I came down as a Hyatt Privé top producer, ahead of a roundtable Hyatt runs with its general managers and executives. That is also why I spent part of the stay touring rooms around The Cape that I wasn’t sleeping in.

The Cape fits a specific traveler: chic, cool, well-priced luxury boutique. It holds one MICHELIN Key. The design, by Mexico City architect Javier Sanchez, runs cohesively from the open-air lobby through the rooms, the restaurants, and the residences, and it is one of the most stylish hotels in Los Cabos.

Two things decide whether The Cape suits you. The beach is a surf break, not a swimming beach. And in the standard rooms, including the two-queens, a sheer drape is all that separates the shower from the bed. Both are easy to plan around, and they matter most for families with young children and for friends sharing a room.

My Deluxe Ocean View King Room at The Cape

Mine is a big room with a big bathroom, and the first thing you notice is the copper freestanding tub, which sits in the room itself. The rain shower is huge, with two showerheads. The bathroom is stocked with the small things many hotels have quietly dropped: toothbrushes, cotton swabs, shower caps, full-size bath products. Robes and slippers are in the closet, along with a luggage rack, and there’s an iron and ironing board (no steamer).

Here’s the part to plan around: the bathroom is open-concept. Very sheer drapes separate the bedroom from the tub and bathing area, and if you leave them open, whoever is in the tub, and especially the glass shower with the light on at night, is in full view of the room.

For couples it’s fine, but the two-queen rooms have the same layout, so keep this in mind when traveling with friends.

The rest of the room has a small closet, a chest of drawers, a working desk with a drawer, and a minibar with beer, coconut water, spirits, and candy (no soda). Instead of plastic bottles, you get refillable water bottles with glassware, and the water tastes great, which is genuinely not a worry at Cabo resorts these days. My Hyatt Privé welcome amenity was a decently sized bottle of Cape tequila with spiced mango, and if you don’t drink alcohol, we can have it customized to something else.

The terrace has one of those hanging sofa swings, and I actually used it with my laptop open, a cocktail nearby, and the ocean in front. And then there’s the bed. Thompson is known for its beds, and this one, with its pillows, gave me some of the best hotel sleep I’ve had, and I don’t always sleep well in hotels.

Which Room to Book at The Cape

The Cape has 159 guestrooms, all with private terraces and ocean or garden views, plus a collection of residences that deserve their own section below. You can browse every category with 3D virtual tours on The Cape’s site. These are the categories I’m asked about most.

Max occupancy varies by category, and the hotel enforces it, so confirm your party fits before you book. King rooms and suites have a maximum of two people, and two queen rooms can sleep up to two adults and two children. For three adults or more, you’ll need a residence or connecting rooms.

Connecting and Adjoining Options

These configurations are the options when you’re traveling with more than two adults:

• Thompson Suite connecting to a Deluxe Two Queens guestroom
• Thompson Suite with Plunge Pool connecting to a Deluxe Two Queens guestroom
• One Bedroom Residence with a Superior King guestroom as a detached lock-off

These book up, so we arrange them well in advance. And when connecting rooms aren’t available, we can try to block rooms next to each other.

The Residences Are the Quiet Standout

I toured a junior suite, a suite, and three of the residences, which Thompson also calls villas. At many hotels, the residences feel disconnected from the main resort because they’re a bit further afield. Here they sit in a separate building overlooking the heart of the resort. I could walk from a residence to the pool or the restaurants in the same time it took from my own room, or less.

They’re beautifully furnished in Mexican contemporary style, with high ceilings, fully equipped kitchens, and pull-out sofas in the living areas, and they don’t have the open-concept bathroom situation. If privacy and space are the priority, this is the answer, and it’s a great call for a group: a milestone celebration, a girls’ trip like a bachelorette party, or a few couples traveling together.

The ground-floor Garden View residences also tend to suit guests traveling with pets, and many have plunge pools. Bed configurations: the Garden View Two Bedroom has a king in each bedroom, and the Ocean View Two Bedroom has one king bedroom and one with two queens, which the hotel itself calls ideal for shared stays.

The flagship Oceanfront Surfer Residence sleeps up to eight and is two stories and three bedrooms, with a private fitness room and sauna, a giant patio with a barbecue and plunge pool, a media room, and a walk-out to the resort.

The Penthouse Residence sleeps up to six and adds a 3,000-square-foot rooftop terrace with a grill, fire pit, plunge pool, and air-conditioned living room. The Ocean View Three Bedroom also sleeps six, which is the first option to check if you are trying to fit a group.

Residence inclusions are tiered and get richer with size, which is worth reading closely before you choose one:

• Every residence: daily breakfast at The Ledge, private in-residence check-in, a dedicated concierge, one selected cocktail per person daily at the Sunken Bar, chef’s nightly turndown snacks, and a tequila welcome amenity.
• Two-bedroom residences add: a spa credit, morning bread and coffee delivery, and a daily minibar refill.
• Three-bedroom residences add: a complimentary cabana day and an in-residence guacamole and salsa class with a chef.
• The Penthouse and the Oceanfront Surfer add: private airport transfers and surfboard rentals, with the Surfer also including a personal training session and amenities for children and pets.

Eating and Drinking at The Cape

Food is where Thompson shines. At The Cape, that starts with Manta, the restaurant from Enrique Olvera, one of Mexico’s best-known chefs.

Manta

Manta is the signature restaurant, conceived by Enrique Olvera of Pujol in Mexico City and Cosme in New York, with chef de cuisine Abisai Sanchez. The menu draws on Mexico, Peru, and Japan and is built on local Baja ingredients.

I had the sashimi, a deceptively simple salad of yuzu, lettuce, and avocado where every single leaf carried flavor; and the tuna and tuna belly with ponzu and habanero, which is the dish nearly everyone orders. The mushroom dumplings (suggested by the front desk) arrive in a dashi broth with cotija cheese inside, which sounds odd but works perfectly. There’s also a five-course chef’s menu, and as a World of Hyatt Globalist I was sent a small appetizer and dessert bite, which was a fun touch.

The Ledge

The Ledge is where breakfast happens, with the same panoramic ocean view as everything else here. Breakfast is a semi-buffet: fruit, chia pudding, mini pastries, green juice, and empanada-style bites to graze, then fresh coffee poured at the table and a choice of entrees.

I had the chilaquiles one morning and scrambled eggs another, and their famous Cape toast, their take on French toast, is delicious. Two house-made salsas land on the table with the dishes that warrant them, including a habanero that’s full of flavor (a few dots is perfect for me). Eat on the patio if you can.

The Sunken Bar

The Sunken Bar sits in the center of the open-air lobby, facing the ocean, and it’s where I caught up on email over lunch. The server recommended the ceviche: giant chunks of white fish marinated in citrus and lime with fresh corn and sweet potato, and it was outstanding.

The Rooftop

The Rooftop, on the sixth floor, has the best views in the hotel, with sofa seating along the perimeter, glass walls against the wind, and a corner table everyone wants for photos. The mezcal margarita is excellent, and when I was there, the DJ played at a volume you could talk over, which I appreciated.

More Dining

Point Break is the swim-up bar and restaurant at the main pool, and room service held its own too. My carne asada tacos were very good. Turndown brings two little cookies per person, chocolate chip one night, birthday cake the next.

The Spa and Wellness

The spa is not large, but I had one of the best massages of my luxury-hotel life here, easily top ten, and I treat hotel spas as part of the job. Every stroke felt like it had a purpose, there was a bit of stretching worked in, and I upgraded with hot stones, which I recommend. Afterward you’re taken to the relaxation area, which is coed and open-air (bring a bathing suit), with plunge pools, comfortable seating, flavored water, and in my case a little matcha cake. There’s a modest spa shop, and the larger retail shop upstairs covers the sundresses and hats you forgot to pack.

Thompson leans into wellness generally: the hotel runs cooking and mixology classes, and yoga classes appear on the schedule through the year.

Pools, Beach, and Gym

There are two pools. The main infinity pool is the social hub, lined with cabanas and served by Point Break, and it’s where guests park for the day. During my stay there was even an early morning happy hour from 8:30 to 10:30, and more power to you if you’re on vacation. The second is a saltwater pool below the spa and gym, designed to mimic the ocean.

The beach itself, Monumentos, is a surf break. No one stops you from walking in, but it is not a swimming beach, and during my unusually windy stay the surf was huge. I wouldn’t have gone near the shoreline.

Nobody at this hotel seems to mind, and you swim in the pools. Experienced surfers treat Monumentos as a destination, and I’m told competitions are held here. In season, the whale migration is visible from the rooms, The Ledge, and the Sunken Bar.

The gym shares the same panoramic view as the rooms, out to El Arco and the surf, and it’s well equipped: a Peloton, more bikes, treadmills, an elliptical, free weights, medicine balls, and a couple of machines. It’s also well air-conditioned, which matters to me in tropical climates.

Staying at The Cape With Kids

The Cape is primarily a couples and adults hotel, but families do stay, and I saw quite a few. There just aren’t kids’ amenities: no kids’ menus, no club, no programming, though the hotel runs more kid-friendly activations over the holidays.

If your kids are easygoing and happy spending the day with you, you’re fine. If they need a resort built around them, a different Los Cabos property serves you better. My Los Cabos luxury resorts roundup covers the ones I book, including swimmable-beach options. For families who do choose The Cape, the connecting configurations and residences above solve the space and privacy questions.

Getting There

The Cape is about 40 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and roughly 10 minutes from downtown Cabo San Lucas. After you collect your bags, clear customs, and pass the taxi touts, you cross a small street to where the hotel drivers wait.

Mine was ready, and the handoff was flawless. The drive is easy, well paved, and civilized, and the property is gated, with the driver giving your name and room at the gate so arrival feels seamless.

Who The Cape Is For (and Who It Isn’t)

The Cape is for couples first: honeymooners, occasion travelers, and design lovers who want a comfortable bed, exceptional food, and one of the better hotel spas in Los Cabos instead of a kids’ club and a splash pad.

It’s an option I really like for upscale group stays in Cabo for friends (ideal for girlfriend getaways or a few couples traveling together). Most Thompson hotels are city properties, in places like New York, Miami, and London. The Cape is a resort Thompson and one of the brand’s flagships, so loyalists will feel at home immediately.

It’s not for you if you want to swim at the beach (Monumentos is for watching and for expert surfers), if you’re traveling with young children who need dedicated programming outside the holidays, or if you need full bathroom privacy in a shared standard room.

FAQs About Staying at The Cape

Weighing other Los Cabos options? If an all-inclusive is on your list, see my Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos review.

I have been a San Diego Zoo member for years, and October is the month a regular ticket gives visitors the most value between this event and the annual Kids Free San Diego. (The latter allows up to six kids ages 11 and under per adult with valid admission to enter for free!)

Exploring the Zoo after dark is not something you can do year-round, which is what makes this event special. Lights and entertainment go up, and it feels nothing like the Zoo you walked through that afternoon.

HalGLOWeen Dates and Hours for 2026

This year, Halloween falls on a Saturday, so the schedule runs straight through Halloween night.

• Event nights: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October 2026, 14 nights in all, including Halloween
• Zoo hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on event nights, against a 6 p.m. close Monday through Thursday. HalGLOWeen activities begin at 5 p.m.
• Cost: Included with any valid admission
• Where: Five areas, most of them near the entrance

An event night buys three extra hours on the same ticket. Sunset falls around 6:30 p.m. in early October and closer to 6 p.m. by Halloween, so activities start while it is still light, and the glow only works once the sun is down. If your kids can manage a later night, the hours after sunset are the ones you came for.

