Government Man's Guide to San Diego Hotels
Part III: Hotels Near Trolley Stops, Downtown to La Mesa 
(with updates)
(These are all covered on the
main map.)
As you might have realized from reading the Downtown list, most of the hotels there are for folks who sound like Thurston Howell III. To get something affordable, you have to rely on the San Diego Trolley to get you to the Convention Center.
Here is a map of the trolley routes. I will be rating each hotel based on how close it is to a trolley station, stopping at the half-mile point.
From now on, I will only include a hotel if it is under $200 a night
(some of them crept over that limit since December) . If the number is less than 30, it's in the Downtown area and you can look up the complete hotel description in my earlier posts.
Orange Line (Downtown)
City College Station
The fare to go to the Convention Center would be $1.25 each way (this is the discount rate for all downtown stations).
20. Days Inn Downtown/Convention Center (0.28 mi) ** 2D
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
Fifth Avenue Station
The fare is $1.25 each way.
10. Gaslamp Plaza Suites (0.14 mi) ***
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
17. Sheraton Suites San Diego (0.19 mi) ***.5 3D
SOLD OUT on Expedia, $164 through the ComicCon
19. Quality Inn & Suites Harborview (0.27 mi) **
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
11.
Westin San Diego (was the Wyndham San Diego at Emerald Plaza) (0.37 mi) ***.5
SOLD OUT on Expedia, $157 through the ComicCon
Civic Center Station
The fare is $1.25 each way.
13. Bristol Hotel (0.11 mi) ***.5 3D
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
America Plaza Station
This is the transfer point for the Blue Line. The fare is $1.25 each way.
18. Best Western Bayside Inn (0.23 mi) **.5 3D
SOLD OUT on Expedia, $150 through the ComicCon
Blue Line Stations (Downtown)
Santa Fe Depot
This is also the Amtrak station. The fare is $1.25 each way.
14. 500 West Hotel (0.11 mi) *
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
Little Italy Station
The fare is $1.25 each way.
24. Pacific Inn Hotel and Suites (0.03 mi) **
$234
21. Hampton Inn San Diego Downtown (0.06 mi) **.5
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
27. Marina Inn Hotel and Suites (0.16 mi) *.5
$202
25. Super 8 Motel San Diego Bayview/Convention Center (0.25 mi) **
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
29. Harborview Inn and Suites (0.32 mi) *.5
$160
29 (again). Little Italy Inn (0.34 mi) *.5 c-$$$
Blue Line Stations (Old Town)
Middletown Station
The fare is $2.25 each way. It's at this point that day passes become economical: unlimited travel for four days for $15.
30. San Diego Airport Motel 6 (0.38 mi) **
$147
Washington Street Station
The fare is $2.25 each way.
31. Comfort Inn Airport at Old Town (0.35 mi) **.5 3D
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
Old Town Transit Center
The fare is $2.25 each way.
32. Good Nite Inn Sea World (0.29 mi) **
$108 3880 Greenwood St, Old Town 92110.
32 (again). Hampton Inn Seaworld/Airport (0.29 mi) **.5
$248 3888 Greenwood St, Old Town 92110
33. Best Western Hacienda Suites Old Town (0.38 mi) *** 3D
$199 Pretty and white, with balconies and Spanish-tile roofs, the Hacienda is in a quiet part of Old Town, away from the freeway and the main retail bustle. The layout is somewhat confusing, and accommodations are not large enough to earn the "suite" label the hotel gives them, but they're decorated in tasteful Southwestern style and are well-equipped. 4041 Harney St., Old Town 92110. Phone 619/298-4707 or 800/888-1991, fax 619/298-4771, web
www.bestwestern.com. 169 rooms. Restaurant, room service, microwaves, refrigerators, cable TV, in-room VCRs, pool, gym, outdoor hot tub, bar, laundry service, concierge, business services, meeting rooms, airport shuttle, car rental, travel services, free parking; no a/c, no smoking. Accepts AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Blue Line Stations (Mission Valley)
Morena/Linda Vista Station
The fare is $2.25 each way.
34. Comfort Inn & Suites Zoo Sea World (0.47 mi) **.5 3D
$172 2485 Hotel Circle Pl, Mission Valley 92108.
Fashion Valley Transit Center
The fare is $2.25 each way. This is in the middle of a big shopping center with no hotels nearby.
Hazard Center
The fare is $2.25 each way.
35. Hilton San Diego Mission Valley (0.47 mi) ***.5 3D
$189 ? 901 Camino Del Rio S, Mission Valley 92108
The next five stations are devoid of nearby hotels.
Green Line Stations (Kensington)
Grantville Station
The fare is $2.50 each way.
36. Super 8 Mission Valley/Qualcomm (0.06 mi) **
SOLD OUT on Expedia!
San Diego State University Transit Center
The fare is $2.50 each way. No hotels here.
Green Line (La Mesa)
Alvarado Medical Center Station
nope.
70th Street Station
The fare is $2.50 each way.
37. Days Inn La Mesa Suites (0.43 mi) ** 2D
SOLD OUT on Expedia!