Local Wally's Guide to San Diego

Find Your Place in the Sun in Affordable Old Town and Hotel Circle

San Diego's Old Town, the "birthplace" of California, is today best known for its Mexican restaurants and touristy shops. Sure, parts of it border on tourist trap territory but there's something cool about staying in a hotel where down the street they're making homemade tortillas and margaritas. With so much personality you'll forget you're staying in one of the more affordable areas of town.

Nearby Hotel Circle is in Mission Valley, the stretch of land that borders the Highway 8 freeway. When I first moved to San Diego in the mid-70's the valley still had cows in it. The cows and dairy's are gone, replaced by condos, office buildings, shopping malls, a golf course, and yes, hotels, lots of hotels.

On a map you'll see the San Diego River running through the valley but in reality it's the giant freeway that provides the vibe these days. It's busy and developed here, but don't worry, it's not a dump. For those of you who just want a clean bed and a nearby coffee shop, you're in the right area and the freeway access means you're literally minutes from all the good attractions. And while there are plenty of cheap hotels, leave it to Local Wally to find the best hotels in Old Town and Hotel Circle, the ones that rise above the rest and are worthy of your attention.

BEST WESTERN HACIENDA HOTEL OLD TOWN

With its Spanish and Santa Fe inspired architecture, the Best Western Hacienda Hotel in Old Town is not your basic motorlodge. Located on a hill above the tourist jammed sidewalks, the Best Western features panoramic views of the city from the balconies in many of their 195 rooms. You're close enough to catch the scent of freshly made tortillas but away from the noise and congestion of the main strip.

Rooms are average, about what you would expect in a 2.5 to 3 star hotel. Old school TV's, plug in internet (what, no wifi in the room??), it's a basic hotel wrapped up in a not so basic package. The exterior of the hotel and the courtyards and walkways look much more upscale than the rooms themselves and the pool is great, perfect for lounging around after too many margaritas. Rooms also feature microwaves and small refrigerators, perfect for your leftover Mexican food - and there's plenty of great restaurants right down the street. "Suites" are small enough to be called singles, but that's marketing for you.

With great food and a party atmosphere down the street and easy freeway access to get you to the main attractions, it's easy to see why staying in Old Town is a top pick for many travelers. If you want a hotel with a bit more personality than you'll find in an everyday 2-3 star, check out the Best Western Hacienda Hotel.

PRO'S: Feels like a super nice resort when you pull up, location is great!
CON'S: Rooms look like a Best Western... wait, this IS a Best Western!
WALLY SAYS: Lots of personality, I like the Old Town location a lot - and no DUI if you drink too many tequila shots!

LOCAL WALLY BEST MEXICAN FOOD IN OLD TOWN TIP: Don't you dare eat at a chain Mexican chain restaurant when you're in San Diego! That would be like going to The Olive Garden in Italy, or PF Changs in China. San Diego locals like La Pinata, a cute little joint off the beaten path and the Coyote Cafe, a solid pick with fresh tortillas and an inviting open patio. Old Town Mexican Cafe is the "as seen on Travel Channel TV" place, long waits but good food. And I'd rather eat nails than anything at Fred's Mexican Cafe, a truly abysmal take on Mexican food that should make even hardcore gringos cringe.

 

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COURTYARD SAN DIEGO OLD TOWN

No one does mid-priced hotels better than a Marriott. As predictable as a Big Mac, you know when you book a mid-line Marriott that you can expect a decent room at a fair price, a comfortable bed and a bathroom that won't knock your socks off but won't make you want to keep them on either.

This four story, 176 room Marriott is on the edge of Old Town with one side bordering the busy freeway. Avoid rooms on that side of the hotel if you can, but don't worry too much if you wind up there as the noise is not as intrusive as you might think. Of course, the experience on the non-highway side is a nice upgrade and all rooms feature their signature bedding with down comforter, extra pillows and triple sheets. This is no dump motel, this is a Marriott, and if the rooms are unexceptional for some they're a step above their competition in this price and class category.

Walk to Old Town for dinner, grab the free shuttle to the airport or train station, the location is perfect for those "on the go" and looking for a decent place to stay that's not going to break the bank.

PRO'S: It's a Marriott so you know the quality is there
CON'S: Better keep the windows closed if you wind up on the freeway side of the hotel
WALLY SAYS: Not for honeymoons but good enough for a family vacation or business trip.

LOCAL WALLY MO' OLD TOWN PICKS: Just need a good clean room that you can pull up to without getting dirty looks from your spouse? Check out La Quinta Inn Old Town - they call it "Old World" with "Spanish charm". I don't know what these guys are smokin' cause it's really just a big box with windows, but the rooms interiors are nicer than you would expect and the rates are rock bottom affordable.

SAN DIEGO MARRIOT MISSION VALLEY

Most of the hotels in Hotel Circle are located right smack on the freeway, which is good for when you want to get out of there but not so good when you want to sleep. The San Diego Marriott Mission Valley is the exception, located down the ways and off the main road, making it a good pick for an affordable place that still looks like vacation.

