Online Travel Booking and Bidding Agencies - Priceline and San Diego

I'm making my first visit to San Diego in September and plan on bidding for a hotel on Priceline. Any recommendations as to which zone or zones to target? I am familiar with how to research various price points, but I could use some more general advice about where in the city to stay.

I have a document I've put together for San Diego priceline hotels and rated them according to tripadvisor reviews, it's not complete but it might be of use. If you drop me a PM with an email address I'll send it to you.

If that's too much detail for you, San Diego downtown hotels in the 4 star category are all very good quality. I would have no reservation bidding in that zone again at that star level. It ought to be possible to get something for about $95-$120 a night. Parking will be extra. I wouldn't go below 4 star here as there are some possible bogey hotels. Downtown is of course an excellent location for nightlife and restaurants etc.

The same applies to the coastal zone which includes La Jolla and some of Mission Bay.

I would also consider Sorrento Mesa for the 2.5 star hotels. They're all rated very highly in comparison to their star allocation. Should be able to get something in the mid $50's. This is the zone I will probably go for when I'm there at Christmas as it seems to offer excellent value for money.

3 star hotels in mission valley are pretty good although, there is one bogey hotel, the Town and County Resort, which might put you off.

Other than that I can't think of anything else worth considering.

Edited to add; actually there is one hotel that comes to mind that I've used in San Diego but might not be your cup of tea given your views and isn't available on priceline. The Balboa Park Inn is, in my mind at least, definitely worth considering if you like kitsch, clean, comfortable accommodation with breakfast included. It is between Balboa Park and Hillcrest so it does attract a 'festive' clientelle but for location it's hard to beat.

I'll take the first stab at an answer; others can expand.

I always start with DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. I can personally recommend the Omni, the Downtown Hilton Gaslamp, and the Manchester Grand Hyatt, all of which are in a very attractive area near (or on) the water and near the restaurants of the Gaslamp Quarter. The other hotels, which I've not stayed at, also get excellent reviews.

Similarly, the 3-star hotels generally are good. The possible exceptions, in my view, are the Radission and the Holiday Inn on the Bay. My room at the latter was fine, and overlooked the cruise ship center, but the rest of the hotel was beginning to show its age; still, not a bad deal for about $60 per night.

After DOWNTOWN, I generally bid CORONADO and SAN DIEGO COASTAL. Coronado is charming, and connected by a very high bridge to downtown San Diego. Most people would be very happy there; a few would feel a tad isolated.

Similarly, San Diego Coastal has some excellent hotels. La Jolla is another charming place, about 12 miles north of downtown San Diego.

RANCHO BERNARDO and DEL MAR are very nice places with excellent hotels, but are too far removed if I want a San Diego experience. The traffic on I-5 and I-15 can become almost as bad as anywhere else you can think of.

MISSION VALLEY, less than 5 miles north of downtown San Diego, has many good 3-star hotels with prices that may be somewhat better. You may also avoid or reduce the valet and overnight parking fees of the downtown hotels. I consider it when price is a major factor.

Thus, I always start with DOWNTOWN, and add in CORONADO and sometimes SAN DIEGO COASTAL. If price is a major consideration, I include MISSION VALLEY. I generally avoid the other zones unless I plan to be in those areas. Others can refine this initial attempt.

I would also consider Sorrento Mesa for the 2.5 star hotels. They're all rated very highly in comparison to their star allocation. Should be able to get something in the mid $50's.

Thanks for all the advice. I am sending you a PM to get the document that you created.

How is Sorrento Mesa as far as location goes for the leisure traveler? We will have a rental car so getting around town should be no problem and maybe parking will be free at these hotels.

Sorrento Mesa is between Mira Mesa and La Jolla. Getting places ought not to be a problem, La Jolla is probably a 20 minute drive, Downtown/Gaslamp and Balboa Park about 30 minutes. The 805 freeway is close to the listed hotels.

Parking ought to be free, I've seen no mention of paid for parking. The downtown hotels all have paid for parking, several of the La Jolla and Mission Valley hotels do as well. In La Jolla you might find free street parking, but I doubt you will in Downtown or Mission Valley.

One word about the downtown 4* - check the individual websites, as sometimes they offer specials. For example, the highly-regarded Omni sometimes has rates as low as $129, not too much over the "expected" PL price of ~$95 (this happens sometimes if there is no convention at the nearby Convention Center and there is also no Padres game - Petco Park is connected to the hotel via an elevated walkway).

The price of parking at the Omni is partially mitigated by the free highspeed internet access, as well as the reduced-cost snack that is available with the free morning coffee (available by joining Omni Select).

Got the Westin - handy for the shops - and a great hotel last year: parking is a rip off wherever you stay so beware of having a car if you don't really need it!

Hi,
Just wanted to add a personal experience. I booked 4* Downtown zone this past week for $90 (July 5-9) and got the Sheraton Marina in San Diego. The hotel was very nice but is not directly in downtown. It's on Harbor Island which is about 5-10 minutes to the Gaslamp District. If you end up at the Sheraton when you use Priceline you'd either want a rental car or be sure to have plenty of money for taxi rides. Other than the slightly inconvenient location though, the Sheraton was excellent and my family and I loved the pools and the ability to rent bikes and ride along SD Bay.

Got the Westin - handy for the shops - and a great hotel last year: parking is a rip off wherever you stay so beware of having a car if you don't really need it!

This coming from a chap who lives in London :p

Parking isn't that bad. $13 per night IIRC for the parking garage next to the Omni. If you use valet parking then of course it's going to be expensive.

The only time I tried PL in San Diego I got Lowes Coranado. I joined their frequent traveler program and they upgraded me to a great water view room. Coranado is a neat town and I personally like it more than DT SAN.

The only time I tried PL in San Diego I got Lowes Coranado. I joined their frequent traveler program and they upgraded me to a great water view room. Coranado is a neat town and I personally like it more than DT SAN.

Bit if a nuisance to get anywhere though.

The only time I tried PL in San Diego I got Lowes Coranado. I joined their frequent traveler program and they upgraded me to a great water view room. Coranado is a neat town and I personally like it more than DT SAN.

Curious what price you got the Lowes for and did you bid on 'Coronado' only?
That is a great resort hotel - I agree Coronado is a fun place and the beach in front of the Del as good as it gets.

An update: The 4* Downtown zone bid for $95 garnered the Omni again - for a Friday in September when the omnihotels.com website was showing a low rate of $289 :)