The 10 best family-friendly hotels in San Diego for a laid-back holiday

Let’s start with a big one. This luxury resort with a private marina features three outdoor pools, including one designed specifically for children and a family-centric one for all ages (the other is adults-old for when you need to switch off). There’s also a hot tub for families, rentable poolside cabanas with snack-and-drink fridges, poolside activities like giant Connect Four and ping pong, plus a raft of watersports, tennis, pickleball and bike hire. Best of all, kids are catered to with the Loews Little Legends program which features cute entertainment ops like kid-sized fishing adventures, s’mores nights and kite-flying. And if you’ve forgotten to pack anything, the resort has a brilliant array of baby products available on request, from bottle warmers and night lights to pack-and-plays and lovely Hello Bello Baby Kits. Seriously, this place caters well to kids.

Mood? Dreamy.
Location perks? A free shuttle is provided to connect you to Downtown.
Budget range? A ‘splurge’ price.

This megawatt resort is located within plastic-brick-throwing distance of LEGOLAND and the SEA LIFE Aquarium, but despite its proximity to those buzzing attractions, there’s a whole lot that’s super tranquil about it too, including stunning views of the Pacific ocean and unparalleled proximity to the beautiful Flower Fields of Carlsbad Ranch. Personally, I could stare at those ranunculus all day long… but back to the kids. There’s a family pool with interactive splash pad, a games room, a playground, an arcade and opportunities for snorkeling and windsurfing. Book a suite and you’ll get a separate living area which is great when you’re traveling in a larger group. 

Mood? Elegance with a light touch.
Location perks? Right next door to LEGOLAND and the SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Budget range? Higher.

If a holiday isn’t a holiday for you unless it involves bombing down wet plastic at high speeds, then this 19 acre resort in Mission Bay has got your number. Along with three top-notch pools (including a kids-only pool) and cabanas, there are super fun water slides and the chance to go kayaking, jet skiing, windsurfing and whale watching. Kids are given a welcome beverage and there are toys and umbrellas available to use near the pool and you can all enjoy the self-led daily Scavenger Hunt around the hotel. And for the adults? There are yoga sessions on Banyan Lawn and massages in the spa.

Mood? Lots of (wet) fun.
Location perks? Very close to SeaWorld San Diego and Belmont Amusement Park.
Budget range? Pricy, but you get a lot for your money.

Another resort close to LEGOLAND, the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort serves big with gorgeous kids-friendly swimming pools and water slides, plus bookable family surf lessons and ebike tours along the coast. There’s also a games room and a children’s playground, along with firepits to melt s’mores over just before bedtime. And if your child happens to be the next Coco Gauff, there are expert-grade tennis and pickleball courts available to hire (the resort is ranked in the top 75 of all tennis resorts online). If you need to walk your toddler in order to burn off energy pre-naptime, there’s the lovely Batiquitos Lagoon Trail which will take you across the delectable landscape of the resort’s 200 acres (that’s got to be enough to tire them out, right?!).

Mood? Surf, splash and sunbathe.
Location perks? Right next to LEGOLAND and some pretty marvelous beaches.
Budget range? Splash that cash.

Unlike the others on this list, the Palihotel in Downtown San Diego doesn’t immediately sell itself as a kids-friendly place. But we have an inkling that this quirky, vintage-filled hotel could be just the thing to win you plaudits with the type of teenager who thinks they’ve outgrown family holidays (only, unfortunately for them, they’re still way off the age when they can travel alone). Artfully clashing prints in the bedrooms, bathroom accessories and adorable mini SMEG fridges to make them feel like grownups and a super fun French-meets-Americana diner, this hotel has a lot to impress both young and not-so-young. Best of all, its location puts you in a prime shopping and dining-out spot.

Mood? Just about cool enough to impress your thirteen-year-old’s best friend (not that she’ll let on).
Location perks? All the fun of the East Village is right on your doorstep.
Budget range? Upper bit of ‘mid’ range.

We couldn’t write a list of family-friendly hotels in the San Diego area and not include the actual LEGO hotels, could we?! The LEGOLAND California Hotel has Pirate, Kingdom or Adventure themed rooms, while the Castle Hotel has Knights and Dragons rooms. It’s all very sweet and very LEGO-y, which is ideal if you’ve got a LEGO mad kid (not so great if they’re only into Disney). There are two all-ages outdoor swimming pools, a playground and a games room, as well as outdoor play equipment and puzzles to keep little ones occupied. Ok, this one is mainly for the kids’ delight (unless, of course, you’re a big LEGO fan too - we’re not judging). 

Mood? LEGO!
Location perks? You couldn’t be closer to LEGOLAND (inc. the water park).
Budget range? Much cheaper than others on this list.

A family-friendly hotel in a different area of town, Inn at the Park is located right on the edge of Balboa Park West and places you within walking distance of the city’s amazing zoo (not to mention a whole swarm of museums, galleries and the bucolic greenery of the park itself). The hotel is made up of suites with fully-stocked kitchens, full-sized fridges and even a proper stove top alongside the usual microwave (there’s also an onsite laundry service). It’s less splashy and flashy than the big resorts, but we could well imagine using this as the base for a lovely city-focused break.

Mood? A comfortably, homely parkside space.
Location perks? Right on the very, very edge of the park.
Budget range? Mid-range with some great bargains floating about.

Head to Mission Bay and a tranquil island for a stay at a hotel that serves kids well but also has a few nice touches to amuse the adults too (seafood, craft beers and a whole long list of spa treatments, for example). There are tropical gardens, a sandy beach, FIVE (yes, five) swimming pools, water sports including surfing, bicycle hire, treasure hunts and—most importantly—duck feeding. Make sure you check out the Kids Zone where the little ones can do some really cute activities including tie-dye workshops, build-a-buddy classes and joining Otter Pop Hour! Calm things down before bedtime with a beach bonfire. All in all: a simply lovely place for an all-ages holiday.

Mood? A proper island adventure.
Location perks? Just five-minutes drive from SeaWorld.
Budget range? Getting steeper but keep your eyes peeled for good discounts.

Another good Downtown option—we think this one would work well if you’re attempting a city break with teens in tow—the Residence Inn is an unpretentious but stylish hotel with great views across the Bay. There’s a nice outdoor pool and you can rent bikes, but the main draw of this place is the excellent centralizing location. The convenience factor is taken up a notch thanks to the availability of suites with full kitchens - which you’re also allowed to bring pets to - and the hotel’s grocery delivery service and onsite minimarket.

Mood? An urban stay in the Bay.
Location perks? Take a very easy stroll to Waterfront Park.
Budget range? Typical city prices, neither too high or too low.

Stuck trying to choose between the Bay, the East Village and Balboa Park? Why not enjoy proximity to them all by staying at the Embassy Suites. Another option that we think would work well for teens who’d rather explore the Downtown shops than be seen dead squealing at SeaWorld, this uplifting hotel is made up of convenient suites with kitchens, work areas and space to crash. There’s a nice indoor swimming pool and you can get rooms with views across the Bay. The NY West restaurant offers a combination of America and Italian dishes which should keep everyone happy.

Mood? A fun city stay.
Location perks? Very walkable to the East Village.
Budget range? A treat week.