San Diego hotels?

cambir
cambir Posts: 1,045
edited June 2009 in The Clubhouse
My family is planning a trip down that way to take the kids to the zoo, Seaworld, beach, etc. Looking for recommendations for decent hotels that won't break the budget. Anybody have any specific recommendations?
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  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited May 2009
    Don't know the area so I can't make specific recommendations, however, using Priceline has always yielded me with the best hotel deals. I recommend reading this forum:

    http://biddingfortravel.yuku.com/forums/21/t/California-San-Diego.html

    It will tell you which hotels Priceline use in the area, their star ratings, and you can see what other people have been successful at bidding. If you need to stay in a certain area, read up on how to do "free" re-bids based on your star rating and zone.

    Hope that helps.
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  • movtarget
    movtarget Posts: 125
    edited May 2009
    We plan to do Grand Pacific Pallisades (right next to Legoland) in Carlsbad and hub out of there to do Legoland, SeaWorld, San Diego, and LA. Never been there before, but reviews looked generally good.

    Movtarget in NC
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited May 2009
    I suggest Carlsbad or LaJolla. There are some nice hotels downtown but you're going to spend the money for them. The cities I mentioned are right in the hub, unless you stay in a hotel on Hotel Circle in Mission Valley. They're all down there, Raddison, Hilton, Marriot, Double Tree and tons more in one circle plus the Mission Valley Mall. There's also Dave & Buster's hence the name Hotel Circle. Right off the Freeyway 8.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited May 2009
    This may break the budget, but I stayed at the Coronado a couple of years back on the company dime at a big discount. 'would recommend to anyone, particularly the Sunday Brunch they hold (first time I ever saw a whole roasted pig on a spit at a carving station! :cool: )

    For personal expenditure, I would recommend researching through Tripadvisor.com. I swear by them. If there is praise or swearing to be had concerning a hotel, it will be there. That and a little shopping on your end, you should be good to go!

    Please let us know how you make out. ;)
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited May 2009
    Doubletree in Mission Valley.

    In Downtown, the W , Hyatt, Marriot, but they're expensive.

    Hotel Del Coronado, a historical site over Coronado Island. There is also a haunted room in Hotel Del that many people request to stay in. The room is supposed to be occupied by a "friendly spirit."
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  • cambir
    cambir Posts: 1,045
    edited May 2009
    Thanks for all the suggestions. We had seen a few of the hotels on Hotel Circle, but have now found HotelCircleHotels.com to see all of them. Currently, we are considering a Comfort Inn on the circle.

    Also had looked at the DoubleTree, and is still a consideration. Hotel del Coronado looks interesting...I'll have to check that out a little more, as they have family packages.

    Any more suggestions or input is welcomed. Thanks!
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  • POIDOG
    POIDOG Posts: 391
    edited May 2009
    This might be useful :)

    http://www.dealbase.com/San-Diego-Area-hotel-deals-discounts-774

    San Diego is one of the better places to visit in Cal (IMO), family friendly. world class zoo, SeaWorld (of course), great southern exposure beaches, Mexican food, Naval bases with tours on historic flattops. Hookers downdown, oops, forgot family trip :o

    Good luck and have fun :D
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited May 2009
    As a San Diego semi-native since 1975, kinda hard for me to recommend a specific hotel - haven't actually stayed in one since I live here...but, just some thoughts to toss out...

    Mission Valley does have a great density of hotel accommodations for choices, and is conveniently located to many of the major attractions in San Diego: beaches, zoo, Balboa Park, Seaworld, Downtown (don't forget to visit the USS Midway, or Star of India, or just stroll along the Harbor).

    I'd say do a search of all the Mission Valley choices and research the reviews of them.

    As long as they are clean, reputable, and with the basic ammenities, you should be good - why spend extra money on a fancy hotel when you should be out seeing the sights, eh? :D

    Lots of really great places to see in San Diego....don't forget to spend a nice enjoyable day at Torrey Pines State Park before it closes due to the budget crisis. Walk the fantastic trails with gorgeous views in the cool morning, then spend the afternoon at the beach right at the same spot after you hike some of the trials...then when dinner calls - drive just minutes away to Del Mar to eat in a nice restaurant and watch the sunset over the Pacific.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited May 2009
    I hope the Chicago area hotels haven't put the word out on how you acted when you were up here...........














