The next time you’re feeling stressed, just close your eyes and imagine San Diego. With near-perfect weather, swaying palms, and miles of coastline, this southern California city is pretty close to paradise.

In this five-minute travel guide, we’ll suggest some of the very best things to do, see and eat in San Diego. Don’t forget your sunblock — or your travel insurance!

3 Reasons to Buy Travel Insurance for California 

Travel insurance isn’t just for big international trips. It offers invaluable protection against all the things that can go wrong on a domestic trip, too.

1. Travel insurance can safeguard the money you’ve spent. California’s not cheap! Travel insurance with trip cancellation benefits can reimburse you for your prepaid, non-refundable trip costs if you must cancel the trip for a covered reason.
2. Travel insurance makes delays easier to bear. In 2018, nearly 19 percent of domestic flights were delayed. Travel delay benefits can reimburse you for eligible meals, accommodation and transportation expenses during a covered delay. Or, with the OneTrip Prime and OneTrip Premier plans, you can choose a fixed payment option of $100 for covered travel delays and baggage delays. No receipts required — just proof of delay.
3. Travel insurance can protect your rental car, too. Renting a car in San Diego? Don’t buy overpriced rental car insurance. Instead, protect your car against covered collision, loss and damage with the Rental Car Damage Protector for just $9 per day (available in all 50 states; price and benefits may vary).

What’s the best travel insurance plan for California? That depends on your budget and your needs. The OneTrip Basic Plan is an affordable and popular option for domestic travel, with up to $10,000 in trip cancellation benefits. To find your best-fit plan, get a quote!

3 of the Best Things to Do in San Diego

1. Take in the view from Point Loma. Just west of downtown is the place where Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to visit California, landed in 1542. Today, Point Loma is the perfect place to spend an afternoon: snap a picture by the lighthouse, explore the colorful life in the tidepools, and sample local food and wine at the Liberty Public Market.
2. Hang ten. San Diego’s 70 miles of coastline include legendary surf spots, such as Black’s Beach and Del Mar. For a little help catching a wave, sign up for surf school at La Jolla Shores. Or, if you prefer to stay on the sand, you can watch a pro competition — or see four-legged surfers at the Imperial Beach Surf Dog Competition in July.
3. Wander Balboa Park. This huge park’s best-known attraction is the San Diego Zoo, but it’s also home to many of the city’s museums and other attractions. Stretch to catch the brass ring on the Balboa Park Carousel, look for butterflies in the serene Zoro Garden, and wander the pathways in the Spanish-influenced Alcazar Garden.

3 Boutique Hotels in San Diego

In the lively Gaslamp Quarter downtown, you’ll find the Pendry San Diego, a sleek and modern boutique hotel with airy rooms. The Pendry has no fewer than six bars and restaurants on-site, including a rooftop pool and lounge, a chic bar, a nightclub, and a beer hall. You may be reluctant to go anywhere else.

In La Jolla, an upscale part of San Diego, one of the best boutique hotels is the Pantai Inn. Balinese-inspired rooms and gardens, Pacific Ocean views, a firepit and courtyard, and in-room spa services? Yes, please.

Budget travelers will find their happy place at the Pearl Hotel, which Global Grasshopper calls “a sweet little boutique hotel that has a playful 1960s atmosphere and offers plenty of fabulous retro Californian touches.” Movies are screened poolside, and the rooms, while small, are charming.

3 of the Best Restaurants in San Diego

You haven’t really tasted a California burrito until you’ve had one in San Diego. This monster meal consists of carne asada, French fries, cheese, sour cream and pico de gallo, all wrapped up in a flour tortilla. Pour on the hot sauce and take a big, meaty bite. Locals debate the best place to get a California burrito, but Eater San Diego anoints Mike’s Taco Club as king. Its version includes guacamole and seasoned fries.

Another, lighter San Diego classic is the fish taco. Head to the South Beach Bar and Grille at the end of Newport Avenue. Grab a stool on the deck, order the classic Mahi taco marinated in pineapple and teriyaki, and watch the sunset over the waves.

For a romantic experience, one of the very best restaurants in San Diego is Addison Del Mar. This beautiful temple to French fine dining offers impeccable service. Staff will offer you a silver tray to hold your phone and a small stool to rest your purse. It’s fabulously expensive — the chef’s tasting menu is $250 per person — but the experience is unforgettable.

Ready to head to beautiful San Diego? Don’t forget your travel insurance! There’s a plan for every budget and every traveler. See your options here.

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