Bed and Breakfasts Near Balboa Park in San Diego, California

Bed and breakfasts aren't exactly budget-friendly if you can't afford to pay more than $120/night in housing accommodation during a visit to San Diego, but if you can, they sure give you your money's worth in the experience of visiting the town while staying in your own dream home. Here are three great bed and breakfasts within a walking distance to Balboa Park (and only a short drive from downtown and Hillcrest) in San Diego City.

1.Britt Scripps Inn: 406 Maple Street, San Diego, CA 92103, (888) 881-1991. Email: nikki@brittscripps.com
This beautiful three story Queen Anne style Victorian structure (built in 1889) presiding over the northeast corner of Maple St and 4th Avenue in Banker's Hill neighborhood offers nine very cozy and fully equipped private rooms (all with private bathroom) with their own distinctive period decoration and outside view. You can roam its decorative wood paneled corridors, endless panes of fascinatingly patterned stained glass windows, and relax yourself into the more leisurely pace of the 19th century aura without losing any 21st century comfort like high speed Internet access, flat screen LCD television, heated towel racks, Gilchrist & Soames amenities, bathroom phone (with free local calls), etc.

The complimentary breakfast in the parlor is a full American cooked-to-order feast with assorted artisan cheese and wine. Also complimentary is the daily afternoon tea/coffee. The Inn is fully staffed and has valet parking, bellhop, 24 hrs front desk that can arrange for concierge services, laundry, and tour assistance. The oldest staff, the stately Camphor tree on the northwest side of the house has been around since 1877 and will tell you all sorts of story if only you can speak its language. There are small meeting rooms available for business. And the Britt Scripps does full service wedding ceremony.

The Britt Scripps, with its seven gables, three ornate chimneys, porches, and carriage house, is designated as San Diego Historic Site #52 and is only 2 blocks away from the west entrance to Balboa Park and a short drive to bustling night life in downtown or Little Italy. There are bus stops near the inn on 4th and 5th Avenues running downtown and up to Hillcrest (and beyond).

Room rate varies from $200-250/night. No pet allowed and smoking is prohibited on any part of the property. The Inn is a few blocks to the north of the usual final approach flight path into San Diego International Airport, so you can expect jet noise at intervals from 6:30AM-10PM or so.

2. Keating House:2331 2nd Ave (between Juniper and Kalmia), San Diego, CA 92101. Tel (800) 995-8644, (619) 239-8585 Email: info@keatinghouse.com
This colorful and carefully kept Queen Anne Victorian house (designated San Diego Historic Site #198) and cottage was built in the 1888 and now boasts 9 stylish bedrooms for rent. Room rate varies from room to room from $115-165/night (plus tax). Keating House is a cozy retreat in a sleepy neighborhood of Banker's Hill just a few blocks from the west entrance to Balboa Park. Parking is available on the street only (shouldn't be a problem in this area), and the area is well serviced by buses (along 4th and 5th Avenues). A walking trip to Little Italy or Hillcrest is fun and not too strenuous, and downtown and the waterfront is only a short drive away.

As cute as the ornate shingle exterior (with a striking hexagonal turret) of the house is, each private room is even cuter with their high ceiling, own private bathroom and unique view of the surrounding. WiFi Internet access is available in the common area; the large foyer, sitting parlor and dining room. There is no in-room telephone available, however. The place aspires to provide you with a restorative retreat away from the hectic city life and the owners/innkeepers are two of the most knowledgeable people you will ever meet about the in and out of the area.

The best hiking route, local restaurant, secret local attractions, etc. Ask Ben or Doug or both, and they will point you in the right direction before you can even think of follow up questions. This little inn is their labor of love, and their diligent care is reflected in the place's spotless upkeep, the well tended garden, and the thoughtful personal touch in their interaction with their guests. A night at Keating House is a night at an old friend's retreat rather than a hotel room. Time flies more slowly so that each minute can soak up more of the area's restful gentility and embed itself more permanently in the happy corner of your memory neurons. A good rest for the price!

Complimentary breakfast is served in the dining room from 8-10AM (they can arrange for early morning snack if you have to leave early). Pets are not allowed, unfortunately, and smoking is only permitted on the front porch and in the garden areas. If you are sensitive to loud noises, you should know that the house is located nearly directly underneath the final approach to San Diego International Airport, which means loud jet engine roar at intervals from 6:30AM-10PM.

3. Balboa Park Inn:3402 Park Blvd • San Diego, CA 92103. Tel (619) 298-0823 Email: info@BalboaParkInn.com
Unlike the other B&Bs on this list, Balboa Park Inn is a modern building located on the northeast side of Balboa Park (very close to the zoo), undisturbed by the frequent jet engine roar from commercial flights descending down to Lindberg Field Airport. The place offers 26 non-smoking, no-pet allowed rooms/suites for rent with 24 hrs front desk service. All rooms have private bathroom, refrigerator, microwave oven, coffee maker (the Inn supplies coffee, tea and hot chocolate), cable television with HBO, daily maid service, and free local call. Free and fast WiFi Internet access is available through out the building.

Room rate ranges from $99-250 (for up to two people) plus tax. This includes complimentary (though rather meager) continental breakfast for each unit. Kids under 12 yrs old stay free with their parents. The place is close to many good restaurants and cafes and is well serviced by bus. It is a short walk to chic and eclectic Hillcrest and Balboa Park, and only a short drive to downtown area. Pets are not allowed and smoking is only permitted in the courtyard or the sun terrace. This place is more impersonal than the Britt Scripps Inn or Keating House is, but it definitely is a step up from the usual chain hotels and a great find for the traveling loners.

There are many great bed and breakfasts in and around San Diego City, though if your main target for visiting is Balboa Park (which requires a few days to see in its entirety), there really are no better places to stay for the same price than the Britt Scripps, Keating House, and the Balboa Park Inn.