California - Nicest hotel san diego

I plan on coming for a week in august and im looking for a hotel on a body of water, either the bay or the ocean, if on the bay, not more than 2 miles from the ocean. Would like a nice room with a great view of the water. Would like it to be a really nice hotel, can be anywhere from san diego all the way up to carsbald. Also, i plan on jogging there, so a path or a street close by overlooking the ocean is a must. Thanks

While there are lots of nice options north near La Jolla, the place I can recommend in the city is the Omni. Great location in the gaslamp district (with direct access to Petco Park), and also near the water with good views all around. It's a pretty quick hop across the bridge to Coronado from there as well- 10 min. It seems like you don't need to be downtown, but the Omni is a great choice in the city.

Hilton San Diego Bay Front (http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SANCCHH/index.do;jsessionid=7FE51E05F2255EBA099C6F5069BDA3 02.etc82?xch=1336756216,FjzpPhNTB8kScMFdppb4TpFDjT myy12NTVG0PBXhXwVNfbBftJh2!1956126998!133597115004 7&) My recommendation if you want to be near downtown.
Hilton Gas Lamp (http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SANGQHF/index.do;jsessionid=7FE51E05F2255EBA099C6F5069BDA3 02.etc82?xch=1336757622,FjzpPhNTB8kScMFdppb4TpFDjT myy12NTVG0PBXhXwVNfbBftJh2!1956126998!133597115004 7&)
Hilton Torrey Pines (http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SANTPHH/index.do;jsessionid=7FE51E05F2255EBA099C6F5069BDA3 02.etc82?xch=1336759119,FjzpPhNTB8kScMFdppb4TpFDjT myy12NTVG0PBXhXwVNfbBftJh2!1956126998!133597115004 7&) Just down the road from Torrey Pines State Beach - great for jogging.
Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront (http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SANRSHF/index.do;jsessionid=CFEA54ABCBEFFE5B01152223C96743 0F.etc82?xch=1336517192,p1rLPhmCBcG2JsMZ1xS1pgYZT9 brykxSflD2tZCLDQM860pf181g!1956126998!133596121887 9&)
Embassy Suites San Diego Bay (http://embassysuites1.hilton.com/en_US/es/hotel/SANDNES/index.do;jsessionid=7FE51E05F2255EBA099C6F5069BDA3 02.etc82?xch=1336763797,FjzpPhNTB8kScMFdppb4TpFDjT myy12NTVG0PBXhXwVNfbBftJh2!1956126998!133597115004 7&)

If you are looking for a "really nice" hotel, I can't say that one has been recommended yet.

I'd start with the Hotel del Coronado and for a nice room get in the newer tower, not the historical section, unless you find historical charming.

After that look at Tower23, La Valencia, Pacific Terrace Hotel and maybe the Grand Hyatt Manchester.

Not the best, but in the okay category and meet your "good view", "on the water" and "jogging area", Marriott Coronado, Hilton Bayfront and maybe Marriott Marquis.

The other nicest hotels like the Lodge at Torrey Pines, Park Hyatt Aviara and Grand Del Mar don't fit your criteria.

^ on the San Diego Hilton Bayfront

Good location with great views. Have stayed twice in the last year. There's also good freeway access that can bypass the downtown congestion unlike the Marriott or Hyatt

I like the Shores Hotel at La Jolla Shores. Smack on the beach and the restaurant is excellent. Tower 23 is ultra hip and JRDN is a great restaurant too.

I also really like Paradise Point @ Mission Bay. Completely different feeling as the bungalows are on the bay, not the ocean. The Hilton Resort on Mission Bay is also a nice property.

Though you asked for the "nicest" hotel, which would be the Grand in Del Mar or L'Auberge in Del Mar. No comparison to any of the other suggestions.

It's been years since I have stayed there, but I was quite impressed by the Westgate Hotel (http://www.westgatehotel.com/).

It's been years since I have stayed there, but I was quite impressed by the Westgate Hotel (http://www.westgatehotel.com/).

The Westgate is very tired from a decor standpoint. It is like entering a time machine and going to a luxury hotel from the 1970's (or visiting your great Aunt Hattie, the maiden one that lives in the old family house). The US Grant is by far the nicest luxury hotel in Downtown right now, but doesn't have the water views the OP says he is looking for. I think the Hotel Palomar is also a pretty nice luxury hotel, nicer than the Grand Hyatt, Marriott Marquis or Hilton Bayfront, but again doesn't have the views, so there are always tradeoffs. If I was in my early 30's, the Palomar, Hard Rock or Solamar might be my first picks. If I was in my 50's, the US Grant, in between those ages, the other places mentioned.

