6 Best Vrbo Vacation Rentals In San Diego's Hillcrest Neighborhood, California

Angelyn
Angelyn 
Updated
| 5 min read

Home to a large part of San Diego’s LGBTQ community, Hillcrest is a vibrant and colorful neighborhood that one shouldn’t miss when visiting this side of California. Tour around San Diego to experience its rich Spanish and Mexican heritage and drop by Balboa Park, which is a short distance from Hillcrest, to discover many cultural delights, including a lush botanical garden and a brush with some wildlife at the San Diego Zoo. With dozens of exciting sights and attractions to keep you occupied during your tour, it’s a given that you should spend a night or two in the neighborhood. Sit back and relax, for we’ve listed the top 10 best Vrbo accommodations in San Diego’s Hillcrest, perfectly located in downtown for your worry-free and guaranteed fun stay.

We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on March 13, 2023.

1. Luxurious house in a well-appointed location (from USD 390)

Find comfort and luxuriate in this property with everything you need for a memorable escape in Hillcrest. Enjoy the sparkling clean indoor living area with an open-floor setting, complete with top-notch amenities that include a gourmet kitchen and cozy living room with comfy sectionals, perfect to relax your feet after exploring San Diego.

Watch a movie while cooking a delicious meal in the fully functional kitchen with granite countertops and set up a romantic dinner on the adjacent dining table. If you want to dine outside, an amazing diversity of restaurants and cuisine are available within walking distance to fill you up, any time of the day.

Stayed at this property?

1.46 km (1.0 mi) from Balboa Park
139 reviews   Wifi Available
House 4 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 4
Minimum Nights: 1
Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 60 days before check-in.

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The secure parking space was an added bonus
The bed was one of the most comfortable beds we've slept on in a long time
The laundry and parking space were definite pluses
The property was beautiful from the outside stone work down to the pretty blue walls The bed was extremely comfortable and we enjoyed having a living room with a sectional couch and big screen tv ...
Nice front patio and the private parking in the back came in handy Ricardo
Cleanliness:
we were pleasantly surprised how quiet the neighborhood was
This house was everything as advertised
The house had everything we needed Very fun and comfortable
Host:
Ricardo was very attentive before we arrived and checked on us during our stay
Ricardo contacted us immediately when we chose the VRBO
so we didn't have to worry about the dog getting out
and he stayed in contact with us making sure that we were satisfied
Good size for 2 people and our dog even for 4 weeks
Location:
It's a safe quiet neighborhood
Perfect location- walked to Balboa Park
This property was centrally located in walking or scootering distance to endless coffee shops and restaurants
The location of this property is also great
The house is just two blocks off the main street (University Ave )
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2. Sparkling clean home that guarantees comfort (from USD 357)

Indulge staying in this elegant home that provides the perfect blend of comfort, cleanliness, distance from points of interest, and value for money. Gather around the spacious living room with a comfy sofa sleeper and single seater sofas, perfect for planning your itinerary. Make sure to prepare a delicious meal in the full kitchen, with plenty of cabinetry and all major appliances, ideal for a memorable feast that you can set-up on the expandable table in the dining room.

Relax in a lavish bedroom with a luxurious king bed, offering great views of the city, after exploring the best places to go and activities to do around the neighborhood.

Stayed at this property?

2.59 km (1.7 mi) from Balboa Park
9 reviews   Wifi Available
Apartment 8 Guests 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 8
Minimum Nights: 3
Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 30 days before check-in.

