Best Hotel Bets

Best Historic Hotel: The Hotel del Coronado, 1500 Orange Ave. (tel. 800/468-3533 or 619/435-6611), positively oozes history. Opened in 1888, this Victorian masterpiece had some of the first electric lights in existence, and over the years has hosted kings, presidents, and movie stars. Meticulous restoration has enhanced this glorious landmark, whose early days are well chronicled in displays throughout the hotel.

Best for a Romantic Getaway: At The Lodge at Torrey Pines, 11480 N. Torrey Pines Rd. (tel. 800/566-0087 or 858/453-4420) -- one of only two AAA five-diamond hotels in the county -- you can enjoy a fireplace in your room, sunset ocean views from your balcony, and superb meals at the hotel's A.R. Valentien restaurant.

Best for Families: The Paradise Point Resort & Spa, 1404 Vacation Rd. (tel. 800/344-2626 or 858/274-4630), is a tropical playground offering enough activities to keep family members of all ages happy. In addition to a virtual Disneyland of on-site options, the aquatic playground of Mission Bay surrounds the hotel's private peninsula.

Best Moderately Priced Hotel: The Horton Grand Hotel, 311 Island Ave. (tel. 800/542-1886 or 619/544-1886), is a Victorian landmark full of creature comforts that belie its friendly rates. You'll also be smack-dab in the heart of the trendy Gaslamp Quarter.

Best Budget Hotel: In San Diego's Little Italy, La Pensione Hotel, 606 W. Date St. (tel. 800/232-4683 or 619/236-8000), feels like a small European hotel and offers tidy lodgings at bargain prices. There's an abundance of great dining in the surrounding blocks, and you'll be perfectly situated to explore the rest of town by car or trolley.

Best Bed-and-Breakfast: The picture-perfect Heritage Park Bed & Breakfast Inn, 2470 Heritage Park Row (tel. 800/995-2470 or 619/299-6832), has it all: an exquisitely maintained Victorian house, lively and gracious hosts who delight in creating a pampering and romantic ambience, and an Old Town location equally close to downtown, Hillcrest, and Mission Bay.

Best Boutique Inn: Smartly located in the center of La Jolla, the 20-room Hotel Parisi, 1111 Prospect St. (tel. 877/472-7474 or 858/454-1511), has the composed, quiet feel of a Zen garden, with feng-shui-inspired suites, modern furnishings, and subdued color schemes.

Best Place to Stay on the Beach: Although the Hotel Del operation is truly the grande dame of West Coast seaside resorts, if you really want to be in the heart of San Diego's beach culture, no place is better than Tower 23, 723 Felspar St. (tel. 866/869-3723). This sleek, modernist hotel -- which takes its name from a nearby lifeguard station -- sits right on the Pacific Beach boardwalk.

Best Hotel for Travelers with Disabilities: While many of San Diego's hotels make minimal concessions to wheelchair-accessibility codes, downtown's Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, 1 Market Place (tel. 800/233-1234 or 619/232-1234), goes the distance. There are 23 rooms with roll-in showers and lowered closet racks and peepholes. Ramps are an integral part of all the public spaces, rather than an afterthought. The hotel's Braille labeling is also thorough.

Best Hotel Pool: At Hotel Solamar, 435 Sixth Ave. (tel. 877/230-0300 or 619/531-8740), it's not so much the pool as the bar around it that makes it special. J6Bar, as it is known, has a great vibe that lasts well into the night, thanks to the fire pits and comfy lounges. The fourth-floor setting is also a nice vantage point from which to check out the Gaslamp Quarter action. For a more private, guests-only experience, the pool at La Valencia, 1132 Prospect St. (tel. 800/451-0772 or 858/454-0771), is oh-so-special, with its spectacular setting overlooking Scripps Park and the Pacific.