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San Diego is the perfect destination for a girls’ trip, mother-daughter getaway, romantic escape, or a solo trip. The city is known for its beaches, parks, warm climate, and outdoor activities. So I’ve rounded up the top San Diego luxury vacation home rentals.
The Ultimate California Travel Guide
Whether you’re on a Southern California road trip or need a staycation, these vacation homes are the perfect way to explore San Diego like a local.
Here are the best San Diego luxury vacation home rentals!
Bayfront Cottage
4 guests bedrooms beds1 bath
Get ready to fall in love with this picture-perfect ground-floor condo on Mission Beach. You’ll never want to leave the patio, the inside is newly remodeled, and this home has an on-site parking spot. You’ll be just a short walk from Belmont Park, the ocean, restaurants, shops, bars, and other attractions.
Peaceful Casita
2 guestsStudio1 bed1 bath
This adorable casita has an incredible private patio, al fresco dining, outdoor seating, and water feature. The indoor and outdoor spaces flow seamlessly together, giving you that iconic San Diego living. The home has a kitchenette and on-site parking, and you’ll be centrally located to some of the city’s best restaurants, craft breweries, and famous sites.
Oceanfront Mansion
Oceanfront Mansion
20 guests bedrooms10 beds7 baths
This villa is in La Jolla on a cliff overlooking the ocean. You’ll have a swimming pool, hot tub, spacious outdoor lounge areas, al fresco dining, skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows, a pool table, and some of the most spectacular views in the city.
Spanish Hacienda
8 guests bedrooms beds baths
This 1930s historic home is a true urban oasis. The house has beamed and vaulted ceilings, a large chef’s kitchen, and a central courtyard with a pond and al fresco dining. You’ll never want to leave the desert-style outdoor living areas!
Tuscany-Inspired Villa
14 guests6 bedrooms9 beds4.5 baths
You’ll never want to leave this villa and its spectacular views. The home has a game room, library, gazebo, multiple outdoor patios and dining areas, an eight-person hot tub, and a saltwater pool, complete with a cave and waterfall. You’ll be about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego and close to the towns of Rancho Santa Fe and Escondido.
Urban Oasis
2 guests1 bedroom1 bed1 bath
This “urban treehouse” is an industrial penthouse with 180-degree city and bay views. The furnishings are vibrant and cozy, you’ll love the succulent-filled private patio, and the feature wall of multi-colored spirits and liquors is Insta-perfect.
Bayfront Living
9 guests beds baths
You’ll love this modern bayside condo with stunning views of Mission Bay. Each bedroom has its own patio and bathroom, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to blend the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The luxurious patio has al fresco dining, a grill, and loungers. This home also comes with beach towels, beach chairs, a kayak, boogie boards, and two parking spaces.
Canyon Retreat
8 guests bedrooms beds baths
Nestled in a quiet, canyon culdesac, this home feels like it’s in the countryside, but you’re downtown, close to everything San Diego has to offer. The house has luxurious finishes, stylish furniture, cozy decor, a gourmet kitchen, and incredible outdoor dining and living spaces with beautiful canyon views.
Recommended Tours in San Diego
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What are your favorite San Diego luxury vacation home rentals? Share with us in the comments!
Plan The Rest Of Your Trip
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San Diego Luxury Vacation Home Rentals
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a trip to California cost?
Expected daily costs for a trip to California:
Budget: Under $100/day per person
Lower End: $150/day per person
Midrange: $250/day per person
Higher End: $350+/day per person
What do I need to pack for a California road trip?
California packing essentials:
1. Long and short-sleeved shirts.
2. Jeans, hiking pants, nicer/dress pants, shorts.
3. Shorts.
4. Rainjacket.
5. Swimsuits.
6. Phone mount.
7. Rolling cooler.
8. Roadside emergency kit.
9. Car charger.
10. Camera and/or GoPro.
What do I need to pack for a trip to California in January?
