Name: Diamond Head Inn
Address: 605 Diamond Street, South Mission Beach, San Diego, California, United States of America, San Diego, San Diego County, US
Price range: $104–$452 per night
Rating: 7.88

What guests think

At Diamond Head Inn, travellers consistently praise the beachfront, walkable location near Pacific Beach’s boardwalk and restaurants, while feedback on rooms and operations varies due to differences in renovations, layouts, and the property’s simple, limited-service setup.

Guests frequently note very limited parking and an off-site check-in at a sister property that can be confusing. Some report noise and maintenance problems—AC irregularities, musty odors, hard-to-shut windows—and kitchenettes that lack basics. Staff interactions range from friendly and accommodating to slow or unhelpful, with minimal on-site support. Expect a simple, beachside stay where proximity to the sand is the main draw.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Parking is very limited on site, with overflow at sister properties; several guests found this inconvenient. A few also note there’s no ice machine and not many extras.

Related guest reviews

10

Diana

Dec 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean and comfy room. Difficult to horrible parking.

8

Bradley

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Close to the beach and boardwalk. Penty of room in the suite. AC was great. The room was clean and everything worked. Logistics were lacking, not enough parking to accomodate guests, overflow parking is a few blocks away and there is no 24/7 street parking in the immediate vicinity. Had to check in and out at another property which wasn't bad but slightly confusing coming in late. Good price, good location, decent accomodations. Not a bad place if you're not expecting a 4 star resort.

6

Anna

May 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Property was clean and right near the beach but the room I got was a suite and it was tiny. Checking in was inconvenient. You had to walk a block to another hotel to check in. Mind you, this is also how far you had to walk to an ice machine. Everything in the room was placed oddly. There was a crooked picture frame in the kitchen with a sizeable hole under it. The bathroom was inside my room which made it inconvenient because the other guest sleeping on the pullout bed had to come through my room to the bathroom. There was homeless people walking around the property the whole time which I didn’t like especially since I had my child with me. The outside trashcan was also right infront of my door which caused a problem with seagulls and people constantly walking infront of my room to throw trash. The phone in the room did not work and WiFi was limited to two devices which was another inconvenience.

10

Jeff

Aug 10, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

No designated parking, a parking pass was provided but its first come first serve. Check in was at a different property a 1/2 block away. Overall was a good stay.

8

Wayne

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Parking is almost nonexistent.

8

David

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

location is great. room is good size with kitchenette. pretty clean. no ice maker, no pool, no extras

6

Gabriel

Sep 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Note that the check-in for this property is at another property a block and a half away. Limited parking an available on site so you may have to park at their other property and walk over. It’s a beachfront motel though so it’s hard to knock it!

8

Robert

May 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Good value for the area, which is mostly much more expensive. Parking was a bit inconvenient, but having a guaranteed parking spot is great at the beach.

8

Jadeon

Apr 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

BUDGET-FRIENDLY. If you are looking to stay next to the beach on a budget, this is the go-to hotel. There comes some cons with that. The hotel is going under some construction with their front office, so check-in is about a 5 minute walk to their sister location, PB Surf. THIS ALSO MEANS NO COMPLEMENTARY BFAST. Not a killer, but just want you to know. Parking is complementary for your stay, but we were lucky as we stayed during the weekdays and we were always able to find at least one spot on the Diamondhead property. They allow parking at the sister location if the parking is full though. No ice machine. The fridge in the queen bed room had a mini fridge but no freezer. Idk about the other room selections though. If you’re a bottom room, you should be able to hear upstairs pretty well at night. Rooms have been updated with furniture, but I don’t think the carpet was. Those are the cons. The pros definitely outweigh them if you are looking to stay near the beach at an affordable price with walkable tasty restaurants on one side and the beach life on the other. Had a great time on my vacation doing tours and sightseeing and this hotel does the job.

