San Diego's Hard Rock vs. Oxnard's Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach

San Diego hotels will offer a few deals this summer. If you can't afford the newest luxury hotels in San Diego, some of the finer properties will continue to offer special promos. We previously mentioned Hard Rock Hotel, for instance, that now has a Sunday stay and pool part invite (DJ or band) for around $150. Trouble is, when I did the math on it in the blog, that room actually cost $216.64. San Diego is not immune to charging the tourist for rooms. They've added five cents to the booking in a new tax. But Hard Rock itself is over the top in fees...$17 for in service (phone, fitness center, business center), which some hotels offer free of charge. Then there's the $32 parking fee. For those who can't do the math or don't care, the offer is still a good one at $216, but not everybody can afford that kind of money.

The deals are better in some beach cities over others. A suite in Oxnard at Embassy Suites will cost me on my own web site,

$167.41 - room ($150 night) plus parking $15, taxes, = $172 -total

$186.92 - room 0n Embassy Suites web site ($169) plus parking $15, taxes = $201.92

So look at the comparison. San Diego's same $150 room at Hard Rock total price is $216.
Oxnard's hotel suite on the beach at $150 at Embassy Suites total price (on my site) is $172.

San Diego and Hard Rock are charging $44 more for staying there.

How much of it actually goes to Oxnard versus San Diego?
Oxnard Sales Tax = $15.31
San Diego Sales & Hotel Tax = $18.68

While the difference of $3.50 for a one night stay doesn't seem like much, if you add up a week of stays in San Diego, you're paying over $23 more in taxes. Most of us figure it's worth that amount to stay where we want, so it probably won't affect your choice of destination. However, the lesson here is beware of room charges, valet parking and parking fees, and "in fee" charges for free local calls (we all have cell phones, so who needs the in-room phone, gym and business center, etc.) I can live without all that stuff personally, and would prefer it be an option rather than a mandadatory fee.

Which San Diego Hotels are Hot for Spring 2009?

If you find your favorite hotel in San Diego booked this spring, it could be that you aren't alone. What's hotel "hot" at California beaches is affordable luxury, affordable comfort, or budget. For example, out of nine America's Best hotels, six of them are booked on an upcoming weekday span, leaving only three with rates ranging from $51 - 95.

With the cheapest Best Western room going for $78, all 28 Best Western hotels in San Diego have availability during the same time frame, however.

Comfort at Comfort Suites can still be yours for less than $100. Half the Comfort Suites are full, while there's still room in the inn at Comfort Suites at Sea World, Escondido, and Gaslamp Quarter ranging from around $90 to $140.

Do you like the name "Coronado"? Don't bother with it. The handful of Coronado-named hotels on Coronado Island are booked during the upcoming timeframe.

Here's a deal amongst the La Jolla digs... Hilton Hotel La Jolla Torrey Pines for $99! Pretty unheard of. However, Hilton San Diego Bay Resort is sold out during the days after Easter.

The main thing I've noticed from studying the prices during the post-holidays, is that by researching the entire San Diego area, there's some fairly good availabity and pricing, but you just need to spend about 20 minutes looking at the hotels, the prices, and consider staying in several of San Diego's favorite regions--don't be stuck on one spot alone.

San Diego's Feng Shui Resort Loews Coronado

Loews Coronado Bay Resorts isn't for cool cats, but tweety is quite welcome.

Check out Loews incredibly incredible rates, whatever that means!

What do a cage full of finches facing toward the ocean tell you about the hotel hallways of Loews Coronado Bay Resort? That people in San Diego are nutty perhaps? Well, yes, they are. When I stayed in Catamaran Resort, my next door neighbors was a suite where all the exotic birds sleep each night. A ground floor suite with patio deck and bay views is occupied by a bunch of cuckoos.

So I head for another hotel known for its hospitality, its tennis courts and it feng shui. And what I discover are more birds. I think San Diego hoteliers are tweeting too much these days.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort is absolutely a breath of fresh air, no matter how you slice it and serve it. For those who only know about Hotel del, then keep driving south along the island till you get to Loews at a gated entrance near some luxury bay homes. What's so special about Loews? It's isolation for San Diego, its restaurants and food, its tennis courts, its pools, its special events, its beaches, and yes, its birds. These are a few items that you may find interesting and worth a visit on your next San Diego vacation.

The one thing you may not see specifically, but must be working because it sure captivates me--it's that feng shui!

Those who liked the Loews in San Diego's Coronado might like Loews in Santa Monica.