Showtimes shift a little from year to year, and the Zoo posts the current schedule on its HalGLOWeen page, so check it the week you go.

What to Expect After Dark

The entertainment is staged in five areas, but it is not spread evenly. Eleven of the twelve acts happen in the areas nearest the entrance, along Front Street, Centennial Plaza, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, and the Outback.

Only the strolling mariachi is deeper in, at Elephant Odyssey, so you can catch most of the evening without walking the whole Zoo.

Shows repeat every hour or so through the evening, so the order you walk through it in doesn’t matter much.

Three things worth planning around before the sun goes down:

• The pandas: see them before the event starts, because that is when you can see them. In my experience, they are not usually super close to the glass, so you want the daylight.
• The Skyfari: runs daily from 10 a.m. to close, which makes it a quick way to cross the park once it is dark.
• Dinner: you will be there through the dinner hour, and my guide to where to eat at the San Diego Zoo covers the options inside the park.

Who HalGLOWeen Is Good For, and How to Do It

It suits three kinds of visitor, and the way you run the day changes with each.

• Locals with a membership: something new at a place we go year-round, and your parking is free once your plate is registered.
• Visitors who lose the morning: if you cannot get to the Zoo until the afternoon, the 9 p.m. close turns a late start into a full visit.
• Families with a napper: if you are staying downtown or in Mission Valley, come first thing, have your hands stamped at the exit on your way out, go back to the hotel for the nap, and return through the main turnstiles that evening with your ticket and stamp. Members show a membership card and ID instead.

Zoo Tickets and October’s Kids Free Offer

If your kids are 11 or younger, adult tickets are the whole October purchase:

• The offer: Up to six children ages 11 and under enter free with each adult who has valid admission.
• What counts: A day ticket, a membership, or a sightseeing pass. There is nothing to register and nothing extra to show at the gate.
• Valid: October 1–31, 2026, at both the Zoo and the Safari Park.
• Event nights included: HalGLOWeen evenings are ordinary October days, so the kids’ free admission covers them too.

Parking is the cost that surprises returning visitors. It was free at the Zoo for years and it is not anymore.

I keep the full October playbook, including how Kids Free works at the museums and the other parks, in my Kids Free San Diego guide. For any other month, start with my advice on buying San Diego Zoo tickets.

The Safari Park in October

San Diego Zoo Safari Park does not have HalGLOWeen. Its October event is Autumn Festival, held on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a daytime fall festival with scarecrow characters, country and bluegrass musicians, a walk-through maze aimed at younger kids, and a lighted lantern ceremony at the end of the day.

Kids Free applies at both parks, so a family doing both in October gets the free kids’ admission at each. You can see the Safari Park’s schedule on its Autumn Festival page.

Photos are courtesy of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

HalGLOWeen FAQs

Is HalGLOWeen included with San Diego Zoo admission?

Yes. HalGLOWeen nights are regular operating hours extended into the evening, so any valid admission covers the event. SeaWorld’s daytime Spooktacular and LEGOLAND’s Brick-or-Treat work the same way, included with park admission, while after-dark scare events like SeaWorld’s Howl-O-Scream sell their own tickets. I compare them all in my Halloween guide to Southern California theme parks.

Is HalGLOWeen too scary for young kids?

No. The program is built for families with live music, costumed characters, acrobats, and keeper talks. The closest thing to a fright is a stilt-walking scarecrow who wants a photo with you. If your kids are old enough to want real scares, my San Diego Halloween guide covers where Howl-O-Scream and the haunted attractions fit.

Can kids wear costumes to HalGLOWeen?

Yes. The Zoo’s costume policy is written for kids, where guests 11 and under can dress in family-friendly costumes, and they may wear masks as long as their eyes stay visible. Leave toy weapons and anything that could poke another guest at home, and skip costumes that drag on the ground.

Does the Safari Park have HalGLOWeen?

No. HalGLOWeen is a San Diego Zoo event. On October weekends, the Safari Park runs Autumn Festival instead, a daytime fall festival rather than an after-dark Halloween night.

Below is what the room is really like, what worked at the Champagne Bar and the Palm Court, what the Home Alone package includes, and how to book with Accor Preferred privileges attached.

My Deluxe King Room at The Plaza

I’m in the Deluxe King this stay, the same category I stayed in last time. It’s about 500 square feet, which is generous for a New York City hotel, and a fair amount of that square footage is in the bathroom. There’s a walk-in shower with a temperature gauge, so you actually know how hot your shower is rather than guessing how far to turn a lever, plus a soaking tub and a separate powder room. Sometimes it’s the small things.

The bathrooms are one of the things I love most about The Plaza. The tile mosaics with 24-carat gold-plated Sherle Wagner hardware feel like they’ve been there forever. I would never put them in my own home, but they 100% fit here, and I hope they never change them. Water pressure is good, the vanity kit is well stocked, and the bathrobes and slippers are the real version, not the disposable kind.

Part of what makes The Plaza The Plaza are the crystal chandeliers. There’s a giant one in the center of my room, two smaller ones flanking the TV, another in the bathroom, and more lining the hallways on the walk to the room. The hotel installed roughly 1,650 of them, and you just don’t see this anymore.

The same goes for the ornate gold-trimmed desk with little gold angels on the sides. It’s a bit gaudy, and it completely belongs here. I worked from that desk most of one day, and it’s comfortable to actually sit and write at.

I just use the two upholstered chairs in front of the TV, somewhere to sit with a glass of wine or tie your shoes. If you add a rollaway for a child, it goes roughly where those chairs sit, so you’d trade the little sitting spot for the extra bed.

The minibar lives inside an antique-looking chest with gold bare feet, stocked with mini bottles, Evian water, Brooklyn Lager, Red Bull, juices, soda, Perrier, champagne, Remy Martin, a split of wine, and snacks (M&Ms, cashews, chocolate chips, cookies). You get proper barware, a wine opener, wine glasses, and an ice bucket on a silver tray.

Storage is better than you’d expect in a historic building, with five narrow drawers in the closet, proper suit storage, shoe racks, good hangers, extra pillows, and a complimentary shoe shine. The blinds are manual rather than automated, but they’re good ones, and I noticed no light seepage. There’s an iron and ironing board rather than a steamer, a full-length mirror, and climate control that works well. You could settle in for a week here easily.

Which Room to Book at The Plaza

Across 282 guestrooms and 102 suites, The Plaza has a wider range of room sizes and layouts than most New York City luxury hotels, which is a real advantage for families. These are the categories I get asked about most.

Connecting Room and Suite Sets

Yes, these do exist and they are outer-connecting. The photo I took below is an example. The exterior doors close off two rooms to create a small foyer between them.

Suites Worth Considering

The Plaza’s suite inventory is deeper than most Manhattan luxury properties, spanning residential-style Legacy Suites, one-of-a-kind creations, and multi-room configurations for larger groups. Below are the ones I recommend most for clients across the range.

If you’re shopping in the suite range, start a request through my luxury hotel form and I’ll walk you through what fits.

Eating and Drinking at The Plaza

The Champagne Bar

I went straight to the Champagne Bar after checking in, since my flight landed late and the restaurant kitchens were close to closing. Midweek, it wasn’t crowded, and the service was friendly and attentive. I ordered a glass of wine and an heirloom tomato salad, and it completely hit the spot. They let me take my unfinished wine up to the room, which is always appreciated.

On past visits I’ve had oysters and a seafood tower here, plus plenty of champagne. You sit there taking in the flowers and the grand room around you. It’s also a good first stop if you arrive late and everything else is winding down.

The Champagne Bar also serves breakfast, essentially the Palm Court menu minus a few dishes like the fancy omelet. One morning I tried to swap my potatoes for a salad and learned the kitchen takes no substitutions. A little unusual for a hotel at this level, not a big deal, but worth knowing.

Also, there’s a quiet lounge area on the mezzanine above the lobby where you can sit and work. I’ve seen people on laptops up there when nothing else is going on. It’s a good spot if the rest of your family is still sleeping or you just need a calm place away from the room. You can see it from the Champagne Bar.

Breakfast at the Palm Court

My daughter met me for breakfast at the Palm Court. I had the Plaza Royal Omelet (stracciatella, oyster caviar, roasted vine tomato, pearl onions, choice of toast, with potatoes added). She had the Plaza American Breakfast (eggs, tomato, breakfast potatoes, sausage, toast, juice, coffee). Both were excellent.

Breakfast is the version of the Palm Court I prefer. It’s not as see-and-be-seen as afternoon tea, so you can actually look around at the architecture without feeling like you’re in someone else’s photo. I’ve stayed in a lot of very nice hotels, and having breakfast in a space this famous still stands out.

Afternoon Tea at the Palm Court

Afternoon tea is the Palm Court’s signature, and the Eloise-themed tea service runs 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with custom teacups and tableware. Reservations are required, and recent menus put it around $125 per person. It’s a bucket-list experience for many guests, and a scene of visiting families and milestone celebrations mixed in with locals.

The Home Alone Package

The Plaza runs a Home Alone package that’s currently $1,755 added to your first night. It includes a limo transfer from the airport, the giant cheese pizza delivered to your room, and the 16-scoop ice cream sundae from the Eloise room service menu. The package can be added to any room category, and it’s hard to resist if you’re traveling with kids who know the movie.

Eloise at The Plaza

If you’re traveling with an Eloise fan, this is her hotel, and the hotel plays it up in the best way. The Eloise Shop on the lobby level carries the books, dolls, clothes, bags, and everything else you can imagine (it’s smaller than I remembered, but the delight is intact). There’s an Eloise mailbox beside her portrait in the lobby, and room service has a dedicated Eloise children’s menu.

For the full commitment, the Eloise Suite was designed by Betsey Johnson in pink and black, with custom Eloise bedding, dolls, robes, and a gift set on arrival. Pair it with the Eloise-themed afternoon tea at the Palm Court, and you have a trip a certain six-year-old will describe for years.

Service, Atmosphere, and the Lobby Scene

The service is friendly and formal at the same time. Nobody slouches, every uniform fits perfectly. The bellmen are genuinely warm (New York bellmen are a class of their own, and The Plaza has the best of them), the front desk treats you like a person, and housekeeping is there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t.

The concierge is easy to reach by phone. Everybody at the hotel has a very New York air about them in the friendliest way, and you get the sense a lot of them have been here for decades.

The publicly accessible part of the hotel is fairly small, just the rotunda with its gorgeous floral display, the view into the Palm Court, and the path down to the shops. While I waited for my daughter, I sat in the lobby and watched tourists walk in for the first time. Their eyes go wide, everyone pauses, everyone takes the photo. It’s fun to watch, and the Home Alone homage is a big part of what people come to see.

Shopping at The Plaza

Past the rotunda and the Palm Court, the retail level holds the Plaza Gift Shop, which reminds me of the Hotel del Coronado’s shop, full of ornaments, historic books, photos, and Plaza-branded everything that reminds you where you are. A second shop and a few kiosks sell chocolates and small gifts. The original food hall is sadly gone, and the concourse is smaller than it used to be, but it’s still worth the wander.

