Your decision on where to stay depends on many factors like what are you planning to do, your budget, and your arrival time. 

If you are planning to mainly explore downtown, then you should consider one of the hotels right in the Gaslamp Quarter or downtown waterfront. Some of the best choices are the Marriott Marquis Marina, Hilton Bayfront, and Grand Hyatt. For a budget hotel in or close to downtown, you can try Porto Vista, Wyndham Bayside, or Westin. 

If your main goal is to visit SeaWorld, then try the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, Hyatt Regency Masson Bay or the Bahia Resort. For budget choices, try places like Holiday Inn Express, Wyndham Garden, or Travel Lodge SeaWorld.

I recently stayed at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa for two nights and loved every minute of my stay. The resort is right on the bay and has everything you need for fun and relaxation. The 2-queen-beds room was very comfortable with a great view overlooking a garden and the beach. Right on-premises, you will find a nice heated pool, several Jacuzzis, and watersports activities. At night you can enjoy SeaWorld’s fireworks show from your balcony or from the waterfront. See the full review here.  

Interesting Facts: The City of San Diego was rated the fifth-best place to live in the United States in by MONEY Magazine in 2006.

Another great choice is the Grand Hyatt at San Diego Bay. It is very conveniently located next to Seaport Village, the Headquarters, USS Midway, and the Gaslamp Quarter. You can just walk to those popular destinations. The rooms have comfortable beds with great views of the harbor and downtown. See the full review here.  

During my last visit, I stayed at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn. The location is a little isolated from main attractions, but it is a beautiful place for a staycation. If you stay here, you should plan on spending most of your time at the hotel and the surrounding area. It is very easy to do so because the hotel offers many entertainment choices and amenities. A large swimming pool, highly rated restaurants, an outdoor theater, and free bike rentals to name a few. See the full review here.

And of course, you can camp while in San Diego. The Koa campground is very nice with tent and RV sites along with 1 and 2-bedroom cabins. The campground has clean bathrooms, hot showers, and a lot of activities. Read more about KOA campground here.