Where to Stay in San Diego
UCSD has made arrangements for special rates with several local hotels near both our Thornton Hospital and Hillcrest facilities. You must ask for this special rate when you call to make your reservations. Please note, however, that the reservations agents at the hotels’ 800 numbers may not be aware of the special rates given to our patients and their families. If this is the case with the hotel you select, please call the local San Diego number for the hotel property.
You may also be able to stay at the Bannister Family House, located just behind UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest. For more information on whether the Bannister Family House may be an option for you, please call the UCSD Social Services Office at (619) 543-5730 or the Bannister Family House at (619) 543-7977.
Paying for Your Stay
We realize that staying in San Diego for approximately three weeks can be costly, despite our ongoing efforts to help you minimize your expenses wherever possible. Therefore, we recommend that you be financially prepared to cover the following expenses:
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Airfare, including additional fees for oxygen in-flight (if you are flying)
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Oxygen during your hotel stay and/or transportation to and from the airport
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Rental car bills and gasoline (if you elect to rent a car during your stay)
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Hotel bills, including phone calls
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Meals outside the hospital
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Incidentals
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Various unexpected expenses
Bring a major credit card and traveler’s checks, as well as some cash. Do not bring a personal check to cash or to pay expenses unless your financial institution has a branch in San Diego. Very few hotels, stores, and companies accept out-of-area checks. You should also consider bringing a prepaid phone card with you to reduce costs.
Medication and Oxygen During Your Stay
Your medications will be provided by UCSD while you are hospitalized. However, any medications you need while you are an outpatient or during your hotel stay are expenses you will need to plan for. Please bring an ample supply of those medications with you, or plan to pay for them here in San Diego out of pocket. This includes any prescriptions your doctors here at UCSD may write for you outside of your hospitalization time.
If you are on oxygen prior to your arrival in San Diego, ask your oxygen company if they are affiliated with an oxygen company here. If they are not, there are a number of independent oxygen delivery companies in San Diego that UCSD uses. These include:
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Apria
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Lincare
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Prescribed Oxygen
We can provide you with the telephone numbers for these companies, as well as assist you with making arrangements for oxygen delivery.
Insurance Coverage
It is your responsibility to ensure that any required referrals by your home primary care physician are submitted to your insurance company. Please have all appropriate paperwork to confirm insurance coverage for your treatment at UCSD completed as soon as possible. UCSD will handle obtaining final authorization for coverage, but you must have all criteria for coverage met prior to your arrival in San Diego, if at all possible. Please call your insurance company if you have questions regarding what you or your primary care doctor needs to submit in order to be sure your insurance will cover the costs of your treatment.
Pastoral Care Program
UCSD offers a Pastoral Care Program to all of our patients. You or your family can arrange for a pastoral visit at UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest if you do not have a San Diego church or synagogue. Additionally, if you have need of comfort and prayer and do not need a specific denomination-affiliated clergy member, you may call UCSD’s Volunteer Services. They will provide you with a UCSD staff member who volunteers to provide this service.
To learn more about San Diego, please follow these links to the website of the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau: