Best Location for Hotels for 2? Vacation for my wife and I in mid-August. We will have 5 days and 4 nights....2 nights are planned. Coming in Tuesday and leaving on the Red Eye Saturday night. Is the Gaslight District nice? Should we be downtown? Or by the beach? No Idea.

Sounds like a car is a necessity?

My wife is a five star girl but we will be on a 3 star budget. Good Restaurants around?
Popular nightlife? We are happy with jazz and wine!!!!! Maybe sitting by the beach?

Any ideas or suggestions will help. Thank you.

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By the name of your title I thought you moved there.

I stayed in the Gaslamp District in 2002 and liked it. I didn't have a car but used the buses. Many people here recommend having a car in San Diego, though.

It kind of sounds like you haven't don't any research at all?

If you decide to be at the beach, one of the best places to stay is the Pacific Terrace Hotel. Check out their website.

Downtown San Diego is not very close to a beach, but there are lots of restaurants and clubs.

La Jolla has beaches and many restaurants, but no clubs.

You will have to drive to get to most of the things you might want to see in San Diego wherever you stay.

Have you read the Destination pages here for San Diego?

La Jolla is a great place to stay. We stayed at the Continental and loved it. Go for a drink at George's or La Valencia and watch the seals and the surf from up on the bluff. You can cab downtown and hit the Gaslamp District one night, etc. Fio's used to be great but I've not been there in a couple years. There are also some killer places in Del Mar which is a short drive from La Jolla. If you rent a car, take a spin up to Malibu.

Fio's closed several years ago, regrettably.

August in San Diego is our busiest and most expensive..
Gaslamp..La Jolla..Coronado..Del Mar are good areas.
Check out Expedia.com
Lots of 4-5* hotels for 3* prices.
You need a car..SD is spread out and rates range around $25 a day or less.
5* US Grant hotel was under $200 on Expedia which is a luxury collection hotel..

Croce's downtown SD is good for jazz..food is ok.

I just finished a 5 night stay at the Estancia in Torrey Pines. It was incredible, I would definitely stay in the La Jolla area I did the 4-star La Jolla area through www.hotwire.com Even if you do not get the Estancia you may get the Hyatt which is also a great place.

I should have said in La Jolla, not in Torrey Pines.

scorry..
do you mind me asking what you $ got on Hotwire at the gorgeous Estancia hotel and spa for in LJ?
you need to finish your TR for your last day..

I booked at $126 per night, with fees it was $743 for 5 nights. Hotwire does not add Estancia's $25 per night valet fee (you have no other parking options) and the $12 per night resort fee (includes use of internet, pool, fitness area) so out total walkout was about $950 for the 5 nights, which is still a very good deal IMO.

you scored big time scorry!
$25 per night valet fee sucks bigtime..
The hotel is a great and kind of flys under the radar and love steering tourists to this hotel..
So, when is your next trip to SD?
September, October and November are our best months!

tsritt:

The official San Diego visitor information site www.sandiego.org is very helpful and request a free visitor guide.

We have rented a car thru www.hotwire.com numerous times - have been pleased each time.

If you are coming from a land locked area I'd choose a beach location to stay.

Enjoy beautiful San Diego.

Sandy

WOW!!!!! Thank you...all of you, for the information. Yes, I have done my research at the internet sites mentioned above as well as many others but the best information usually comes from people just like you. You cannot beat experience when it comes to travel information.

I will be looking into the hotels and areas that have been suggested, they sound very nice indeed. Thanks again.

P.S. - I welcome any and all suggestions for traveling in the San Diego area. Keep them coming!!!!!