La Jolla, the Jewel, is 10 to 15 miles north of San Diego in the upscale enclave consisting of a sea cove, numerous expensive homes, several research institutes and the University of California San Diego. The San Diego Marriott La Jolla hotel is located east of Interstate 5 with no ocean view. Hyatt and Sheraton are nearby, adjacent to the freeway. Marriott La Jolla is likely a quieter hotel.
The area is a business park with medical centers and other office buildings. My first task was to get street parking two blocks away for free on a Saturday weekend. There are a couple of parking garages within one block of the hotel for $12.50 for 24 hours. Hotel parking is $20 per night. The neighborhood looked sterile and safe to leave my car parked on the street overnight.
San Diego Marriott La Jolla 11th floor view.
This hotel stay was a Look No Further Best Rate Guarantee claim reducing the $119 room rate on the Marriott site to $67, a 25% rate reduction of Expedia.com rate for the same room at $90.30.
Desk and TV area.
King Bed. The bed linens and pillows were so comfortable and decidedly better than the Holiday Inn Santa Maria from the night before.
Small couch in room.
My plan had been to hang out in La Jolla chilling for the night after the 300 miles drive from Santa Maria along the coast. With family in town the plan changed and I ended up driving 20 miles south to Coronado Island. I never saw anything of La Jolla except neighborhoods east of I-5. The beach is several miles west of I-5. Here are Google images of La Jolla cove.
This hotel stay qualified for Marriott MegaBonus with two stays = one free category 1-5 hotel certificate. That is the advantage of getting a rate discount over a free night. My approved Best Price Guarantee claim at Holiday Inn Santa Maria the night before was a free hotel night, but I received no credit for the hotel stay which would have earned over 25,000 bonus points from The Big Win IHG promotion if I had paid for the room.
The second floor of the hotel is conference rooms and pool/fitness room access.
Outdoor pool deck at Marriott La Jolla.
The fitness center adjacent to the pool is large and open 24 hours.
Marriott La Jolla 24 hour fitness center.
Marriott La Jolla lobby seen from second floor.
Marriott La Jolla restaurant.
Marriott La Jolla outdoor patio off the bar.
Marriott La Jolla exterior on backside of the hotel.
The main thing to know is Marriott La Jolla is not at the beach. Scripps Institute of Oceanography is due west of the hotel with beach access about three miles away. La Jolla Cove is about six miles.
The hotel suited my needs for the night at far less cost than a beach hotel would be in the area. If coming to the area as a tourist, I might try the hotels a few miles farther south around Mission Bay for better water views and rates that are competitive for the area.
*****
Ric Garrido of Monterey, California is writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler.
Loyalty Traveler shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests.
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