The Best Family-Friendly Hotels in San Diego

Hotels for Every Budget

As the country opens up a bit more for travel, I’m definitely noticing an uptick in tourists here in San Diego. People are ready to get away (safely) and take their family somewhere to relax and enjoy some fun in the sun. There’s nowhere better to do this than Southern California, and I’ve got a brand new list of the best family-friendly hotels in San Diego just for you. Oh, and there are some killer discounts being offered right now, too, so let’s get booking!

San Diego is an awesome family vacation destination, regardless of your budget. If you need an itinerary or ideas of things to do with kids, I have tons of San Diego content, but this particular post is all about hotels. I’ve divided this list by price point, but I also want to let you know the criteria I based my list on:

• Beach/Pool access (a must in San Diego!)
• Accessibility to attractions/restaurants
• Family/kid activities
• On-site amenities
• Food
• Covid Safety measures**

**A quick word about this – everyone has different comfort levels, but I wanted to make sure that right now I’m only suggesting locations that have posted Covid guidelines and transparent safety measures.

Location, Location, Location

I feel pretty strongly that if you can stay near the water in San Diego, you should. All of the high end and moderately priced hotels on this list are on either the beach or the bay. Budget hotels tend to be away from the beach, but there are a lot of great budget hotels in the Old Town area, which is fun, historic and full of family friendly activities. I haven’t recommended anything in Hotel Circle because I see that more as a business hotel area and there’s not much for families around there besides the malls. So here are your best family-friendly hotels in San Diego (click on the titles to check availability):

High End/Luxury Hotels

It’s rare that I stay at a high-end hotel, because we tend to take vacations where we’re out all day sight-seeing. But if I want a staycation or a relaxing time with family, a high-end or luxury resort is the way to go. All these hotels meet every point on my list:

Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Coronado is already a perfect area for families – it’s got great beaches, fun restaurants and a cool beach-town vibe. The Loews resort is right on the bay, has multiple pools, offers a variety of family amenities like board games, nightlights, a scavenger hunt and more. They’re currently offering discounts for military and first responders. Some of their deals might knock this down into the moderate range! This hotel is on the water, but not right on the beach. The beach is in walking distance and they offer a free shuttle.

Hotel Del Coronado

The iconic Hotel Del is a San Diego institution. Even if you’re not staying there, it’s a fun place to wander around and catch a glimpse of San Diego’s history. There are great shops and the walls are lined with historic photos. This hotel is right on one of the best beaches in San Diego, and the hotel has a pool as well. There’s an ice cream shop in the hotel and several restaurants. Families will love the private bonfires on the beach, complete with s’mores, or movies on the beach and other activities designed specifically for kids. Another plus is that this hotel is in the town of Coronado so there are cafes, restaurants, shops and theatres are within walking distance. For a more luxury stay, book a cottage or a villa at the hotel’s Beach Village.

Fairmont Grand Del Mar

The Fairmont is definitely one of the highest priced and best family-friendly hotels in San Diego, but if you can afford it – it’s worth the money. The extensive grounds offer multiple pools, a golf course, tennis and more. They have an Explorers’ Club for kids, tennis and gold lessons and a fantastic kiddie pool. The resort isn’t on the beach, but they have beach valet service. The restaurants are top notch – including a Michelin-starred restaurant – and the entire facility is lush, tranquil and gorgeous.

Moderately Priced Hotels

For a mid-range hotel on the water, I really feel like you can’t do better than the resorts in Mission Bay. These hotels are super family oriented, the bay water is calmer than the ocean so it’s perfect for little kids or for people learning to paddle board or kayak, and they’re centrally located. I’m including my three favorites. I think there’s no better endorsement than to say that many San Diego families choose them for their staycations, making them the locals’ choice for best family-friendly hotels in San Diego.

