The sunny coastal Californian city of San Diego is full of world-class attractions and over 70 miles of tranquil beaches and coastline. San Diego boasts warm sunny weather all year long, a delicious mix of cuisine, and holds a lot of history. It’s home to the busiest border crossing in the world and loaded with a blend of different cultures and nationalities and a lot of entertainment and excitement.
According to Wallethub, San Diego is the greenest city in America. It has a citywide 100% renewable energy program and an overall healthful environment. Clean energy, green practices, recycling programs, and a sustainable lifestyle are all practices implemented by the city to stay eco-friendly.
The hotel industry has done its part in promoting sustainability around the city. There are dozens of accommodation options around San Diego where guests can rest assured their stay is as beneficial to the environment as possible.
Here are 5 of the best sustainable hotels in San Diego where travelers can rest assured they are having a positive impact on the environment.
Recommended eco-hotels:
Kimpton Alma
Kimpton Alma is a sustainable, pet-friendly, luxury hotel in San Diego. Guests and pets are welcome with open arms and hospitality, and in typical San Diego style, the atmosphere is stylish but laid-back, the service is friendly, and there’s an unpretentious emphasis on comfort and livability. With a great blend of luxury, sophistication, elegance, and charm, it’s the perfect accommodation for business and leisure guests.
Located downtown around the corner from the vibrant Gaslamp District, the Kimpton features views of low-rise Victorian-era architecture and easy access to all the dining, drinking, and shopping you could ever want. Padres ballpark, Balboa Park, and the San Diego Zoo are all within a 15-minute walk. There is an onsite restaurant/bar and cafe for guests to enjoy, in addition to an honor bar, work lounge, and yoga mats. Rooms feature immaculate city views, Italian linens, a mini bar, a work area, free wifi, and private bathrooms, and some rooms have balconies as well.
Why is Kimpton Alma sustainable?
Kimpton Alma is sustainable by making a strong effort is taking positive measures to impact the environment. The hotel uses all eco0friendlidly products, eliminated single-use plastic products, uses energy-efficient lighting, composts and reduces food waste, and various other things in the community as training volunteers and promoting cultural heritage and traditions.
Hotel details
Address:
1047 5th Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101, United States of America.
Guest rating:
4.2 out of 5
Price per night:
From $179
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is a hacienda-style resort in sunny San Diego. It is an AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel and Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Award winner featuring 10 acres of lush gardens, quiet courtyards, and adobe fireplaces. As soon as guests arrive, they are greeted with warm California sunshine and hospitality, and luxurious services for the remainder of the stay.
Located between the seaside villages of La Jolla and Del Mar, it’s just opposite the University of Southern California, and within easy access to the Torrey Pines Golf Course and Del Mar Racetrack. Suited for sophistication and elegance, the hotel features luscious garden areas, coastal-inspired restaurants and bars onsite, full-service spa services at The Spa, a wellness and fitness center, and weekly flow and fauna yoga sessions.
The hotel has become one of the most popular settings in Southern California for business meetings and weddings. Rooms are spacious with natural stone bathrooms with toiletries and bathrobes, a work desk with a reading chair, free wifi, cable television, and beautiful garden views.
Why is Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa sustainable?
Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa is sustainable by taking the necessary steps to help ensure the preservation and protect the indoor and outdoor environment. The hotel has eliminated all single-use plastic products, minimizes paper waste, uses locally sourced and organic food products to promote biodiversity and biodegradability products, and uses water-efficient saving products.
Hotel details
Address:
9700 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92037, United States of America.
Guest rating:
4.3 out of 5
Price per night:
From $210
Paradise Point Resort & Spa
Paradise Point Resort & Spa is one of the best luxury boutique hotels and spas in southern San Diego. Paradise Point Resort & Spa features comfortable bungalow-style guestrooms amidst lush tropical gardens, tranquil lagoons, and one mile of sandy beach. Guests can relax, rejuvenate, be pampered in luxury, and enjoy the warm sunny weather in a true paradise on earth in San Diego.
Located on Vatican Island in Mission Bay, Paradise Resort & Spa really is a luscious oasis. It’s just a short drive away from the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, and the San Diego International Airport.
