Which is the Hotel in San Diego Near the Pier?

[shipcafe]

Hi Everyone,

From the various times that I've been to San Diego, I distinctly remember there being a hotel almost perpendicular to the cruise ship pier. From what I recall, I thought that it was a Holiday Inn but I cannot seem to find that location via their web site.

Is anyone able to clarify which property this now is? If the ship were docked facing the city, looking forward and to the left is where the hotel would be.

Thanks so much!

Steve

[Ziggy7]

Here is some info I gathered, hope it helps in some way :)

Parking
http://www.longtermparking.com/airport.html
Joy2
I went on line to www.sandiego.org and clicked on hotels - then selected the downtown area. Of the 3 pages of hotels/motels/inns/bed & breakfast/etc. places to stay, the ones which listed the number of rooms in their establishment has 8332 rooms to offer - and lots of places did not indicate how many rooms were in their establishments. This is just downtown. Some people might want to stay on Mission Bay, or La Jolla or other places not designated downtown. Coronado is certainly an option (10-15 minutes across the bridge from the pier)- Pt Loma is just 10 minutes from the cruise pier - 5 from the airport for example.
" The downtown W San Diego, which opened its doors in December, takes design cues from the nearby Pacific: Rooms are decked in soothing shades of blue, and the rooftop bar, Beach, features a heated sand floor."
S.S. Cruisers
Best Western Bayside Inn (800) 341-1818, will let you park for 7 nights free, then I think it was $3.00 per night extra for our 10 day cruise. Have stayed there twice. Its about 6 blocks from cruise terminal and they do have a shuttle that will take you to the pier. Nice, clean place, close to eating etc. Prices alot cheaper than closer to the water. Hope this helps....
Grtcook39 (in reference to Dec 2004 cruise but some info of use to November 2003 also)
Here's the scoop on hotels for all of you coming in early. Sorry it took me so long to post this information for you.
As mentioned earlier on this thread, San Diego is, indeed, having a large annual convention on the weekend of our cruise. And it is going to affect hotel availability for you all. I spoke with a group sales manager at the Holiday Inn Embarcadero, the hotel right across the street from the pier, and she told me that they are completely sold out for the 2nd thru the 5th. She said the convention would affect all hotels in the downtown and somewhat affect outlying areas.
She referred me to a man who is a hotel broker, sort of, they call themselves concierges. I spoke with him at length. His business is dealing with large groups and finding discount rates. He said the hotels do not release their rooms to him until about 4 months before. He told me to call 6 months before to check in and see what his availability is. He assured me that he will have plenty of rooms, various price ranges, for all of you. At that time, 4 months before departure, he wants me to post his name and # and you can all contact him individually to book what you prefer. Remember, the manager at the Holiday Inn recommended him, and this is what they do all year long. I told him I was worried that it may be risky to hold off booking, and what if there were no rooms available. He said that is his business, and he is good at it. They will have plenty of rooms. You know how travel agents hold cabin groups. This is what the hotels do too.
So that is your choice. Book a room now at a higher price or wait and get a heavily discounted room. He deals with rooms all throughout San Diego County. The downtown area (nearest the port) is pretty booked up already. The names of some close areas would be Mission Valley, beaches and bays, La Jolla, and University City. Mission Valley has a very large selection of hotels. The beaches and bays are very nice but would run you more money. There is a Hilton right on the San Diego Bay that is lovely. There is a resort farther on Mission bay where you can have a cabana right on the bay, literally walk out your sliding door and you are on the sand. This is expensive. La Jolla and University City are farther away but have a higher end selection. University City is where Roy's is. Staying downtown still would be good for you all. It is close to the port, the zoo and has a tremendous restaurant selection. Mission Valley is close to all for getting around San Diego. It is less than 10 mins to the zoo. There are many restaurants and shopping areas available. Mission Valley has two very large shopping malls. It has great freeway access. If you don't stay downtown, I would recommend you stay in Mission Valley.
Earlier on the thread, someone mentions the San Diego Visitors and Convention Bureau website. The address again is
http://www.sandiego.org
I would recommend you go there and do a hotel search. I found it impossible for me to list so many hotels. I was going to list the major ones downtown in different price ranges but now downtown is mostly sold out. But the concierge will have some downtown availability if you wait to book. You can do this for your own research to find out what is around. I will be happy to answer any specific questions. And then, if you can wait, if you want to stay at a nicer place for a discounted place, I would definitely suggest you book through the Hotel Concierge. He really sounded like he would do a good job for all of you. I would just have a problem with being up in the air so long. But I think he would be a good choice. And he guaranteed he will have rooms. If you want some info from me as to what hotels I would suggest in certain areas please ask. Just tell me what you have in mind.
Okay, now for the location for the cocktail party the night of the 4th. Even thought the Holiday Inn is sold out for the weekend, the large meeting rooms are not sold out. The group is doing their events at the Convention Center. So the catering dept. said we can have a large room for cocktails. I think this would be a good location as it is near to the pier, good driving access and the room will be free. They will set it up as we would like it. I can see there will not be a majority of you staying at one or two or three hotels, so everyone will be driving. Plus, the Holiday Inn is near downtown where there are a tremendous number of restaurants.
When you go to the convention center site you can also search restaurants. Downtown is called the Gaslamp District. Other nearby areas for dinner would include Old Town for Mexican, Seaport Village for mostly seafood, La Jolla for upscale, Mission Valley for varied, Harbor Island for varied, and many beach areas. I think the group dinner idea has been shelved and many smaller groups will choose to dine together. Depending on what type of food you are looking for, and how far you want to drive, the dining selections are huge.
Hotel Circle is another name for the Mission Valley area. It is about 15 mins to the pier. It has great freeway access, many restaurants and 2 large shopping malls. If you can hold off your booking, I feel the concierge service that I have previously written about will offer rates as good or better than group rates. Plus, all the hotels I called don't have group rates available due to the large amount of rooms going to the large convention.
Well, I hope I covered everything. Please let me know any info that you need. Judy, maybe you could post this on the webpage so everyone could find under hotel or restaurant information. What do you think?
WendyGail
I discovered through my 2003 AAA Southern
California book a hotel that is very close
to the pier. It's called the Pacific Inn
Hotel & Suites By the Sea. It is located on
1655 Pacific Highway. It's not fancy, but
rooms look nice, some with a jacuzzi, rates
are very reasonable ($45-149.00) and offers
continental breakfast. If you go to Frommer's
website at www.frommers.com , look up San Diego,
then accommodations, you can get a link to
this hotel.
However, I am also interested in staying at
historic hotel such as the Horton Grand Hotel
or historic bed & breakfast such as the Keating
Bed & Breakfast Inn just to get a taste of
old San Diego. But economics may dictate where
we stay... after all this Hawaii cruise ain't
cheap but so worth it !!!
WendyGail
Petoonya
To anyone interested in moderate SD hotels...
I have family in San Diego and am a former southern Californian. We are cruising out of San Diego this December and there is also a convention at the same time. We will most likely stay with family pre-cruise, but I have a back-up reservation at the Marriott Courtyard in Old Town. (Lots of great restaurants, historical sites to stroll.) The rate is $103 and they have a complimentary airport shuttle.
The other place to consider that is also a very nice "moderate" is the Best Western Hacienda, also in Old Town- and also with complimentary airport shuttle at $103. There are other places I'd prefer to stay but the nicest hotels are booked solid. These are a nice compromise.

