Where to Stay San Diego: Coronado and South Bay
The San Diego area is huge and getting around can be a challenge. Choosing a general location to stay is essential for maximizing the enjoyment of a visit to San Diego. Fun Diego Family has created a detailed guide to each of San Diego’s major areas This is our guide to staying on Coronado “island” and the area of San Diego south of downtown, referred to as South Bay.
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Overview
The independent city of Coronado is basically an island directly across from downtown San Diego. Technically it is a peninsula connected by a small strip of land, the Silver Strand. However, it feels miles away from urban San Diego.
The rest of the area south of downtown is commonly known as South Bay. Lodging here tends to be mainly focused on chain hotels and business travel. Most of the areas are inland on the east side of San Diego Bay. The one exception is the growing beach community of Imperial Beach on the Mexican border.
Nearby Attractions and Activities
Coronado is an independent city with a small-town vibe. It feels miles away from the bustle of one of America’s largest cities. However, Coronado is easy to reach from downtown San Diego or the airport.
The San Diego-Coronado Bridge connects Coronado and downtown. There is also a ferry service from Coronado Landing to the downtown Harbor Front. In other words, Coronado is close to the core San Diego attractions.
In terms of local attractions, Coronado is primarily a beach town. Coronado beaches are the widest in San Diego and consistently voted among the best beaches in the U.S. On the bay side of Coronado there are all kinds of water sports.
Coronado has a small-town vibe with low-key shopping and dining options along Orange Avenue which runs through the center of town.
Coronado is one of our favorite places for biking. There is an easy 5-mile route around the island, or a 20-mile bike ride that goes down the Silver Strand.
The southern section of Coronado is a small strip of land that connects the “island portion” of Coronado to the mainland. The Silver Strand runs about 7 miles to Imperial Beach and is only a quarter of a mile at its widest.
Attractions in the South Bay area tend to be low-key with a focus on wildlife. The San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a favorite spot for bird watching and home to the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista.
The Tijuana River National Estuarine area is a very important nature preserve on the Mexican border. This area can be seen at the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In the south bay Mexican food and culture is an important part of the community. San Diego’s best authentic Mexican restaurants are found here. Often prices are very reasonable, but these places are definitely not fancy dining.
The Mexican border and Tijuana is part of this area. This is the busiest land border in the world. In the past, it was not difficult to cross into Mexico with a passport. It was even possible to walk right to downtown Tijuana from San Diego.
Given the situation with COVID-19 and heightened security, a quick trip to Mexico is more difficult. We would advise visitors looking to go to Mexico to make sure and check current conditions at U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Key Locations and Notable Lodging Options
Coronado
Coronado has some of the best beaches in San Diego and is home to San Diego’s most famous hotel, the Hotel del Coronado. This is a Victorian-style beach that opened in 1888. It is one of the largest wooden structures in the United States.
The Hotel del (part of the Hilton Curio Collection) has undergone, and is undergoing, major restoration. However, the classic look of the resort remains. Given that the guest list has included most presidents since Benjamin Harrison and countless celebrities, the Hotel del is extremely popular and can be expensive.
- Check Prices for Hotel del Coronado on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Hotel del Coronado on HotelsCombined
Across the street from the Hotel del are some more low-key inns, the Glorietta Bay Inn and the Coronado Beach Resort.
- Check Prices for Glorietta Bay Inn on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Glorietta Bay Inn on HotelsCombined
- Check Prices for Coronado Beach Resort on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Coronado Beach Resort on HotelsCombined
About a mile away, on the bay side there is the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa. This location has great views of downtown and the bridge.
- Check Prices for Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa on HotelsCombined
There are some smaller inns and a Best Western in the center of Coronado. These are quiet locations, but the waterfront will be several blocks away.
Beyond the few lodging choices, Coronado is a good choice for vacation rentals through sites such as VRBO.
On the Silver Strand there is the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. We have had great success with Loews resorts in Arizona and Canada. It should be noted that this is a self-contained resort about 5-miles from the center of Coronado.
- Check Prices for Loews Coronado Bay Resort. on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Loews Coronado Bay Resort on HotelsCombined
Imperial Beach
Imperial Beach is the most southwestern city in the continental U.S. It has a low-key, but growing, beach scene featuring the classic Imperial Beach Pier. However, there is little in the way of hotels in this area.
The one exception is the Pier South Resort luxury hotel right on the beach by the pier. This hotel is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. It would be a great choice for anyone looking for a mellow beach experience.
- Check Prices for Pier South Resort on Booking.com
- Check Prices for Pier South Resort on HotelsCombined
Inland South Bay
Inland South Bay consists of the cities of Chula Vista and National City. It also includes the San Ysidro neighborhood on the Mexican border. San Ysidro is part of the city of San Diego but is not physically connected to the city.
Hotel choices in the South Bay are limited, mainly focused on value chains. This is an industrial area with the San Diego Naval Base and the Mexican border being the prime attractions.
Conclusion
Coronado is a prime spot for a San Diego vacation. It is a small town that has the benefit of being next to a major city and all its attractions and services.
The major downside is limited lodging options and high prices.
For a more active beach area, the central San Diego beaches or Mission Bay would be an alternative. La Jolla, is another choice, but it lacks the wide sandy beaches of Coronado.
Stay in Sunny San Diego with these vacation rentals from Vrbo!
With the Pier South Resort and some new restaurants and breweries, Imperial Beach is an option to consider. The rest of South Bay is more designed for travelers with specific business in the area. However, it is fairly convenient to downtown San Diego and the airport via the I-5 freeway.
San Diego Hotel Guides
San Diego is our home so we don’t stay in too many hotels in the area. However, we love to travel and have all kinds of experience with maximizing lodging choices.
A starting point is our San Diego Hotel Guide and Tips. This guide applies to travel in general, but has some more San Diego specific advice.
The Where to Stay in San Diego post is designed to help visitors pick a specific area of San Diego.
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