Spa and Fitness

The spa is now the 111SKIN SPA/CLINIC on the 4th floor, which replaced the longtime Guerlain spa. I haven’t tried it yet, since I’m usually in this neighborhood to shop. Blandi Salon, an independent fixture for more than 25 years, is on the 2nd floor.

The fitness center is open 24/7 on the 4th floor with Technogym equipment, but it’s small and has no windows. Fairmont Fit will deliver workout gear and yoga equipment to your room.

What I’d actually do, and did, is cardio in Central Park across the street (the hotel runs guided park runs and walks, and there’s new signage in the park for a self-guided audio tour), then weights back at the hotel. With cooperating weather, you get views of the hotel itself, buskers, geese in the ponds, and endless photo ops. Very, very New York.

Traveling With a Dog at The Plaza

The Plaza is one of the most pet-forward luxury hotels in New York. There is no pet fee. Dogs are welcomed in every room category, up to two per room, with no size or breed restrictions.

Every dog booking includes the Canine Companions Amenities as standard: a dedicated food and water bowl and a plush dog bed. For an elevated experience, the property offers the Pampered Pup Package as an add-on.

We’ve had clients do this. The package includes a terry cloth robe embroidered with the Plaza crest (sizes XS through XXXL), a Plaza-branded Evian bowl, dog-friendly macarons, and a plush bed. You need to add this in advance so they can make sure to have the robe size you need and personalize your dog’s welcome. The robes are also for sale in the gift shop.

Getting to The Plaza and the Neighborhood

The Plaza sits at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. From JFK, plan on 45 to 75 minutes by car depending on traffic. From LaGuardia, it’s 30 to 45 minutes, and from Newark, 45 to 75 minutes. If you book the Home Alone package, the limo transfer can cover your arrival.

The Central Park side is touristy in the best way, with street vendors, food carts, horse-drawn carriages, and people selling tours. Bergdorf Goodman is across the street, and Saks and Tiffany & Co. are a short walk down Fifth Avenue. We don’t have multi-floor department stores like this in San Diego, so it is always a treat to explore them.

For conveniences, there’s a Duane Reade around the corner, a wine shop nearby, and plenty of places to pick up a picnic for the park. Room service will also pack a Central Park picnic for you.

Who The Plaza Is For (and Who It Isn’t)

The Plaza is for people who want a hotel that is unapologetically itself, from the gold trim and the chandeliers to the double-P doorknobs (the logo is even in the sinks) and the original elevators.

It’s for families who can use the larger layouts, couples who want to walk straight into Central Park, dog owners who want zero pet fees, and anyone who plans to spend as much of the stay inside the building as outside it.

It’s not for travelers on a budget. Even with the third-night-free promotion, rates run well over $1,000 a night. It’s not for anyone who wants a sleek, modern hotel. And it’s not for guests who would be put off by patina. The building opened in 1907 and was last restored in 2008, and everything has a lived-in, old-school opulence. It does show wear, and if it didn’t, that would feel strange. A gut renovation simply wouldn’t work at a hotel this famous, and the hotel doesn’t pretend otherwise.

FAQs About Staying at The Plaza

Planning more of your New York trip? See my reviews of The Mercer, the Soho Grand, The Marlton, and The Dominick.

Nine Orchard is a boutique hotel that opened in 2022 inside the Jarmulowsky Bank, a 1912 Neo-Renaissance landmark that spent most of a century in decline before a long restoration brought it back. I booked the entry-level queen and was upgraded a category at check-in. What follows: what the room was actually like, which category I would book next time, whether the Swan Room and Corner Bar are worth your evening, and the things I wish I had known before I got out of the car.

The Jarmulowsky Bank, and Why the Building Matters

The building came before the hotel, and knowing its history changes how the rooms and the bar feel once you are standing in them.

Sender Jarmulowsky founded his bank in 1873 to serve the immigrant Jewish community on the Lower East Side, and the twelve-story headquarters went up in 1912. The timing was cruel. When the First World War broke out two years later, German investors pulled their money, the bank suffered a run, and it failed. The building then spent close to a century in various states of decline, including a 1990 renovation that stripped the fifty-foot tempietto off the roof.

The building was designated a New York City landmark in 2009, and the restoration that followed ran the better part of a decade, worked from the original 1912 blueprints. A sixty-foot replica of the rooftop tempietto, lost decades earlier, was approved in 2014 and back in place by early 2020. The work won a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award in 2021. Nine Orchard opened in the restored building in June 2022, and MML Hospitality bought the property for $92 million in August 2025.

That history is why the ceilings in the Swan Room are so high. The room is where tellers once counted immigrants’ savings, and the marble underfoot was chosen in 1912 to make a neighborhood bank look permanent.

Where Nine Orchard Sits: Lower East Side, Chinatown, and Dimes Square

The hotel stands at the corner of Orchard and Canal, at the southern edge of the Lower East Side where it runs into Chinatown. That corner puts you inside Dimes Square, the small downtown pocket that took shape during the lockdown and has been argued about ever since. The name started as a joke on Times Square, borrowed from Dimes, the restaurant on Canal at Division, and it stuck. The New York Times has put it at roughly five blocks around the Canal and Division intersection, which is about as precise as anyone gets.

What that means practically is that the cluster is dense with independent restaurants, natural wine bars, galleries, and vintage shops, and you can reach almost all of it in under ten minutes on foot. Chinatown proper begins west of the Bowery, which puts Mott and Mulberry about ten minutes away on foot.

Further out, the walk to the Brooklyn Bridge is easy enough to do before breakfast, and the East Broadway F station and Grand Street B and D stations are both a few short blocks away. If you live in New York and have never considered a night down here, this is an unusually good block for it. The neighborhood does the entertaining.

Arrival: Look at the Exterior Photos First

Nobody told me this, so I will. Look at photographs of the outside of this hotel before you arrive.

Orchard Street is one-way, and my Uber driver could not turn onto it, so he let me out near Canal instead. That left me disoriented, because there is no porte-cochere, no doorman in livery, and no signage announcing a hotel. I knew the restaurant was called Corner Bar, and spotting that from the street was what oriented me. I walked up the parallel street, doubled back past Corner Bar and the Swan Room, and found the very discreet entrance from there.

Study the photos first and you will spot it. I did not, and I walked right past.

Once you find the door, you walk in as though you are walking into somebody’s home. There is no bellman. The lobby is small, residential, and immediately quiet, and the rest of the hotel follows.

My Classic Queen Room at Nine Orchard

I arrived around 12:30 p.m., and my room was not ready. This was fine with me because I had already planned to walk to Chinatown for a pork bun and a reflexology treatment. By the time I came back at 3 p.m., the room was ready, and I had been upgraded a category, from the entry Studio Queen to a Classic Queen on the seventh floor.

Check-in happens at a tiny desk staffed by two people. Behind them is a wall of old-fashioned room keys, which is decoration unlike the Marlton up by NYU, where those keys are the actual keys. Here you are handed a standard plastic card with your room number written on the jacket. Mine said 7A.

The first thing I noticed upstairs was the ceiling height. It is the reason a 260-square-foot room does not feel like one: smooth white plaster walls, simple contemporary art in wooden frames, and windows tall enough that the light reaches the back wall.

The look is very minimal, almost Scandinavian. (In the public areas, the same restraint gives way to real color, with greens, pinks, and turquoise handled with enough taste that the hotel feels new even though the shell is a restored bank.)

It is not a big room. Two people with one open suitcase works. Two open suitcases would be tight. I liked it anyway.

Music was already playing when I walked in, through custom Ojas speakers built for the hotel by Devon Turnbull. It is the best sound I have heard in a hotel room in a long time. The volume control is hard to find, tucked above the mini fridge inside the cabinet, and the front desk told me where to look at check in.

There is a working desk and a club chair. There were live orchids, which is rare enough now that I notice every time. My welcome amenity was two wine glasses, a bottle of water, a bottle of red wine, and two apples. The hotel information came in a keepsake box rather than a folder, and that is the kind of detail I appreciate.

The bed is comfortable, and the pillow and linen quality is obvious immediately. The minibar surprised me: nuts, snacks, and splits of wine at around $22, which for a New York luxury hotel is close to reasonable. Temperature control was good. There is no in-room coffee, which is typical in New York.

The bathroom has a walk-in shower with a standard shower head, and I think that is a miss. If I were renovating this building, I would have specified a rain shower of some kind. It is well stocked, though there is not much counter space if two of you are getting ready at once. The amenities are good overall, with the caveat that the shampoo does not do much for thick hair.

The Apple TV was fussy, and the television itself feels undersized for the room compared with hotels in the same bracket, which matters if you like watching something from bed. Neither would stop me booking again. It is a small quibble.

Noise and Light in the Rooms

Street noise was a non-issue. The block is residential, and on the seventh floor I heard nothing essentially. The insulation from outside is genuinely good.

My room sat next to a service closet, so I heard the coming and going, and I could hear a neighbor’s shower in the morning. No voices came through the walls. I sleep with earplugs in hotels regardless, so it did not bother me.

Light is the one I would actually plan around. I pull curtains as tight as they will go out of habit, and I still woke to a room full of morning light. The seepage around the edges is real.

Which Room to Book at Nine Orchard

There are 113 rooms across thirteen categories, and the decision is about floor space, not view. The building is mid-block, and no category sells a skyline except the suites that say so. My advice after a night in a 260-square-foot queen: if two of you are traveling with real luggage, book a king and give yourselves the bathroom counter.

The remaining categories are the Studio King at 260 to 325 square feet, the Supreme View King Suite at 400, the Orchard Loft Suite and Design Suite at 600 and 800, and the Two Bedroom Supreme Suite at 800. The Two Bedroom Terrace Suite is the largest accommodation in the building at 1,200 square feet plus a 400-square-foot terrace. ADA-compliant rooms can be booked online or by calling the hotel. Message me in the booking tool if you want help choosing between rooms for specific dates, because availability can change the answer.

Eating and Drinking at Nine Orchard

The food here is very good across the board, and in New York it has to be. The competition within a five-minute walk is brutal enough that a hotel restaurant needs to earn its seats. Both of these have earned them, and both draw locals rather than only guests.

The Swan Room

This is the bar, and it is the showpiece of the historic building. It occupies the former teller hall with pink Tennessee marble floors, Botticino marble walls chosen to recall Grand Central Terminal, a rehabilitated ornamental ceiling, and tall arched windows. The hotel’s own description calls it an opulent, old-world setting for martinis and small plates, and that is accurate.

The Swan Room is just off the lobby, and you cannot hear it until you push through the guest door. Then you go from silence to a properly buzzy New York after-work room. Most people come in from the street, so the two halves of the building never meet.

They are known for martinis and the format is build-your-own where you choose the spirit, the garnish, and the style. I had a classic vodka martini, and it arrived with a small jug of olive brine on the side so I could make it as dirty as I wanted. The brine was clearly house-made rather than poured from a jar.

I ordered the fries with caviar and truffle aioli, which were outstanding, and the hamachi crudo, which was cut noticeably thicker than most crudo and felt more generous as a result. Service was excellent, and the food came fast enough that I was back upstairs working within ninety minutes.

The dress code is smart, and the room enforces it loosely. I wore jeans and a blazer and was on the dressier end. The crowd seemed more residents than tourists, and the experience felt a shade more casual than a Midtown five-star bar, which I favor. Reserve ahead, and if you are eating alone, take a high top in the bar area rather than a table.

