Originally Posted By LuLu We want to tack on a night or two in San Diego, after a DL trip this summer. Our main reason for visiting is Sea World - I have comp tickets for my daughter and me. I see they sell a 2-day ticket for $55 so I may buy 1 of those and go for 2 days, if there's too much to do there in a day? My main need for advice is a place to stay - I'm so used to getting HoJo's at DL for $59, so the prices I'm seeing near Sea World are pretty crazy. When I find something reasonable (like Good Nite Inn for $85) I read the reviews and get scared by a few terrible ones. Not sure about using Name Your Price on Priceline. I didn't see a lot of info on San Diego on Bidding for Travel. Any advice on hotels, or anything else I should know? Thanks!
Originally Posted By ibob If it is for 2 people try priceline and see if you can snag a *** (maybe ****) Hotel Downtown for $60.00 . Add tax and parking = less than $100.00 all in ... that would be better than taking a chance on the Goodnite Inn , etc.
Originally Posted By chickapin If you don't mind driving 15 to 20 minutes to Sea World I have had great success with Priceline asking for DelMar. I've done this 3 times and have had the Doubletree every time at $50. They are great about 2 beds, the parking is free, and it is very easy freeway access. It also has a nice pool area. The drive to Sea World is easy, but does take a few minutes.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo The Kings Inn was a reasonable cheap place to stay in Mission Valley a few years ago. Not plush, but good. And the cops like to go there to eat in the Waffle Spot, which we saw as a plus. <a href="http://www.kingsinnsandiego.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kingsinnsandiego.com/</a> we also liked staying at the Marriott, Del Coronado, and the Handlery. Also we find Sea World is a pretty easy run from Anaheim (but then again I am commuting 90 miles each way right now, and the UK has double the population of the State of California).
Originally Posted By beamerdog Yeh, well, who wouldn't mind staying at the Del Coronado! Their Sunday brunch is to die for *sigh*
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo True. I didn't want to sound snooty. I was just saying that when it was just sarah and I, we thought the King Inn was a good economical option.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Hotel Del has a 'mahvelous' high tea, from what I've heard. But you have to either run the strand (which is opposite of everything but Tijuana) or take the bridge which is packed going to Coronado in the AM and packed in the afternoon rush hour going back into town. If you don't mind a bit of a drive(20 minutes or so) you should check La Mesa, or Chula Vista. In La Mesa you'd want easy access to the 8 east, in Chula Vista easy access to the 5 north. Have fun!
Originally Posted By beamerdog <<never stayed at the Del *double sigh*, lol. It's been over 15 years since I visited San Diego, so I'm afraid I won't be much help.
Originally Posted By Mary Poppins As an aside, they have a free pipe organ concert in Balboa park at the Spreckels auditorium on Sundays. <a href="http://www.igougo.com/entertainment-reviews-b73351-San_Diego-Spreckels_Organ_Pavilion.html" target="_blank">http://www.igougo.com/entertai...ion.html</a> This is dated 2007 so I don't know if they still have them.
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin yes, the spreckles organ is a fixture in Balboa Park. Make sure if you decide to go to wear sunscreen, because you will be sitting outside.
Originally Posted By SleepingBeauty82 We went last summer and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Sea World. It was literally like a mile from Sea World. Friendly service, nice room, hot breakfast, they even brought a paper to our door in the morning. They had a pool area but we didn't use it as we only stayed there one night and got there around 8:00. I would definitely stay there again though.
Originally Posted By LuLu You guys have given me a lot of good ideas to look into - thanks! I'll report back...
Originally Posted By Kira When are you going Lulu? Be aware of the nightmare in the downtown san diego area that is Comic Con in late July. Other than that everyone here has offered some good advice. =) have fun!
Originally Posted By beamerdog This just came up on my Comcast.net page for San Diego Travel: <a href="http://travel.comcast.net/dealssearch_d_California_t_hotel" target="_blank">http://travel.comcast.net/deal..._t_hotel</a>
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 Went to San Diego for the first time in December and fell in love with the Hotel del Coronado. *sigh* Someday I'm going to stay there ♥
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo We can easily spend a week or two in San Diego - Sea World, Legoland, the Wild Animal Park, the amazing like nowhere else zoo, Old Town, the Mission, the Gas Lamp Quarter, the old wooden coaster, the Maritime Museum, all the museums in the park, the Spreckles Organ concerts, aircraft carriers, La Jolla, Coronado, the Padres games, great shopping. We often say, if we were tempted to return to California, San Diego would be our likely destination.
Originally Posted By beamerdog We went on an awesome tour of the Wild Animal Park on a little stake body truck. We fed the giraffes, rhinos and got to see the animals very close up. Worth every penny.
Originally Posted By beamerdog It was great. They used to have both 3 and 6 hour tours. The kids and I couldn't stop singing the Gilligan's Island theme song ;-)
Originally Posted By ophellia all of the above are so true...I can't say enough about Balboa Park though...you could spend all day and still have more to do... if you're downtown, park at Horton Plaza...it's the best parking there, they'll validate for as little as a pack of gum at any Mall store...parking is hard in Downtown SD...