Western California has relatively mild winters (daily highs average in the mid-60s), and these are the wettest months of the year. So bring your rain gear and layers.
The Central and Northern inland areas of the state can have below-freezing temperatures and snow. Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks are only partially accessible in January. So bring warm and waterproof clothes.
In the Southeastern region, January is a dry month that’s perfect for exploring the deserts. Bring layers, hiking shoes, and your swimsuit for mild days or heated pools.
What do I need to pack for a trip to California in May?
May is one of the best months to visit California. Daytime temperatures will average in the 70s across the state. Yosemite, Sequoia, Death Valley, The Redwoods, and the other national parks will be accessible, and the tourist hordes won’t have descended yet.
This is still the shoulder season for Big Sur, San Francisco, Sonoma, and Napa in the north and LA, San Diego, and Palm Springs in the south. May is also the perfect month for a Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip.
So bring shorts, hiking pants and boots, long and short-sleeved shirts, swimsuits, some nice/dressier clothes, sunglasses, rain gear, and your sense of adventure!
How do I plan a trip to California wine country?
Napa and Sonoma are two of the best wine regions in the country and the world. Both regions have a wide range of hotels and vacation homes for every preference and price range. Sonoma is usually less expensive and less crowded than Napa.
Summer and Fall are the busiest and most expensive times of the year to visit these regions. So you can save some money and avoid the crowds by visiting in the Spring or Winter.
In addition to wine tastings and winery visits, these regions have an incredible food scene and outdoor activities.
How do I plan a trip to Los Angeles, California?
Los Angeles is one of the most-visited cities in the county and the world, so planning a trip here can be expensive. Start by determining your overall trip budget because your money goes fast in LA.
Choose a vacation home, hostel, campsite, or hotel that fits your budget and is centrally located to the majority of things you want to do. Staying near the places you want to visit will help you save money on transportation.
Eat out for lunch instead of dinner to save some money, and cook or pack out your own meals.
Do free activities: self-guided walking tours, visit public beaches, go hiking, etc.
How do I plan a California road trip?
California is one of my favorite states to explore by car. So here’s how to plan an epic California road trip!
1. Determine if you’re going to rent a car or RV or bring your own vehicle, then make any reservations early.
2. Map out your route. You’ll need to map out your driving route and know your expected driving times and distances for each day, but always make time to stop at places you’ll discover along the way.
3. When you’re camping or in an RV, make sure you have an accommodation plan for each night of your trip. Read all of my RV Tips and Tricks!
4. Download maps, apps, and playlists before you start driving. There’s no guarantee you’ll always have service. Plus, you don’t want to use up all your data.
5. Book popular activities and accommodations ahead of time.
6. Have a roadside emergency kit with you. Car troubles happen, so you need to make sure you’re prepared for this possibility.
7. Schedule one relaxation day for every four days of your road trip. Take a rest from driving and scheduled activities and just enjoy wherever you are.
8. Have buffer days build into your itinerary. More than likely, your plans will change at least a couple of times because of weather, traffic, delays, etc. So to avoid having to cancel things or skip places, plan some buffer days into your road trip plan.
9. If you’re going to drive through a larger city, make sure you time your trip to avoid rush hour traffic.
10. Don’t wait to fill up on gas. Never risk running out of gas because sometimes gas stations can be few and far between.
What is the best road trip in California?
The best road trips in California are:
1. The Pacific Coast Highway. Make sure you stop at these places along the PCH: San Francisco, Point Reyes National Seashore, Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Morro Rock, Santa Barbara, Channel Islands National Park, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach.
2. California’s National Parks: three nights in Death Valley, three nights in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, three nights in Yosemite, two nights in Lassen Volcanic, and two nights in the Redwood National and State Parks.
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This article about San Diego luxury vacation home rentals is not a sponsored post, and the thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own. Some of the links in this post about San Diego luxury vacation home rentals are affiliate links, and, at no cost to you, I may earn a small commission.