Corner Bar

Corner Bar is the all-day bistro, also off the lobby, and it has a completely different vibe from the Swan Room. It is beautifully decorated, homey and upscale at once. When I came down for breakfast, a good share of the room was people having morning meetings rather than hotel guests.

I had the Nine Orchard breakfast with eggs, avocado, hash browns, and toast. The eggs carried a serious amount of butter, in the way you want. The avocado was dressed with lemon and oil and was the best thing on the plate. I looked at my neighbor’s granola with fruit and yogurt, which also looked delicious. The coffee was fine and the service was quick.

The East Room, the West Room, and the Greenhouse

There is a guest-only lounge on the second floor called the East Room, with a fireplace, tables, and games, where breakfast and afternoon tea are served depending on the day’s programming. I did not get up there on this stay, and I did not know it existed until afterward. That is why I am flagging it. Given how small some rooms are, a shared sitting room you can spread out in is worth taking advantage of. The hotel also lists other event spaces I never saw, including the West Room, the Blue Room, and a glass rooftop called the Greenhouse.

Services and Amenities at Nine Orchard

One evening turn did surprise me. Housekeeping came by with cookies and bottled water and asked whether I needed anything, and handed me the breakfast menu on the way out. The cookie was an oatmeal spice with dried fruit in it, possibly pineapple, and I ate the whole thing.

This hotel is quiet about what it offers, which suits the tone. Most of the following I did not need on a one-night stay, but you would want to know before you book.

There is no spa, but there are plenty of places to book treatments off-property. Laundry and dry cleaning are available, and the price list hangs in the closet. The front desk is two people at a small desk, but they do have concierge services.

Room service comes from Corner Bar, with a seasonal menu you reach by QR code. Breakfast can come to the room as well, via a paper card door hanger if you like.

Under the banner 9O Presents, the hotel runs its own calendar of art, film, music, design, and talks in the West Room and the Greenhouse. A summer series called Orchard Nights opens the Greenhouse to the neighborhood at sunset. Events are public, and hotel guests get priority access, so look at the calendar before you book.

The hotel is also a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

Service and Style at Nine Orchard

The staff here is young, at the front desk and in the restaurants, and the service is genuinely friendly and informal.

For most travelers, that is the appeal, and it is certainly why the ground floor fills with locals. There were a few little things, like a typo in my welcome note that wouldn’t sit well with some clients that I have.

Walking to Chinatown from Nine Orchard

I walk to Chinatown every time I am down here, and from this corner it is about ten minutes west across the Bowery. This was my first stay at Nine Orchard, and what I liked about the block is how local it feels. It is not a hotel district. I also felt safe walking it at night, which I mention because it is the kind of thing I want to know before I book a neighborhood I have not stayed in.

Mei Lai Wah on Mott Street has been making Hong Kong-style buns since 1968, and I order the pineapple bun with roast pork ahead for pickup rather than queueing. There is no pineapple in it, for the record as it is a soft bun under a sweet crackly crust, with char siu tucked inside. Zu Yuan Spa at 6 Elizabeth Street is where I book ninety minutes split between massage and foot reflexology. And there are many other places within walking distance.

I would plan a stay here around food and walking and very little else, because that is what this address is good at.

Who Nine Orchard Is For (and Who It Isn’t)

Book it if you want a downtown neighborhood rather than a destination address, and if walking to Chinatown matters more to you than a Midtown address does. Book it if you enjoy a historic boutique hotel with stunning decor, and if you care more about how a building feels than how branded it is. Book it if you are a New Yorker who wants a night out of your own apartment in a different part of Manhattan.

Skip it if you are an Aman person, or if you need a full suite of hotel amenities and someone anticipating you. Skip it if your party needs floor space, because the rooms are small. Skip it if you are traveling with young children. Nothing about the hotel would prevent it, and I would check in with a child without hesitating. However, I saw no children during my stay and no children’s menus, so you would be doing your own work.

I would stay here again, and I would book a king.

FAQs About Nine Orchard

Also featured in: Best Hotels Near NYU. If you like this neighborhood but want a gentler rate, Hotel 50 Bowery is a few blocks away in Chinatown, I book it constantly, and it carries Hyatt Privé benefits. For other downtown bases, my Crosby Street Hotel review covers the SoHo alternative and the Towers at Lotte New York Palace is the Midtown counterweight. The rest of my New York City guides cover what to do once you have picked a base.

Point Loma is the peninsula that shelters San Diego Bay, and its hotels sit in a few distinct pockets: boutique stays along Rosecrans, bayfront properties on Harbor Drive, the all-suite hotels around Liberty Station, and the marina hotels out on Shelter Island.

I’m a San Diego travel advisor, and I spend my days talking to travelers, so I hear where people actually stay in Point Loma and how it went, whether I booked the room or not. To build this list I sorted the area’s hotels by location and price and read through recent guest reviews, and the weak ones did not make it. Most run an airport shuttle, and several are within walking distance of Liberty Station’s restaurants and the Public Market.

Here is what each one is like, and who it suits.

How to choose where to stay in Point Loma

• Boutique style and a scene: The Pearl or The Monsaraz, both on Rosecrans.
• Family trip or a longer stay: the Liberty Station hotels (Courtyard, Homewood, Hampton, TownePlace), most with suites or full kitchens and a free airport shuttle.
• Cheapest room with a bit of water view: Best Western Yacht Harbor on Harbor Drive.
• Right on the water: the four marina hotels out on Shelter Island (Kona Kai, Humphreys, Island Palms, and The Bay Club) get their own detailed guide.

Several of these Liberty Station hotels are also the closest to the San Diego airport. If being near the terminal matters more than the neighborhood, see my guide to the best hotels near the San Diego airport, which covers those plus the Harbor Island and bayside hotels that are not in Point Loma.

1. The Pearl Hotel

1410 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

Best for: design-minded travelers and couples who want boutique character without a luxury rate. Its 23 rooms, the oyster-shaped saltwater pool, and Ponyboy on site give it more personality than anything else in this price range.

What to Expect: A hip, modern boutique hotel in the heart of Point Loma that won’t break the bank.

The Pearl Hotel, with its mid-century design and modern amenities, offers 23 sustainably-minded rooms with local ceramics and original and vintage artwork. It’s also on our list of best budget hotels in San Diego.

Hotel amenities:

• LCD televisions with HBO
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Certified organic Mooncloth X Casetta bath amenities
• Finery X Casetta bathrobes
• Terrace seating (in some rooms)
• The famous oyster-shaped swimming pool
• Onsite cocktail bar and Ponyboy restaurant

Good to know: Want to take some of The Pearl home with you? The Casetta Shop offers on-site shopping. You can see the dive-in movie screen from The Pearl Jr. Suite’s balcony if you want to book that on dive-in movie nights.

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2. Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station

2592 Laning Road, San Diego, CA 92106

Best for: families and business travelers who want a dependable waterfront base. It is the most consistently well-reviewed hotel on this list, sits on the water across from Liberty Station, and runs a free airport shuttle.

What to Expect: Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station is a waterfront hotel across from Liberty Station, where guests can reach restaurants, bars, shops, galleries, museums, and theaters.

The hotel offers contemporary, tech-friendly king and double queen guestrooms and king suites. It’s a good choice for overnight layovers, business travelers, and families who need a central base for San Diego’s many attractions.

Amenities:

• Heated outdoor pool and spa tub, park and waterfront views, fire pits
• 24-hour fitness center, cardio, and weight machines
• SUP Connection on the beach (standup paddle board and kayak rentals)
• Bike rentals, and waterfront jogging/biking trails connect to Downtown
• Free high-speed Internet, ergonomic workstation, Keurig coffee maker
• Starbucks waterfront BISTRO
• The Lounge restaurant/bar serving California cuisine
• Accessible rooms and common spaces, elevators

Good to Know: Ask for waterfront accommodations to avoid overlooking the parking lot. Paid self-parking, no pets policy, free airport/hotel shuttle, nonsmoking property, check-in 4 p.m./check-out 11 a.m., check website for current promotions.

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3. Homewood Suites by Hilton San Diego Airport-Liberty Station

2576 Laning Road, San Diego, CA 92106

Best for: longer stays and families who need a real kitchen. Every unit is a suite with a full kitchen, and the rate includes hot breakfast and a weeknight evening reception.

What to Expect: Offering apartment-style living, this exclusively all-suite hotel provides fully equipped kitchens near the popular Liberty Station Public Market.

This includes a full-sized refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, twin burner cooktop, and all the kitchen utensils you’ll need. Nearby attractions include Cabrillo National Monument, Downtown San Diego, and San Diego Zoo.

Amenities:

• Suites have water, courtyard, or parking lot views
• Outdoor pool and Jacuzzi tub
• 24-hour fitness center with a few cardio and weightlifting machines
• Basketball court
• 24-hour business center
• Onsite convenience store
• Complimentary grocery shopping service
• Lush grounds with outdoor seating areas, including firepits and grills
• Complimentary evening reception with drinks Monday through Thursday

Good to Know: Non-smoking, self-parking and no valet, electric vehicle charging on-site, pet-friendly rooms, accessible rooms and amenities, digital key suite entry, free Wi-Fi, and coin laundry.

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4. Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport Liberty Station by Hilton

2211 Lee Court, San Diego, CA 92101

Best for: a simple, reliable budget stay with a shuttle and, if you ask, a water-view room. Request one away from the airport side to keep it quiet.

What to Expect: Hampton Inn & Suites San Diego Airport/Liberty Station is a modern hotel between the airport and popular Liberty Station.

There are 181 rooms and suites in six categories: classic king, king water view, king studio suite, king studio suite water view, classic double queen, and double queen water view. A clean, stylish hotel that’s great for families and couples ready to see the sights.

Amenities:

• Free hot breakfast
• Free Wi-Fi
• Nonsmoking rooms
• Complimentary hotel/airport shuttle
• Outdoor heated pool
• Fitness center
• Business center
• Pet-friendly rooms

Good to Know: Check-in 3 p.m./check-out noon, accessible rooms, paid self-parking, pets allowed with deposit, electric vehicle charging.

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5. TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station

2311 Lee Court, San Diego, CA 92101

Best for: budget-minded extended stays that need a kitchenette and laundry. Confirm anything you arrange by phone, since front-desk service can be inconsistent.

What to Expect: TownePlace Suites by Marriott San Diego Airport/Liberty Station opened in 2019. The simple nautical aesthetic combines with design functionality to make this a good choice for long stays.

They offer studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom suites with kitchenettes, their signature Home Office Suite built-ins, and Container Store custom elfa storage closets. Live, work, and play with minimal disruption at this business-friendly, family-friendly option.

Amenities:

• Residential atmosphere with kitchenettes
• Adjustable workspaces with Home Office Suite
• Custom elfa closets
• Complimentary hot breakfast
• Outdoor Weber grills
• 24-hour mini market
• On Us coffee/tea service
• Outdoor heated pool
• Outdoor lounge area with casual seating and fire pit
• 24-hour fitness center
• Complimentary airport/hotel shuttle service
• Complimentary Wi-Fi and laundry facilities

Good to Know: Pet-friendly (2 pets, total 50 pounds, deposit), no restaurant onsite, check-in 4 p.m./noon check-out, smoke-free property, fully accessible, onsite paid parking, electric car charging station, contactless mobile payments, check website for current promotions.

