or Corondo Island Marriott (619-435-3000).
The majority of these hotels offer guest laundry rooms, health clubs, pools, tennis courts, near the beach. Another nice hotel, but pricey, is the Hotel Del Coronado, which is right on the beach and it is beautiful. Disney's Grand Floridian was modeled after it, the Floridian is nice, but it doesn't compare to the real thing!

Whatever you decide, good luck and congratulations to the both of you!

 

[undertheradar]

Congratulations!

Now for some bad news, San Diego is very expensive as hotels go. You will want to look North of the city to find less expensive lodging. Due to all of the competition in Orlando, rates are much more reasonable there. San Diego is a major convention city and hotels are expensive year round. You might find it more reasonable to stay closer to Los Angeles.

 

[Refillable Mug Dork]

We stayed in May, five nights at the Days Inn Hotel Circle. It was clean. The rooms were big. We had a fridge, mircowave, and two-burner range top. The staff was very friendly and helpful.

It's not the most romantic place for your honeymoon, but it is a reasonably priced option. We got a good rate using the entertainment book. They also have AAA rates.

 

[TnRobin]

If you have access to an Entertainment Card, you can get the Holiday Inn Bayside for as low as $65 a night. It usually books for over $100 a night. I am not sure about the laundry, but you can call.

 

[disneyberry]

ok, steve_rob.
for the absolute cheapest option, book using Hotwire or Priceline.
you could potentially save enough money that even if there is no coin laundry, you can afford to send all your dirty laundry to be laundered by the hotel!
some people get 4* hotel rooms for $50/night on Priceline.
but Priceline in San Diego is a total crapshoot, especially the Coastal zone which is really huge, and you could end up anywhere from Del Mar to Mission Bay.
the Downtown zone is an option (close to the Zoo), but parking fees are high.
the Mission Valley zone (basically near Hotel Circle) is the cheapest option on Priceline.

anyway, another recommendation is the Dana Inn and Marina.
they usually have pretty good Entertainment Card discounts ($80/night or lower). plus they have free parking, which is extremely rare in San Diego (most hotels charge $10 - $20/night parking fee)
they are very centrally located right on Mission Bay and almost literally across the street from SeaWorld.
apparently they do have coin laundry, although we didn't use it when we stayed there.
i think you can email them at res@danainn.com

Dana Inn is definitely available on Hotwire, and i highly recommend it for a clean, safe, friendly, no-frills hotel in an excellent location.

 

[steve_rob]

Thanks for all your replies. It's given me a lot to think about!

No matter where we end up staying, it's going to be great I'm sure. It is a shame to have to do San Diego on the cheap when it's got so many nice hotels, but it's a bit of a necessity as we're spending the most money on our first stop of our trip - the Candy Cane Inn at DL (also recommended to us by the the very nice people on this board!)

 

[Tink33]

I would give Priceline a try. For romance, I would pick a 4* in Coronado. For excitement, I would choose a 4* Downtown San Diego and Harbor Island. Here is a link to Bidding for Travel . You should be able to get a nice hotel on priceline for under $100.

If you need ideas for romance in San Diego let me know.