Bahia San Diego: Our Favorite Family Hotel in San Diego

I love San Diego for many reasons. Having lived there in my early twenties, I am not a stranger to its beautiful weather and laid-back charm. I remember driving past the Bahia Hotel on my way to Mission Beach back then and thinking that it would be a nice place to stay. Crazy how, nearly a decade later, I finally had a chance to check it out. I contacted the nice people at the Bahia San Diego, who offered me their media rate to review their property. As always, the opinions expressed are totally my own and no compensation was received.

All in all, I loved the Bahia Resort. Below you will find 5 aspects of the hotel that I loved the most. However, I don’t think this resort is perfect for everyone and all kinds of vacations. But for what I needed it to be, the Bahia San Diego more than exceeded my expectations…

The Bahia San Diego

Family Suite of Rooms

And when you have two small kids that crawl and lay all over the floor, cleanliness is a big deal. The Bahia San Diego and their family suite was clean and safe for my young kids. The kitchen and bathroom were visibly clean and the linens crisp. The room smelled fresh, and when we opened the patio slider, the smell of salty sea water filled the room. Ahh, paradise!

Our family of four stayed in a one bedroom suite and had plenty of space to move around. I wish we would have planned better because we hardly used the kitchenette. Next time we visit, I’ll make a stop at the grocery store first!

I’m not a luxury traveler. I’m inclined to say that it’s because of the kids, but the truth is I have never been too concerned with luxurious accommodations. The Bahia Hotel is not a luxury resort. It’s clean and spacious, and while not at all a budget hotel (3.5 stars and ranked #76 out of nearly 300 hotels on TripAdvisor), you should be aware that the buildings are older. I felt like I got a great value for my travel budget by staying at the Bahia, leaving more “play funds” available.

Related: SeaWorld Behind the Scenes Tour: Worth the Cost?

Related: 5 Reasons to Feel Good About SeaWorld

Top Notch Service at Bahia Hotel

Again, when you are traveling with small babies, you need the hotel staff to be courteous and helpful. Whether pushing my double stroller around, creating a mess at the hotel’s restaurant or asking for suggestions, everyone working at the Bahia was pleasant and asked if I needed anything. Nothing kills vacation mojo quicker than unwelcoming hotel staff and not once did I encounter a personality like that during our stay. Room service also came quickly, with no mistakes, and was delicious.

After leaving her stuffed penguin from SeaWorld in the hotel room, my daughter was devastated. With just a quick phone call, the Bahia hotel was happy to mail it us. My daughter was so happy!

Related: San Diego Safari Park with Toddlers

Great San Diego Pools for Kids

Having the best pools in San Diego for kids is just the beginning. The Bahia offers so much for families in terms of water sports and adventure. But with toddlers and babies, the Bahia pool is fantastic for a relaxing afternoon. A quick word to the kid-less traveler, this resort is totally about family travel and that includes the pool facility. If you want serenity and quiet at your pool, this might not be the resort for you. Having said that, my family had a blast at the pool! Alina must have met 5 new “friends” each day that we were there. I loved that there was a large shallow area, that is roped off, to allow beginning swimmers a safe place to be. I also loved that the jacuzzi was really big, not crazy hot and welcomed families to enjoy some time in warmer waters.

The Bahia Hotel Grounds

Nothing beats the waterfront view of Mission Bay, but the Bahia’s lush grounds is a wonderful addition to the ambiance. The hotel is a Spanish style resort with lush grounds that you’ll love to explore. Alina and I took a nature walk one afternoon, during Sebas’s nap, and had a great time looking at all the different flowers and plants. I would have loved to sit under the gazebo or in one of their hammocks and read a book for an hour. There’s always next year! At least I got the chance to have some photography fun taking photos of all the beautiful greenery.

Best Hotel Location in San Diego!

Other than to SeaWorld (which was only a mile away – the hotel offers a shuttle service), we didn’t use the car to go anywhere. From the Bahia, we walked to Mission Beach and its boardwalk filled with restaurants and kids’ activities. We also walked to Mission Beach’s water front park. I absolutely love having walkable eating and entertainment options from a resort. The Bahia’s central Mission Beach location is perfect for those wanting to explore other San Diego beaches and attractions, too.

Related: Walking Distance to Mission Beach, Belmont Park