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6. The Monsaraz San Diego, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

1451 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

Best for: Hilton Honors members who want a design-forward boutique and are traveling with a dog (they take one up to 75 pounds).

What to Expect: A small Portuguese-inspired boutique on Rosecrans, leaning mid-century modern as a nod to the neighborhood’s Portuguese fishing heritage. There is no pool, so think of it as a stylish base rather than a resort.

Hotel amenities:

• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Westerly restaurant, a favorite with locals
• Hideaway, a third-floor bar with bay and skyline views
• Fitness center
• Minifridges, irons, and coffeemakers in rooms
• 55″ TVs
• Valet parking only

Good to know: They do not have a swimming pool. Parking is valet only, currently $37 a night. Guest reviews run mixed on the air conditioning and finish details, so confirm your room’s AC is working when you check in.

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7. Best Western Yacht Harbor Hotel

5005 N Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92106

Best for: the cheapest room with a slice of water view, if you can sleep through some noise.

What to Expect: Ideal accommodations for the budget-conscious traveler. Newly revamped guestrooms boast a simple, modern charm.

Each room includes an attached balcony, a mini fridge, and a microwave. This waterfront budget choice has a good location across the street from the Harbor Promenade. The trade-off for that spot is noise, from Harbor Drive traffic, airport jets, and the pool area in the evening, so ask for a room away from the road if you sleep lightly.

Amenities:

• Heated outdoor pool, sundeck, and Jacuzzi®
• Fitness Center (Premium Precor fitness equipment)
• Business Center (fees may apply)
• Meeting facilities and conference services

Good to Know: Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, pets are not allowed, accessible parking and accessible rooms are available, free outdoor parking, free garage parking, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

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Frequently asked questions about Point Loma hotels

Where is the best place to stay in Point Loma?

It depends on your trip. For boutique style, book The Pearl or The Monsaraz on Rosecrans. For a family base near restaurants, choose one of the Liberty Station hotels. To be right on the water, stay out on Shelter Island.

Are Point Loma hotels close to the San Diego airport?

Yes. Every hotel here is within about five to ten minutes of San Diego International, and the Liberty Station hotels run free airport shuttles.

Which Point Loma hotels have kitchens or suites?

Homewood Suites is all-suite with full kitchens, TownePlace Suites has kitchenettes, and Hampton Inn offers some suites. The rest are standard guest rooms.

Do Point Loma hotels have airport shuttles?

The Liberty Station hotels (Courtyard, Homewood, Hampton, and TownePlace) do. The Rosecrans and Harbor Drive properties generally do not, so confirm when you book.

Is Point Loma a good area to stay in San Diego?

It is a strong choice if you want to be near the water, the airport, and Liberty Station’s dining without paying downtown rates. It is less convenient if you want to walk to the Gaslamp Quarter or a beach boardwalk.

Looking to be right on the water? See the best Shelter Island San Diego hotels, the marina cluster at the tip of Point Loma.

Getting between the two cities is the hard part. There’s no train, the drive is long and traffic-dependent, and the SAN to LAX flights that remain are expensive for 30-odd minutes in the air. A rental adds cost, hotel parking, and sometimes one-way drop charges.

The simplest fix is a San Diego to LAX shuttle, and the one I keep coming back to is reLAXsan. It runs several times a day, with three pickup points across the county and drop-off right at your terminal. You book ahead, and it’s $68 per person each way. I wanted to know if I could recommend it, so I sent my well-traveled daughter from Old Town to catch a midnight flight to Seoul.

Why this works

There’s nothing to manage. You skip the drive, the rental, the parking, and the question of where to leave your car at LAX. You arrive in Old Town with your bags. The coach makes two quick stops in Sorrento Valley and Oceanside, then runs straight up I-5.

The price is the other draw. At $68 one way, it comes in well under a car service or rideshare, with no surge pricing and no wondering whether a driver will take a trip that long.

My daughter took a late-afternoon shuttle and hit some afternoon traffic, but she still reached LAX with hours to spare for check-in and security.

Where the airport shuttle picks up in San Diego

reLAXsan has three pickup points in San Diego County:

• Old Town San Diego, on the Old Town side of the train station
• Sorrento Valley / Del Mar
• Oceanside / Carlsbad

The Old Town stop is the one we used, and it’s adjacent to a generous parking lot that’s easy to find and pull into.

I parked, we spotted the shuttle, and within a few minutes she was on board. The driver took her bags, checked her ticket, and that was that.

For Uber or Google Maps, the address is 2728 Congress Street, San Diego. The exact corner is Congress Street and Telegraph Way, across from the Old Town Transit Center.

One local note

If you’re coming from the west side near Marina Boulevard, you can get held up by trolley and train crossings. There’s construction in the area right now that blocks the usual workaround, so add 5 to 10 minutes to your timing to be safe.

What the reLAXsan shuttle is like

reLAXsan asks you to arrive ten minutes before departure, which is about right. The driver loads bags at the back, checks your ticket, and you board. My daughter’s was a full-size shuttle bus, two seats on either side of a center aisle, clean and well kept, with the spacious seating reLAXsan advertises. The fleet seems to vary by run, so the size of your vehicle may differ from one departure to the next.

Onboard, you’ll find:

• Plugs for your devices at every seat (USB-C)
• Free Wi-Fi
• Snacks: bottled water, pretzels, Rice Krispies treats
• No bathroom on board, in case that matters to you

A note for taller travelers: my daughter is tall and had no trouble with the legroom, but it is, I would say, a typical pitch for a motor coach seat.

Luggage

The $68 fare includes one personal item, one carry-on, and one checked bag per passenger. A second checked bag runs $15, and that same $15 covers any bag over 50 lbs or oversized (length plus width plus height over 62 inches), with a hard ceiling of 75 lbs per bag. For most people headed to an international flight, that included checked bag is all you need.

Traveling with kids? There’s a car seat valet

reLAXsan offers a free car seat and booster valet. You bring your seat, they store it at their San Diego office while you travel. Book a round trip, and they’ll have it waiting for your return ride. Book one-way and you pick it up from the office when you’re back. No hauling a car seat through the airport when you’re the one flying, not driving.

Reserve in advance. The popular runs sell out.

The shuttle isn’t a show-up-and-go service, and seats on the most convenient runs go quickly. Book ahead through the reLAXsan booking system, and don’t leave it until the day before.

Standard tickets are exchangeable up to 24 hours before departure. A Flex ticket adds a refund option for a few dollars more, and for any international trip, especially the return, it’s worth taking.

Reader discount: Use code LAJOLLAMOM at booking for 5% off. Not life-changing, but not nothing.

The San Diego to LAX shuttle schedule

reLAXsan runs multiple departures a day, seven days a week. The schedule is seasonal and changes a few times a year, so always check the current times on their website.

My daughter took a late-afternoon departure for a flight leaving just before midnight. She was at LAX a little after 7:00 pm, with time to check in, clear security, and settle into the Tom Bradley International Terminal. TBIT has been beautifully renovated in recent years. The dining is good, the quiet corners are easy to find, and the extra hours pass comfortably.

Most international flights to Asia leave between 10:30 pm and 1:00 am, so the late-afternoon shuttle pairs naturally with them.

What the reLAXsan shuttle costs

• $68 per adult, standard fare
• $57 per adult when booking two or more passengers together
• $48 for children
• Gift certificates save up to 25%, worth considering if you make this trip more than two or three times a year
• Reader discount: code LAJOLLAMOM for 5% off

Where you’re dropped at LAX, and where to find it on the way back

reLAXsan drops you on the lower / arrivals level at LAX, right at your terminal. For the LAX to San Diego return, you’ll find the pickup under the orange “Shared Rides” signs at lower / arrivals, also at your terminal. There’s no off-airport transfer, no parking shuttle, no walking through a lot in the rain. For a shuttle service, it’s about as clean a curb-to-curb experience as you’ll find.

Who I’d send on it, and who I’d send elsewhere

The shuttle is the right call when:

• You’re a solo traveler or a couple flying out of LAX
• You’re visiting San Diego and need a ride to the airport for your flight home
• You want a buffer against traffic without spending your day behind the wheel
• You’d rather not ask a family member to give up an afternoon for the round-trip

A private car is the better answer when:

• Your flight times don’t line up with the shuttle schedule
• You’d rather have the privacy and quiet of a car

There genuinely aren’t many other ways to get to LAX from San Diego if you don’t want to drive yourself, and the reLAXsan shuttle is now the option I find myself recommending.

FAQs that land in my inbox

Is there a train from San Diego to LAX?

No. Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner runs from San Diego up the coast, but the closest it gets is downtown Los Angeles or Irvine, and neither station connects directly to the airport.

How do you get from San Diego to LAX without renting a car?

A shuttle like reLAXsan is the option. Your other choices are hiring a private car, calling a rideshare, or arranging a private driver. The shuttle is the only one that’s both reliably available and reasonably priced.

Where does the reLAXsan shuttle pick up in San Diego?

Three points: Old Town San Diego, Sorrento Valley / Del Mar, and Oceanside / Carlsbad. Same booking system and same fares for all three.

How early should I arrive at the stop?

Ten minutes. That’s what they recommend, and it’s accurate in our experience.

Do I really need to book in advance?

Yes. Seats sell out on the runs that line up with international departures.

What happens if my return flight is delayed?

Standard tickets are exchangeable up to 24 hours out. Flex tickets give you a refund window. For an international return, I’d take the Flex upgrade.

Can I bring a car seat on the shuttle?

Yes, and reLAXsan has a free car seat and booster valet. They’ll store your seat at their San Diego office while you travel. Book a round trip and they bring it back for your return ride; book one-way and you can pick it up from the office. Otherwise, they do not provide car seats.

I book Andaz for clients and readers through Hyatt Privé, the brand’s preferred-advisor program, which you can access through me. I’m also a Globalist, so I’ll walk you through how the two programs stack up, along with everything else worth knowing, before you book.

The 1913 Sefton Hotel Building

You’re staying in real San Diego history here, which feels genuinely unexpected. The Andaz brand reads modern lifestyle-boutique, so walking into a 1913 building catches you off guard. The mishmash of historic bones and contemporary boutique design works. San Diego architect William Hebbard designed the building for banker Joseph W. Sefton, Jr., and it opened two years before the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. It became the Maryland Hotel in 1916, ran under a handful of names after that, and reopened as Andaz in 2010.

The property today has 159 rooms across six floors, a 4,500-square-foot rooftop that Hyatt bills as the largest in the Gaslamp Quarter, and STK Steakhouse adjacent to the lobby.

Check-in and the Lobby

Valet is the only on-site parking, pulled in front of the F Street entrance. The arrival strip is short, so during a conference or game night you may need to circle the block once. A handful of paid lots are scattered nearby if you want to attempt self-parking.

The front desk team is genuinely warm. I was thanked for my Globalist status (the top tier of World of Hyatt) and handed an info card outlining the property’s amenities, along with a small Path-brand refillable water bottle that was both complimentary and mine to keep.

A guest-use station near the giraffes has a water dispenser, microwave, and plastic cups. Just past the lobby on the left, a small market stocks snacks, cold drinks, and local beer.

The info card mentions a complimentary beer and wine tasting in the lobby from 5 to 8 p.m. nightly. I looked and didn’t see it set up, so you may need to ask the front desk to point you to it. The lobby coffee station goes out in the morning with individual creamers and oranges for grab-and-go. I took a morning walk through East Village and grabbed some for the road. The coffee was good.

