Best Western PLUS Island Palms Hotel & Marina

Marina life sets the tone here: boats in the foreground, San Diego Bay beyond them, and a hotel arranged for days that start outdoors and end with a proper meal. The private marina and bay views give the place more character than a standard city stop, while air conditioning, WiFi and room service keep the practical side of the stay nicely covered.

This suits you if you want San Diego within reach without sleeping in the middle of its busiest streets. Couples can choose a water or marina view and settle into a super-king bed; families and small groups have suites, interconnected rooms and room layouts that make sharing less of an exercise in logistics. It is a straightforward base for a diving holiday, a city break or a mixture of both.

The hotel sits on Shelter Island, directly on San Diego Bay, with its own marina and views across the water. This is a bay-side location rather than a classic beach hotel: Ocean Beach is about 2.7 miles away by road, while Sunset Cliffs Beach is roughly 1.9 miles away. You will need transport for the coast, but the bay is the immediate setting rather than a distant backdrop.

San Diego International Airport is about 1.6 miles away and around a 13-minute drive. The Gaslamp Quarter is about 5.9 miles away, so the city's restaurants, bars and evening bustle are accessible without making them the soundtrack of your entire stay. Cabrillo National Monument is about 2.8 miles away, and the Maritime Museum, USS Midway Museum and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park are all within roughly 3 to 5 miles.

For food outside the hotel, Brigantine is about 50 metres away, Fathom Bistro Bait and Tackle about 300 metres away, and several bars are within about 0.6 to 1 mile. A marina setting, nearby restaurants and a short airport run: not a bad map to have when your luggage contains more awkward shapes than most.

For two people, the sensible choice is one of the king rooms, with a super-king bed, air conditioning, a refrigerator and a coffee machine. Choose a water or marina view when the outlook matters to you; it gives the room a stronger sense of place than simply closing the curtains on another anonymous car park. Ironing facilities are also provided, useful when your travel clothes have spent too long folded into a case.

The larger suites are the ones to consider when you want separate breathing space, when a sofa bed is useful, or when several people are travelling together. Queen-bed rooms and suites give families and groups more workable sleeping arrangements, while interconnected rooms make it easier to keep a party together without putting everyone in one room. Children of any age are welcome, although cots and extra beds are not available, so the booked bed arrangement matters.

Your post-dive routine is well served by the basics: cool the water in the refrigerator, make coffee without leaving the room, run the air conditioning and put the feet up at the desk or in the suite's living area. Non-smoking rooms and non-smoking accommodation are available, and accessible rooms include roll-in showers or baths in selected layouts.

The Blue Wave Bar & Grill is the main dining address, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner on site. Its menu covers fresh seafood and steaks, with outdoor dining overlooking San Diego Bay and the marina. That is the useful distinction here: after a full day in the water, you can eat while keeping the waterfront in view rather than starting another expedition in search of dinner.

Breakfast includes American choices alongside vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, with breakfast to go for mornings when the day starts before anyone feels conversational. Room service is available as well, which is exactly the sort of detail that earns its keep when you return hungry, damp around the edges and unwilling to negotiate with a menu anywhere else.

There is one bar on the hotel facilities list, alongside the restaurant. If you want to vary the evening, Brigantine and Fathom Bistro Bait and Tackle are close by, while Club Marina and Eppig Brewing are within about a mile. The arrangement is simple: eat at the hotel, stay for a drink, or walk a short distance for a change of scene.

Two bay-side outdoor pools give you an easy option for a quiet afternoon without leaving the property. Sun loungers and an outdoor hot tub cover the less energetic version of the day, while the outdoor fireplace gives the evening somewhere to gather once the air cools. The garden adds a little space between room, pool and marina.

If sitting still feels premature, there is a fitness centre, a tennis court with tennis equipment and fishing. None of this requires turning the day into a military operation; you can swim, stretch, hit a few balls or simply watch the boats move while the body catches up with the holiday.

A spa and wellness centre is listed, with massages available, giving couples an alternative to another trip into town. For a more active outing, Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach, Cabrillo National Monument and the waterfront museums are all within a manageable drive. The hotel therefore works for a mixed couple: one person can recover by the pool while the other goes looking for a little more San Diego.

Check-in starts at 16:00 and check-out is by 11:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at arrival, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. A 24-hour front desk, express check-in and check-out, an on-site cash machine and a tour desk make the practical side less fiddly, particularly if your flight arrives late or your plans change.

WiFi is available throughout the property, and private on-site parking is available without reservation. The airport is close enough for a short drive, while the hotel also gives you a useful base for reaching the Gaslamp Quarter, beaches and the main San Diego sights by car. Accessible parking, wheelchair-accessible facilities and dedicated accessible room layouts are available.

Children are welcome at any age, with guests aged 18 and over treated as adults. Pets are not allowed. There is no minimum age requirement for check-in, but the room's existing beds must do the work because cots and extra beds are not available. For a stay involving several rooms, check the applicable booking conditions before committing.