Best 15 Pools in San Diego

1. The Westgate Hotel

John S said: 

“First, valet parking is free first 3 hours and then a low rate after.  Enter on the north side (2nd Avenue) of the building via ramp to underground. Valets are super friendly and nice. Take the elevator up to the lobby (1st floor) and walk across to AquaVie.

The Aquavie staff were great.  The pool was perfect. There’s a hot tub as well, and a small outdoor workout area, with treadmills and stair masters. The oval track around the top. We had a beautiful time.  It was very relaxed.  We were blown away by how great of a time we had. The ResortPass website said the pool closed at 4 pm.  Not true. The gym and AquaVie close at 7 pm on Sundays, but the pool is actually open until 10 pm.

Locker rooms are super nice with individual shower stalls, code-locked lockers you set yourself, and even hydrotherapy and saunas available.  Shampoo conditioner and lotion, along with towels and hairdryers.  Just show up with swim trunks and a smile, and they take care of the rest.”

2. Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina

Yulia K said: 

“Being the cheapest day pass around San Diego – Sheraton exceeded my expectations.
It was not crowded, very clean, very attentive staff with very pleasant attitude.
The water temperature was perfect, kids stayed in the water the whole time without getting cold.
I can’t ask for a better day.
Cons:
-Watch out for parking, they only validate it for 5 hours, we stayed 2 more hours, 7 hours total, and on the way out were about to be charged $21. We called the button at the machine and they let us go, but I would double check their parking policy for next time.
-Lots of kids in the pool (which was great for me, more fun), but maybe not so relaxing for adults with no kids.”

3. Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

Tom L said: 

“Estancia La Jolla is a fantastic resort, Spanish style with a casual elegance. The facilities are top-notch, and we reserved a cabana with high expectations.  My wife and I were in SD for a getaway weekend and decided to spend a day of R&R here.  We wanted a blend of activities, but not a blowout pool party or too much of a kid fest. Estancia delivered the perfect blend!

We followed the resort pass directions and they were spot on. Self-parked (free validation from the front desk as resort pass guests), were given a key card to access the pool area, and found our way to the pool.  We were happily greeted by the staff, especially Ruben.  He gave us our pick of cabana – provided us our welcome champagne and fruit, got us towels, and a quick tour, and noted the stocked fridge for us. Service for drinks and food was attentive. The pool was clean and warm – perfect.

Note: The morning was overcast so perfect timing as we enjoyed full breakfast in SD then drove to Estancia with an 11 am arrival.”

4. Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina

Nayla P said: 

“Hubby and I wanted to feel like we were on vacation to celebrate our anniversary. Took so long to book and found this option super last minute! The reviews were great, and it was affordable. The day couldn’t have gone better. There were plenty of chairs available. Everyone at the hotel was SO welcoming, helpful, and friendly, from the front desk staff to the restaurant and pool staff. We got to relax in the sun for a bit, and then the DJ came and spun some popular tunes, giving it a nice party atmosphere. There were still plenty of open chairs. The pool had salt water and was cool, but nice on a hot, sunny day. Next to it, the jacuzzi was really hot. We didn’t end up doing the gym, tennis courts, the other pool, or the free bike ride, cause we just wanted to lay around. The view of the boats is so nice! The only thing I would change would be to let people know that the 20% off doesn’t apply to alcohol ahead of time. The food was tasty, though, and nice alcohol options. Thanks for a great day!”

5. The Dana on Mission Bay

Lori S said: 

“I booked the Day Room package for a Sunday. My boyfriend and I checked in around 11 am. Check-in was a breeze and so was the free parking. We got a Lanai guest room right by the Tropical pool. Our room was clean, had a refrigerator, and a microwave. Our back sliding door opened up to a private patio with a gate going right to the pool area. it was a beautiful sunny day and for the most part, we had the pool to ourselves. We lay by the pool and played some giant Connect Four and ping pong. We spent about 8 hours at the resort bouncing back and forth between the tropical pool and the bayside infinity pool. Both pools are beautiful. The tropical pool is surrounded by a nice lush landscape and the infinity pool looks over the harbor. When the sun started going down, we finished our day off with dinner at the Firefly restaurant (ResortPass gave us a 10% discount on food and drink for the day). At the end of dinner, we were treated to fireworks from Sea World. It was an absolutely perfect day!”

6. Rancho Bernardo Inn

Debs F said: 

“I’m ready to book my next Resort Pass to RBI. The entire process from start to finish was as smooth as could be. The hotel staff was helpful, the hotel grounds were beautiful and lush, and the adult-only pool was relaxing and chill. Yes, the adult-only pool. We purposely left our two kids with grandparents to enjoy a day of adult beverages, conversation, and a whole lot of nothing. Bathrooms were close by, towels were plentiful, the three cabanas were first come-first serve at no extra cost, there were so many water fountains and benches scattered throughout the hotel property, self-parking was easy and food/drinks delivered poolside. It was a great birthday with the hubs sans kids.”

7. Fairmont Grand Del Mar

Katherine  S said: 

“Incredible! Let me walk you through our visit. We were welcomed at the front gate by a lovely gentleman who set the tone of the visit! He welcomed us to the resort and wished us a wonderful time. As we drove through the gate we got to enjoy the beautiful, meandering drive-in and were welcomed by the equally kind valet service. The front desk was efficient and cheery and happy to have us as resort pass guests. We were given excellent directions to the pool and got to walk through the stunning lobby, and then down the most beautiful staircase (elevators were an option), and out to the perfectly cared-for grounds, which wrapped around a dining area and led to the pool. The pool service was attentive but not smothering. The pool area was quiet and gorgeous.  We enjoyed a champagne lunch and had a wonderful time. This resort is unlike most….the quality at every turn is truly unlike anything most have experienced. I stayed at the resort some years ago and the rooms were impeccable as well.”

