11 Best Hotels in San Diego near Downtown

Being one of the largest cities in the US, San Diego is one of the most visited and top tourist attractions. It’s no surprise as the city has an astonishing blend of cultures. We visited the city many times (we didn’t count them), however, we never felt we were done exploring. The downtown area is the most practical neighborhood to stay in. Yet, sometimes we prefer staying a bit farther to enjoy a quiet stay without missing a lot in San Diego. That’s why we searched for hotels in San Diego near downtown.

Booking accommodation there means you’re near all the popular spots in San Diego. From the world-class zoo to the wonderful waters of the Pacific, everything becomes reachable within minutes. Best of all, we had the chance to explore some of the hidden gems of San Diego. Hence, we prepared this list of the top 11 accommodation options near downtown for those who need privacy and quiet without going too far from the vibrance of the city.

Hillcrest House Bed & Breakfast

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Hillcrest House Bed & Breakfast is one of the most wonderful places we stayed in. It’s a full house with several bedrooms and suites inside in addition to a shared lounge. Each room has a private bathroom including free toiletries. We were also offered linens and towels similar to any traditional hotel. However, our stay here was different. The house is designed in a classy style and all the furnishing inside looked classical. We loved the theme as it was suitable for the area where the house is located.

We were hosted by the owner of the house who was very welcoming and helpful. She treated all her guests in a friendly way and offered help all the time. She helped us with transportation and even recommended places to visit in San Diego. The area where this house is located is walkable. We enjoyed wandering around to reach different sites. Even more, free parking is provided for all the house guests.

Abpopa Hillcrest

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Not far from the previous venue, we found the Abpopa Hillcrest. It was another great accommodation near the downtown area. We loved the rooms a lot. They included everything one might need for a long stay. We had a kitchen with a microwave, a fridge, a sink, and dishes. We could prepare some food before leaving our room. Moreover, the on-site restaurant offered good food and delights for a mid-day snack.

The most thing we loved about this boutique hotel was the view from the windows. The rooms have large windows offering a stunning view of the neighborhood. You can check the different room options here on the official website. We recommend micro lofts as they’re a different type of room that is so convenient. As for the location, you won’t struggle to find transportation means, there was a direct bus from there to downtown and a Trolley station was available a few steps from the hotel as well.

Sheraton San Diego Hotel

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Best facilities. We stayed in the Sheraton San Diego Hotel as we had a late-night arrival flight. This was the nearest hotel to the airport and we’re glad we stayed there. The hotel offers shuttle service to and from the airport 24 hours. They also offer free parking for those arriving with their cars. Our room had a harbor view. It was beyond amazing. Sitting peacefully on the balcony to watch the ships was very enjoyable.

Moreover, the hotel offers luxurious services and amenities. Aside from the traditional amenities such as toiletries, a coffee machine in the room, a small fridge, etc., we treated ourselves to a professional massage in the on-site spa. Not a fan of spa treatments? No problem, you have three pools to enjoy a dip during the day or sore your muscles at any time in the fitness center. Don’t go farther for food, the hotel has a variety of on-site restaurants to suit all diets.

Fairfield Inn and Suites

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Best breakfast. Not too far from Old Town, the Fairfield Inn and Suites is there offering one of the best San Diego hotels near downtown. Our stay there was value for money. Generally, Fairfield hotels aren’t too pricey. This one in particular enjoys a very good location between the ocean, the airport, and the downtown area. Moreover, the rooms were spotless with enough space to organize our luggage. Other features include an outdoor swimming pool and a poolside hot tub.

One of the features we recommend this hotel for is the breakfast. They offer complimentary breakfast that tastes delicious. It includes a variety of options suitable for all diets. We liked the omelet and the bagels. Also, the coffee was freshly brewed and it tasted nice. Further, we could have our breakfast either indoors or outdoors. The outdoor seating was lovely and more enjoyable.

Courtyard San Diego Old Town

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Courtyard San Diego Old Town is another excellent choice near Old Town. Be it the rates, the clean rooms, or the location, the hotel has many things to make it one of our top choices in San Diego. The outdoor pool and the hot tub are some of the hotel’s best features. The seating by the pool was impeccable, too much relaxation while enjoying refreshing drinks from the bar. Speaking of it, the indoor bar was not to be missed. It serves craft cocktails and snacks but if you’re hungry, the on-site restaurant has good breakfast and dinner options.

The rooms were well equipped and the bedding was beyond comfortable. Adding to that, there were different sorts of entertainment including cable and pay TVs. There are video games for rent as well. And if you’re in the mood to explore the neighborhood, the train and bus stops are a few steps away from the hotel. You can reach different places in San Diego using these transportation means. When you’re done exploring the city, check out these day trips from San Diego, you’ll surely find something interesting to do.

Holiday Inn Express

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The Holiday Inn Express hotel is a reasonably-priced option with a focus on comfort. We used the free shuttle service to catch our flight and to reach Old Town. The hotel is located on a main road, however, our room was quiet and convenient. Moreover, the simple modern furnishing and clean plush bedding created a warm atmosphere inviting us to spend more time in our room. It was huge! Actually, larger than what we expected.
The outdoor pool provided another reason to love the hotel and spend more time inside. It was a quiet escape from the busy street outside. You can go through this list of the best hotel pools in San Diego if this is one of your priorities. Moreover, the complimentary breakfast was fulfilling at the beginning of the day. You can grab some snacks and on-the-go drinks from the convenience store in the hotel.

Good Life Resorts

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Looking for a suite, a studio, a full house, or maybe a simple bungalow with the necessary equipment? Good Life Resorts offers all of these accommodation options and many more. This venue is a bit different from other traditional hotels. It’s all about a cozy stay in a clean place that offers its guests all their needs. We stayed in a bungalow that included three bedrooms and a living room. Some of the rooms had bunk beds to save space. The bedding in all rooms was comfortable and clean.

