piri

Hi, we will arrive in Los Angeles by cruise ship on December 21. We have a Qantas award, business class flight,
to return home on Dec. 24th , departing late in the night. (They are hard to get at this time of year) In the 60's when we studied and travelled in the USA , we did the LA to San. Fran. trip by car and have so many wonderful memories we don't wan't to repeat in case of disappointment.
What should we do and where should we go?
We are thinking of hiring a car and travelling south to San Diego and would love to be able to travel into Mexico if possible.
Have such a short time and don't like rushing our travel (prefer soaking up a town's atmosphere, rather than seeing all the recommended sights!) Should we just drive to San Diego, stay there and then return to LA for our flight home.?
We would so much appreciate any suggestions for although we have travelled constantly throughout the years, its always been in Europe or very widly in South east Asia and the Pacific.
Any recommendations for hotels in San Diego etc would also be appreciated.
Thanks in anticipation to all Fodor's readers. We look forward to ANY idea/ suggestions.

tovarich

On your way from LA to S.Diego visit the mission of San Capistrano(very nice).Take the Old town trolley in SD first day.You can get on/off all day and the driver is a great guide.THe other days you can visit in depth the things you liked.PAul

SandyBrit

piri - Here is a vote for San Diego. Take a look at www.sandiego.org for all kinds of good visitor information and be sure and request a Free Vacation Planning Kit.

San Diego is lovely and with such a short visit I wouldn't bother with Mexico.

Tell us what sort of budget you have for your hotel and you will get lots of suggestions.

Sandy

crefloors

Another vote for San Diego. If you go to Mexico you'll only have time for the border town, and trust me, that is NOT the Mexico you want to see, especially if you haven't been before.

clarasong

Just returned from San Diego...stayed at the Del Coronado. If you want an experience, (a bit pricy) try to book there. On a lovely beach, and an old, historic Victorian resort. Food is excellent...the movie "Some Like it Hot" was filmed on those premises. And San Diego has lots to see, (Balboa Park, Whale watching, La Jolla, etc.)

Orlando_Vic

Agree with crefloors regarding Mexico. Tijuana is not representative of the rest of Mexico and it is not advisable to drive your car across the international border. It's much safer to park it on the U.S. side and walk across. nevertheless, I wouldn't use precious time when you could enjoy San Diego and San Juan Capistrano on the way down.

kleroux

We just came back from Orange County (on the way to San Diego)... we stoped to see the Crystal Cathedral...I'm sure you'd never see that anywhere else in the world....worth a 15 minute detour. We also saw the Nixon Library... we behaved ourselves..esp. when we read their version of Watergate... Both stops more interesting than Tijuana........

TahitiTams

Hi piri..
You will love San Diego and do not even bother going to TJ..it is very dangerous and you cannot take a rental car across..
I would stay at a beach location either in La Jolla/Del Mar or Coronado.
La Shores Hotel, Hotel La Jolla, Grande Colonial Hotel in LJ..
Del Mar, L'Auberge Del Mar and Coronado the Hotel Del is gorgeous but will be very pricey for the time you want to go but will be decorated beautifully for Christmas..
try Expedia.com...I have had really good luck with them on good deals.
SandyBrit gave you a really good website for San Diego..
Best of luck to you both!

ltr

Since you will be here in December, you might want to see about attending a concert at the Crystal Cathedral. I just checked the date of the Newport Beach boat parade, but you will be too late for that. The Del Coronado should be decorated for the holidays.

Keep in mind that traffic on the 21st will be very heavy because it is the start of a holiday weekend.