The Westgate is very tired from a decor standpoint. It is like entering a time machine and going to a luxury hotel from the 1970's (or visiting your great Aunt Hattie, the maiden one that lives in the old family house). The US Grant is by far the nicest luxury hotel in Downtown right now, but doesn't have the water views the OP says he is looking for. I think the Hotel Palomar is also a pretty nice luxury hotel, nicer than the Grand Hyatt, Marriott Marquis or Hilton Bayfront, but again doesn't have the views, so there are always tradeoffs. If I was in my early 30's, the Palomar, Hard Rock or Solamar might be my first picks. If I was in my 50's, the US Grant, in between those ages, the other places mentioned.

Im only 25, I can get any hotel I want with delta miles (I have a lot), therefore, since its a vacation, id like the nicest, with a water view, but age appropriate, rightfully so. Nice, yes, classy, no. (I respect classy, like the u.s. grant, but jeremys1973 is right, not at my age)

Im only 25, I can get any hotel I want with delta miles (I have a lot), therefore, since its a vacation, id like the nicest, with a water view, but age appropriate, rightfully so. Nice, yes, classy, no. (I respect classy, like the u.s. grant, but jeremys1973 is right, not at my age)

At 25 I would look at the Tower23 or Pacific Terrace Hotel in Pacific Beach. Pacific Beach is a younger more casual crowd than the Gaslamp. If you want the Gaslamp, I'd skip the water views for the vibe of the Hard Rock Hotel, Andaz, Palomar or Solamar. They have younger, hipper crowds and clubs or rooftop bars inside them.

At 25 I would look at the Tower23 or Pacific Terrace Hotel in Pacific Beach. Pacific Beach is a younger more casual crowd than the Gaslamp. If you want the Gaslamp, I'd skip the water views for the vibe of the Hard Rock Hotel, Andaz, Palomar or Solamar. They have younger, hipper crowds and clubs or rooftop bars inside them.

Thanks, Im not a nightlife kind of guy, so clubs and bars don't interest me. Ritzy places, like the us grant, aren't for me either, I don't want to feel awkward in shorts and a t-shirt. Pacific beach sounds great, especially because its not that far from the attractions I want to see. Carlsbad seems awesome, but I don't want to have to drive a lot every day just to get anywhere

Im only 25, I can get any hotel I want with delta miles (I have a lot), therefore, since its a vacation, id like the nicest, with a water view, but age appropriate, rightfully so. Nice, yes, classy, no. (I respect classy, like the u.s. grant, but jeremys1973 is right, not at my age)

Impressive if Delta miles can get you any hotel in SD, and on the dates you want. We stayed at both the Grand Hyatt and the Omni during a conference my wife attended. The Hyatt was a tad closer to the water, but more marina than beach. Big. Two pools. The Omni seemed a bit newer, smaller, right nest to Petco Park (even had a special walkway to the ball park; not sure about noie from the game, but it wouldn't go late). For either hotel, or any hotel around there, I'd get a room not facing the trolley/light rail tracks, to avoid noise. The Hard Rock Hotel is in a good locagtin (again, avoid the tracks), but not sure it'd be deemed classy. We liked the appearance of the US Grant, and it is near lots of restaurants and stores, but further from the water.

Will you have a car? I gather you will. Parking rates can be high in the downtown/Gaslamp area. Public transportation is decent, to main sites, though not always quick. From the area of teh Hyatt, etc., you could get to the zoo by a combination of light rail and bus. I took light rail and bus all the way to the UCD/Scripps aquarium in La Jolla, but it was a long haul.

I'll reiterate staying away from the rail tracks. I stayed at the Holiday Inn bay front last year with a city view. The train noise kept me up almost all night.

Does anyone know the Indigo at San Diego? Hows that one? Nice? Not so nice?

Does anyone know the Indigo at San Diego? Hows that one? Nice? Not so nice?

The Hotel Indigo is great, by far the nicest ICH hotel in the area. It is close to Petco Park on the East Village side of Downtown, but just a few blocks from the Gaslamp.

Thank you for the quick reply! So thats the one i will stay at! Out of interest: I've never heard of Indigo before, thats nothing common in Germany, is it?

Thank you for the quick reply! So thats the one i will stay at! Out of interest: I've never heard of Indigo before, thats nothing common in Germany, is it?

Hotel Indigo is a brand of Intercontinental Hotel Group who does Holiday Inns, Intercontinental Hotel, etc. The Indigo is trying to be their "hip business" brand to compete with Starwoods W brand, Hilton's Conrad and Marriott's EDITION.

Thanks for the Info! Didn't know anything about that brand. But i'll try it..

All the hotels mentioned are great, I stay regularly between the Hilton Bayfront, Hyatt and the Marriott Marina and the Embassy Suites. BUT these have great water views but if you are thinking of it as a hotel on the beach that is not so with these hotels.
You can see the water, but can't walk down and hop in for a swim.

If you want a hotel for that, you should look at Coronado or the Shores up in La Jolla or search for hotels specifically with beach access.