The best place to find gay hotels and gay-friendly accommodations in San Diego is in or near Hillcrest, the neighborhood with the most queer bars, restaurants, and shops. There are hardly any men-only resorts like in Palm Springs, but there are a number of hotels that have been dealing with gay guests as a matter of course for years. Because the neighborhood consists mainly of residential buildings, the choice of hotels directly in Hillcrest is manageable. A well-known little house is the Hillcrest House Bed and Breakfast, a 1910 Craftsman building within walking distance of the bars and the Pride Parade route. If you want to sleep in the middle of the action, this is the place to be, but you have to book early.
For more choice, head downtown with the Gaslamp Quarter, just a short drive from Hillcrest. You'll find larger hotels in every price range, including LGBTQ-popular addresses like the historic Sofia Hotel from 1915 or the modern Andaz with a rooftop pool. From downtown, you can reach Hillcrest in about ten minutes by taxi or ride, plus you have the beaches, the harbor and Balboa Park within easy reach. So the choice boils down to a simple question: close to the nightlife in Hillcrest or more comfort and choice downtown. If your visit falls during the peak summer season or Pride weekend in July, plan ahead of time. The following selection will help you decide between location and house.