We also had a patio in our bungalow with a few chairs and a table. The whole setting was so simple but very cozy. This venue will be a perfect choice if you’re a group of travelers up to 20 or more. There are houses with six bedrooms and a living room to accommodate such many guests. All the rooms include air conditioning, a coffee maker, and a TV. Check the different room types on their official website here. As for the location, it’s less than six kilometers from Balboa Park and San Diego Zoo.

Best Western Seven Seas

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We can’t tell you enough how much we loved the Best Western Seven Seas hotel. It’s relatively cheap and efficient. This accommodation is less than 10 minutes from San Diego’s zoo. The area around is full of shops and restaurants. Further, the Fashion Valley Mall is so close that it was our everyday destination during our vacation. When we got hungry, we tried The Seven Seas Café for snacks. Also, we had cold drinks from Zack’s Bar and the pool bar.

The hotel offers a comfortable stay in wide rooms with several amenities such as a TV, a mini refrigerator, and a coffee machine. The on-site restaurants serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an expansive menu of American cuisine. When we wanted to spend some time in the hotel, we used the outdoor pool or the hot tub. The lounge chairs by the pool were so comfy. We also used the fitness center which was good for a couple of workout sessions.

Courtyard by Marriott Mission Valley

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Most friendly staff. Courtyard by Marriott Mission Valley is located on a main street, a little distance from Fashion Valley Mall. The street was so busy and bustling with tourists, however, our room inside the hotel was so quiet. The room had soundproofing windows to block any noise from the streets. Also, we had an upper-floor room to enjoy the stunning view of the valley from our room.

The overall aesthetic of the hotel was modern and inviting. The rooms have the least details to decrease the visual noise. Meanwhile, using a blue-brown palette gave the hotel and all its rooms a personalized style. If you’re asking about the hotel’s features, there were a lot of them. The rooms included a kitchenette and outside, a nice cafe and restaurant served breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks all day. Above all, the staff was the nicest among all the hotels in San Diego near downtown.

Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel

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The Best Western Plus Hacienda Hotel has a perfect location in Old Town for those seeking a secluded stay in a busy area. It might seem like a difficult equation but the hotel managed to create this quiet paradise inside the bustling Old Town. Plus, the hotel offers easy access to and from the airport. The shuttle service isn’t free but $8 per person wasn’t a big deal to arrive at the airport hassle-free.

“The rooms felt very cozy as if we were staying at our home. We loved the overall design and all the amenities there were perfect.”

WOW Travel

As we expected from a three-star hotel, the rooms were clean and wide enough for us and our luggage. The bathrooms had all the needed toiletries. We also had a kitchenette in our room. The rooftop restaurant had a marvelous view. We visited this restaurant just to enjoy the views. Yet, the food was good. They serve Mexican food if you’re wondering. There aren’t any reasons to dislike such a reasonable hotel. You can see many good reviews here on their official website.

Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa

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Best facilities. The highlight of our stay at Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa was the clean and quality facilities. The hotel includes many facilities similar to most hotels. However, it seems like they take extra care of everything there to make their guests feel at ease. Starting with the rooms, the beds and sofas were extra comfortable. The bed linens were soft and luxurious. They looked new as well. Even more, the bathroom design was very convenient to the eyes. The toiletries were of premium quality as we used them all. The cherry on top was the outdoor pool and its lounge chairs which were the comfiest.

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If you have a business trip, this hotel includes a wide business center that is nothing less of quality than the rest of the hotel. Our trip was to chill out, so, we used the spa instead. We had one of the best days at the spa relaxing and enjoying a body massage. Moreover, the dining scene there wasn’t to miss. Theresa’s, the on-site restaurant serves a variety of food. You need to eat there at least once during your stay. Check out the official website of the hotel to see photos of everything we mentioned above.

Our Verdict!

Apart from the location, we had other criteria to assess the hotel we stayed in. We ranked them according to the best in our opinions. Here are our favorite ones.

• Best facilities: Legacy Resort Hotel and Spa
• Most friendly staff: Courtyard by Marriott Mission Valley
• Best breakfast: Fairfield Inn and Suites
• Best facilities: Sheraton San Diego Hotel

Where to Stay in San Diego?

As a large city, San Diego includes different areas to recommend. One of our favorites is the downtown. When staying there, we could easily walk to many nearby attractions. We found many things around to do and we didn’t need to use transportation most of the time. The Gaslamp Quarter is the most common area. It’s a very vibrant area with an attractive nightlife. Many hotels, shops, clubs, and restaurants are scattered here and there. Thus, you won’t struggle to find a stay there. It’s also a good option if it’s your first time in San Diego.

On the other side, if you’re looking for a quiet stay to enjoy San Diego’s nature and scenery, the Pacific Beach is a highly recommended area. As the name suggests, the whole neighborhood is located by the beach. We could enjoy surfing and doing many thrilling water activities there. If you aren’t into this kind of fun and thrill, you can just enjoy sunbathing under the direct sunlight on one of the beaches there.

When is the best time to visit San Diego?

The city is vibrant all the year round. However, in summer, the temperature is good and many visitors love to travel there to enjoy the waters.

What are the best activities to do in San Diego?

Aside from exploring the neighborhoods, there are many attractions to visit including parks and the zoo. Also, the beaches are worth a visit. La Jolla is one of the luxurious areas to consider, you can check our list of the best beachfront hotels in La Jolla.

Is it easy to move around in San Diego?

San Diego is a walkable city where everything is close to each other. Also, it’s well-covered with public transportation means such as the Trolley and railway system.