Hotels on Coronado Island: 3 Best Places to Stay on Your Vacation

Coronado Island serves up beach bliss alongside seaside city charm. Book a stay on this island for the ultimate vacation steeped in luxury!

Take a quick trip across the bridge over San Diego Bay to enter an otherworldly island paradise: Coronado Island. A pristine coastline perfect for lazing on the beach meets sophisticated architecture in the form of historic mansions. To explore this enchanting setting on a budget, book a room in one of the ever-popular Coronado Island hotels to serve as your abode during your stay.

The best place to take in the San Diego skyline is from across the bay on Coronado Island. Bask in the beauty of the city lights reflecting on the ocean. Then, once you’ve had your fill of shops, restaurants, and galleries, make the journey back to your hotel on Coronado Island for a refreshing night of sleep!

Before you start packing your bags for this magical destination, you’ll need to make your hotel Coronado Island reservations! When searching for hotels, Coronado Island, CA, is known for lavish vacation lodging.

Keep reading to find out how you can get a discount on Coronado Island hotels San Diego and still ensure you have an opulent place to stay for your Coronado Island vacation

Aerial view looking over Coronado Island and the bridge that leads to the mainland at dusk near San Diego, California, USAEl Cordova

A far cry from cookie-cutter hotels lined with identical rooms on Coronado Island San Diego, El Cordova isn’t your ordinary hotel. Instead, it’s set in a renovated mansion formerly owned by an industrialist. Every detail of the Spanish-style decor was intentionally chosen to create a design that feels both extravagant and homelike.

The courtyard is the heart of the establishment. A firepit surrounded by ample seating options makes this the perfect place to relax and connect with other weary travelers. Additionally, you can take a dip in the glassy water of the heated outdoor swimming pool or jacuzzi.

Many of the rooms include full kitchens and separate living areas, so you can accommodate the whole family. Arrive to a kitchen fully stocked with groceries when you use the hotel’s grocery service! Save some dough by eating in for a few meals.

You won’t have to go far when you’re ready to go out for dinner. Two restaurants are conveniently located on-site! Miguel’s Cocina features Mexican food with a California twist. Indulge in flavorful carne asada or scarf down classic tacos. Is seafood more your thing when you’re on a beach trip? Get a table at Brigantine Seafood to satisfy your cravings.

The beach is within walking distance, meaning it’s so close you can practically smell the salt on the breeze when it runs through the hotel. Take a short five-minute stroll to Coronado Beach to catch a striking sunset after dinner! The best hotels Coronado Island are just a stone’s throw away from the ocean.

Pro Tip: Holland’s Bicycles is located less than a half mile away from El Cordova. Take a quick walk here to rent a bike. Then, pedal around the rest of the island or down the beach!

Once you make it back to your room for the evening, kick back in a fluffy robe on a pillow-top mattress. We can’t name a better way to unwind! Even with an abundance of deluxe features, El Cordova is still one of the cheaper options on Coronado Island. Get the biggest bang for your buck on your San Diego vacation! 

Aerial view looking down on the entrance to the El Cordova Hotel with palm trees around it on a sunny day in San Diego, California, USA.
photo credit: El Cordova Hotel via Facebook

Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Searching for a full-on resort? Look no further. Situated on a remote 15-acre peninsula, Loews Coronado Bay Resort boasts cozy yet modern decor with a beachy flair. Think subtle blues and seashell touches that are anything but kitschy. This resort is among the best hotels on Coronado Island!

Speaking of the beach, Silver Strand Beach is a quick 10-minute jaunt away. Or, use the free shuttle to spare your legs. Additionally, the shuttle can take you to downtown Coronado if you want to take a break from this secluded resort to visit a bustling atmosphere. Finally, if you’re a true shopaholic, you may also want to make the trip to downtown San Diego to score some finds!

Three swimming pools are the perfect places to chill out at the resort. However, the real draw is a full-service marina located on-site. Rent a boat to truly get a taste of the Pacific Ocean! Spend a day getting lost in a sea of blue. With baby blue skies above, deep blue waters below, and salty air all around, boating across the ocean is a true treat for the senses! In addition, there are water sports rentals available.

