Its sublime weather, stunning coastal scenery, and relaxed vibe make it a great destination. San Diego This is the quintessential Southern California holiday. Its real strength is its versatility. Want a fun girls’ getaway fueled by street food and seasonal cocktails. Relaxed couples’ getaways with spa treatments, sunset cruises, and other relaxing activities? What about a sun-drenched family vacation that includes Legoland, a zoo and lots of time on the beach? It’s done, done and done.
The hotel scene in Chicago is equally diverse. From a lavish jewel box located in North Park, to a modern hideaway housed within a 1920s YMCA structure, the options are endless. T+L’s readers favored downtown’s energy and convenience in this year’s World’s Best Awards.
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How Voting Works
Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. The 2025 survey was completed by nearly 180,000 T+L subscribers. Over 657,000 votes were cast for over 8,700 different properties (hotels cities cruise lines etc.).).
Based on their location, hotels were classified into resort hotel, city, inn or safari lodges. They were also rated according to the following criteria:
- Rooms/facilities
- Location
- Service
- Food
- Value
The respondents were asked to rate each characteristic. They could select excellent, superior, above average (average), below average (below average) or poor. The final scores are the average of all these responses.
What Readers Really Loved
The most popular San Diego hotels this year are located in two neighborhoods: the Gaslamp Quarter, and the Marina District. The former is known for its Victorian-style architecture and vibrant bar scene. While the latter has family-friendly attractions like the New Children’s Museum South Embarcadero Esplanade and several waterfront parks.
The No. 2 Andaz San Diego is located in the heart the Gaslamp Quarter. Andaz San Diego, ranked No. 2, was a favorite among World’s Best Awards participants for several reasons. One reader shared that the 159 rooms were “near nightlife, with great amenities and stylish, clean rooms.” Baseball fans can walk to the San Diego Padres stadium Petco Park while culture enthusiasts can attend a nearby Balboa theatre performance. What about the nightlife? There are many options available to guests of the hotel, such as the rooftop bar, several speakeasies, taprooms, and modern speakeasies, (such as Noble Experiment, Youngblood or Prohibition Lounge).
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, located right on the water’s edge (No. The Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina (No. New Children’s Museum, with its interactive art displays, is just across the street. It’s the perfect place to inspire creativity and curiosity. The Embarcadero is a beautiful place to walk or listen to live music in the Rady shell at Jacobs Park. It’s also the perfect spot for water fun.
The Winner
Pendry San Diego
Pendry San Diego
Since the debut of this category in 2022, this 317-room marvel has consistently been chosen as San Diego’s No. This 317-room hotel has been voted the No. One voter wrote, “Fun and energizing Gaslamp Quarter location.” The hotel’s restaurants and amenities are great. “Personalized service is second to none.” Complementing all of the action in the city, the in-house programming ranges from whiskey tastings at Fifth & Rose, the Pendry’s swanky cocktail bar, to coastal discovery hikes with local guides. The third-floor Spa Pendry offers a range of traditional treatments, such as salt-stone massages and hydrating face masks. It also has a few California-style enhancements like CBD therapy, seaweed oil, and local ingredients.
T+L Reader
Gaslamp Quarter offers a lively and fun location.
— T+L Reader
The full list
1. Pendry San Diego
Reader Score: 88.42
2. Andaz San Diego
Score of Reader: 86.53
3. Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Reader Score : 86.36