Paradise Point Resort and Spa

I love Paradise Point because it’s almost like living in an exclusive neighborhood on the bay. The accommodations are bungalow-style, so there’s no high rise. There are 5 pools, multiple restaurants, and every activity under the sun: tennis, kayaking, and bonfires on the beach. They even have their own surf academy. Please note that I’ve put this resort in the moderate range because you can stay there for under $350 a night, but if you want a bungalow right on the water or a suite, you will be paying more.

The Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa

The Catamaran is uniquely positioned to be on the bay but also only one block from the ocean. Its Polynesian theme drives both the decor and the activities, featuring sunset luaus, lei-making, Hula lessons and live music. There is a kids’ club as well as bike and water-sport rentals. The Catamaran has a large lawn right in front of the beach for folks who like to sun bathe without the sand. Families will love my personal favorite – movies on the beach!

San Diego Mission Bay Resort

For those of you familiar with San Diego, this resort used to be under the Hilton brand. It underwent an extensive renovation a couple years ago. The gorgeous pool area opens right onto the beach, where you can learn to surf or rent kayaks. He rooms have all been remodeled, as have the restaurants. You can still get mid-range deals at this resort even though it has gone through a considerable upgrade. Families will enjoy the shallow wading pool just for kids, private cabanas for rent, board games and bonfires with s’mores.

Budget Hotels

Staying near the beach on a budget is tough, so my recommendation for a fun, family-friendly location to stay on a budget is Old Town! It’s historic, there are tons of things to do with kids, reasonably priced restaurants and it’s close to public transportation. But I have a few other great finds in awesome locations to share as well.

The hotels I’m listing aren’t the lowest of the low-budget accommodations available. They are all family-oriented, well-situated in a safe and central location and can usually be booked at under $200 a night.

Best Western Hacienda Hotel

The Best Western has a pool and free breakfast, making it one of the best family friendly hotels in San Diego for those looking for a great deal. It has an on-site Mexican restaurant and is located in the heart of Old Town. It’s in walking distance to shops, restaurants and attractions. It’s also not far from the trolley stop.

Courtyard San Diego Old Town

The Courtyard Marriott is another fantastic budget option in Old Town. It has a pool and a bistro, suites for slightly larger families and is also in walking distance of all the Old Town activities and public transportation. They offer senior and military discounts.

Manchester Grand Hyatt

This is the only downtown hotel I’m including on my list. I’m not a fan of staying near the Gaslamp District with small kids. It just is too much of a party scene for my taste. But this Hyatt is situated at the edge of downtown and is perfectly located to access Petco Park and Seaport Village – two downtown attractions that are great for families. While it is not on the beach, it has a pool and it is in walking distance to the Coronado Ferry – a quick ride over to Coronado Island and you can be on the beach within minutes. There are tons of great deals for this hotel right now – I’ve seen prices under $150 a night.

Crown City Inn Coronado

Coronado is such a phenomenal family-friendly area, so I have to include an option there. My choice is the Crown City Inn. It’s a basic, clean hotel with a nice pool and restaurant. Locals come here for breakfast. They offer gift bags with activities for kids and complimentary bikes! It’s a bit of a walk to the beach, so the bikes will come in handy. I think this is the best budget deal in Coronado.

Ok, that’s it – that’s the list! Are there a ton of other good options in San Diego? Of course, but these are hotels that I’ve personally visited and have had friends and family stay in. I hope I’ve provided something for every budget.

Tips for booking the best family-friendly hotels in San Diego:

• Wait for discounts – There are so many deals happening right now, be sure to shop around. I’ve seen mid-week deals, waived resort fees and all kinds of packages.
• Travel off-season – I know, when is it off-season in San Diego? Well, fall is a great time to be here because it’s still warm but the majority of tourists are gone and prices are lower.
• Choose a non-refundable room – If you are 100% sure of your stay, the non-refundable prices are usually lower, but book at your own risk.
• Choose your location according to your plans – Coming for a ball game? Stay closer to downtown. Hitting all the sites and theme parks? Stay central and close to a freeway. Planning on just relaxing? Choose a resort with multiple pools on the beach – everything will be right at your fingertips!

Enjoy!