[Ziggy7]

I mean this, maybe the other will help too :)

http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_maritime/cruise/parking.asp

[Margie_Lady]

Hi Steve,

It's the Holiday Inn on the Bay, and it's right across the street from the port. Ask for a room facing the port and you can watch the ships come in from your balconey.

Jen Kilian's Mum

[peaches from georgia]

Check the 'Hotel' board right here on Cruise Critic. It is very helpful.

There is a San Diego thread right now on page 1 and a search under 'San Diego' brings up many more threads with the kind of information you want.

[kruzkeen]

Hi Steve,

It's the Holiday Inn on the Bay, and it's right across the street from the port. Ask for a room facing the port and you can watch the ships come in from your balconey.

Jen Kilian's Mum

Hi Steve
This is it http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hd/sanem?irs=null

Have stayed there several times. There is a shuttle from the airport, look for the phone on the wall. It is also a short walk from Amtrak Station which is a possibility if one is on the west coast.

If it is full, there is a Hampton Inn close by. Once when both were full, we stayed one night at a Travelodge that is just behind the HI. It was adequate.

Looking forward to your photos and comments on the SOE'd Ryndam.

Ken

[Cruising Illini]

Holiday Inn on the BAY -- it is excellent. Remember to get the one on the BAY because there are about 4 in the area. Ask for a room as high up as possible in one of the two towers for better views. There is a good pub type restaurant on the first floor, Anthony's seafood across the street and a Ruth Chris steak place next door. The rooms facing the bay are not large -- we had one last year -- but some of our group had one facing downtown and it was almost twice as large -- think I will ask for it in the future. They give a good AAA or AARP discount. They have a wonderful van that will take you and your luggage to the ship in about 5 minutes. This same van also runs a shutttle around town. The pier is directly across the street!!!
ALSO and very important -- go to RALPH'S SUPERMARKET for wonderful deli snacks and wine and soft drinks for the ship. First, sign up for a Ralph's card at the store office (no charge) -- we bought Woodbridge White Zinfandel for $2.25 a bottle with the card and bought 6. This is $4.75 a glass in the piano bar on the ship. We have a suite so use it to entertain friends during the cruise but we never take to the dining room. The Holiday Inn shuttle will drop you close to the Ralph's store (downtown) and we caught a cab back -- not far. Make reservations early -- this is a very popular convention and tourist hotel. Have fun!!

[DaveOKC]

How is the Hampton Inn? We are staying there Dec. 3 since all the other hotels in the area are full (big convention I guess).
The Holiday Inn on the Bay is a great location and rooms are fine. I woud stay there again.
DaveOKC

[Quendryth]

We are staying there prior to sailing to Hawaii in Dec. The exact address is 1355 Harbor Dr. 619 232-3861 direct line to the hotel.

We have a bay view king room that has a furnished balcony so we can watch our ship come in!

Q

[kruzkeen]

How is the Hampton Inn? We are staying there Dec. 3 since all the other hotels in the area are full (big convention I guess).
The Holiday Inn on the Bay is a great location and rooms are fine. I woud stay there again.
DaveOKC

Hampton Inn was fine. It is a fairly new building. I seem to remember a continental breakfast with some choice, not just coffee and donuts. It was a very short taxi ride to the pier. I remember some people with not too much luggage walked.