San Diego - where to stay, where to eat, what to do?
Jul 27th, 2011, 12:03 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
San Diego - where to stay, where to eat, what to do?
Thinking of week vacation to San Diego in mid September. Looking at Coronado Island because of beach, how is the Marriott as a resort? Or is the Del Coronado better choice? Understand there is a water taxi directly across to downtown SD, would we need to rent a car? Is there any decent public transportation? It's been about 10 years since last visited SD, have been to La Jolla, Laguna Beach, etc. so no need to rent car just for that.
Besides the famous zoo, Sea World and other kid type stuff we did as a family back 10 years ago, what else do you recommend? Heard Tijuana isn't worth it either. Looking for sunshine, good weather, a couple beach days, some shopping, cultural activities (are the museums good?). Love seafood, Mexican, Italian, other types of food. Any restaurant/beach shack/diner/ suggestions? Please share any tips you might have. Thanks in advance for your help!
Besides the famous zoo, Sea World and other kid type stuff we did as a family back 10 years ago, what else do you recommend? Heard Tijuana isn't worth it either. Looking for sunshine, good weather, a couple beach days, some shopping, cultural activities (are the museums good?). Love seafood, Mexican, Italian, other types of food. Any restaurant/beach shack/diner/ suggestions? Please share any tips you might have. Thanks in advance for your help!
Jul 27th, 2011, 03:22 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Marriott Coronado is nice - I've stayed there and really enjoyed it, however it is on the harbor side of the island, no the ocean side so there isn't a beach at the hotel. You have to go across to the Hotel Del side for that. It isn't far, but not as convinient as staying right at the beach. If you can afford the Hotel Del, that's where I'd stay if I were you.
Jul 27th, 2011, 06:11 PM
#3
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We have stayed at the Marriott on Coronado several times and enjoy the pool and the view of the San Diego skyline and Coronado bridge. I live in Orange County and the weather has been just beautiful lately but who knows what it will be like in a few weeks! Normally September is a great time for beaches around Southern California. If you stay in Coronado I would get a car. There is a water taxi but I have never used it. I also stayed at the Marriott Marquis and Marina recently and they have just redone the pool area and bar and it is really nice. Still no beach though. There are so many good restaurants around. We ate at the Roy's when we stayed at the Marquis and had an excellent meal. There are good places in the Gaslamp area to eat too. We had a great breakfast at the Broken Yolk in that area and my son ate at the Oceanaire a year or so ago and had a good but pricey dinner.
DO NOT got to Tijuana! It is awful. Last time we were there we were acosted by men trying to get my husband into the pharmacy to buy Viagra!
DO NOT got to Tijuana! It is awful. Last time we were there we were acosted by men trying to get my husband into the pharmacy to buy Viagra!
Jul 27th, 2011, 06:13 PM
#4
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I forgot to mention there are the museums in Balboa Park - http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/Museums
Jul 27th, 2011, 08:11 PM
#6
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really great time to come to San Diego..kids back in school weather usually 70's.
2nd if affordable Hotel Del do stay. Beach Village, private residences I highy rec..you can use concierge beach front hospitality building w/firepits and watch beach all day, breakfast buffett & private dinners. Cocktails too and Concierges are only for Beach Village and give lots of comps for places in town. Ask for a room close to the beach if you want your own beach view and really almost private pool/spa
http://delbeachvillage.com/
Seaworld has a brand new Turtle exhibit: rave reviews .. not just for kids.
http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld.../Turtle%20Reef
You could spend all day at Seaworld, have dinner at Kona Kai on Shelter Island sort of a Hawaiian like area and go to a Humphreys outdoor by the bay concert. 9/18 is Cecelio and Kapona..great hawaiian band. Bring a sweater tho...
http://tickets-center.com/ResultsVen...FQYbQgod6VI-YA
You could also stay/or go shopping in am, have lunch at Tower 23 on the beach in LA Jolla and then in the pm go to
LA Jolla Torrey Pines Glider port and watch all paragliders fly out over cliffs.
http://www.tower23hotel.com/
http://w9if.net/cgi-bin/torreywx/wx.pl
For culture Sevilla restarant w/flaminco flair in Gaslamp.
http://www.cafesevilla.com/
Brigantine seafood and Miguels for mexican on Coronado great places and happy hours.
And for more ideas San Diego magezine just came out w/Best of San Diego issue!
http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/currentissue/
2nd if affordable Hotel Del do stay. Beach Village, private residences I highy rec..you can use concierge beach front hospitality building w/firepits and watch beach all day, breakfast buffett & private dinners. Cocktails too and Concierges are only for Beach Village and give lots of comps for places in town. Ask for a room close to the beach if you want your own beach view and really almost private pool/spa
http://delbeachvillage.com/
Seaworld has a brand new Turtle exhibit: rave reviews .. not just for kids.
http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld.../Turtle%20Reef
You could spend all day at Seaworld, have dinner at Kona Kai on Shelter Island sort of a Hawaiian like area and go to a Humphreys outdoor by the bay concert. 9/18 is Cecelio and Kapona..great hawaiian band. Bring a sweater tho...
http://tickets-center.com/ResultsVen...FQYbQgod6VI-YA
You could also stay/or go shopping in am, have lunch at Tower 23 on the beach in LA Jolla and then in the pm go to
LA Jolla Torrey Pines Glider port and watch all paragliders fly out over cliffs.
http://www.tower23hotel.com/
http://w9if.net/cgi-bin/torreywx/wx.pl
For culture Sevilla restarant w/flaminco flair in Gaslamp.
http://www.cafesevilla.com/
Brigantine seafood and Miguels for mexican on Coronado great places and happy hours.
And for more ideas San Diego magezine just came out w/Best of San Diego issue!
http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/currentissue/
Jul 28th, 2011, 06:28 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 2,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I looked at the Del Coronado and while it looks charming, it just galls me that they charge another $25.00 daily resort fee AND $22.00 daily parking fee. That adds quite a bit that seems superfluous to me.
Doesn't have to be Coronado Island, where else can we go for about $220-225/night that is nice with good beach access? We are planning 7 nights. It would be fine to split it up 4 days at the beach, perhaps 3 days somewhere else. Suggestions, anyone? Thanks!
Doesn't have to be Coronado Island, where else can we go for about $220-225/night that is nice with good beach access? We are planning 7 nights. It would be fine to split it up 4 days at the beach, perhaps 3 days somewhere else. Suggestions, anyone? Thanks!