While the littles splash around in the kids’ pool, the adults can get rejuvenated at the Sea Spa. A “Traveler’s Relief” massage is the best way to recover from jet lag. Or, give your skin that vacation glow with an “Ocean Rejuvenation Facial.”  

Pro Tip: Searching for a convention center at a Coronado Island hotel San Diego to host your event? Loews Coronado Bay Resort boasts more than 70,000 square feet of both indoor and outdoor meeting space!

Once you work up an appetite, there are two on-site restaurants at Loews Coronado Bay Resort to choose from. Crown Landing is a sit-down restaurant with a swanky setting. It serves up delicious eats for all three meals of the day. If you’re on the go, Silver Strand Exchange is at your ready with quick picks like sandwiches, salads, and pastries.

Aerial view of the pool and lounge area of the Loews Coronado Bay Resort with a purple sunset overhead in San Diego, California, USA.
photo credit: TraveleZe via Facebook

Hotel del Coronado

Finally, Hotel del Coronado isn’t cheap — but it is legendary. On the former guest list of this famous hotel are presidents, celebrities, and royals. In fact, Hotel del Coronado was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977. This is one of the most prestigious hotels on Coronado Island, CA!

Victorian style is the hallmark of this hotel, but the unique decor of each room promises no two are identical. There are over 700 guest rooms! Book a room with an ocean view for the ultimate California experience. Before you even enter your room, a spacious front porch complete with rocking chairs is there to give you a warm welcome.

Fun Fact: Hotel del Coronado was the location where Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon filmed the 1959 movie, “Some Like it Hot.”

Stake out a spot on the shore at Del Beach for the ultimate Coronado Island day. Easy access to the beach is a must when in California! Lay down a towel on glistening sand warmed by the sun’s glow, or rent a complimentary chair and umbrella from Hotel del Coronado!

Moreover, bar-to-beach service allows you to select from a menu brimming with delicious food and drinks all day long. Coronado Island beachfront hotels are the way to go for supreme oceanic luxury.

A plethora of on-site dining options will satisfy your inner foodie, including:

  • ENO Market & Pizzeria
  • Sheerwater
  • Babcock & Story Bar

Fun Fact: It’s rumored that the tantalizing Emerald City from The Wizard of Oz was based on the Hotel del Coronado. The author, L. Frank Baum often stayed at the hotel during the winter.

Complimentary beach yoga will get you moving if you tire of lounging around on the beach. Need more exercise? The on-site fitness center has everything you’ll need to break a sweat.

Pro Tip: Bringing your furry friends with you on vacation? Hotel del Coronado is one of the Coronado Island pet-friendly hotels. However, keep in mind you’ll have to pay an additional fee for fido.

Exterior ground view of Hotel del Coronado along sandy beach in San Diego, California, USA
photo credit: Hotel del Coronado (1500 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA) via Facebook

Book One of These Luxurious, Budget-Friendly Coronado Island Hotels Today!

No matter which hotel on Coronado Island is calling your name, you’ll be in for some sweet dreams at any of these Coronado Island hotels. A visit to Coronado Island while traveling in San Diego is a must. Chill out on the beach by day, then dine in style or shop ‘til you drop by night!

Pro Tip: If you didn’t find the perfect Coronado Island San Diego hotel for your trip on this list, there are more hotels in Coronado Island to browse! Check out La Avenida Inn, Glorietta Bay Inn, Hotel Marisol Coronado, and Coronado Island Marriott Resort Spa.

Once you’re back on the mainland, there’s more tourist fun in store. With Tripster’s help, you can book attraction tickets and hotel rooms at the same time for a great deal. So forget finding a travel agent! We have everything you need for the vacation of your California dreams.

Have You Stayed at a Hotel on Coronado Island?

Which is your favorite? Leave us a comment below!


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Written by Michaela Satterfield

Michaela is a journalist who views every story she writes as an adventure, leading her to explore new places and meet new people....


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