scanmike

Posting this for a friend.
My friend and her husband (40's) taking their two children ages 3 and 6 to San Diego in July for 1 week. She is looking for a kid friendly, but nice hotel in a nice area convenient to the Zoo, Sea World, good restaurants. She would like a pool, and beach nearby. My friend likes nice amenities in a hotel, but is realistic about price. Hotel in the $200.00 range. Also, any other site recommendations as well as restaurants is appreciated. They will probably rent a car since that is recommended. Someone recommended the Mission Bay area, but searches here don't necessarily agree. Thanks from Jodie

egret

The only place I can think of that I have been that would fit her description is the Residence Inn Downtown. It's a neat place--very art deco-but it's more in a downtown location. It's still within easy driving distance to where they are going. They can choose between a suite, a one bedroom, and a two bedroom. All units have a sofa sleeper as well. There's a free breakfast as well.

TahitiTams

I would do the Mission Valley/Hotel Circle area which is close to everything and somewhat reasonable since July is very busy and expensive..
The Red Lion is a great hotel for kids..There is a Marriott and a Doubletree too..$156 direct or try Expedia..
5-10 minutes to the beach.
Staying in the Mission Bay area is a zoo to get in and out of during the summer and the traffic can be horrific!
The Prado Restaurant next to the SD Zoo is really good..
George's at the Cove in La Jolla is outstanding..eat on the terrace..great ocean views.
La Jolla Shores for the kids to swim is ideal beach and the quaint town of LJ Shores has Jeff's burgers that is a local fav along with Piatti's & The Cheese Shop and you can get food To Go from the LJ Shores hotel restaurant/oceanfront and the food is good!
Hope this helps..

4Janet

Stay at the Catamaran Hotel Pacific Beach. One block to beach, boardwalk, restaurants. Great pool and you are on the bay. Short walk to playground for kids.

TahitiTams

4Janet..
Jodie has a budget of $200 for the hotel and in July, Catamaran rates are $339 and up.
It is a great hotel for fun & sun in the summer.

Barbara

I agree with TahitiTams. If you choose your hotel carefully in Mission Valley, you can be close to the Trolley so you don't have to drive absolutely everywhere.

scanmike

Thanks everyone. I will print out this for her. I checked out the Catamaran and it's $2,500.00 for a package which includes tickets for the 4 attractions. Honestly, I am not too sure of her budget or exact dates, but this should give her an idea of which way to go. I have a feeling this may be doable for her. I also checked La Jolla Shores and without tickets, it's about $2,000.00 Best prices were from the SanDiego.org site. I checked Expedia, Priceline and they were higher. Orbitz wasn't bad, included the taxes, but not tickets. I will keep you guys posted and I am sure she will have more questions. If you had to choose from Catamaran, La Jolla Shores, or Red Lion (haven't checked into) or Hotel Circle, which would you pick if all things are equal?
Thanks,
Jodie

Barbara

La Jolla Shores.

frank_and_beans

La Jolla Shores. One of the best locations for a family with kids looking for a beach vacation.

TahitiTams

Hands down La Jolla Shores..
Try going direct to LJ Shores Hotel or try Hotel La Jolla which is 3-4 blocks away but cheaper in a high rise with sweeping ocean views..ask for a north end, higher floor..

hotellajolla.com
ljshoreshotel.com

scanmike

Thanks everyone from Jodie.
She's thinking about either Catamaran for approx $2,200 for 8 nights or La Jolla Shores $2700.00. Catamaran offered her a kitchenette for $500.00 more. She's wondering if it is worth it because $500.00 can buy alot of meals, but then again it may be convenient with small kids. Any thoughts? The hotels website had a better deal than Expedia, Orbitz, etc. Does anyone know the cost of admission to Seaworld, SD Zoo, etc? It doesn't seem to be a great deal to get it thru the hotel.
Thanks again for narrowing down the search. Since we know little about San Diego, can anyone tell us the advantages of either of these hotels. It seems most people say La Jolla Shores location wise. What is the difference is locations, plus's and minus's (travel time to sites, restaurants, overall ambience, beach, pool, etc? Is one better than the other for kids? Jodie does like the idea of a boardwalk, minus the tatoo parlors and is more of an upscale type of girl, if that helps.
Jodie