4

Carrie

Nov 13, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

No parking, 2 towels, 2 pillows, smallest tv ever, no front desk, no ice machine, no 9ne around to ask for extra pillows and towels

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is inconsistent: many describe rooms as clean or recently updated, but others report odors, stained carpets or sofas, dampness/mold, and occasional bugs.

Related guest reviews

10

Lisa

Feb 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place is the perfect location right next to the beach north of Chrystal pier in Pacific Beach. There is limited parking, but we got there about 3:30 PM in the afternoon and had no problem. Places to eat and the beach are very walkable so we didn’t have to get back in our car until we checked out. It has a little kitchenette that we will take advantage of next time and probably stay longer. Check-in is at a different property about a block up. It was very clean and nice and we would definitely come back again. We also had a good price since it was February. I think next time we will also bring our bicycles because it’s a great place to ride your bike.

4

naomi

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

woke up with bug bits. room smelt like urine. carpet was gross. the lock on the door was damaged and we had to jiggle it in order to lock. horrible experience , especially the elk to check in all the way to pb surf , it was annoying.

2

Tara

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The pictures on Expedia were very deceiving. The carpet was all stained. The couches had huge stains on them. The room smelled like mold and was very muggy, the air conditioning unit wasn’t working properly and was very very loud. We could not sleep. We left at 4:30 in the morning because the room was just too inhabitable.

10

Alina

Aug 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean management is very helpful

10

Thomas

Sep 9, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

Clean

10

James

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bed and room were clean but could have used extra pillows. The windows were almost impossible to close once opened. The beach was right out the door and so were some nice restaurants which was awesome.

10

Kendall

May 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, clean updated rooms, right on the beach

2

Richard

Mar 13, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Mold everywhere this place is nasty. They made me stay in a room They were using a blow torch to clean mold off the walls with is was disgusting. !!! Worst stay I’ve ever had!!!

6

Robert

Feb 24, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Great location, only steps from the beach. Onsite parking is very limited. Rooms are nicely furnished but have a damp/musty smell. This is common with all hotels by the beach.

4

Michael

Apr 20, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Interior paint chipping and bubbling. Carpet wearing. Water stains on baseboards. The room smelled like cat urine. Water flooded onto floor from shower. Cockroaches in hall outside room door.

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Rooms

Room quality varies: some suites are spacious with kitchenettes and occasional ocean views, while others feel small or dated with quirky layouts. Noise and comfort issues plus occasional AC and Wi-Fi limitations are noted.

Related guest reviews

8

Bradley

Jul 4, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Close to the beach and boardwalk. Penty of room in the suite. AC was great. The room was clean and everything worked. Logistics were lacking, not enough parking to accomodate guests, overflow parking is a few blocks away and there is no 24/7 street parking in the immediate vicinity. Had to check in and out at another property which wasn't bad but slightly confusing coming in late. Good price, good location, decent accomodations. Not a bad place if you're not expecting a 4 star resort.

10

Angela

Mar 25, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

We were upgraded to an ocean view room with a balcony for our honeymoon and it was perfect!! We will definitely be coming back. Perfect location easy access to everything.

6

Anna

May 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Property was clean and right near the beach but the room I got was a suite and it was tiny. Checking in was inconvenient. You had to walk a block to another hotel to check in. Mind you, this is also how far you had to walk to an ice machine. Everything in the room was placed oddly. There was a crooked picture frame in the kitchen with a sizeable hole under it. The bathroom was inside my room which made it inconvenient because the other guest sleeping on the pullout bed had to come through my room to the bathroom. There was homeless people walking around the property the whole time which I didn’t like especially since I had my child with me. The outside trashcan was also right infront of my door which caused a problem with seagulls and people constantly walking infront of my room to throw trash. The phone in the room did not work and WiFi was limited to two devices which was another inconvenience.

10

Jason Elleman

May 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The units are WAY bigger than your traditional hotel room, are very nice, and in a great location.

