brandy24

My family (2 adults, 2 kids) will be in San Diego for a week in January. We'd consider hotels, but are leaning toward renting a condo so we have more space.

Ideally, we're looking for something on or near the beach with a pool and within walking distance of restaurants/shops, etc., though we'll have a car. The pool is probably a higher priority than the beach.

Capri By the Sea on Pacific Beach looks interesting as it meets all of those criteria, but I've read mixed things about the neighborhood. Can't tell if it's a cool/interesting place or a bit on the seedy side.

Would we be better off somewhere like La Jolla or Mission Beach? Any other suggestions?

Our budget is somewhere around $1,500 for the week, but would go up to $2,000 for a great place. Thanks!

1JAR

You might consider Homewood Suites in Point Loma neighborhood, renovated military base Liberty Station. They have suites and kitchens and a pool. Nr grocery store & centrally located to Seaworld, Ocean Beach. On a SD Bay inlet with nice park like area and grass.
Lots of local restaurants nearby. www.LibertyStaion.com

Great places to visit like Cabrillo National park: great overhead view Bay, Navy ships planes etc lighthouse, and poss whales. Nice kiddie tidal pool area: not swim tho.
Best seafood place in town Point Loma Seafoods day or early dinner only and on Cannon street great family Italian place called Old Venice with butcher paper & crayons for kids.

brandy24

Thanks 1JAR, that sounds like an interesting option. I'll definitely check it out.

Would also love to hear others' opinions on the Pacific Beach area.

joeyi

Make sure the pool is heated where ever you end up staying. San Diego can be cool in January (or it can be very hot if a Santa Ana comes, but the nights will still be cool). And the ocean temperature will be cold.

Pacific Beach is a good area for all the things you are looking for. you did not say how old your children are but you could walk or ride bikes along the boardwalk. There are many many restaurants and shops very close.

i have never been inside the Capri so i can not tell you what it's like inside.

brandy24

Thanks joeyi, I was surprised at how cold it is in January. I always imagined SoCal was 80 and sunny every day of the year. Should be fine for us as we'll be visiting the zoo, legoland, etc. and the kids are happy just playing in the sand at the beach. Too young to going swimming in the ocean anyway.

itsv

The Islandia hotel was recently redone in San Diego and is a Hyatt. I heard they put in water slides at their pool. Another Hotel that is kid friendly is Paradise Point. For La Jolla, the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club is right on the water and near restaurants and shops. There is another hotel at La Jolla Shores. I think both hotels have kitchenettes in their rooms. There is also a park right next door and the beach.

I second the homewood suites at Liberty Station. We put families up there all the time that come to visit us. They have happy hours, breakfast etc to keep the kids happy. There is a playground nearby and the pool area is nice. T

Capri by the Sea was built in the late 70's. It is at the end of Pacific Beach, more in a residetial area. It is not seedy but rather caters to single people. See if anything is available in your price range in the Bird Rock or La Jolla Shores sections of La Jolla. If you do Mission Beach, I would do the bayside for kids. You will not have a pool but the sand would be right in front.

As earlier mentioned, San Diego could be cold during that time. In La Jolla, your kids might light the Birch Aquarium too.

ncounty

When I think family with young kids, I think Coronado, La Jolla Shores, or even Del Mar/Solana beach. PB and Mission Beach are IMO better for young adults. It is busier and less refined. I don't think Liberty Station is right near or on a beach.

North County has advantage of being closer to Legoland which is fun for young kids.

jd_denver

My family has stayed for a week the past two years at a great condo in Solana Beach (Del Mar). Google Dave Stubbs Real Estate web site. You can browse all the different condos available, pictures and pricing. We stayed at a complex that had a heated pool. I think the rate was around $1,700 for the week - we had an oceanfront unit on the second floor.

Our kids are 6 and 8 perfect. You could easily walk to many restaurants/shops, the beach and a playground. I was not impressed with Pacific/Mission Beach area. La Jolla would be great but pricier (I think). We loved having the condo set up. We had two bedrooms, living, dining, kitchen, and a decent sized oceanfront balcony. It allowed for some great relaxing grown up time when the kids went to bed.

Let me know if you have more questions.

MonicaRichards

I second the Dave Stubbs/ Solana Beach recommendation. We rent a condo for a week each year from them, right on the cliff at Solana Beach (oceanfront). Perfect for kids (ours are now 5 and 8).

MFNYC

We recently stayed in La Jolla with our 2 older teen kids. We rented a 2 bedroom guest house that couldn't have been more charming. It's listed on VRBO.com, #70179.

