San Diego has more reasons for family travelers to love the city than it knows what to do with, and just as many hotels, if not more, to choose from. Finding the perfect place to stay can make or break a vacation, and Staypineapple, a small chain, gives families the perfect place to set up base camp while they explore this Southern California city.
On a recent trip to San Diego, I got to experience first-hand the quirky personality of the brand at Hotel Z, one of Staypineapple’s 10 properties. The entire hotel is “pineappleized,” with vibrant colors, eye-catching artwork and great amenities that provide the perfect balance between whimsy and elegance.

© Eugenia Lazaris
Families can enjoy convenience from options like adjoining rooms to give them the extra space and privacy they need to fun touches like coloring books and afternoon sugar cookies decorated like pineapples. The wide variety of specials regularly offered make Staypineapple an affordable option for families, like the 3rd Night Free offer currently available.
From the moment I arrived at Hotel Z I knew I was in a hotel that was going to stand out from the crowd. Friendly staff (known as Everything People) greeted me and thoroughly explained everything I would need to know about the hotel and the neighborhood, including how to use the bicycles to get around the city (complete with helmets and locks).
Bedding (including extra-large bath towels and bathrobes that actually fit) are not just comfortable, the organization also has a policy of cleaning every linen, not just the sheets. Their philosophy is if it touches your skin, it has been cleaned, so there is no reason to discard the super-soft oversized pillow that adorns each bed. Each bed is also equipped with a duvet for each person, so couples don’t have to fight over blankets.

© Eugenia Lazaris
Staypineapple goes above and beyond the family-friendly approach by offering hotels that are completely dog-friendly. From the statue of a cute pooch that greets you at the front door to the dog station with complimentary biscuits in the front lobby, everything is designed to let families travel with furry members who are hard to leave home without.
Guests simply need to notify the hotel of their pooch in the reservation so you can be put in a pet-friendly room (to ensure guests who don’t own pets don’t have to worry about allergies). Your pooch is allowed to stay in the room while you are away, a feature that really sets Staypineapple apart from other pet-friendly hotel chains. Pet parents are given a special sign to hang on the door when they leave to alert staff a dog is in the room so they don’t enter and surprise the animal.
Each room comes with a stuffed dog named Dash (the Pineapple Pup) that can be enjoyed by the little ones during your stay, and your Dash stuffie can be purchased to take with you when you leave. At any point during your stay, you can even ask an Everything Person for a pup cup so your furry friend can enjoy a whipped cream treat just for them.
The locations of Staypineapple’s properties are carefully selected to make visiting new cities easy, especially for families. Like other hotels in the chain that are designed to provide accessibility to metropolitan areas, Hotel Z is located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter where you can enjoy an endless supply of shopping and dining within walking distance. Many of the city’s sites are close enough to visit with the hotel’s complimentary bicycles. This allows you easy access to the city, thus alleviating the need to rent a car and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
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