Hi,

My husband and I are planning a trip to California mid March and are trying to decide between San Diego (Hotel Del) and Palm Springs (Hotel TBD). We are actually expecting our first child in July so are just looking for something relaxing for the week. Given that this is our last trip for awhile, we'd like to make sure we stay somewhere nice. Any help/suggestions is much appreciated!
thanks.

just got back from SD and stayed at "the Del"...it was a great experience. There is so much to do in SD...go to Balboa Park, Wild Animal Park and, of course, the beach.

Both are great. If more relaxing is what you are going for, Palm Springs maybe the ticket. San Diego does have more things to do and more dining options.

The weather will likely be more pleasant in Palm Springs. It can be a bit chilly at the beach in March. I would spend a few days in both cities, they are but a couple of hours apart, and the drive over the mountains is beautiful (palms to pines highway).

I was also thinking that a split between the two would be good. Temecula is a great spot in beteewn the two. Also a day trip near Palm Springs is Joshua Tree National Park.

The Palm Springs area would probably be warmer and more relaxing this month. There are some great hotels and many restaurants in the desert to choose from. Look into Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desret and La Quinta.

If you have the time I would do both..
It will be warmer in Palm Springs..what hotel is TBD?
The Hotel Del is lovely and so is the quaint town of Coronado.
It's about 2+ hours drive and the Palms to Pines highway is lovely.

TT, I think TBD=to be decided.

Thanks Barbara for that..I was racking my brain as to what hotel that could stand for...

The Hotel Del is a lovely, historic place overall. The setting is one of the best beaches around. Rooms are all different in the main (original) building. They might not be as large and modern as a newer hotel, but that's part of the charm.

If you stay at the Hotel Del and have a sense of adventure, request the Kate Morgan room, 3312. It really does seem to be haunted. We stayed in it once on a lark and, holy moly...

Hi All, thanks for your help - keep it coming. TBD is to be decided as in looking at the hotels in Palm Springs we haven't found any that we love (that also have room the week we are looking for). If we were to fly into LA and spend a few days in LA, how long a drive would it be to San Diego? It seems that Hotel Del is getting the more positive response than Palm Springs. Do you think it will be beach/pool weather the third week of March?

March is high season in the desert, so you may find a better rate in San Diego, where summer is high season. Because, no, it really won't be pool weather. It should be nice, though.

sallycharles, our San Diego weather is strange this year. It's overall cooler than normal, but then we'll get a warm day like today except it's VERY windy. I would say that it most likely will not be good for sitting around at the pool or on the beach. However, Coronado beach is huge and good for walking even when the weather is too chilly to sit!

As others have said, you will have warmer weather in Palm Springs.

Now, pool or beach weather does depend on your own perspective. My 10-year-old daughter (with zero body fat) swims in the ocean in San Diego in January, and was in the pool in Palm Springs in December. She is a native San Diegan, so you'd think her blood would be thinner. I'm from New England and the ocean is never warm enough here for me! We had one 87-degree day in February - so you might get almost any air temperature in March. But ocean temps are chilly then (to me).

On lodgings, there is a Loew's resort on Coronado that is probably more luxurious - but you cannot beat that beach at The Del!

Definitely check out Balboa Park. There are tons of great museums and gardens. If you like photography there's an exhibit of Liebowitz's work at the SD Museum of Art. Our St. Pat's Day parade is downtown on the 17th, and there will be Irish dancing at Balboa Park's international houses -March 11th about 2 p.m. if you like that. There's a nice grassy area surrounded by "cottages" hosted by local volunteers representing many nations. They have food and drink and entertainment going on every Sunday from noon to 4 or 5 p.m.
Website:www.irish-cottage.net for Ireland's "house."
(My daughter dances there sometimes.)

It will take you two hours+ to drive from LA. Traffic is heavy most of the time. It can take a lot longer.

Have fun!