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San Diego Hotels for Families

By Santorini Dave

My favorite beach for families in San Diego.

The wide sandy beach in front of the Hotel Del Coronado. Our favorite beach resort in San Diego.

The 6 Best Family Resorts & Hotels in San Diego

1. Hilton (luxury) – Downtown/Gaslamp

Best family vacation hotel in downtown San Diego
Phone: (619) 231-4040
Outstanding location in downtown San Diego surrounded by shopping and restaurants. Petco ballpark (San Diego Padres) is within walking distance. Great for trolley and train watching. Outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, and fire pit. Suites are large and great for families of four, five, and six.

2. Hotel Del Coronado (luxury) – Coronado

Best Family Hotel on San Diego Beach – Del Coronado
Phone: (619) 435-6611
Awesome location on one of San Diego’s best beaches. Historic building with lots of fun shops and restaurants nearby. Two nice pools (one for families, the other adults only). But the beach is where the action is.

3. Paradise Point Resort & Spa (luxury) – Mission Bay

Best family beach resort in San Diego.
Phone: (858) 274-4630
This is the place for families. Four swimming pools open to children featuring fountains, waterfalls, and fire-pits for s’mores roasting (plus one adults-only pool). As Paradise Point is on an island, the beach is right at hand along with watersports equipment/rentals. 9-hole miniature golf course plus bike rentals make for an active trip. Younger guests (4 to 12) can join the Island Adventure Club and have amazing playdates while parents get a little time to enjoy the serenity of the beautiful surroundings.

4. Best Western Plus Bayside Inn (midrange) – Downtown/Gaslamp

Cheap San Diego Family Hotel – Best Western Pool for Kids
Phone: (619) 233-7500
Fantastic location close to trolleys, shopping, restaurants, and attractions. Outdoor heated pool and spa is small but well kept. All guest rooms have private balcony plus microwaves and refrigerators. Start your day off right with complimentary buffet breakfast. Free shuttle to San Diego airport, trains, and cruise terminals.

5. Omni La Costa Resort & Spa (midrange) – Carlsbad

Best San Diego family all inclusive resort close to Legoland.
Phone: (760) 438-9111
Huge family-friendly resort with 8 pools, water slides, a kids club, and several on-site restaurants. The hotel is very close to Legoland and an easy drive to kid-friendly beaches. King suites sleep a family of 3, villas sleep a family of 4.

6. Homewood Suites San Diego Airport (midrange) – Airport

Homewood suites with dining room and kitchen.
Phone: (619) 222-0500
Large one-bedroom suites (family of 4) and two-bedroom apartments (family of 5 or 6) with full kitchens, fridge, pots, pans, cutlery, and plates. In a great central location that allows easy access to most of the main attractions. Nice pool, jacuzzi, basketball area. Free wi-fi and free parking.

Beach Resort in San Diego.

Though I’ve never stayed here, another good option is the Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay. Great location and has its own private beach. It’s the top rated hotel for families on TripAdvisor (though that doesn’t always mean a lot).

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave I'm Santorini Dave. I started this site in 2011 with a short article on tips for visiting Santorini with kids. We're now a small team of writers and researchers dedicated to providing the best travel content on the internet. We focus on Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece, offering recommendations for top hotels, neighborhoods, and family-friendly hotels worldwide. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.

  1. Kid Friendly Beaches in San Diego

    What are the best family-friendly beaches in San Diego?

    1. Santorini Dave

      For small children, I recommend Bonita Cove. For slightly older kids (looking to play in gentle surf), La Jolla Shores.

  2. Good Family Hotel near Legoland

    What is the best hotel near Legoland for a family of 5? Preferably walking distance or a free shuttle to the park. Kid-friendly pool is a requirement.
    John

    1. Santorini Dave

      The best family hotel really close to Legoland is the Grand Pacific Palisades Resort. They have 2-bedroom suites that sleep a family of 4, 5, or 6. It’s walking distance to Legoland (5 minutes). There are 2 pools, one for adults (and lap swimming) and one for kids with a small water park area. The Legoland Hotel is closer to the amusement park (right on the grounds, basically) but the Grand Pacific is nicer.

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