    :D
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  • cambir
    cambir Posts: 1,045
    edited May 2009
    daboyz wrote: »
    I hope the Chicago area hotels haven't put the word out on how you acted when you were up here...........

    :D


    and you had better not tell them either...:o
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  • cambir
    cambir Posts: 1,045
    edited May 2009
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    Lots of really great places to see in San Diego....don't forget to spend a nice enjoyable day at Torrey Pines State Park before it closes due to the budget crisis. Walk the fantastic trails with gorgeous views in the cool morning, then spend the afternoon at the beach right at the same spot after you hike some of the trials...then when dinner calls - drive just minutes away to Del Mar to eat in a nice restaurant and watch the sunset over the Pacific.

    This sounds nice. We were planning to spend at least one day at the beach. Is this pretty close to the Mission Valley/Hotel Circle area?

    Any specific recommendations on places to eat in the area?
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited May 2009
    I now always stay at Sofia (downtown) when I am in San Diego, even when I have to drive to Mira Mar for work. Rooms are small but it's a nice hotel and doesn't cost much. Parking is extra and it doesn't have pool for the kids, if that is important. You could always try the extended stays in the hotel zone by highway 8. They are cheap and close by but lack in quality. The ones close to Sea World are pricey.

    http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDetail.do?propertyId=22475&startIndex=0&showMap=0&sortOrder=ascPOSPicks&sortAlpha=-1&tab=features&travelPackageId=&hotelQKey=-4100093649218099283&tsHotelQKey=0&resetReview=true&SEQ=12437822633324312009&hotelQKey=-4100093649218099283
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,067
    edited May 2009
    cambir wrote: »
    Thanks for all the suggestions. We had seen a few of the hotels on Hotel Circle, but have now found HotelCircleHotels.com to see all of them. Currently, we are considering a Comfort Inn on the circle.

    Also had looked at the DoubleTree, and is still a consideration. Hotel del Coronado looks interesting...I'll have to check that out a little more, as they have family packages.

    Any more suggestions or input is welcomed. Thanks!


    Mission Valley is your best bet if you are planning to see a lot in San Diego. It is located very centrally to everything you mentioned. You won't find yourself commuting with the rest of us nearly as much as if you stayed up north in Carlsbad. If you are planning on going to any LA attractions, I'd do the San Diego stuff over a few days and then switch to a Hotel up in LA.

    Enjoy your visit here!
    ____________________________________________________________

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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited May 2009
    cambir wrote: »
    This sounds nice. We were planning to spend at least one day at the beach. Is this pretty close to the Mission Valley/Hotel Circle area?

    Any specific recommendations on places to eat in the area?

    Torrey Pines State Park/Preserve would be about a 30 minute drive from Mission Valley up the I-5 Freeway. So, if you want to stay close and go to a beach, then Mission Beach/Pacific beach might be your choice.

    Park down by Mission Beach and walk the 'boardwalk' (concrete pedestrian walkway) that goes right along the ocean up from Mission Beach to Pacific Beach. There are LOTS of places to eat as you walk along the beach.

    If you do decide to go up to Torrey Pines for something more serene and quite and afterwards drive to Del Mar (about 5 minutes away up Coast Highway 101), then I'd recommend the Poseidon restaurant for a nice seafood dinner and look out over the Pacific as the sun sets.

    Be prepared though that June weather in San Diego is termed "June gloom" as the most typical weather is coastal clouds pretty much all day long. There are days where the sun will pop out around mid-day along the coast, but chances are it is cool and cloudy right at the ocean in June.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • cambir
    cambir Posts: 1,045
    edited June 2009
    Thanks for all the help and suggestions. We found a Comfort Inn & Suites on Hotel Circle in Mission Valley that had a 2-room suite available for around 140/night including breakfast (buffet, not continental). Will be down there soon...can't wait! Thanks again!
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  • kingtut
    kingtut Posts: 813
    edited June 2009
    That's an excellent deal for SD, especially the free buffett breakfast, congrats.
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  • SoCalKitty
    SoCalKitty Posts: 1
    edited June 2009
    If you are a AAA member, make sure to check for any discounts for hotels as well. I always pick up the most current traveler guides from my nearest AAA outlet to help plan out my trip. It seems like you found a killer deal, so congrats. If you ever plan on staying in San Diego for an extended period of time, I recommend staying at Paradise Point Hotel. It's a little pricey, but you will definitely get taken care of. That way you can enjoy the full experience of your visit.
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