When talking about large hotels in San Diego, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina is definitely mentioned alongside the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

The location is excellent. The address is 333 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, and the phone number is (619) 234-1500. It's right next to the San Diego Convention Center, making it a popular hotel for business travelers and convention attendees.

With about 1,360 rooms, it's definitely larger than most hotels. There are two tall towers, and if you get a room with a good view, you can enjoy a nice view of San Diego Bay and Coronado.

You might wonder why it has 'Marina' in its name, and that's because there's an actual marina right in front of the hotel. You can see yachts lined up outside the window, and behind them, San Diego Bay stretches out, giving it a vibe that's definitely different from a typical city hotel. Opening the curtains in the morning to see yachts on the water instead of a parking lot makes a big difference in mood.

The prices can vary significantly depending on the date. On regular days, basic rooms often range from about $250 to $400 per night, but on weekends or during the summer peak season, they can go up to $400 to $500 or more. Choosing a bay view or marina view room will increase the price further.

Especially during major events like Comic-Con, if you book thinking of the usual prices, you might be in for a surprise. Rooms tend to sell out quickly, and the remaining ones can be quite expensive, so it's better to start looking a few months in advance during these times. Also, be aware of additional costs like taxes or destination fees, so make sure to check the final amount on the booking screen.

The reason this hotel is popular among convention guests is that it has 155,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and the San Diego Convention Center is right next door.

When large corporate events or expos are held, it's really convenient to work at the convention center during the day and walk back to the hotel in the evening.

It's also a good location for visitors. You can walk to the Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, Seaport Village, and the harbor promenade. You can park your rental car and easily walk around for a day.

The hotel features restaurants, bars, a pool, and fitness facilities. The outdoor pool area has that quintessential Southern California resort vibe. If you're a Marriott Bonvoy member, you can earn points during your stay or look into point stays.

However, in terms of price, it's definitely not a cheap hotel. When you factor in parking fees and various additional costs, the total cost for a night can be higher than expected. Still, if you're visiting San Diego for the first time and want to see the ocean view, walk around Gaslamp and the harbor, and find a hotel with decent facilities, it's worth the money.

Especially when booking a room, instead of just picking any view to save a few dollars, if the price difference isn't too big, consider comparing bay or marina views.

It would be a shame to come all the way to such a hotel and only see the wall of the next building from your window.