Originally Posted By smedley As with the other post. I am looking to start reserving hotels for our November/December trip. I really have no idea on hotels for these places. Clean and comfortable, and in the case of the national parks preferrably within an easy distance to get in and out each day we will be there. I have tried looking at San Diego, but have no idea, is Mission Bay close enough? Or do I want to pay more and be more central? Thoughts welcome.. This is the last post, I already have the Anaheim section of the trip sorted All advice greatfully received
Originally Posted By ajnhollysmommy We just stayed at the Yosemite Cedar Lodge. <a href="http://www.yosemitemotels.com/cedarlodge/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.yosemitemotels.com/...ndex.htm</a> It was nice. Dad had an awesome room. 4 poster bed, and huge whirlpool tub in the room. Our room was just a normal room and it was clean and the beds were very comfy. Even had good pillows. Indoor pool water temp was beautiful and hot tub for the winter months. The restraunt is only open if 40 or more rooms are booked. Crazy Overpriced but good food. Not to many other choices unless you drive a while or bring your own snack type foods. The Yosemite View Lodge is owned by the same people. These are both outside of the park. <a href="http://www.yosemite-motels.com/yosemiteviewlodge/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.yosemite-motels.com...ndex.htm</a> Mariposa is a long 45 min drive from the park entrance. We sent the boys there to grab pizza for lunch and they were gone forever. But it looks like a cute little town to shop in. Distance to the park was about 10 min drive. This is the on the all weather highway. HWY 140 remember to have chains with you even if you rent a 4x4 Yosemite requires that you carry them. Aunt and Uncle have 4x4 and they actaully had to show the ranger at the gate that they had them.
Originally Posted By ajnhollysmommy OOPPS Cedar Lodge <a href="http://www.yosemite-motels.com/cedarlodge/index.htm" target="_blank">http://www.yosemite-motels.com...ndex.htm</a>
Originally Posted By smedley Hmm good thinking ajnhm, I guess I will have to look into renting chains... The hotel looks exactly the kind of thing we are looking for, and yes 45 mins is too far away really
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo San Diego depends on whether you have a car and what you are looking for. For relaxing beach time, Coronado is great, or Mission Bay (close to Sea World). For great scenery, La Jolla is fab but about 20 mins out of the city. For nightlife, the gas lamp quarter is good. Don't forget to visit Mission San Diego and Old Town for a real Old California/Mexico vibe. For cheap digs central to everything (though requires driving too), Mission Valley and Hotel circle is fine.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo As for Yosemite, Sequoia, you might want to consider staying in Mariposa or Merced on your way in to Yosemite, then staying in Visalia (Holiday Inn is good there) either on your way in or out of Sequoia.
Originally Posted By ophellia I lived and played in SD for 7 years...the Mission Bay area is lovely...there's so much to do, it's hard to be close to everything...SD County is HUGE as is the city itself...because I have a son in Oceanside (45 miles N of SD proper,but still SD Co) I usually stay there and travel South to play...are you planning to go to the Zoo and do Balboa Park? and maybe The Wild Animal Park in Escondido?
Originally Posted By smedley Hmm I have rented chains with a hire car before MM, but I will check into it, I guess if needs be we will have to buy a set. I am glad people are saying the Mission Bay area is fine, I have looked at a couple of hotels there, and they seem to be a lot more reasonable, I am happy enough to drive, so that would be a good option. Ophellia, we are definitely planning on doing the zoo, and Balboa Park, not so sure about the wild animal park, if possible I would like to take a whale watching trip, assuming the timings work out to see whales
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM smeds...when I took DD to San Diego, we stayed at the neatest hotel that was one block from Balboa Park and the Zoo. It was very quaint, and the rooms were all themed. Your breakfast was brought to your room each morning, along with the morning paper. We LOVED it. There's no pool, but then, we don't care about that. Anyway, it's called the Balboa Park Inn. I found out about it on Tripadvisor, and am SO glad we stayed there.
Originally Posted By smedley Ooooh I am loving the sound of that, to be honest I am not overly concerned about having pools at all the locations, for the most part I expect to be entirely too busy out and about seeing stuff!
Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM smeds...we stayed in the Victoria Secret room. It was decorated like a room in a Victorian mansion. It reminded me of staying at my grama's house. It didn't feel like a hotel ONE bit. It was so cozy. There was even a fireplace in the room. Depending on how long you plan to be in San Diego, it might be a fun place to stay for at least one night. Like I said, you can walk to Balboa Park and the zoo from there. I remember grabbing a burger at the zoo and bringing it back to the hotel. DD and I went to the courtyard to eat. Several other hotel guests were there also. It was like we were family or something. One of the guests had a bottle of wine and shared it. The hotel desk clerk came out with a plate of cheese and fruit for everyone to share. It was so wonderful. That was probably my most favorite hotel that I have ever stayed in. Next time we go to San Diego, we will stay there again.
Originally Posted By smedley MM given the location and the price, I am thinking we would stay there for all 3 nights we intend to be in San Diego. it is cheaper than a lot of the places I had looked at in Mission Bay, and of course it comes MM recommended, I guess the only thing now will be whether or not they would have the availability. I am going to email them from home to find out if there are rooms available when we're there, that way I wouldn't have to waste so much time on the phone to them when I call to book one Did you get to look into any of the other rooms? Or just the one you stayed in? Looking at the site they all seem to be pretty good sizes?
Originally Posted By Ursula I love staying in Mission Bay. They Hyatt there is nice and was in our price-range which seems to be about your price range. My favorite hotels in SD are the Courtyard by Marriott in the Gaslamp Area. Otherwise known as the Bank Hotel! It literally is in the old Lincoln Savings and Loan. The rooms are in the old offices upstairs, they have valet parking but are cleverly next to the Red line trolly for easy access to everything. Breakfast is included in the room. My other favorite is the Manchester Grand Hyatt. It looks very posh but you can hunt around for some great deals. We got it on Priceline for $89 a night and have since found that you can get it for less than $150 a night. The best thing is that it has a view of San Diego Bay, is also near the Red Line trolly, and it is right near the Star of India and other interesting Port points of interest. We go to San Diego about 1-3 times a year, so let us know what hotel you are looking at in the Mission Bay area and I'll let you know if we stayed there.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin To claify...although the trolley cars are in fact colored red, the lines are the Blue Line (north and south), the Orange Line (east and west), and the Green Line (connects Blue Line trolleys to the start of the Orange Line trolley and services Mission Valley and the college area). I've stayed in the Vagabond in Mission Valley, they allow pets (for an extra charge), the rooms are typical size and clean, it's right next to the 8 and near shopping, and if I'm not mistaken they have the free continental breakfast. Sort of what they call "close to everything".
Originally Posted By Ursula Thanks Sara, I didn't know about the colors! I just know they are RED so ergo, they are Red. HA!
Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes Business puts me in San Diego very frequently. The Hilton San Diego Mission Valley has very nice rooms, beds, pillows, etc. and the rates I had were very good. However, the microscopic pool is not worth considering and it isn't close to anything. Mostly I stay in the Gaslamp Quarter because it's crazy fun - the adult kind (and not the XXX Adult kind). I haven't stayed in a great motel there. The Horton Grand was very interesting. The Comfort Inn in the Gaslamp Quarter was the worst hotel I've stayed at in decades. I'm sure I'll try Ursula's suggestions for next time if I can get a good rate.
Originally Posted By Ursula ^ The best thing about the Courtyard Bank Marriott is that it is one block from the Gaslamp area. You can WALK across the street and around the corner and you are very close to the Strip Club. No, not XXX but they have STEAK!
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Of course there is always The Grant on Broadway, it has recently been renovated (a couple years ago) and it's beautiful. It's historical (built by a nephew of U.S. Grant, hence the name). I stayed there once for a couple days years ago. They have a bar and grill kinda thing. And they serve high tea. and it's a block or so from the gaslamp and it's right across the street from Horton Plaza. Close to the trolleys, buses and almost walking distance to the train station. It's a bit pricey, but worth it...