The hotel itself is nicer than most mid level Marriott's. Palm trees line the streets, landscaping is lush and tropical, the pool even has a giant waterfall feature. Its location on a street lined with business buildings ensures that there will be plenty of business people there but its also a great spot for families on vacation. Rooms are in that "above average" Marriott style, meaning up to date but not blow away trendy, the sort of room you say "this is nice" when you walk in - but not so cool that you take pics of it. There's even a trolley stop nearby that can take you to Old Town, downtown, the convention center, Gaslamp and, if you dare, Tijuana. Going to Comic-Con? Gaslamp? Great pick if you want to party downtown but avoid the DUI by taking the trolley back to your hotel.

Families not looking for gourmet dining but tired of Happy Meals can walk across the street to the nearby shopping center where there's San Diego's Pat and Oscar's, a casual eatery that has made fresh breadsticks nearly an institution, as well as Wahoo's Fish Tacos, a fast food place that manages to serve up restaurant quality food. Didn't that spiky hair Guy guy on FoodTV swoon all over that place? I think so.

So nice rooms, great location away from the crowds and traffic, walk to food, walk to the trolley, this is great find away from the crowds. Perfect for business, perfect for families, I'd stay here no problem.

PRO'S: Like a mini-resort, nice pool, nice rooms, well maintained hotel
CON'S: If you're trying to forget about work the people in business casual attire might stress you out!
WALLY SAYS: Who needs the crowds when you want to go to sleep? Great for family vacations!

 

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DOUBLETREE HOTEL SAN DIEGO MISSION VALLEY

I love marketing. They call the Doubletree Hotel San Diego Mission Valley "stylishly hip" but this place is about as hip as a Ford Winstar! Don't get me wrong, I like this place. I just don't want all you hip people wearing your Alberta Ferretti outfits getting all disappointed when you find out the truly hip people are checked in at the Gaslamp District while the sensible people checked in at the Doubletree. The marketing people got it wrong. It's not about being hip, it's about being practical and predictable, two traits that make this Doubletree a solid pick for the vacationer or business traveler.

Located right off the freeway, getting to your daily destinations is a snap. Minutes to the zoo, minutes to the beach, you'll be there before your kids have time to ask "are we there yet?". For conventioneers, Comic-con'rs, and party'rs, the trolley stops right at the hotel so you can jump on and get to the Gaslamp District or Convention Center without the hassle of parking downtown. Perfect for both the pub crawler and the family guy alike, the trolley is the best way to get to the downtown destinations. The hotel also butts right up to a large strip mall with a Barnes and Noble bookstore, a Starbucks, and I'd Better Not Catch You Eating There chain restaurants like Applebee's and Joe's Crab Shack. There's even movie theaters for those evenings when you're too tired to go out but don't want to just sit in the hotel room and stare at each other.

As for the rooms, you're going to experience some serious Déjà vu if you've ever stayed at a Doubletree before because they look, well, exactly like every other Doubletree. See, not hip. But nice, heck yeah, and clean enough that even the pickiest OCD spouse can relax and crash on the bed without removing the bedspread. Free continental breakfast in the morning, free reception in the evening, pet friendly, there's a lot to like about staying here. Go ahead, wear your out of style Members Only jacket proudly when you check in and act like you're stylishly hip even if you're not. After all, you're staying at the Doubletree!

PRO'S: No one ever complains about staying in a Doubletree, it's as predictable as a Big Mac.
CON'S: Busy location, busy freeway, lots of business people.
WALLY SAYS: It's not a resort, it's a hotel, but it's a perfect spot to crash at the end of a busy day!

COURTYARD SAN DIEGO MISSION VALLEY HOTEL CIRCLE

I know what you're thinking. A Courtyard with a freeway view can't be any good, right? Normally you'd be right, but after a recent remodel this place shines like a new BMW. Hip and trendy furnishings, rooms that look better than some of the trendiest Gaslamp hotels, this Courtyard San Diego Mission Valley Hotel Circle is a shining jewel in the sea of mediocre hotels in the area. Best yet, it delivers all of this upscale luxury at an affordable price, making it one of the top picks in the area.

The hotel caters to both business and leisure travelers. Both will love the freshness of the decor, the quality of the furnishings and the quality of the service. There's a little market in the hotel open 24 hours a day, a bistro, a Starbucks, and even free wifi. Rooms retain the same updated feel as the lobby and feature flat screen TVs and down comforters with modern bed dressing. I also like the free boarding pass kiosk, something every hotel should be doing. The sleek and modern pool, the full featured exercise facilities, you're going to soon forget that you started your hotel search looking for a good deal and just sink into all of this luxury.

The location is great for getting to the attractions. Sure, there's quite a bit of traffic noise at prime time and yes you'll need a car to get around, but that's true for a lot of hotels in San Diego. If you are looking for one of the better values in town, if you want a hotel that's hip without breaking the bank, then you want the Courtyard San Diego Mission Valley Hotel Circle.

PRO'S: Just refurbished, it reminds me of the cool Marriott I stayed at in Paris - seriously!
CON'S: Right on the freeway, can't walk to dinner
WALLY SAYS: It's so cool here, I love it!

YOU GOTTA SEE THE HOTELS IN LA JOLLA!

 

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