8

Joseph

Apr 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Easy stay, though no onsite management. But only a block to the other property. Cant beat the location....Beds/pillows are not very good. Actually, hard to sleep well on....but would probably stay again.

6

Stefano Giorgio

Jan 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Good access to beach and restaurants Very poor kitchenstuff in room

8

Breffni

Jul 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great spot if you are looking for easy access to everything PB. The rooms are a bit dated, but that’s not unusual for PB. I’d recommend for longer stays - I was only there for a few days so didn’t take advantage of the kitchen.

6

Daryl

Sep 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

It's the beach in San Diego for people who can't afford paying $300+ per night. If you're just going to chill at the beach, it's fine, but definitely a 70's motif. Plenty of good food/nightlife withing walking distances.

6

Micaela

Nov 6, 2023

·

The location itself was nice because it was right by the beach. The beds were uncomfortable, super springy only 2 pillows. Lights outside are on and shine through shutters at night. Constant yelling and screaming at night/morning. If no parking was available on property you had to park at a ‘sister’ property.

8

Travis

Sep 16, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great View and nice rooms.

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Service

Staff are often friendly and accommodating, but on-site support is minimal and check-in occurs at a sister property a block or two away. Some guests report slow responses or unhelpful interactions.

Related guest reviews

10

Amy

Jun 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything went well & was all smooth. The property was really nice and steps from the beach. We wish we would have stayed longer to enjoy it more. Overall, everything was nice.

6

Joanne

Mar 21, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

It did not indicate anywhere in the booking that I would need to check in at another hotel down the street. There was no one at the hotel except a note on the door with directions to the other hotel. The facilities were ok. Limited parking. I had an unpleasant incident upon check out with a very confrontational cleaning staff. I did share my feedback at the reception which they were apologetic but it was uncalled for.

8

Kin

Dec 16, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We enjoyed the stay very much. But because there was no advance information on the challenging parking situation and that the check-in was on a separate property, we were pretty frustrated upon arrival. We had to park a block or so away to get to the hotel. Then we learned that the check-in was even further away...then the long walk back to the car, unload it and then find parking at a third property. There should be instructions about this on the website. But, the front desk person was nice and we would stay there again. We would be better prepared for arrival

6

Corbett

Sep 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This place is ok. Definitely an apartment building recently converted into a hotel. There is no office on the premises you gotta check in at another hotel two blocks away. Strange. The room was fine, a little beat up for the price but quiet and comfortable enough. Bed was good enough. But the location was amazing. Right on the beach far enough away from the chaos of the boardwalk but close enough to walk too. I’ll check for other places next time but I’d go back here for the right price.

4

Samantha

Apr 23, 2023

·

Stayed 5 nights

While I was cooking, I noticed there was no silverware, so I called the reception. She was so rude and not willing to solve this. She said housekeeping will come tomorrow. I asked her how I was supposed to eat and said I don’t know. There also was a problem with the WiFi they said we had to call the WiFi company to fix it. We did and they never called back. We called the next day and we were told again they will call back. I was so frustrated I had to fix this myself and they didn’t do anything. I confronted the girl of the reception and she just said she wasn’t responsible for the WiFi. Housekeeping was friendly! I will never book again and would definitely not recommend.

10

Stefanie

Apr 9, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

We had a wonderful stay at Diamond Head Inn. The staff was so friendly and helpful. The location was fantastic. The room was clean and comfortable. Thank you so much.

10

James

Mar 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was a breeze and they allowed an earlier check in without charging an extra fee. Free parking pass was issued for Diamond Inn and/or their sister properties if Diamond was full, which added to the convenience of finding parking.

