San Diego’s Hard Rock Hotel Offers Hot Girls & Elephants

Words By John Gaudiosi

The San Diego Hard Rock Hotel is taking the term “wild thing” to the extreme. In case living the life of a rock star (at least for a few nights) isn’t enough, guests can book any number of packages to make their most of the area while outside of the hotel. The newest package combines the amenities of being in downtown San Diego’s hippest new joint with an expedition into the history of pachyderms in California…


You can literally have a day with wild things and a night with even wilder things at one of the new Hard Rock bars – Float and 207. The lines are out the door every weekend as locals mingle with celebrities and visitors downstairs at 207 or upstairs by the pool at Float. In fact, if you time your stay right, Sunday offers a special Intervention party (April through September) where bikini-clad girls gyrate to music on the rooftop bar and thongs are always in fashion with San Diego’s great year-round weather. The Hard Rock offers a discount Intervention Stay Packages that start at $149 and include a hotel room and two complimentary VIP guess passes for the 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. party. Get a cabana, grab a margarita and watch the sights. It’s an experience unlike anything else in San Diego.

While there will be plenty of foxes any time of the day in the lobby, at the pool, at the bars, or in one of the hip restaurants like Nobu San Diego and Maryjane’s Coffee Shop, there won’t be any elephants. It’s as if the hotel has a weight limit, which is good news for any guys looking to mingle. However, one’s guaranteed to find elephants in the zoo package. Rates for this start at $908 per two-night stay and include admission for two to the San Diego Zoo and a personal guided behind-the-scenes tour of Elephant Odyssey. Rounding out the Hard Rock Package is a $300 credit at the Rock Spa, which can be applied to a mud bath, if you so desire.

Anyone who thinks going to the zoo isn’t a cool date hasn’t been to the San Diego Zoo, which spans 100 acres and has its own bus tour. But you haven’t experienced this zoo until you’ve gone through the VIP experience. In addition to checking out the new $44 million, 7-acre Elephant Odyssey attraction with a zoo guide, you’ll get to feed an elephant. Getting food hovered out of your hand by a gentle giant is not something you’ll soon forget. The customizable package also offers stops on the roof of the ape attraction, where you can get up close and personal with gorillas. Other options include the seal exhibit and the panda bears, to name a few. While other guests are limited to standing behind glass, many of these stops on the VIP tour include personal time with the animals (when they’re safe, of course).

The Hard Rock is conveniently located across the street from the San Diego Convention Center, home for the mammoth Comic-Con every July, and just a block away from Petco Field, home of the San Diego Padres. Baseball fans can take part in the Hard Rock ‘n’ Home Run Package, which starts at $189 for one night, and includes a $30 credit at Maryjane’s Coffee Shop. Every game day Chef Thomas Borgia offers a special menu with $3 Bud Lights, $1.50 Sliders, and an $8.95 Home Run TV Dinner (hotdog, fries and Cracker Jacks). After the game (the package does not include baseball tickets), guests receive a pair of complimentary passes to either 207 or Float.

Every weekend, the Hard Rock is party central in San Diego. The hotel is filled with young people partying on just about every floor. While there’s security that only allows guests up to the rooms and suites, many young guests share rooms and it’s pretty easy to get invited to a party on your floor. It happens all the time. And getting beer is convenient with the Gas Lamp District’s abundant stores, restaurants and bars.

Whether you’re visiting San Diego for the first time or you’re just passing through, there’s no hotel that offers the Hard Rock experience anywhere else in town. And the vibe in San Diego’s Hard Rock is similar to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas – minus the never-ending system of pools. They do share the same magnet for attracting the hottest girls in town. And Intervention offers a close-up look at all of these beauties’ assets (and tattoos). So check out the hotel, catch the zoo, watch a ballgame, or just sit in the lobby and see who shows up. It’s always a fun time at the Hard Rock. And you don’t even have to be a good singer or guitar player.