8. San Diego Marriott Del Mar

Erica N said: 

“My family and I had a great time at the cabana. Definitely worth the money. The staff were friendly and the service was great. The pool and spa felt great and loved the location. We will be back! The cabana was super comfortable”

9. Kimpton Alma San Diego

Stephanie D said: 

“My girlfriends and I had a fun and relaxing time by the pool. The vibe was very chill. I like that it wasn’t crowded at all even with Comic-Con in town. The staff was very friendly. Facilities were clean. We loved the overall aesthetic of the hotel and pool area. Super cute! Definitely recommend it!”

10. Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa

Gary S said: 

“I recently booked a resort pass at the Coronado Marriott Resort and Spa and had a great experience!  I live in North County San Diego and had family visiting for two weeks.   We had a day with no plans and decided a day at a nice pool with nice amenities would be a fun way to spend a day.  We selected the Coronado location because we stayed there many years ago before we moved to this area and remembered it had a nice pool and was located on beautiful Coronado Island.  Booking the passes online was simple and fast and checking in at the resort took less than 5 minutes.  We had a beautiful weather day and enjoyed swimming in the pool, laying in the sun, and having some nice beverages and food at the pool bar.  It was a great way to spend a day with the family and we plan to do it again soon!”

11. Loews Coronado Bay Resort

Lisa said: 

“No regrets, only accolades for my poolside cabana. I was a bit concerned about check-in since this is a very large property and is known to be bustling this time of year. Check-in at the pool hut was a breeze. A staff member Rosa toured me around the pool, explained all the amenities/activities, and made sure we were settled. We were introduced to Tyler who would be our server. Service was spot-on and friendly. They have a little call button that you push for food/beverage service, which is nice. Fluffy clean towels. The pools are SUPER clean and awesome..separate ones for kids and adults but connected nicely. The poolside restaurant/bar is literally on the pool deck and fits in well. Food quality/value was good (rare in SD for these resort spots… I am a native). Great open space, nice views. Ping-pong and other amenities were great too. This is one of those places that has the amenities of a Corporation but still has that friendly, relaxed service mentality of a smaller property. Glad I picked this, will come back.”

12. InterContinental San Diego

Jessica G said: 

“Rooftop gently heated pool overlooking San Diego Bay. Walking distance to hotel restaurant as well as local fare. Onsite parking is very convenient, the staff is very friendly and welcoming, and we had the pool to ourselves. Definitely a hidden gem of downtown San Diego. Lots of pool seats to choose from, and pool towels are available. The bathroom is accessible via your key and there’s a very clean changing area and bathroom stall. Highly recommend, and I look forward to staying at the hotel now that we’ve experienced part of the amenities with a pool day.”

13. Hotel del Coronado

Michelle M said: 

“Reserved a daybed for 2 of us. A little tight but not uncomfortable; came with a snack bucket that included 5 bags of kettle chips/popcorn and two bottles of water. Cabanas looked great for families with kids. Everything was clean, staff was very friendly and accommodating. Next time we will get regular day passes and come early for lounge chairs so we can spread out a little more; they are first come, first served.
TIPS:
1. Do NOT valet your vehicle! Use the self-parking (underground structure) and bring your parking ticket to the front desk upon check-in. They will validate so you won’t have to pay since it’s included with your pass.
2. Poolside drink and food service is available. There is no minimum purchase required. Since you’re not a guest of the hotel, they’ll take a credit/debit card & open a tab until you close it.
3. No outside food is allowed, but you can bring food into the pool area if you purchase it from the hotel eateries on the property. 
Great time, will go again!”

14. San Diego Mission Bay Resort

Trudi M said: 

“My family, wife, and 2 kids (15 and 11) had a great day! The pool was very nice, large and clean. There are two hot tubs so we always managed to squeeze into one of them whenever we wanted. We rented a cabana which was reasonably priced compared to other resorts and included a pitcher of iced tea or lemonade with some bags of chips and granola bars. The two chaise lounges were very comfortable and we had plenty of shade or protection from the wind if we needed it. In the evening, there was free popcorn inside and then s’mores at the fire pit on the beach. We also played beach volleyball on the two sand volleyball courts right outside the gated area. We also played ping pong and bean bag toss. There is a place to rent water bikes, paddle boards, jet skis, and quad bikes right outside the gate. We didn’t order food inside the resort, but there was a variety of items and special meals for kids, and it all looked delicious. The attendants around the pool were very friendly and checked on us often. Will probably be a bit busier during the summer, but still highly recommended for a fun and active day with moments of relaxation!”

15. The Pearl Hotel

Caryn M said: 

“The pearl was recently added to ResortPass which perfectly coincided with my girl’s week in San Diego. We were greeted by Maddie who got a set up by the pool. They have the cutest rattan seat loungers that you can sit in and put your feet in the pool. The water temperature was perfectly refreshing for a hot summer day. They have nice swanky music playing in the background. The bar and restaurant do not open until 4 o’clock. Maddie was able to service a couple of bottles of bubbles which was fantastic but you should bring your own cooler and food. We ended up door-dashing which was perfect and we ate poolside at one of their nice tables. You might also wanna bring your floaty if you like lounging in the pool. We also went on a Wednesday, when they show movie night at the pool which is very cool. For the price of the ResortPass, I would definitely come back.  Five stars goes to Maddie who you checked in on us all day to make sure we had towels more bubbles and water.”