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
and it was good to come home to a quiet residential setting
It had the perfect amount of space for us - a group of 8 with 4 adults and 4 big kids
It doesn't look like much from the outside
Cleanliness:
it was clean and thoughtfully decorated
The property was clean and had everything we needed
2 bathrooms were perfect and the layout suited us
and there's plenty of dinning places and shopping centers
Host:
The host made us feel welcome with a nice bottle of wine and good coffee
The owner is very accommodating
This is a very well maintained home
Nice facilities got all we need
They were kings and sooo comfortable
Location:
The location is ideal--within walking distance to several good breakfast restaurants and other amenities
it's a beautiful location without the big city traffic
This is an ideal location for planing a family vacation or if you're planning to dance the night away with friends everything is within a 10 min drive sea world
We could walk to dinner each night and enjoyed the neighbourhood Despite the kitchen being pretty basically equipped we cooked breakfast here each day with no problem Only thing missing
feels like a little piece of home while still getting to be a tourist I loved it and will re book next time
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3. Elegant condo filled with thoughtful touches (from USD 96)

Renew your love in this property that is ideal for a couple, which has a rustic touch and is situated in the lush green area of San Diego. Indulge in this light and comfortable refuge, in a quiet building, with a stylish and warm ambiance, complete with welcoming furnishings. Enjoy spending time in the living room with a leather couch, a love seat, and a floor to ceiling window, allowing natural light into the entire space. Make use of the adjacent well-stocked kitchen and eating area, for those who prefer to cook or eat-in, or explore the walkable urban community, with plenty of restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, if you prefer dining outside.

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2.56 km (1.6 mi) from Balboa Park
8 reviews   Wifi Available
condo 2 Guests 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom

Accommodates: 2
Minimum Nights: 30
Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 60 days before check-in.

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The kitchen was well stocked with cooking utensils for cooking at home
Underground parking as well as off-street guest parking provided added convenience
The owners were clearly committed to making our stay enjoyable and stress free
This was our first use of VRBO (or any other apartment rental service)
The apartment itself is well furnished with necessary furniture aircon a good tv/internet service and a huge fridge/freezer; overall the place is very comfortable to live in
Cleanliness:
It was really clean relaxing and private
The condition couldn't have been better -- clean and well-maintained
The payment process worked well and and was just as we discussed
Host:
Michael was pleasant easy to work with and accommodating
They were really nice and helpful throughout our stay communication
Michael always replied promptly addressed any concerns with respect to paying a deposit from afar and was there to greet me upon arrival During my stay
Michael and Bob are great hosts
This rental was fantastic for several reasons Firstly to be arriving from a distant country to only spend a short rental period
Location:
The location was convenient to many venues Grocery stores and other stores were within walking distance
The perfect home in a great location
On the other hand if you are not planning on remaining indoors its location in Hillcrest is great for amenities and is well-connected for exploring San Diego with places like Balboa Park and Dow...
The location near the medical center and in an active walkable urban community with plenty of restaurants coffee shops and shopping as well as convenient access to Balboa Park was just what we w...
The place also has a secure underground car park space at no additional cost
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4. Bohemian-style Craftsman house (from USD 338)

Spend some quality time with your family in this beautiful house in an amazingly quiet neighborhood, yet well-appointed to the grocery store, restaurants, and airport. Take delight in a cool Craftsman-style bungalow with an expansive grassy lawn, where kids can run and play all day. Have your coffee or read a book on the sunny front porch, with table and wooden garden chairs, while waiting for a scrumptious breakfast cooked in the gourmet kitchen. If you wish to have fun on the beach, travel for 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) to any of the 2 beaches close to Hillcrest.

Stayed at this property?
San Diego, CA, US
2.72 km (1.7 mi) from Balboa Park
15 reviews  
House 6 Guests 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
like european bathroom small
Cleanliness:
very clean and tidy
it was spotlessly clean and ready on arrival
great charm great character clean well-cared for
great california bungalow that is exceptionally clean
very pleased with the cleanliness of the charming bungalow plenty of indoor and outdoor space
Host:
owner was very responsive to any questions we had
greg was a wonderful and personable host we felt like he was a friend we had known forever
greg was friendly and accommodating
greg is very responsive and accommodating
Location:
location was perfect to balboa park
great location and beautiful home
absolutely ideal location close to everything in san diego
location is perfect with easy access to 163 fwy and balboa park etc
great restaurants and shops close by
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5. Ultra modern home with organic micro farm (from USD 399)

