Resort Hotels in San Diego, Compared
The three resorts on this page show three very different ideas of a resort stay in San Diego. The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a five-star, Mediterranean-inspired resort with four outdoor pools, a championship golf course and six restaurants. Pacific Terrace Hotel is a four-star beach resort on Pacific Beach Park with a pool, a hot tub and select ocean-view rooms. Wave Crest Resort is an aparthotel with direct beach access, kitchenettes and barbecue facilities. Guest scores are all high, from 9.2 to 9.4 out of 10, so I compared them on what really separates them: golf and spa, the beach, or space to cook.
San Diego is a city of beaches and mild weather, and its resorts follow two paths: on the shore, where the ocean is the main attraction, or inland, where golf courses, pools and spas create their own world. Both work here because outdoor time is the point of most trips to the city.
Golf resort, beach resort or apartment
Choosing a resort in San Diego starts with one question: do you want to be on the sand or on a golf course? The beach resorts put the Pacific a few steps from your room, with a pool and hot tub for the rest of the day. The Fairmont Grand Del Mar offers a full resort program instead, with golf, tennis, a spa and several restaurants on site. Each suits a different trip, and none of the three tries to be everything at once.
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is the most complete resort on this page. This five-diamond, Mediterranean-inspired property has four outdoor pools, tennis courts, a championship golf course, six restaurants, a lobby bar and a full-service spa. Rooms come with European-style soaking tubs, plush bathrobes and premium linens. It is rated 9.2 by 86 guests and is described as suited to romantic getaways, family holidays or a pampering break. If I wanted a resort where I would not need to leave the property for several days, this is the one I would choose.
Pacific Terrace Hotel has the highest guest score of the three, 9.4 from 619 reviews, which also makes it the most reliable rating here. It is a four-star beach resort on Pacific Beach Park, with an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a fitness center, concierge services and underground parking. Rooms have island-inspired decor, and only select rooms have ocean views, so the view is worth requesting when booking. For a couple who wants the beach first and resort comforts second, it is the most balanced choice, with the Pacific Beach boardwalk area close by.
Wave Crest Resort is the option for families and longer stays. This aparthotel offers direct beach access, a swimming pool, a hot tub, a lounge and barbecue facilities, and its family rooms have kitchenettes, balconies, a refrigerator, a microwave and a TV, with free WiFi throughout. It is rated 9.3 from 101 reviews. It does not have the restaurants or spa of a full resort, but the kitchen and the beach access make it practical for a family that wants to cook some meals and spend most of the day by the water.
The three resorts rarely compete for the same traveler. The Fairmont Grand Del Mar is for golf, spa days and dining on site; Pacific Terrace Hotel is for a polished beach stay with service; Wave Crest Resort is for independence and space. Review numbers differ widely, from 86 at the Fairmont to 619 at Pacific Terrace, so I give the Pacific Terrace score the most weight. My rule: if you will spend most of your time on the sand, pick one of the two beach resorts; if you will spend it on the property, pick the Fairmont.
A traveler's perspectiveMy advice is to decide between the beach and a full resort program before comparing hotels. For golf, a spa and several restaurants, I would book the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. For a couple who wants the sand and good service, Pacific Terrace Hotel is my pick, with the most reliable score of the three. For a family that wants to cook and stay close to the water, I would choose Wave Crest Resort.
Pacific Terrace Hotel
San Diego
619 reviews
Beachfront luxury with ocean views and a relaxing pool on Pacific Beach
Check availabilityWhy guests love itPacific Beach Park is right outside the Pacific Terrace Hotel, which is why I would book it for a family beach holiday in San Diego: the sand is steps from the room. The beachfront outdoor pool and hot tub give children a second place to swim when the ocean is cold. Some rooms face the sea, worth asking for, and underground parking keeps the car out of the sun. Evening walks along the beach are easy. A score of 9.4 across 619 reviews is outstanding.
Wave Crest Resort
San Diego
101 reviews
Beachfront aparthotel with a pool, hot tub, and family-friendly accommodations
Check availabilityWhy guests love itWave Crest Resort is an aparthotel with direct beachfront access, which is the main reason families choose it: the sand is steps from the door. Family rooms have a kitchenette with a refrigerator and a microwave, plus a private balcony, so breakfasts and simple dinners happen at home. The pool and hot tub cover the afternoon, and barbecue facilities and a garden make evenings easy. I would book a stay of several nights here.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
San Diego
86 reviews
A 5-diamond Mediterranean-inspired resort with pools, golf, and a spa
Check availabilityWhy guests love itFour outdoor pools give families plenty of space at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a five-star, Mediterranean-inspired resort in San Diego. Tennis courts and a championship golf course keep active parents busy, while the full-service spa suits a quieter afternoon. Six restaurants, from the French cuisine of Addison to more casual options, mean dinner never requires a drive. Rooms come with European-style soaking tubs, plush bathrobes and premium linens.
Local tips
- 1Book a tee time at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar when you reserve if golf is a reason for your stay.
- 2Request an ocean-view room at Pacific Terrace Hotel, since only select rooms face the water.
- 3Use the kitchenette and barbecue facilities at Wave Crest Resort to prepare simple meals for children.
- 4Plan a spa afternoon at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, the only resort here with a full-service spa.
- 5Use the underground parking at Pacific Terrace Hotel if you arrive by car.
- 6Compare review counts with scores: Pacific Terrace's 9.4 comes from 619 reviews, the Fairmont's 9.2 from 86.