Gina2003

Thinking of going to SD for 4 days in May. What would you recommend for first time visitors? Two women travellers who like sun/beach, walking, sightseeing and possibly a museum. Not looking for nightlife but recommendations on great food. Do we need a car? Any hotel recommendations (budget $200/night) vs vrbo/condo? Thanks!

abram

We spent a couple of days in Balboa Park, walking around and visiting the many museums. Didn't go to the Zoo--that's just not our thing.

Thought touring the USS Midway was great--spent four hours there. Also enjoyed a boat tour of the harbor.

I always prefer to stay someplace with a kitchen--like to have breakfst in and the availability of healthy snacks.

qwovadis

Marriott La Jolla for me

betterbidding.com bidding Priceline from $60

join their preferred guest program for perks/upgrades

Best beach area still close to all the action for me

plenty of other good ddowntown hotels nice a bit

too touristy not as beachy for me.

Happy Hunting,

DebitNM

We stay in Gas Lamp district and rent a car, it gives you the most options.

Car is highly recommended if you want to be able to venture more than a short distance. Public transit is available, but not nearly as convenient.

Gas Lamp district offers lots of nice restaurants and easy walking.
If you want beach, Coronado or LaJolla are where you want to be.

For hotel, 4 nights in a VRBO is going to be costly [cleaning fee] maybe more than hotel. Also, they tend not to be in areas where there are restaurants or public transportation.

Priceline or hotwire may be a good option.

Oh, most likely won't be swimming weather at beach in May.

nytraveler

We stay down by the marina - a couple of nice hotels - or at the Del (but you have to spring for the good rooms). Definitely need a car - public transit is useless and cabs barely exist (I found out on a business trip - they just never arrive.)

Visit the zoo - a really good one and La Jolla. Have been there in April and no way could you go in the ocean - hotel pool swimming only. We ate at Hyatt and I believe JW near the marina and the food was okay - but nothing special. Have yet to find a really good place to eat there.

mlgb

Maybe Del Mar, can walk at Torrey Pines State Beach and Reserve, shops and restaurants in Del Mar. I probably would get a car just makes it easier. No reason to stay in Gas Lamp given your interests.

Balboa Park is a good one day excursion lots of interesting museums.

leslieq

If you like zoos at all, don't miss this one. You can spend all day there. It's in Balboa Park, where they have all sorts of other museums and things to do. Also a dinner and walk around Old Town is nice. Coronado Island and the Hotel Del Coronado for lunch might be fun, too. The hotel is too pricey for a stay, though. Have fun!

cmwbak

Don't know your budget...but LOVE the US Grant downtown. It is SO nice. Or, look for a hotel in La Jolla or Del Mar. Balboa Park is GREAT if you like museums. For shopping, try Fashion Valley...super nice and lots of restaurants around the perimeter. All day trolley tickets are $5, so you can take a trolley from downtown to a lot of major points. The Midway is a LOT of walking, but really, really interesting, and you can hit Seaport Village afterward. Old Town is free and very interesting to see, with lots of Mexican restaurants around that area within walking distance. Take the ferry to Coronado island and have tea at the Del Coronado (hotel). Eat sundaes at the ghiradelli's in the gaslamp district. Visit Encinitas (my town!) for the beautiful San Diego Botanic Gardens.

sheri_lp

A day in each place to beach, stroll, shop, eat fish tacos and repeat:
SD
La Jolla
Del Mar
Encinitas

karn

If you got a place in La Jolla you would never regret it-at least I wouldn't! If you can, there are some that face the ocean, and the view is to die for. I don't know any names-you will need to research that. (I always stay in Campland on the Bay Campground, but I think the next time I will leave the camper at home and go for La Jolla). There are sea lions, dolphins, California Brown Pelicans and cormorants galore, along a beautiful walk on the coast. While on this walk there are many places to sit, whether on benches, rocks, parks etc. to enjoy the scenery. I saw people swimming there in Jan., with wet suits on. You would hardly need a car, except to get there. There are lots of restaurants nearby, as well as shopping, if you are interested. If you needed something more to do, Torrey Pines to hike or dinner in Old Town San Diego and a visit to Del Coronado and the nearby beach would always be inspiring.
Have fun!!

dendleju

No sure I understand fuss about La Jolla, Coronado Shores was PERFECT (we were in a condo by Del) but lots of hotels around
Make sure you have a car
Eat in Little Italy
Visit Maritime Museum and tour harbor on small harbor master launch not super pricey mototrboats
Visit zoo
Visit the lighthouse area (cannot remember name --peninsula north of town)
Cycle around Coronado
Birch Aquarium
Coastal Caves
Old wooden Roller Coaster
An if you have kids Legoland!!

This was one of our most favorite vacations EVER

cmwbak

The lighthouse Cabrillo National Monument that dendleju is referring to. The wooden roller coaster is at Belmont Park...check hours first if you plan to do that. Recently, my son and I rented a "Go Car" (www.gocartours.com) and did the downtown tour. It tells you where to go and gives you the history as you drive. It was SOOO fun and I would definitely recommend it.

MomDDTravel

For 200.00 a night you can get a good hotel generally. I would disagree with the La Jolla Marriott recommendation. It is in the middle of a business/residential area. (I lived right by it and have since stayed there because of Marriott points).

I like staying in the Gaslamp and the Us Grant is one of my favorite properties. Excellent service and yes, you really do need a car in San Diego if you want to explore at all.

Other hotels I have enjoyed:

Mancester Hyatt
San Diego Marriott (at the Marina)
Gas Lamp Marriott

Not sure on the 200.00 budget but if you want to stay in La Jolla the La Valenica is a lovely place.

Dining -

Roof Top at George's of the Cove...a staple

If you are around for a ball game the Padres stadium is awesome - right downtown and one of our favorite ballparks ever. Really fun atmosphere.

USS Midway is downtown and a great way to spend sometime.

Gina2003

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Am comparing hotel costs vs parking costs and where we want to be. Weather said mid 60s for may so maybe too cool for beach so stay inland a bit. Will report back.

krgystn

As mentioned above, I would stay in Gas Lamp or nearby Marina area with a rental car. This is a good central location to day trip to the other areas and offers the most to do at night. Lots of walking distance attractions: restaruants, bars, Midway, ferry to Corronado, etc... Balboa and zoo fairly close by.

rncheryl

We got a great deal on the Hyatt Manchester, the view is fantastic, both from our room and especially from the Top of the Hyatt bar. Surely you will see the Zoo... It's a great city for walking, but car would be nice to see La Jolla.

LSky

If you stay downtown and have a car be sure to check what they will charge you for parking. I can't imagine getting around here without a car but I've read that people do it. I'd get a car, it would be difficult to get from the beach to downtown or Balboa Park on the bus. You could hire a cab, I suppose. I rarely take cabs but I would imagine that from La Jolla to Downtown could easily run 40 - 50 bucks.

If you want to go to Balboa Park, which you should, it's beautiful and we have nice museums, The zoo is one of the best in the world if you enjoy beautiful walks and the animals. People who live here enjoy going to the zoo every couple of years.

For a beach, I like La Jolla. It's not only a lovely beach but the town around the beach is pleasent. Coronado is nice and it has the Hotel Del that personally I think is moldy and dank but tourists seem to like it, the beach is okay. Flat, white sand. Torrey Pines is a beautiful beach and if you get up early, it's the perfect spot for a morning walk.

I like the suggestion for Cabrillo National Monument. It's a great way to enjoy the ocean, plus some natural scenery and tide pools.