Choose tranquility and health while staying in this home built and owned by a landscape and home architect, surrounded by lush greenery. Relax in your room with animal print decor and tuck into a comfy bed after touring around San Diego. Enjoy picking up vegetables every day at the organic farm that encourages truly healthy living, or just find solace walking in the garden while breathing in some fresh air. If being vegetarian is not on your plate, the wide array of restaurants and eateries, serving local and international cuisine, are all just minutes away from this centrally located home, sure to reward your taste buds.

Stayed at this property?

2.59 km (1.7 mi) from Balboa Park
54 reviews   Wifi Available
House 6 Guests 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 6
Minimum Nights: 2
Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 60 days before check-in.

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The photos dont do this place
Our only suggestion for improvement would be to add blinds to the windows
the upstairs bed was AMAZING
Only recommenation would be more blinds on some of the windows
You honestly feel like you're in paradise
Cleanliness:
The rooms are clean modern and spacious
The property was also very clean on arrival
The house was clean and well maintained and
Host:
Immaculate grounds stunning micro farm and super cool hot tub deck
They helped us figure out the hot tub
Upon arrival Zapher was incredibly warm and welcoming
Zapher was helpful and warm waiting when I arrived
the host is super friendly
Location:
It's 6 minutes away from San Diego downtown
I loved the location of this home Located at the end of the street
and there's a grocery store within 2 minutes
The house location was convenient only a few blocks to the main activity of Hillcrest yet very quiet
All of these locations were no more than 15 minutes away
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6. Modern urban retreat with contemporary amenities (from USD 515)

Pamper yourself in total relaxation in this well-appointed property, conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood, yet within walking distance to numerous restaurants and bars. Enjoy chilling out with friends in the amazing pool with a firepit in a canyon setting, the perfect spot for a barbeque while drinking beer to keep warm during the cool evenings.

Feel welcomed by the front zen garden with water fountain and have views of the sunset while watching the hummingbirds and dragonflies hovering around the area. Move at ease in the spacious open-plan interior with a mix of traditional and modern furniture and fixtures.

Stayed at this property?

2.86 km (1.8 mi) from Balboa Park
45 reviews   Wifi Available
House 8 Guests 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms

Accommodates: 8
Minimum Nights: 3
Refund Policy : 100% refund if you cancel at least 60 days before check-in.

Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The furniture in the living room is very uncomfortable
The three bedrooms were spacious with extremely comfortable mattresses
The kitchen was very nice
There is only one television in the home
We could not sleep in the upstairs room at all for the entire stay
Cleanliness:
The best part was the fire pit which we used every night
Host:
The owner Jesse was very responsive although we did not have any problems
Wonderful property and wonderful hosts
Finally the host Jesse was very kind and attentive
Jesse made sure everything was good to go
meet with our collaborators in a more relaxed environment and relax (big TV and nice backyard with swimming pool)
Location:
The house is walking distance to many restaurants close to Balboa Park and downtown
The house was conveniently located in a quiet neighbourhood yet only a few blocks from grocery stores businesse and dozens of restaurants
The location is perfect for access to Balboa Park
it has a great vibe and fun restaurants and bars
restaurants and bakeries are within easy walking distance
Read more reviews
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Convenience and comfort right at your fingertips

Visit Hillcrest and discover its buzzing gay bars, historical sites, and gastronomic delights that you could never experience on the other side of San Diego. Update your itinerary now and consider booking your stay in one of these top Vrbo accommodations in San Diego’s Hillcrest - ideal for all travelers.

Stayed at this property?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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An outdoor enthusiast who treats the summits and pristine beaches of the Philippines as her protected playground, Angelyn is used to traveling on a budget and is a certified travel deal hunter for...Read more

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