San Diego Beach Hotel Guide

Escape to a place where the sun shimmers off saltwater skin, where seagulls gather for afternoon naps on the pier, and where the surf is always just right. Escape to San Diego. Michelle Held once said, “Don’t grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.” Take this advice to heart as your “grown up” troubles drift over the horizon on the warm waves of the Pacific Ocean. Stretching out like a sea lion on the sand, America’s Finest City lines the Southern California coast with beautiful beaches, world-famous attractions, and a craft beer and cuisine scene that brings all the best of the Golden State to the table. Before you float away, book San Diego beachfront hotels and let us answer some of your seaside queries:

What are the best beaches in San Diego to surf at?

Many of the beaches in San Diego are known for excellent surfing and swimming conditions. Remember when you were a kid and stood in awe of suntanned surfers paddling with the currents and springing up at the perfect moment? You can be your own wave-charging hero at any of these locally loved surf spots:

Ocean Beach: Home to the longest pier on the West Coast, this quirky neighborhood haunt is a hippie haven. At sunrise and sunset, you’re sure to see the surf community take up their places around the pier and riding smooth waves back to shore.
Point Loma: A narrow peninsula south of “OB,” Point Loma boasts spectacular cliffs and famous waves. Join seasoned surfers as they take boats out past the bluff and catch a ride back to land on some of the best waves in the state.
La Jolla Shores: On the north side of San Diego, La Jolla is a luxury destination with an exquisite surf. This beach is perfect for beginners and those who want to spend a relaxing evening on the water. The area is most known for its adorable seal colony and its fabulous San Diego beach hotels and restaurants. Stay at Inn by The Sea La Jolla and wake up to coffee with seal pups and sunshine.

Can I go whale watching in San Diego?

You certainly can go whale watching in San Diego. Join a cruise out of the harbor or charter a smaller boat from Mission Beach to see these sea mammals up close and in their natural habitat. SeaWorld has nothing on the experience of seeing endangered blue whales on their summer migration path from Antarctica to Costa Rica.

Love to explore the great outdoors? Wind you way through the coastal trails at Torrey Pines State Reserve and keep a weather eye on the sea. Many of the easy-to-intermediate walking paths skirt the cliff-lined coast and wide-open waters where gray whales pass each winter and spring on their way to Baja California.

Release your inner child on the beaches of San Diego while you toast to adulthood in top brew pubs all over the city. Travelocity offers several San Diego hotels on the beach—from Pacific Terrace Hotel in party-ready Pacific Beach to the quiet tides of La Jolla.