Carté Hotel San Diego Downtown, Curio Collection by Hilton

Carté Hotel San Diego Downtown, part of Hilton's Curio Collection, sits in the Core-Columbia neighborhood a few blocks from Little Italy and the Embarcadero waterfront. The wellness setup here centers on the Fit Athletic Club, a 28,000-square-foot facility with current equipment, group classes, a sauna and a steam room, all included for hotel guests as part of the daily destination charge.

Outdoors, there's a heated saltwater pool and a whirlpool with ocean views, plus a rooftop bar serving cocktails and a food menu for anyone who wants to wind down after a workout or a swim. The pool deck and fitness club are built for both couples looking for quiet time and families traveling together, and the hotel throws in extras like two refillable water bottles, beach chairs, and a boogie board rental as part of that daily charge.

This is a hotel spa in the traditional sense: access runs through your room reservation rather than a standalone day-pass system, so it's not a drop-in spot for locals. Check-in is at 4 pm and check-out at 11 am. Valet parking runs $70, with EV charging on-site (though the garage layout rules out Cybertrucks), and the valet service operates from 5 am to midnight. Pets are welcome with a $75 non-refundable deposit, up to 50 lbs and medium size.

For anyone booking a stay with wellness in mind, the pairing of a saltwater pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam room and full gym under one daily fee covers most of what you'd want without chasing down separate bookings.