Hi again, if I am in San Diego for 5 days, would it be a better idea to stay in La Jolla? I don;t want to do much touristy stuff, or be in the city that much . . . much rather go to the beach and walk. Cab it to dinners if need be. Wish for something right on the beach. Not too down scale, can stay somewhere decent. HELP!
CB

If you don't want to do too much touristy stuff, then LJ will probably be perfect for you..
Only 1 hotel oceanfront and that is the Hotel La Jolla Shores and its not a 5* but can get some decent deals this time of year..
Hotel La Jolla is a high rise but has great deals and views buts its on a busy corner but free shuttle to the village, and they have a great restaurant at the top.
Grande Colonial is one of my fav's..its in the heart of the village and a block from the ocean and one of the perfect locations to walk for restaurants and shopping and walking the gorgeous coastline.
Great restaurants from George's, Tapenade, Nine-Ten, Crab Catcher..
Check Expedia to see what kind of deals or try direct.

ljshoreshotel.com
thegrandecolonial.com
hotellajolla.com
georgesatthecove.com
crabcatcher.com

I find this a little strange because La Jolla is made for tourists. You can't avoid them and the weekends are jampacked on those streets. Del Mar is a bit smaller, and has some nice dining and great beach access, or even go further north to Carlsbad if you want to really be out of the city.

Have you looked at the Del Coronado?

Sheri..
Obviously you don't know LJ..
After Labor Day, LJ is back for us locals and we are the ones in the restaurants, beaches, galleries..some tourists of course but it is a perfect place to stay.
Love the Hotel Del like starrs suggested..it is filled with tourists and not many locals but so lovely.

This is the place I would go to If I read your needs correctly in your post. I used to go here 20 years ago because you can walk out the door and across the street and sit and watch the waves roll in. You can walk to restaurants and shops. I got the worst sunburn of my life on a little cove/beach just steps away. This place is a little pricier than when I went, but definitely worth the price.
http://www.scrippsinn.com/

Mary..
I live right down the street from the Scripps Inn.quaint place right across from the wedding bowl and the best beach imo, horshoes!

We were in La Jolla last week and had a fabulous dinner at George's, on their upstairs patio. We had a corner table, right at the glass half-wall overlooking the ocean. The service was perfect and the food even better. Highly recommend it. They will even give you recipes of their special soup.
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We decided for La Jolla and were very satisfied. It is the most beautiful place on the shore in the San Diego area.

Another vote for Scripps Inn. Read my review and see the photos which I have made from the place:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserR...alifornia.html

I liked especially the seals directly in front of the hotel in "children's pool".

For dinner:

George's on the Cove is top-notch.

Alfonso's is one of the best Mexican restaurants we have ever been to.

Both are in easy walking distance.

We also had a great meal at George's at the Cove, it is now called George's California Modern and has been remodeled.

We loved our 3 night stay at the Hotel Del Coronado, a gorgeous resort right on the ocean. Have fun! ***kim***

Just to clarify: it's still called George's at the Cove. It's descriptor is "California Modern + Bar + Ocean Terrace", from their business card. It's Georgesatthecove.com

The restaurant downstairs is much more expensive and dressy than the Ocean Terrace upstairs, where we ate. Our food was still pricey and very creative, in a very nice outdoor atmosphere.
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At George's at the Cove, we had an 8-course tasting menu, which was excellent.

Including wines and drinks and tips, we paid 120$ per person, and we considered that good value for money.

At Alfonso's, we paid about 50$ per person, including wines and drinks and (the very best) tequilas and tips.