La Jolla Lodging By Location

Where you stay in La Jolla will influence your vacation more than any other factor, so I want to make sure you find just the right hotel, motel, B&B, or resort.

LA JOLLA HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Before you make a decision, check out the deals offered via the “reservation box” in the top right corner of this blog. You may be surprised to find that La Jolla has cheap places to stay, as well as luxury hotels, suites, and spas. San Diego Hotel Week (http://www.sandiegohotelweek.com/) is another good source of bargain beds.

What follows below is a listing of local accommodation, grouped by neighborhood. I’ll follow up with details on the various places as time permits. In the meantime, check out the map at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=102753819517919873889.00044c7eebf5647208f7d&ll=32.847866,-117.232361&spn=0.138446,0.219727&z=12&source=embed

North Torrey Pines Road

This is a great area if you want to play golf or watch a tournament at the beautiful Torrey Pines Golf Course. However, both of these luxury resorts sit atop sandstone cliffs, making them a poor choice for beach-goers. A car is a must here because a taxi into the village for shopping and dining costs about $20 each way.

• Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines
• The Lodge at Torrey Pines

Near the University of California San Diego

Easy access to UCSD is the big draw for these three hotels. Estancia is on North Torrey Pines Road, but the Sheraton and the Residence Inn are within walking distance of places to eat and a couple of shopping centers that include a movie theatre, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, etc.

• Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
• Sheraton La Jolla Hotel
• Residence Inn

East of I-5, On La Jolla Village Drive

By definition, these places are not in La Jolla, but they are close enough to be of interest. The Embassy Suites and the Marriott are across the street from University Towne Center. Having said that, travelers don’t come to La Jolla to spend time in a mall, so you’ll need a car if you stay in this area.

• Embassy Suites – San Diego
• Marriott – San Diego La Jolla
• Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine

La Jolla Shores

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff. I walk on La Jolla Shores Beach several times a week and never tire of watching surfers, kayakers and kids digging holes in the sand. In addition to the beach, the Shores has its own little restaurant row and a handful of kayak rental places and beachy stores. I wrote about the difference between The Shores and The Village on July 31, 2009, so flip over to that post for a more complete description.

• Hotel La Jolla at The Shores
• La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club
• La Jolla Riviera Apartments
• La Jolla Shores Hotel (formerly The Sea Lodge)

The Village

La Jolla’s heart has it all: charm and personality, myriad dining options, great shopping, the postcard-perfect La Jolla Cove, a world-class art museum, a seal colony, fantastic ocean views…and almost enough parking for the folks who want to enjoy our little seaside community. In fact, in this neighborhood, being car-less has its advantages.

• B & B on the Sea
• Best Western Inn By the Sea
• Empress Hotel
• Hotel Parisi
• La Jolla Cove Suites
• La Jolla Inn
• La Jolla Village Lodge
• La Valencia
• The Bed & Breakfast Inn at La Jolla (pictured above)
• The Grand Colonial
• Redwood Hollow Cottages
• Scripps Inn
• Shell Beach Motel

La Jolla Boulevard

South of the Village, a few motels provide budget lodgings within walking distance of the beach. This area (south of Nautilus Street) also includes places to eat, and the number 30 bus that runs on La Jolla Boulevard is useful for getting into the village or further a field to San Diego attractions (http://www.sdcommute.com/).

• Holiday Inn Express
• La Jolla Beach Travelodge

San Diego Food Finds

My friend Maria Desiderata Montana writes a blog about San Diego restaurants, and I want you to know about it should you decide to venture outside La Jolla for a meal.

San Diego Food Finds (http://www.sandiegofoodfinds.com/) includes restaurant profiles for great places to eat all over San Diego County. Some of my favorites are: Fidel's (Mexican) in Solana Beach, Quarter Kitchen in downtown San Diego, and Con Pane (bakery/cafe) in Point Loma.

Maria is Italian, and in "cent’anni" (Italian for "May you live 100 years"), she shares recipes from her own kitchen as well as some of her chef friends. Her site also keeps foodies up-to-speed on local food "happenings."

I know La Jolla inside and out, but when I have a need to eat elsewhere, I rely on Maria's sage advice.

Pictured above: Seared Hamachi with fresh arugula salad and strawberries, available at The Loft restaurant at the Montage Laguna Beach. (Photo by Maria Desiderata Montana)