My Andaz Suite, Room 639

I’m writing this from Suite 639 on the sixth floor, with two layers of glass between me and 7th Street. The view onto 7th Street and a few neighboring rooftops isn’t the highlight, and that’s fine, because the double-pane windows and the angle of this side of the building kept the suite genuinely quiet for a downtown property.

If you want a view from your room, ask about a higher-floor exterior-facing option over busier F Street at booking. The best vantage points at this hotel are from the rooftop though, and any guest can take them in.

My suite was comfortable but does show some age around the wood finishes, and the furniture reads more lived-in than new. The current configuration opened in 2010 and was last refreshed in 2017.

I know what comparable downtown accommodations cost, and the value is good for what you’re paying, especially as a Hyatt Privé guest.

Other rooms vary, though. Rooms closer to the rooftop catch noise on event nights, and lower floors closer to the street pick up more ambient downtown sound. If quiet matters to you, flag it on your reservation (or tell me) well in advance so the team can place you accordingly.

This suite has an open layout. There’s no full wall between the living area and the bedroom, and you can walk a complete circle around the desk. A barn-style sliding door closes off the bathroom from the bedroom. The living area has a comfortable sofa with a pull-out, slightly IKEA in feel.

Two flat-screen televisions, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. The desk is generous. Keurig-style coffee maker, robes, a steamer, an iron, and an ironing board are standard. The closet has shelving and drawers.

In the bedroom, an indented alcove fits an open carry-on neatly. I’m picky about beds and bedding and I slept really well in this one. A noise machine sits on the nightstand, which feels like the property quietly acknowledging that downtown noise is part of the deal (it is).

Lather amenities come full-size in the shower with a small bottle of lotion at the sink. No cotton swabs or the other small luxury-hotel extras you might be used to, though the hair dryer was pretty effective.

The shower is handheld only, with good pressure but no rainhead. An arm cutout in the wall lets you turn the water on without soaking your sleeve, which is a nice touch.

Which Room or Suite to Book

Andaz San Diego has rooms from a 315-square-foot Queen up to the 1,275-square-foot Star Suite. Views split between interior-facing (looking into a plain interior light well, quieter, less natural light) and exterior-facing (street views, more downtown street noise).

How World of Hyatt status affects your room:

• Globalists. Suite upgrade up to the Andaz Suite at check-in, often confirmed in the Hyatt app the morning of arrival.
• Explorist and Discoverist. Can request an upgrade at check-in, but it usually won’t include suites.
• No Hyatt status, no advisor. You get the room category you book.
• Anyone booking through Hyatt Privé (status or no status). Can have the suite upgrade locked in at the time of booking. See the Globalist and Privé section below.

Andaz Queen and Andaz King. Entry-level options, smaller in footprint, and the right choice if you want a downtown Gaslamp stay at the lowest rate. Standard award redemptions usually land here.

Andaz Deluxe King. This is the room with the glass-walled shower between the bedroom and bathroom. There’s a curtain you can pull from the bedroom side, similar to certain Pendry rooms. Most couples find the layout fine once they know about the curtain. If you’re booking through Hyatt Privé, this is the room category that matters most.

Andaz Suite. This is the room I stayed in, with a separate living area, a king bedroom, and a barn door for the bathroom. It’s also the typical destination for Globalist suite upgrades (at check-in) and Privé Deluxe King upgrades (locked in at booking), both subject to availability.

Larger suites. The Andaz Extra Large Loft (680 square feet) has a separate living room and a dining table for four. The Cabana Suite (750 square feet) has a private spiral staircase to a poolside cabana on the rooftop. The Sweet Suite (800 square feet) is a top-floor option with a sectional sofa, a dining table for eight, and two bathrooms.

The Star Suite. The property’s signature room at 1,275 square feet on the top floor, with king bunk beds in a second bedroom. Bachelorette parties, milestone birthdays, and group trips book this one. There’s nothing else like it in San Diego.

Connecting and adjoining rooms. Roughly 44 of the 159 rooms offer connecting or adjoining options for families and groups.

The Rooftop, Pool, and Z Bar

The rooftop is the main draw at this hotel. At 4,500 square feet, it’s the largest rooftop in the Gaslamp Quarter according to Hyatt, and it’s what sets Andaz apart from other downtown options. The bar and restaurant are open to walk-ins. The pool is for hotel guests only.

When you step off the rooftop elevator, the layout splits in two. Directly ahead is a lounge with a large fire pit (ANDAZ SAN DIEGO branded across the center) and plenty of seating, perfect at happy hour. To the left, is the pool deck with a heated rectangular pool lined with lounge chairs and several oversized, television-equipped private cabanas for rent. Z Bar serves the pool and lounge area. On the other side, The Rooftop by STK serves food and doubles as the rooftop’s breakfast venue for hotel guests, with a fully retractable roof that comes in handy on cooler mornings.

The pool is small but bigger than online photos suggest. It’s a good size for a rooftop pool, not a destination pool, and not really a lap pool. Short laps work. The cabanas feel more like rooftop living rooms than pool cabanas. Lounge chairs fill up on weekends.

Views from the rooftop are the panoramic ones the rooms don’t deliver: a slice of Petco Park, the convention center, and a layer of downtown skyline. No bay views from up here, but the city stretch is satisfying enough that I’d recommend going up even if you’re not planning to use the pool. Wind picks up at certain times of day, which gets obvious fast if you’re trying to keep a hat on or a menu still.

The fitness center is on the rooftop level. I didn’t use it but saw the setup: standard cardio plus weights, enough to keep a routine going.

The rooftop runs a seasonal events calendar that includes DJs and ticketed parties open to the public on certain weekend nights. If you’re a light sleeper or planning a quiet stay, ask the front desk what’s on the calendar for your dates before requesting a high-floor room.

Dining: STK and The Rooftop by STK

There are two STK restaurants at the property, and the distinction matters because their menus and venues differ. STK Steakhouse is the dinner restaurant on the lobby level. The Rooftop by STK is the rooftop venue. The Rooftop by STK handles breakfast for hotel guests in the morning and a lighter rooftop menu through the day and evening.

I had breakfast at The Rooftop by STK, in essentially the same space where our advisor meeting had been the day before. Midweek and not particularly busy, the space felt private. I ordered the Andaz breakfast and asked to swap the potatoes for fruit which was no problem.

The eggs were cooked well, which is always a useful tell at a hotel. The avocado toast looked great when it landed at a nearby table. The Cafe Moto coffee was the standout. Breakfast came to about $44, typical hotel pricing and reasonable for the portions that arrived.

For dinner, I went to STK. Happy hour was a pleasant surprise: $3 oysters and a menu of small plates in the $8 to $9 range. I also ordered the STK and fries (slices of high-quality filet over good French fries with a hollandaise drizzle) and the tuna tacos (tuna tartare on a thin, crisp shell).

The crowd was a mix of locals after work, business travelers, and tourists, with martinis on a meaningful percentage of tables. STK has been at this property long enough to be a legitimate Gaslamp dining option, hotel guest or not.

In-room dining is ordered through a QR code in the room.

What Globalists and Privé Guests Get

For World of Hyatt Globalists, Andaz San Diego is better value than the larger downtown Hyatts. The property is a Category 5 in World of Hyatt, with standard award nights running 17,000 to 23,000 points depending on demand. The info card I received at check-in laid out the Globalist benefits at this property:

• Complimentary breakfast for up to two adults and two children per registered guest, covering one entrée, one juice, and one coffee per person. Overages charge to the room. Breakfast is served at The Rooftop by STK and can be eaten there or ordered to the room.
• Waived destination fee.
• Complimentary parking on points or free-night certificates.
• 4 p.m. departure at hotel discretion.
• Complimentary Andaz Suite upgrade based on availability at check-in, from any standard room category (Queen, King, or Deluxe King).

Breakfast is the standout benefit. At about $44 per person on my receipt, two registered guests across two nights are looking at roughly $176 of included food and beverage value. That sets Andaz apart from the larger conference-style Hyatts downtown, where Globalist breakfast is typically a buffet rather than à la carte at a property restaurant.

The suite upgrade is the wild card. Sometimes available at check-in, sometimes not. That’s where Hyatt Privé comes in.

Privé is Hyatt’s preferred-advisor program, and anyone can book through a Privé advisor (including me). You don’t need to be a Hyatt loyalty member to access it. The benefits stack with World of Hyatt status, so a Globalist who books through Privé gets both sets of benefits. At Andaz San Diego, Privé adds a $100 property credit applied to your hotel bill and a confirmed Andaz Suite upgrade at the time of booking when you book the Deluxe King category. The suite upgrade confirms when your reservation does, not at check-in.

If suite certainty matters, book Privé Deluxe King to lock the upgrade and the $100 credit. If you’re fine with Globalist availability playing out, book directly or on points.

Andaz vs. Pendry San Diego

The most common comparison I get for downtown San Diego is Andaz vs. Pendry San Diego, and honestly, it’s apples to oranges. I like both for different reasons.

They share the Gaslamp Quarter location and the boutique hotel category. The overlap pretty much ends there. Pendry is the luxury option in the neighborhood, with a full spa, more refined service, and higher rates. Andaz is the lifestyle-boutique option built around the rooftop pool and STK Steakhouse, with rates that are noticeably lower.

We book both properties for clients regularly. Andaz tends to attract couples and groups in their 20s and 30s, with a wider midweek mix that includes families, airline crew, and business travelers. Pendry attracts solo travelers, couples, and the occasional family who specifically want a luxury Gaslamp stay.

Location and Walkability

Andaz San Diego sits at the northern edge of the Gaslamp Quarter, at 600 F Street, putting most of downtown within an easy walk. The convention center is roughly 10 to 15 minutes straight down 6th Street. Petco Park is closer, just a few blocks away. The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is walkable for anyone willing to clock a longer stretch.

The immediate neighborhood is classic mixed-use Gaslamp: high-end restaurants and boutique hotels alongside pawn shops, smoke shops, tattoo parlors, and the touristy stretches the area has always been known for. Coin-Op, a 21+ arcade bar with old-school games, sits across the street from Andaz and is worth a stop. The Gaslamp’s Victorian architecture is denser than people expect for downtown San Diego, which otherwise feels like a relatively new city.

You’ll see homeless people in the area. That’s true of most American downtown cores, and it’s true here. Walking 5th and 6th Streets between Andaz and Petco Park or the convention center is fine. I never felt unsafe during my stay. The energy isn’t different from walking through Soho in New York. Travelers familiar with major American downtowns will know what to expect. Those less familiar may want to think about it before choosing a downtown stay over La Jolla or Coronado.

East Village Walking Guide

Walk east from Andaz and the character shifts within a few blocks. Take 6th Street to Market and turn left to route through the cleaner stretches and avoid the immediate block to the left of the hotel where the homeless population sometimes concentrates. East Village leans residential, with high-rise apartments, juice bars, organic markets, and restaurants that serve the people who live there.

Worth walking to: Fault Line Park, which has both a playground (great if you’re with kids) and the spheres that measure fault-line shifts; the Central Library; Asa Bakery, my favorite Japanese bakery in San Diego; and the cluster of breweries, including Quartyard, East Village Tavern, and Bowl.

For more in this neighborhood, see my guide to things to do in East Village San Diego.

Is Andaz San Diego Family-Friendly?

