Hotel Review: Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

Jul 30, 2017

San Diego is one of the most popular destinations for family vacations, and judging by a recent visit, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is one of the top hotels for visiting broods.

It’s not hard to understand why this twin high-rise property overlooking the marina is such a draw. To begin with, its location puts families in the heart of downtown San Diego — a short walk from the trendy Gaslamp District, Petco Park (home of the San Diego Padres baseball team), shopping and plenty of nightlife. But it also features front-of-property access to San Diego Bay, where guests can go sailing, paddleboarding and Jet Skiing, among other watersports. And easy access to the freeway makes visiting area attractions such as SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and Legoland California a breeze.

Next, the hotel has a lively and family-friendly vibe. It features two large pools; good-sized accommodations; kids’ activities and programming, such as poolside movie nights; and a friendly, welcoming staff that won’t give guests attitude when they receive a special request from a parent in need.

Finally, the hotel provides a wide range of dining options — a plus for finicky eaters and multigenerational groups. The property’s main restaurant is the award-winning Marina Kitchen, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and recently launched an “Interactive Happy Hour” featuring wine flights and oysters. In the pool area, Tequila Bar & Grill is an outdoor, Baja-influenced, cantina-style restaurant that features live entertainment and delicious grilled snacks. Finally, for fine dining, there’s a Roy’s restaurant on property that boasts one of the best waterfront dinner venues in the city.

There is also a Starbucks in the lobby, as well as new happy hour craft beer tastings in partnership with Mother Earth Brewing Co., which uses organic honey sourced from the hotel’s rooftop hives.

And if your traveling companions still can’t find something they like, there’s a variety of eateries just steps from the hotel at the nearby Seaport Village.

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina is the ideal location for families looking for a comfortable base from which to explore all that San Diego has to offer.