TahitiTams

Hi..
I don't know where your friend is traveling from but Southwest.com
has some great vacation package specials on the "special offers"
with 4 amusement parks/hotel/flight for family of 4..
One of the best beaches in SD is LJ Shores..perfect to swim, boogie board & kayak..much more upscale than PB..
traffic in PB is crazy..LJ has its challenges too but access is easier.
Catamaran is on the bayside and you have to cross Mission Blvd to go to the ocean which is only a block..
LJ Shores hotel has rooms with kitchenettes and they rent apts too..
Also, check out the Go San Diego Card..
La Jolla is so gorgeous and July is a wonderful time..

www.gosandiegocard.com

scanmike

Thanks Tahiti Tams,

She is traveling fron NYC and booked her flight already. Would have been a good idea. She will make her decision on Monday and I will tell her LJ is preferable.
Thanks,
from Jodie

TahitiTams

LJ Shores Hotel is her best bet for LJ and they do have kitchenettes..
Keep us posted..

dawnnoelm

Hi there,
I stayed at the Residence Inn in Downtown and I am not sure I would recommend it. We were there this week - one thing to keep in mind is that it is RIGHT on the train track..the train runs all night - they give you ear plugs - never a good sign <grin>.
The location was "okay" for what we were doing and the rate was not bad - it was 365.00 a night during spring break week - it was for the 2 bedroom with a full kitchen - seating was only for 4 though and the living room area only sat 3 comfortably. (love seat and chair).
Another "tip" if you want to purchase movies in the room - you can only do so from the tv in the living room - sort of a drag for our girls who wanted to watch a different movie then what the older boys wanted to watch in the living room.
The breakfast was okay - large selection and better then most hotels that "include" breakfast in the rate as it had hot food et.
If you stay there- ask for a room on PCH NOT the back away from the road - we were literally RIGHT next to the train track..you could feel it rumbling the room.
Hope that helps,
Dawn

JackiZom

We will be staying on Coronado next week and we will have a rental car. What are some kid friendly places to go on Coronado or downtown? We wanted to go to Miguel's on Coronado, I hear that's good (don't know for kids though). Any other suggestions?

Thanks! Jacki

itsv

For scanmike, your friend might also want to check out the Paradise Point Resort in Pacific Beach/MIssion Beach area. We had to stay there where our floor contractor damamged our house. We got a great deal on hotel website for $176 which included breakfast. Hotel has a mini golf course, multiple pools including zero gravity with a beach and is close to all.

For discounts, if you friend has a costco card, have her check out costco because they sell tickets to all places mentioned at a big discount. Also have your friend look into the combo ticket (may be on san diego vistors website) which includes the zoo and sea world for a big discount. Sea World sells multi-day discount tickets which may be a bargain if your friend want to visit for more than one day.

For JackiZom,Miguels in coronado will be great for your kids. Also try Coronado Brewing Company on Orange near the Ferry. Also on the Ferry landing is Peohe's (great views, seafood tropical theme) or Ill Fornaio (Italian, great view) Be sure to have your friend rent bikes for the kids and adults to go around on.

You can take the ferry from Coronado if you want to do something differnt for the kids to downtown. Downtown is a little bit more upscale and less kid friendly but I would try East Village Tavern and Bowl-new hip place with bowling and pretty good food, we had our 16 yr. old son's bday party there, kids all loved it. Also Urban Kitchen, Pearl Kitchen, Island and 13th (for breakfast-part of Mission CAfe chain), also Cafe 222. In San Diego Metro Magazine, they do reviews for the downtown restaurants so it might give you more ideas.

Barbara

itsv, they were here last July. Check the date.

JackiZom

I forgot to mention, I have a 4 yr old son, so is there is a good pizza place to check out? Give me a good mushroom pizza, and he's happy! The brewing company or bowling place is good for a fries / chicken night, and pasta at the Italian place. Just trying to hit on the things my picky eater will like.

Thanks, Jacki

itsv

JackieZom: We have two pizza places the kids like a lot. Pizza Nova and Sammys Woodfire Pizza. Both are California Style and there is a Sammys downtown near Horton Plaza. I know of a new place downton called Urban Kitchen that does pizza that has gotten some good reviews. I don't know of other pizza places on Coronado so you might ask others.

Also you might want to visit Fillipi's on India Street. Very kid friendly and a San Diego institution. Don't let any line at the door dissuade you, it moves pretty quickly.

Barb, didn't see the date, my bad.