ChristineAnnC

I am planning to surprise my husband with a trip to San Diego this summer. I want to do something really special without completely breaking the bank. My thought is 6 or 7 days, with most nights somewhere in the city and one or two nights at the Hotel Del Coronado (this would be the massive surprise of the entire trip). Since HDC is so very pricey, would it be worth our while to stay just one night in an ocean view or ocean front room and then spend the rest of the trip in or very near the city? Wherever we stay the longest I would like to be in walking distance of restaurants and bars in the evenings. Would also like to make sure we get a visit in to the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park, some time at the beach, etc... We would be flying from the DC area. Here is the key -- my husband does NOT like to travel, but he loves San Diego and has always wanted to stay at Coronado, so simplicity is important (though I realize that may sound a touch insane given the tentative itinerary I just laid out!)

Any tips or advice will be very much appreciated!

NorthwestMale

Sounds like a perfectly reasonable effort on your part. Not only that, but you clearly HAVE an idea, vs. needing to make one up. (the planning, after that, is all secondary and entails going through the motions)

OK... "summer" in San Diego suggests that the weekDAY hotel prices are going to be less expensive than are the weekEND rates...

And in order to cut costs, I sure endorse using Priceline to book a room at a 3- or 4-star location in "downtown" San Diego for some of those nights.

I recall getting a Hyatt on/near the water... within walking distance of the Gaslamp district... for a 3-night total bill of $270-290... (all three were WEEKnights) (Tues-Weds-Thurs nights).

Then it was $155 base bid per night for Friday and Saturday nights... to get a tiny room at a Westin.

So first, I guess you will have to pinpoint your dates for the "HDC", perhaps based on costs there, and then build the rest around that.

OH, AVOID THE DATES OF THE COMIC CONVENTION no matter what, because that strains hotel capacity and heightens prices.

I don't know that anyone will be able to help you until you sort out some of the parameters of your trip.

Downtown San Diego is very pleasant, and the city bus system is quite convenient too.

The first steps are up to you to research, and then maybe return here for advice about building around that.

(although of course someone familiar with the Hotel Del Coronado might chime in and afford you some guidance)

Maggi

Have you considered staying elsewhere on Coronado and perhaps visiting the Del for the day, say on a Sunday, beginning with their famous Sunday brunch? We did just that and stayed at the Coronado Island Marriott, had a waterfront room with a perfect view of the bridge and San Diego - especially beautiful walking along the shoreline at night with the twinkling lights. Possibly you could spend all your nights at the Marriott and visit the bustle of the city during the day. Just a thought!

June prices for regular queen rooms at the Hotel Del $299, Marriott $187. It's such a small island, I walked most of it early one morning before breakfast. Very quaint, lovely architecture, even a little theater where we saw a great stage show. Easy to get over the bridge to San Diego with all it's sights.



http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...esort-and-spa/

Amydiaz11

Liked your surprise very much and you have chosen a nice place too!!
If you are looking for three star and four star hotels check out -EMBASSY SUITES SAN DIEGO BAY
-KONA KAI RESORT
-HYATT REGENCY MISSION

Bars and restaurants are nearby...

If you are looking for discount hotels, check out

-RAMADA PLAZA SAN DIEGO HOTEL
-RODEWAY INN & SUITES DOWNTOWN

My sister visited San Diego (after she received American airways letter for a job) just to celebrate her success..She says she enjoyed her trip and now enjoys her work too..

Hope you also enjoy your holiday

egnolive

Maggi's idea is a good one. The roooms at the Hotel Del are small. I'm sure the ones at the Marriot are bigger for less money. You can always stroll the grounds at the Del and go to their Sunday brunch. Coronado is small and very lovely to meander around.

I would much prefer to stay there the whole time rather than moving to a hotel in the Gaslamp, where it can get noisy at night. However, you would be much more limited in your ability to walk to a variety of bars and restaurants. Many more in the downtown area.

You will definitely need a car in San Diego, so staying the week in one hotel in Coroando seems more convenient and may be more cost efficient. Most likely you will have to pay extra for parking downtown. There is also a ferry that goes from Coronado to downtown and back, but I don't know how late into the night it runs.

Coronado is just across the bridge from downtown and the gaslamp with easy access to freeways for your trips to other beaches, the zoo and Safari Park.

Don't forget to spend some time in La Jolla, see the Cove and have a drink at La Valencia. Absolutely beautiful.

Have a great trip.

ChristineAnnC

Thanks so much everyone!