It doesn't have a pool, but I think there may be a community one very nearby. We were there in August and ended up going to the La Jolla Shores beach every late afternoon for a few hours. My kids preferred that beach (sandy type beach) to the cove beaches.

There were several good restaurant within a short walk, also 2 large grocery stores which came in handy. The owners, live in the house on the the same property and were delightful people. They provided us with everything from laundry and kitchen supplies to boogie boards, beach umbrellas and beach chairs.

We were there in Auguest and it was warm, but the ocean was still on the cool side. January it actually may be too cold for the beach. I think the average temps are in the 60s.

jw0721

i am from florida where you can walk on the beach and go swimming year round (but i wouldn't)
and i was so surprised when we went to cali in may(i was sure that in may it would be warm) that it was so cold! i brought a jacket for the plane ride good thing i did i used it every day of our 10 days trip! Didn't need my bathing suit! i was totally not prepared! and i brought no pants! I had to buy clothes! It was terrible! I dipped my feet in the ocean at cornado and they about froze off!!!
I would definitely re think swimming lol! especially in Jan! There plenty of other wonderful things to do that you prolly won't miss swimming! If you are dead set on swimming go to florida you have a better chance! lol

LSky

Paradise Point is on the water and comes with a small kitchenette. The water is the bay and it's close to PB. PB is nice, the beach is a bit boring but if that's where you want to stay, consider the Bird Rock area.

Solana Beach is a nice area but not handy to many attractions. It doesn't look far on a map but don't drive to or fro during rush hours.

Mission Beach is very popular with tourist and there's lots of places right on the water. It doesn't look like we're in for a wet winter, so you won't have to worry about flooding. During the summertime it's crowded but in January things are pretty calm.

San Diego can be quite chilly in the January (depending upon where you're from) but imo, the ocean is at it's most beautiful during the winter months.

nanabee

I live near Pacific Beach and I would not recommend it for a family with kids. Pacific Beach can get very rowdy at night as it has a lot of bars and college kids hang out on the weekends and during breaks. There are a number of homeless people and drunks who hang out along the boardwalk along the beach. It is crowed and busy. Mission Beach is not safe at all, and has been the site of many gang shootings in the past years. It is extremely crowded, attracts college kids who drink and party. The parking is impossible and it is a high crime area.

I would recommend Coronado which is very family friendly. The beach is consistently rank as one of the cleanest & prettiest & best in the US. It is mostly residential, quiet, is not crowded - so it is safe for families to bicycle, walk at night, play in the many kid friendly parks, and stroll along the main street at night, there is a wonderful golf course, and bay for sailing, the general population is families and it is extremely safe.

Whereever you decide to stay, however, you must spend a day in Coronado.

ltt

if i recall correctly the swimming pool at the capri is not in the building. i think you have to walk a 1/2 block or so.
in january, i think you better look for a hotel with an indoor pool. there aren't many days where you'll think it's outdoor swimming weather.
the paradise point accommodations are really ideal for families but i've read some bad reviews. all of their pools are outdoors.
i'd check into solana beach. if you don't have to travel during rush hour, it's not a bad distance. closer to lego land and several nice beaches in the area.
the majority of the days in january, you are going to need a jacket if you are down by the coast. i don't want to be a downer but want you to know what to expect. january is the one month i would not recommend anyone come visit. if we are going to get a rainy month...that will be it.

MomDDTravel

I stayed at Paradise Point about 18 months ago and there was not any kitchenette - we had 3 rooms and non of them had one. It is a very spread out property - we liked it "okay" - nothing to rave home about imo.

I agree with Nanabee - PB is no place for a family - Coranado is lovely.

mahlquist

I rented a small 1 BR on Ocean Front Walk in Mission Beach for 5 days in October and had a wonderful stay. Penny Realty has tons of rentals in Mission Beach and Mission Bay, as well as in PB. They were very nice and very helpful when we told them what we wanted. The boardwalk was busy in the morning and at sunset --joggers, rollerbladers, strollers--we saw hundreds of people with babies, toddlers and kids of all ages. We took all the usual precautions when we went out, and never felt unsafe. The most annoying thing was all of the construction going on along the Walk--gorgeous condos being built or rehabbed. They start early in the morning! While it was too cold for the natives (I used to be one, so I understand) we New Englanders thought the air and water temps were perfect. Other tourists thought so too. The bay side is lovely and there were even more families with kids there. Having a car is a must, and don't let the maps fool you--distances between attractions aren't bad, although once again if you listen to natives they'll discourage you. Don't miss an opportunity to drive out to the Cabrillo National Monument--it is spectacular. As for January, depending on where you come from it might feel like heaven! Remember just how far southwest it is.