Andaz isn’t positioned as a family hotel, but families do stay here, especially midweek. The Star Suite with king bunk beds would be fun for kids and adults sharing, and the connecting rooms work for groups traveling together.

That said, there’s no kids’ club, no children’s pool, and no programming aimed at families. The rooftop pool is shallow throughout (workable for kids who can stand), and lounge chairs fill on weekends. If you’re planning a true family trip in San Diego, Park Hyatt Aviara up the coast or the larger Manchester Grand Hyatt downtown both fit better.

Before You Book

A few practical things to know:

• The hotel is cashless. The front desk doesn’t keep cash on hand, so you can’t break a $20 there for tipping. Bring tipping cash for housekeeping and valet before you arrive.
• Check-out at 11 a.m. is earlier than the noon default at many Hyatts. Globalists can request a 4 p.m. departure at the hotel’s discretion (mine was granted).
• No spa on site, but Pendry’s spa is walkable, and several smaller day spas operate within a few blocks.
• No turn-down service.
• Andaz is pet-friendly. See the hotel website for current fees and policies.
• There’s no QR code for tipping housekeeping or valet. Bring exact cash, as the front desk also does not have change.

Who Andaz San Diego Is For

Downtown San Diego has a hotel for every kind of traveler, and Andaz fills two specific spots. The first is World of Hyatt loyalists who want to walk to Petco Park, the convention center, or the Rady Shell without paying Pendry rates.

The second is nightlife seekers — the rooftop runs DJ events and ticketed parties on certain weekend nights, and the Gaslamp’s bars and restaurants are right outside the door. If either is your trip, you’re going to like it here.

The Globalist breakfast at The Rooftop by STK is genuinely good, the rooftop pool delivers, and the benefits stack if you also book through Hyatt Privé (most Globalists I work with do, to lock the Andaz Suite at booking and the $100 credit).

Just know what you’re getting. It’s an urban property, comfortable and well-maintained, with a genuinely friendly staff, a great location, and a price that reflects what’s on offer. I had a great stay and recommend it to those I know it will fit.

For more downtown San Diego hotels worth comparing, see my best downtown San Diego hotels roundup.

San Diego is one of the best cities in the country for things to do with toddlers and babies. The weather is mild year-round, most attractions are outdoors and stroller-friendly, and you can build a full day around a single park without a car ride between activities.

This guide covers 18 of the best things to do in San Diego with toddlers, written for the under-5 crowd. Each idea is rated three ways: how stroller-friendly it is, what ages will get the most out of it, and whether it works around a nap.

1. San Diego Zoo

Balboa Park · 2920 Zoo Dr

The Zoo is the toddler activity most families ask about first. Toddlers love Wildlife Explorers Basecamp. It’s more than three acres built for kids under 5 with four nature play areas (Desert Dunes, Wild Woods, Marsh Meadows, and Rainforest), a two-story greenhouse full of butterflies, bees, and leafcutter ants, and habitats for animals like prairie dogs, fennec foxes, axolotls, and a Chinese giant salamander. If you only have a half day with a toddler, this is where you may spend the majority of your time.

With a toddler, here’s the day flow that works: start with the Guided Bus Tour. It’s 35 minutes, narrated, included with admission, and if your toddler stays on your lap for the ride, it doubles as a scouting trip. You’ll see what’s where and spot the animals worth walking back to. Use the rest of your time to revisit whatever your family would like to see. End the day at Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, where they can run around, splash at the water pad, and burn off whatever’s left in the tank. Eat before or after Basecamp, then head home for nap time. The Skyfari Aerial Tram is also included if you want bird’s-eye views without walking, and you can take collapsible strollers on it.

Read our full San Diego Zoo guide →

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Use code lajollamom on our ticket site below.

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2. Birch Aquarium at Scripps

La Jolla · 2300 Expedition Way

Birch is our go-to rainy-day (or any-day) activity. It’s compact enough to do in 90 minutes, the tanks are at toddler eye level, and the outdoor tide-pool plaza has touch tanks where even crawlers can feel a sea star. My daughter has been mesmerized by the seahorse tank since she was about 8 months old.

The aquarium is small enough that you won’t lose half your day, and it’s nice because you can move at your own pace without feeling rushed. The ocean views from the terrace are spectacular and we love the Little Blue Penguins.

Read our full Birch Aquarium guide →

3. New Children’s Museum

Downtown · 200 W Island Ave

This is not a dusty science museum with “please don’t touch” signs. The New Children’s Museum is a contemporary art museum where every installation is designed to be climbed on, crawled through, or painted on by kids. The ground floor has a dedicated baby/toddler area with soft surfaces and sensory play.

It’s 100% indoor and air-conditioned, making it the best option on a rare hot or rainy day in San Diego. Under 1 is free. Plan 2 hours. Toddlers will not want to leave. There’s also a neat outdoor playground across the street.

4. SeaWorld: Rescue Jr.

Mission Bay · 500 SeaWorld Dr

Most people think of SeaWorld as a big-kid park, but Rescue Jr. is a dedicated kids’ zone themed around marine animal rescue and conservation. It has gentle rides built for the under-5 crowd: Rescue Riders (kid-sized jet skis), Rescue Rafter (a rescue-boat ride with gentle spins), and Tidepool Twist (a slow spinning ride with sea-life graphics).

The Rescue Bay Splash Zone has fountains that mimic harbor wakes, so bring a swimsuit. Outside Rescue Jr., the animal exhibits (penguins, sea lions, dolphins) work for any age. The Orca Encounter show popular and toddlers love the splash zone seating.

Read our full SeaWorld San Diego guide →

5. Sesame Place San Diego

Chula Vista · 2052 Entertainment Cir

An entire theme park built around the 2–5 set. Most rides have low height requirements (typically 36–38 inches) or none at all, the water play areas are shallow and warm, and your toddler will lose their mind seeing Elmo in person. This is the most toddler-focused park in San Diego.

It’s smaller than SeaWorld or LEGOLAND, which is actually a feature when you’re with toddlers. You can see the whole park without a death march.

Important: Sesame Place San Diego now operates seasonally. The park is typically open weekends plus select weekdays, with water attractions running May through summer. Check the calendar at sesameplace.com before you plan your visit.

Read our full Sesame Place guide →

6. LEGOLAND: Fun Town & Dino Valley

Carlsbad · 1 LEGOLAND Dr

LEGOLAND California skews older (best for 5–10), but the resort has two areas built specifically for toddlers: Fun Town (home to the DUPLO Playtown play structure with soft DUPLO blocks, plus driving schools and family rides) and Dino Valley (which includes the DUPLO Little Dino Trail, a gentle dino-themed ride with no height minimum). For a 2–3 year old, the combination is a full morning.

Beyond those two areas, the Miniland USA walk-through (tiny LEGO replicas of cities, including San Diego) holds toddler attention surprisingly well. Check the LEGOLAND ride guide for current height requirements before you go, since most coasters require an adult companion at the lower thresholds.

Read our full LEGOLAND California guide →

7. Fleet Science Center: Kid City

Balboa Park · 1875 El Prado

Kid City is a soft-play area on the ground floor open only to kids under 5. There’s a miniature grocery store, a water table, building blocks, and a toddler-sized climbing structure. It’s separate from the main museum floor, so you don’t have to worry about your crawler heading for the stairs.

If your child is 3+, the main museum has plenty of interactive exhibits too. The IMAX theater is loud, so skip it with babies.

Read our full Fleet Science Center guide →

8. The NAT: The Backyard

Balboa Park · 1788 El Prado

The Backyard is an indoor play space inside the Natural History Museum, themed to feel like a backyard and restricted to ages 0–5 and their adults, so no big kids will bowl over your crawler. Kids climb on a giant ladybug, hunt for hidden details along a wooden fence, read in a cozy potting shed, and (for crawlers) tumble around a soft cushioned area. It sits next to the Flying Squirrel Café, so parents can grab a coffee and watch.

Also, everyone loves Al the Allosaurus and the gift shop!

Read our full The NAT guide →

9. Children’s Museum of Discovery

Escondido · 320 N Broadway

About 35 minutes north of central San Diego in Escondido, the Children’s Museum of Discovery (still often called by its old name, the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum) packs 13,500 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits aimed at ages 0–10. For toddlers specifically, the Toddler Tide Pool is a dedicated crawl-and-cruise space with climbing structures and a reading area. Curiocity is a pretend kids’ city with a grocery store, laundromat, and other roleplay stations. Outside in the Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden, there’s a water-play table, an Imagination Playground, an edible garden, and Sebastian, a 50+ year-old desert tortoise toddlers come back to see.

10. Living Coast Discovery Center

Chula Vista · 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr

Most tourists skip this one. This small wildlife center on the shore of San Diego Bay has sea turtles, sharks, rays, and shorebirds, all at toddler height and arm’s reach. The stingray touch pool is the highlight for kids 2+. Paths are flat and paved.

It’s much smaller than the Zoo (you’ll be done in an hour), which is exactly the right size for an attention span measured in minutes.

Read our full Living Coast Discovery Center guide →

11. La Jolla Shores Beach

La Jolla · 8200 Camino Del Oro

This is my local beach and it’s very toddler-friendly. The sand is flat and wide and our two beachfront hotels are located here as well. There are restrooms, showers, a grassy park with a playground behind the beach, and walkable shops and casual restaurants in the Shores business area.

Read our full La Jolla Shores guide →

12. Moonlight Beach (Encinitas)

Encinitas · B Street at the beach

A North County pick worth the drive: Moonlight Beach is at street level, which sounds small but is actually rare and toddler-magic. You walk straight from the parking lot onto the sand. There are no stairs, no bluff staircase, and no sandy slog with a stroller. A grassy park sits right behind the beach with a well-designed playground inches from the sand, so toddlers can bounce between sandcastles and slides without losing sightlines.

The shoreline is gently sloping with a designated lifeguarded swim-only zone, and the Marine Safety Center is staffed year-round (8 AM to dusk) with extra seasonal towers Memorial Day through Labor Day. Restrooms, outdoor showers, drinking water, and the seasonal Beach Wolf snack bar are all on-site. It’s also far enough north of the Tijuana sewage plume that water quality holds up reliably. Check current conditions at sdbeachinfo.com before you go.

Read our full Moonlight Beach guide →

13. Waterfront Park

Downtown · 1600 Pacific Hwy

A massive splash pad, wide grassy lawns, shaded playground equipment, and harbor views, all free. It’s the strongest free option in the city for this age. The splash pad has gentle fountains (not powerful jets), so even crawlers can sit in the water safely. Bring a change of clothes.

14. Mission Bay Park & Playgrounds

Mission Bay · Multiple access points

Mission Bay is a flat, calm, enclosed bay with grassy parks, playgrounds, and sandy beaches lining every shore. There’s no surf, the water is warm and shallow, and you can park right next to the sand at most points. Toddlers can wade, throw bread at ducks (don’t actually), and play on one of several playground structures.

Pair it with a walk along the bayside path. There are several public playgrounds dotted along the Mission Bay shoreline.

Read our full San Diego playgrounds guide →

15. San Diego Botanic Garden: Seeds of Wonder

Encinitas · 230 Quail Gardens Dr

The San Diego Botanic Garden has two separate children’s gardens worth knowing about. Hamilton Children’s Garden (one acre, the largest kids’ garden on the West Coast) has Toni’s Tree House and themed garden rooms. Seeds of Wonder is the smaller, preschool-aged garden with a working model railroad, a playhouse, and a dinosaur dig. Toddlers can run freely in fenced, safe spaces in both, surrounded by flowers and butterflies.

