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A wooden sign with 'Welcome to CARDIFF By the Sea' written on it.

Find Cardiff-by-the-Sea motels from $66

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Check prices for these dates, December 15 – 16, 2026

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Our top choices for Cardiff-by-the-Sea motels

1. Moonlight Beach Motel

A beach with palm trees, a lifeguard tower, and a sandy walkway.

2. Days Inn by Wyndham Encinitas Moonlight Beach

A modern living room with a sofa, a dining area, a kitchen, and a TV mounted on a wall with a mural.

3. Motel 6 Carlsbad, CA Beach

An aerial view of a hotel with multiple buildings, parking lots, and a surrounding urban area.

4. Mission Bay Motel

A hotel room with two beds, a wooden dresser, a mirror, a window with curtains, and wall art.

5. Motel Mediteran Escondido

A modern bedroom with a large bed, a nightstand, a painting of a coastal scene, and a bathroom visible through an open door.

6. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Diego-Escondido by IHG

A buffet with various food items, including omelets and other dishes, displayed in metal serving trays.

7. Escondido Lodge

A modern hotel room with a large bed, a bedside table, a chair, a small desk, and two wall-mounted paintings.

8. Super 8 by Wyndham Oceanside Downtown

A modern bathroom with a large central sink, a mirror above it, and a herringbone-patterned wall.

9. Scandia Motel

A hotel room with two beds, a kitchenette, a sofa, a desk, and a TV.

10. Franciscan Inn

A hotel lobby with a reception desk, a buffet area, and a seating area.

11. Motel San Diego - In San Diego (Pacific Beach)

A parking lot with palm trees and a McDonald's restaurant in the background.

12. Days Inn by Wyndham Carlsbad

A multi-level outdoor patio with a dining area, potted plants, and a large umbrella.

13. Motel 6 Carlsbad East, CA - Near Legoland

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair.

14. Hacienda Motel

A motel with a two-story structure, multiple balconies, and a covered parking area.

15. Escondido Inn

A bedroom with a bed, a bedside table, a nightstand, and a wall-mounted lamp.

16. Vista Inn Motel

A hotel room with a bed, two bedside tables, a TV, a desk, and a chair.

17. Days Inn by Wyndham San Marcos

A Days Inn & Suites building with a flagpole, a sign, and a parking lot.

18. Motel 6 Carlsbad Village, CA - Near Legoland

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand, chair, and a kitchenette area with a microwave and sink.

19. Motel 6 Oceanside, CA

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a TV, and a window with curtains.

20. Days Inn by Wyndham Oceanside

A pier extending into the ocean with a sunset in the background.

Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Learn more about Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Surfers catch perfect waves at Cardiff Reef while locals picnic on the bluffs of San Elijo State Beach. Grab fish tacos from seaside stands before exploring the tide pools where kids discover starfish and sea anemones.

See all hotels in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

A wooden sign with 'Welcome to CARDIFF By the Sea' written on it.

Top reviews in Cardiff-by-the-Sea

Moonlight Beach Motel

A beach with palm trees, a lifeguard tower, and a sandy walkway.

Days Inn by Wyndham Encinitas Moonlight Beach

A modern living room with a sofa, a dining area, a kitchen, and a TV mounted on a wall with a mural.

Motel Mediteran Escondido

A modern bedroom with a large bed, a nightstand, a painting of a coastal scene, and a bathroom visible through an open door.

Days Inn by Wyndham Carlsbad

A multi-level outdoor patio with a dining area, potted plants, and a large umbrella.

Motel 6 Carlsbad Village, CA - Near Legoland

A bedroom with a bed, nightstand, chair, and a kitchenette area with a microwave and sink.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites San Diego-Escondido by IHG

A buffet with various food items, including omelets and other dishes, displayed in metal serving trays.

Super 8 by Wyndham Oceanside Downtown

A modern bathroom with a large central sink, a mirror above it, and a herringbone-patterned wall.

Motel 6 Carlsbad East, CA - Near Legoland

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, and a chair.

Days Inn by Wyndham San Marcos

A Days Inn & Suites building with a flagpole, a sign, and a parking lot.

Scandia Motel

A hotel room with two beds, a kitchenette, a sofa, a desk, and a TV.

Escondido Inn

A bedroom with a bed, a bedside table, a nightstand, and a wall-mounted lamp.

Motel San Diego - In San Diego (Pacific Beach)

A parking lot with palm trees and a McDonald's restaurant in the background.

Motel 6 San Diego, CA - North

A modern hotel room with a large bed, bedside tables, a mirror, and a bathroom with a sink and mirror.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the nightly rate for a motel in Cardiff-by-the-Sea?

You can find a great deal from $66 on Cardiff-by-the-Sea motels with Expedia. Typically, prices are higher during popular times – like weekends and holidays – while staying midweek is often cheaper. To find the best nightly rates on Cardiff-by-the-Sea motels, try to be flexible with travel dates, and sort search results by price from low to high.

Is it better to stay in a Cardiff-by-the-Sea motel or hotel?

Motels and Hotels have different perks. When you stay at a motel, you’re likely to find free parking and an outdoor pool. Staying overnight at a motel, can be handy when requiring easy road access. You’ll often have access to your room from outside, and directly from the parking lot. Hotels generally have room access from inside the building. Motels are also often less expensive than hotels. The word “motel” was coined in 1925 by the owner of the Milestone Mo-Tel in San Luis Obispo, California.

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