10

Gary

Dec 26, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent front desk staff

8

JOE

Feb 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

check in was at sister hotel a few blocks away, which was inconvient. one of the front desk employees did not seem to pleasant, as if she was there as a favor to me

8

Joseph

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a good stay and very comfortable. It's right next to the boardwalk for the beach and is good for a morning stroll. The only issue is that check in is off site and you need to walk about a block away to check in. This wouldn't be too big an issue if they found a way to communicate this before you check in. I had to walk around the whole hotel just to see a tiny sign on a small door that said check in is a block north.

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Location

Beachfront, walkable location steps from Pacific Beach and close to restaurants, bars, and shops. Many guests didn’t need their car once parked.

Related guest reviews

10

Lisa

Feb 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This place is the perfect location right next to the beach north of Chrystal pier in Pacific Beach. There is limited parking, but we got there about 3:30 PM in the afternoon and had no problem. Places to eat and the beach are very walkable so we didn’t have to get back in our car until we checked out. It has a little kitchenette that we will take advantage of next time and probably stay longer. Check-in is at a different property about a block up. It was very clean and nice and we would definitely come back again. We also had a good price since it was February. I think next time we will also bring our bicycles because it’s a great place to ride your bike.

8

Philemon

Dec 8, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property is along the beach. Easy access. No waterfront view from the room. With the exception of a couple of units. Nonetheless location is perfect. Limited parking for this location. There are other properties blocks away. But that creates a problem in itself if you need to go back and forth to the car for various things. The property is pet friendly. So be prepared to listen to pets walking and playing around if you are on the bottom floor. And they are above you. Can keep you up. Located close and walking distance to anything you would need. Beach, dining, stores, barbershop etc. Would definitely stay again. But would request top floor next time.

8

Angela

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Location to the beach was amazing! Parking is rough and we had to check in at a partnering hotel up the block. That would’ve been good to know ahead of time. But our room was great!

10

Charles

Dec 19, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

My wife and I had a wonderful 3-night stay here. It was the perfect place to unwind and chill. Everything a beach lover needs is within walking distance. Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, bike/surf rentals, and dispensaries are within walking distance. We didn't move the car the whole time we were there. If you are looking for a nice, comfortable, and clean place to spend a nice weekend with your significant other, you found it. We will be going back next year. It was the perfect spot for us.

10

Jon

Jun 17, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Have stayed here quite a few times and the staff is always great! Location is perfect, close enough to walk everywhere, and out of the heavy noise area.

8

Kellie

Jul 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Easy beach access! Close to coffee shops, beach shops, and restaurants.

8

Cirita

Jul 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome location right across the parking lot to Pacific Beach! Restaurants & shopping steps away. Room was basic, no frills...it's really all about the location at this one. It was very inconvenient to have to walk a block over to their sister property for checking into this property though, wish they would have had staff on site. When you have kids in tow, that's the last thing you want to do. Overall, would probably stay here again just for the location, and the staff were all very friendly.

10

Dana

May 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent location! We never even needed the car. Right at the beach. Small complex but recently renovated and so so clean and nice! Best kept little secret. Would definitely recommend and we will be back.

8

Carol

May 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Steps from the beach

10

Steve Dean

May 8, 2025

·

Stayed 7 nights

Ocean front!

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Dining

No on-site breakfast or restaurant is provided, and a few guests were confused by third-party listings. Numerous eateries are an easy walk away.

Related guest reviews

10

Kimberly

Dec 11, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Just steps away from beach access and beach sidewalk on one, just around the corner to several dining options (maybe 1-2 blocks to Duck Dive, Oscar's, Taco Surf, Drift Cafe) Room was clean, felt secure. Currently office is located 1 block north, but easy to park and walk 1 block to check in.

10

Charles

Dec 19, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

My wife and I had a wonderful 3-night stay here. It was the perfect place to unwind and chill. Everything a beach lover needs is within walking distance. Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, bike/surf rentals, and dispensaries are within walking distance. We didn't move the car the whole time we were there. If you are looking for a nice, comfortable, and clean place to spend a nice weekend with your significant other, you found it. We will be going back next year. It was the perfect spot for us.