As for staying elsewhere than Del Coronado...that is sort of the centerpiece of the trip, even if it is only one very expensive night. I love the idea of staying on the island the whole time at another hotel if the ferry runs late enough, I guess cabs are an option too...I don't want to drive after enjoying evenings out on the town, though we will definitely have a rental car for day trips.

I saw an ad for the Kona Kai resort and it looks fantastic, is it??

Any idea when the comic convention is? definitely don't want to be there for that...too crowded! We will be going sometime between late June and mid-July.

sf7307

The ComiCon convention was the weekend of July 24th in 2009 -- I'd guess it's the "same" weekend every year.

ChristineAnnC

Sf7307 -- thanks, that would be perfect timing!

sf7307

And no, I didn't attend ---- we were there for my dad's 90th birthday, and hotels WERE expensive. But it was kind of a kick seeing people walking around downtown in Spiderman costumes.

egnolive

Kona Kai is nice, but not walking distance to really where you would want to go for the evening. You could take a cab to downtown; it might run you around $15.

The 'problem' with San Diego, is that there are numerous areas you might want to spend an evening. You might want to investigate where your evenings might be spent before deciding where to stay. Cab rides could get expensive. Maybe multiple places is a better idea for you.

I live in San Diego - thanks for your efforts to avoid driving after a night on the town!

itsv

Try travelzoo.com or luxurylink.com or vacationlist (from luxury link website) for san diego deals. You could split your time and do some La Jolla hotels and then do the Gaslamp for some grown-up time. If you husband likes baseball then I recommend a game at Petco Park which is downtown and in a fun location. The Omni hotel is connected to the ballpark. Other things that may be nice for a couple on vacation is taking a play in at the Old Globe theatre in Balboa Park. You could also have dinner at The Prado which is next door.

Check out the website www.goldstar.com You may have to join but it costs no money. click on San Diego and see the offerings. I get padre and old globe tickets from this sight at a nice discount for the past three years. They also may have tours of the bay or tickets to the zoo at a discount. If you have a Costco card then you might be able to pick up zoo or safari park tickets at a discount there too.

Finally; although the Lowes in Coronado is not within walking distance of the village it is a very nice hotel with walking access to the beach. Travelzoo has a discount going right now I think for around $150 a night with the code "TRAVELZOO."

San Diego tends to book up early so try to get your hotel now.

Have fun.

ChristineAnnC

egnolive -- my initial thoughts are for a low key visit...beach, zoos, some nightlife (no theater though as this is HIS birthday, not mine ...more planning on the fly when we are there, depending on the mood -- and not a lot of crowds if possible.

ChristineAnnC

Thanks all for your responses...I was able to manage 4 nights and two nights free at Hotel Del, so six nights...very psyched and hubby is thrilled.

NorthwestMale

Awwwwwwwwww, glad to hear that it has come together nicely!

justwishin

We stayed one night at the Del, just to say we had stayed there, and I must say, we were totally underwhelmed. We always stay at La Jolla, then take the trolley into town..get off, and you are there, then come back in the evening to sanity, rest and the beach out your back door.

egnolive

Just want to note that the SD Trolley does not go from La Jolla to downtown. Not sure what justwishin is talking about...

Agree La Jolla is a great place to stay. Also agree the rooms at the Del are underwhelming, but its got that historical significance and is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful place.

ChristineAnnC, enjoy your trip and stay at the Del. Great you got a deal too!

ChristineAnnC

egnolive -- I would be interested in some of your recommendations re: good bars, restaurants, cool little off the wall places to visit...am disappointed to hear about Del, but am more or less stuck now...The whole area looks fantastic though.

ChristineAnnC

NorthwestMale -- and thank you again for the warning about the comic convention!!!

sf7307

Christine, don't consider the Del "stuck". The room s are a little plain as I recall, but the place overall is fabulous!

egnolive

The Del is fantastic so don't be disappointed. You will love it. The roooms are small and not as fancy as your surroundings, but you won't be in your room that much.

Of the top of my head for restaurants would be The Prado in Balboa Park. A little pricy but great. Anywhere for Italian food in Little Italy, near Balboa Park and downtown. Old Town Mexican cafe or El Indio for Mexican food. Walk around Orange Avenue in Coronado for restaurants or go to the landing and sit outside at Il Fornaio with a view of the bay and downtown.

Gaslamp area downtown for bars, but it can get crazy during the weekends. McPs in Coronado is a nice pub with outdoor seating.

I'll give it some more thought and see what I come up with. We are vegetarian, so my responses will not include steakhouses!