The hotel features an onsite restaurant, Tidal, serving delicious seafood dishes and craft beverages, a private beach and 5 swimming pools, a fitness center, a full-service Spa, sports courts, and staff arranges nature tours, beach bonfires, and movie nights. Rooms come equipped with a spacious patio, hardwood floors, an urban design, marble bathrooms, televisions with streaming services, free wifi, and beautiful views.
Why is Paradise Point sustainable?
Paradise Point is sustainable by giving back to the community and participating in eco-friendly practices. From water-efficient toilets and showers, organic linens and cleaning products, and high-quality locally sourced food, to beach cleanups and community building, the hotel goes to great lengths to stay environmentally friendly.
Hotel details
Address:
1404 Vacation Road, Mission Bay, San Diego, CA 92109, United States of America.
Guest rating:
4.1 out of 5
Price per night:
From $200
Hotel Indigo Gaslamp Quarter
Hotel Indigo is an extraordinary boutique hotel in the heart of San Diego. It is a perfect mix of authenticity and hospitality, right in the middle of one of the most lively neighborhoods in the city. Guests and their friendly pets are more than welcome to relax and unwind and are known for being one of the best pet-friendly boutique hotels in the city.
Located overlooking Petco Park, the hotel sits in the vibrant and exciting Gaslamp Quarter, surrounded by a lively social scene, bars, restaurants, shops, and just a mile from the Convention Center. It houses a rooftop bar with dazzling city views, a savory bar and kitchen restaurant, and a sunlit lobby suited for brunch meetings and lounging. Rooms feature hardwood floors and blush bedding in a modern and cozy atmosphere, free wifi, iHome, television, 24-hour room service, and private bathrooms.
Why is Hotel Indigo sustainable?
Hotel Indigo is sustainable by being a part of the Travel Sustainable Program. The hotel goes the great lengths to protect the environment and promote eco-friendliness and is part of IHG Green Engage, and Intercontinental Hotels Groups. They use all LEED lighting sources, uses water-efficient toilets and showers, provided recycling bins and programs for all guests, and have eliminated all single-use plastic products.
Hotel details
Address:
509 9th Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA 92101, United States of America.
Guest rating:
4.2 out of 5
Price per night:
From $165
Moxy San Diego Downtown
Moxy San Diego Downtown is a hip boutique hotel that greets travelers with a thoughtful, spirited, and fun experience. Sponsored by Marriot, it features modern and urban design and interiors with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind while still being in the middle of the hustle and bustle of San Diego.
Located in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, Moxy San Diego Downtown is in the center of all the action, with various restaurants, shops, and cafes on the surrounding streets. The San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park are very close by, as well as the Amtrack Station, USS Midway Museum, and Convention Center. The hotel features an onsite restaurant with daily American Breakfast, a lively bar, a fitness center, and gym, and 24-hour service. Rooms include free wifi, private bathrooms with toiletries, large windows with city views, television, and cozy beds and linens.
Why is Moxy San Diego Downtown sustainable?
The Moxy San Diego Downtown is sustainable by being a part of the Travel Sustainable Program. The hotel has implemented services and practices to stay sustainable and protect eco-friendliness. Some of these promotions include the elimination of all single-use plastic products, water-efficient toilets, motion-controlled lighting, providing guests with local community sources, and investing a portion of revenue back into the community.
Hotel details
Address:
831 6th Avenue, Downtown San Diego, San Diego, 92101, United States of America.
Guest rating:
4.4 out of 5
Price per night:
From $125
San Diego is undoubtedly a fabulous city. We hope you have enjoyed this guide to the best sustainable hotels in San Diego, and that it has inspired you to go green and stay sustainable during your next visit!
How we select the best eco-friendly hotels in San Diego
We are a travel research company. We check a lot of details and guest reviews before making a selection. First, we check which hotels follow eco-travel principles. Are they recycling their waste? Do they work with local communities? Are they using renewable energy? Are they not using single-using plastics?
Secondly, we check guest reviews across multiple websites and only list hotels with an aggregated review rating of at least 4 out of 5. So you can be confident you will stay at an eco-friendly hotel in San Diego.
More and more people recognize the importance of sustainable travel. Not only is it better for the environment and our planet, but it also often leads to more meaningful experiences. If you’re interested in learning more about eco-tourism, here are some eco-friendly travel tips to get you started.
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