8

Kellie

Jul 22, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Easy beach access! Close to coffee shops, beach shops, and restaurants.

10

Lisa

Jun 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

How close to everything from the ocean to the dining!!! It was perfect!!

8

Cirita

Jul 20, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Awesome location right across the parking lot to Pacific Beach! Restaurants & shopping steps away. Room was basic, no frills...it's really all about the location at this one. It was very inconvenient to have to walk a block over to their sister property for checking into this property though, wish they would have had staff on site. When you have kids in tow, that's the last thing you want to do. Overall, would probably stay here again just for the location, and the staff were all very friendly.

10

kevin

Jun 27, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

Property was very clean along with the room. Restaurants, grocery store, beach rentals like chairs umbrellas surf boards and boogie boards. We got in super early. They didnt have a room available but did let us put our bags behind the counter with them. Then they did have a room a couple hours earlier then check in time. Beach is right outside the door. We did have to check in at their other office that is around the corner but not a big deal. Great place and would stay there again.

10

James

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Bed and room were clean but could have used extra pillows. The windows were almost impossible to close once opened. The beach was right out the door and so were some nice restaurants which was awesome.

8

Valerie

Aug 2, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Loved that the property was minutes away from restaurants, shopping and ocean views. Definitely would stay again.

8

Jadeon

Apr 11, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

BUDGET-FRIENDLY. If you are looking to stay next to the beach on a budget, this is the go-to hotel. There comes some cons with that. The hotel is going under some construction with their front office, so check-in is about a 5 minute walk to their sister location, PB Surf. THIS ALSO MEANS NO COMPLEMENTARY BFAST. Not a killer, but just want you to know. Parking is complementary for your stay, but we were lucky as we stayed during the weekdays and we were always able to find at least one spot on the Diamondhead property. They allow parking at the sister location if the parking is full though. No ice machine. The fridge in the queen bed room had a mini fridge but no freezer. Idk about the other room selections though. If you’re a bottom room, you should be able to hear upstairs pretty well at night. Rooms have been updated with furniture, but I don’t think the carpet was. Those are the cons. The pros definitely outweigh them if you are looking to stay near the beach at an affordable price with walkable tasty restaurants on one side and the beach life on the other. Had a great time on my vacation doing tours and sightseeing and this hotel does the job.

4

Collin

Dec 29, 2023

·

We liked the property because it was close to the beach. The room was refreshing. We did not like the fact that after viewing the continental breakfast on Expedia it did not exist. The only compensation was to come up and grab a piece of fruit at the office two blocks away. The front end staff wanted me to take a picture of the Expedia photo of the wonderful looking breakfast to report it. I find that very odd as they could go into the Expedia app and see for themselves and make the changes. The overcharged me and the dispute to under review right now. And finally, the bathroom faucet was faulty, a repairman was sent to fix it, and it broke again shortly there after.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$134
February	$166
March	$190
April	$187
May	$199
June	$246
July	$330
August	$213
September	$180
October	$171
November	$152
December	$123

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $104	15 $155	16	17 $163	18 $414	19 $452
20 $160	21 $124	22 $141	23 $157	24 $155	25	26 $374
27 $142	28 $160	29 $120	30 $123

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $157	2 $292	3 $317
4 $149	5 $154	6 $159	7 $175	8 $156	9 $298	10 $313
11 $183	12 $170	13 $174	14 $154	15 $162	16 $281	17 $259
18 $153	19 $157	20 $148	21 $148	22 $158	23 $245	24 $218
25 $142	26 $109	27 $136	28 $142	29 $137	30 $217	31 $210

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

Room, 1 King Bed, Partial Ocean View

Suite, 1 King Bed with Sofa Bed, Kitchen, Partial Ocean View

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Kitchen

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed, Kitchen

Suite, 1 King Bed, Kitchen

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Diamond Head Inn

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Prices for upcoming dates