Nice Place to Stay Seaside or Marina?
We will be headed back from Big Sur to San Jose airport and have just one night to stay somewhere along the way. We will have already spent 3 nights in Pacific Grove earlier in our trip so we are looking at a place to stay along the journey back to airport...our last night in California. Any recommendatons?

What's your budget? And any particular reason to choose Seaside or Marina? How about Santa Cruz or Capitola for something different? Or maybe Half Moon Bay?

$200 max would be nice...but could go another $100. No reason fpr Seaside or Marian.Never been to that area. Just trying to find a place closer to the airport. Open to anything esepcially nice with view.

I just looked at the two that were mentioned. I had never heard of either. Which would you recommend? Hotel? Thanks for broadening my horizon.

I liked Half Moon Bay a lot. Very close to the cities on the Peninsula but a world away. I think we stayed in a B&B, but the name is lost in the fog of time.

If you want the scenic route take hwy 17 from Santa Cruz to the airport. But not if you are traveling in morning rush hour. In that case it's better to take hwy 101. If you go 17, you could stay in Soquel or Capitola. If 101, you could stay in Gilroy. Marina and Seaside are not very close to the airport.

About how long will it take to get to the airport at 9am in the morning from Soquel or Capitola? We want to make or last night nice so do you recommend a hotel with a nice view?

On a weekend morning, I would plan 1 1/2 hours.

On a weekday morning, there will be commuter traffic over Hwy 17 and some up the peninsula, so I would give it 2 1/2 hours.

How about Opal Cliffs or a nearby town? http://hotelguides.com/california/op...ca-hotels.html
Check the left side of the site for other towns

If I had a 9 a.m. flight from SJC, there is no way I'd stay somewhere that requires driving over 17 on a weekday morning - one stalled vehicle and you're in trouble (but then, I live 4 miles from SFO, and consider the proximity of the airport one of the huge benefits of living where I live ).

If a view is essential, I'd probably stay in Half Moon Bay -- excellent restaurants, too.

If your flight is that early I might consider staying at the airport, especially with commute traffic over the hill.

I did a list of things to do around Santa Cruz and Monterey several years ago.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...santa-cruz.cfm

If your flight is a weekday, that time of morning is too congested on the route from Soquel or Capitola to the airport. You might miss your flight. For a morning flight, it's better to stay at a hotel at the airport because morning San Jose traffic can play havoc with you getting to the airport on time. Forget about having a view. There is no good place to get a view on the way to that airport.

My flight is noon on Saturday. So I have a little wiggle room. Never realized traffic was such a nightmare in that area. I really appreciate all the input. Having never been there, I depend on the wisdom of others.

Ack - SJ airport. My times were for SFO - sorry about that. San Jose is closer, so wont take as long.

Noon flight on a Saturday is no problem. Leave the SC area by 9 and you should be at SJC no later than 10 - plenty of time.

Traffic is due to the commute. Lots of people live in Santa Cruz area and work "over the hill". Hwy 17 is a curvy 4-lane road over the hill and can get very backed up. Then in SJ itself traffic is tough. Compared to a lot of places in the North-East, it is a cakewalk though - just depends on your frame of reference.

Oh that is great news. I was looking at the Oceano Hotel in Half Moon Bay. Looks nice. Okay, I live in Houston & drive 50 minutes to work every day. Traffic...way of life...stinks.