The rest of the garden is a stroller paradise: wide paved paths, shade, and benches everywhere. The bamboo forest is shaded, swishing, and tall enough that toddlers go quiet.

Read our full San Diego Botanic Garden guide →

16. La Jolla Cove: Seal Watching at Children’s Pool

La Jolla · 850 Coast Blvd

I have taken a lot of toddlers to the Children’s Pool in La Jolla to see the harbor seals, especially if it’s during pupping season (December 15 through May 15), when there might be babies on the sand, too.

After the seals, walk 10 minutes north to see sea lions on the rocks at La Jolla Cove (or vice versa). These two areas are reliable for wildlife sightings that are rather unusual for an urban area and entertaining for all ages.

Bonus: My favorite gelato place is a slightly uphill stroller push above the Cove. It’s called Bobboi.

Read our full La Jolla seals guide →

17. San Elijo Lagoon Nature Trail

Cardiff-by-the-Sea · 2710 Manchester Ave

The best “hike” for toddlers in San Diego County. The trail is flat, shaded, and follows the edge of a lagoon teeming with birds. Confident walkers can handle it on foot; younger ones ride in a jogging stroller (the trail is packed dirt, not paved, but smooth enough). It’s about a mile round trip to the viewpoint.

The new Nature Center at the trailhead has a small exhibit hall with animal skulls and feathers, which is toddler catnip.

18. Balboa Park Miniature Train and Carousel

Balboa Park · 1800 Zoo Pl

Running since 1948, this vintage miniature train takes riders on a 3-minute, half-mile loop through the park, past animal sculptures and through a small tunnel. Right next door is the 1910 hand-carved carousel, one of only about a dozen in North America that still runs the old brass-ring tradition: riders on the outer row try to grab a brass ring as the carousel turns, and whoever catches it wins a free re-ride.

This is the easiest add-on in Balboa Park. If you’re already heading to the Fleet Science Center or theNAT, the train and carousel sit a short walk from both and turn into a 20-minute side trip your toddler will remember more than the museum. Tickets are a few dollars per rider; hours vary seasonally, so check balboapark.org before you go.

Read our full Balboa Park guide →

I book San Diego hotels for families every week. Here’s what I’m looking for when I’m matching a property to a family with a toddler: cribs that aren’t an afterthought, pools with a shallow end or splash area, suites with a separate sleeping space (so you’re not tiptoeing at 8 PM), and walkability to activities.

A few that consistently work well for our toddler clients:

Shore House at the Del

Coronado · Beachfront

Beachfront condo-style suites with full kitchens, in-unit laundry, and a zero-entry pool. The setup that gives families the most separate-room space without renting a house.

Omni La Costa Resort & Spa

Carlsbad · Family Resort

Splash Landing pools (with a toddler slide), the Little Sprouts Kids Club for ages 6 months to 12 years (a rare 6-month-and-up start age), and a 600-gallon saltwater aquarium inside the kids’ club.

Catamaran Resort

Mission Bay · Best Value

Calm wave-free bay beach (much easier than ocean with a toddler) and tropical grounds with koi, turtles, and birds.

What can you do with a 1-year-old in San Diego?

At 12 months, your best bets are theNAT Backyard (ages 0–5 only, an indoor play space with a giant ladybug climber and potting shed), Balboa Park gardens (wide paths, free), the Fleet Science Center Kid City (soft play), and La Jolla Shores Beach (gentle waves, flat sand). The New Children’s Museum also has a dedicated baby/toddler play area on the ground floor.

What can a 2-year-old do in San Diego?

At age 2, theme parks open up: Sesame Place, SeaWorld’s Rescue Jr., and LEGOLAND’s Duplo Valley are all designed for this age. Birch Aquarium is still a hit, and the San Diego Botanic Garden’s Seeds of Wonder play area is perfect for confident walkers. The San Diego Zoo is still the #1 pick. Wildlife Explorers Basecamp was built for 2-year-olds.

Do I need to book San Diego theme park tickets in advance?

Yes, book ahead. Online prices for the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, and Sesame Place are typically $5–15 cheaper per ticket than the gate, and you skip the ticket booth lines on arrival. Kids 2 and under are free at the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, Birch Aquarium, and the major museums, so for those parks you only buy adult tickets. LEGOLAND California and Sesame Place are stricter, charging kids starting at age 2, so only babies under 2 are free at those two parks. A multi-park sightseeing pass like Go City San Diego can save more if you’re hitting more than three attractions. See our San Diego discount tickets and passes page for current deals.

Can I bring snacks into San Diego theme parks?

Yes, all four toddler-relevant parks (San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, LEGOLAND, Sesame Place) allow outside snacks and small lunch coolers. Glass containers and full-size meals usually are not allowed. A sippy cup or refillable water bottle is the most important thing to pack, since it’s easy to refill at some of the dining outlets.

Should I rent a stroller in San Diego or bring mine from home?

Bring yours from home if you can. Most U.S. airlines let you gate-check or check a stroller for free. If flying without one is not an option, our partner BabyQuip delivers strollers (along with cribs, car seats, and high chairs) to your hotel or vacation rental anywhere in San Diego, including La Jolla, Coronado, Carlsbad, downtown, and Mission Bay. Their daily rates typically come in below in-park stroller rentals at the theme parks. But you can also rent strollers and lockers at our major theme parks.

When is the best time to visit San Diego with a toddler?

Year-round, honestly. That’s the whole point of San Diego. But if I had to pick, September–October is ideal. Summer crowds thin out, and the weather stays warm (70s–80s). October is “Kids Free” month at the Zoo, Safari Park, LEGOLAND, and SeaWorld, but for toddler-only trips, the savings are minimal since kids 2 and under are already free at most attractions. Kids Free October mainly matters if you have older siblings traveling along, or if you’re visiting LEGOLAND since kids ages 2 and older need tickets.

Is San Diego Zoo or Safari Park better for toddlers?

For toddlers specifically, the Zoo wins on logistics: it’s centrally located in Balboa Park (10 min from most hotels), Wildlife Explorers Basecamp is built for kids under 5, and the included Bus Tour makes a half-day visit feel complete. Safari Park works for toddlers, too (see the next FAQ), but usually adds 30+ minutes of drive time on each end of the nap window. For the full comparison beyond toddler-specific logistics, see our San Diego Zoo vs. Safari Park guide.

Should I visit San Diego Zoo Safari Park with a toddler? It’s a 30+ minute drive.

Yes, plenty of families with toddlers go. The day plays out like this: arrive at the 9 AM opening, get three solid hours in, leave by noon. If your toddler is a car-nap kid (not a stroller-nap kid), the drive back to your hotel becomes the nap, and the day works.

The math gets harder if your toddler doesn’t sleep in the car AND doesn’t sleep in the stroller. In that case, you’re squeezing 30+ minutes of drive time on each end into the nap window, which usually doesn’t leave room for a real visit. The Zoo is closer to most hotels and is the easier call if your toddler is a “needs the crib” type.

For a half-day Safari Park visit, ride the Africa Tram (45 minutes through the African plains habitat, included with admission) right when you arrive. Toddlers can sit, watch giraffes and rhinos from the safety of the tram, and often doze off. Pair it with a stroll through Walkabout Australia or Tiger Trail, and you’ve covered the highlights in 2 to 3 hours. If you want a deeper experience, the paid Cart Safari ($64 and up) offers a guided cart tour, and the 90-minute Wildlife Safari ($98 and up, formerly the Caravan Safari) sometimes lets you hand-feed giraffes from an open-air truck (they don’t advertise this, as it depends on what the animals are up for).

Is La Jolla good for toddlers?

Yes. La Jolla has three of the best toddler activities in the city: Birch Aquarium (mesmerizing tanks, touch pools), La Jolla Cove sea lions and Children’s Pool seals, and La Jolla Shores Beach (gentle waves, flat sand, playground). It’s also easy to navigate with a stroller and find quiet, kid-friendly restaurants.

Hotels Steps from Campus: Under 5 Minutes

1. The Mercer Hotel

The Mercer is one of my favorite hotels in this part of the city. It’s an original SoHo loft hotel, set in a Romanesque Revival building at the corner of Mercer and Prince. Christian Liaigre designed all 73 rooms in his signature understated style: high ceilings, oversized windows, hand-built furniture, and not a hint of corporate hotel polish. Staying there feels like borrowing a friend’s beautifully appointed New York apartment, two blocks from NYU.

We stayed at the Mercer during my daughter’s NYU move-in with what felt like a million bags, and the team made the whole thing easier. They received the Amazon deliveries that kept arriving (so many), helped us juggle the chaos of getting a freshman into a tiny dorm room, and turned what’s usually a stressful week into something close to manageable. My full Mercer review goes deeper into the rooms and the stay.

It’s also a notable choice for parents of NYU athletes. The Paulson Center, NYU’s main athletics and fitness facility, is at 181 Mercer Street, just up the same street as the hotel. If you’re in town for a game and want to walk back to your room between sessions, The Mercer makes that genuinely easy.

The lobby restaurant, Sartiano’s, is a destination on its own. The hotel partners with Dr. Barbara Sturm for in-room facials, and guests get access to Zero Bond, the downtown members’ club, for the length of their stay.

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet only · Breakfast: At Sartiano’s · Notable: Zero Bond access

2. Washington Square Hotel

Rates: $$ · Parking: Garage nearby · Breakfast: None Onsite · Notable: On Washington Square Park

3. The Marlton Hotel

Rates: $$ · Parking: Garage nearby · Breakfast: Credit at Chez Nous · Notable: No fitness center on-site

Hotels a Short Walk Away: 5 to 12 Minutes

4. Walker Hotel Greenwich Village

Rates: $$$ · Parking: Garage nearby · Breakfast: At Society Café · Notable: Live jazz programming

5. Crosby Street Hotel

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: Three Michelin Keys

6. The Manner

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Privé · Notable: Adults-only, no TVs by default

7. The Bowery Hotel

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: At Gemma · Notable: Guest-only lobby bar

8. W New York – Union Square

Rates: $$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: Two-queen rooms available

9. The Twenty Two New York

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: One block from Carlyle Court

10. The Dominick

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: Seasonal rooftop pool

11. Moxy NYC East Village

Rates: $$ · Parking: Garage nearby · Breakfast: Available, not included · Notable: Cathédrale on premises

Hotels Worth the Walk: 12 to 25 Minutes

12. Soho Grand Hotel

Rates: $$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: Private dog park, complimentary bikes

13. The Ludlow Hotel

Rates: $$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Curated (2-night min) · Notable: One Michelin Key

14. Hotel 50 Bowery

Rates: $$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Privé · Notable: Year-round rooftop, pet-friendly

15. Smyth Tribeca

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with 2-night Platinum stay · Notable: Quiet residential Tribeca

16. Nine Orchard

Rates: $$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with Virtuoso · Notable: Restored 1912 Jarmulowsky Bank

17. The Greenwich Hotel

Rates: $$$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Credit at Locanda Verde · Notable: Shibui Spa, complimentary minibar

An Honorable Mention — Four Seasons

Rates: $$$$$ · Parking: Valet · Breakfast: Included with FS Preferred · Notable: Large suites and FS comfort

Frequently Asked Questions