Hi, I could use your help. We're going to San Diego next month. I have a 2 year old. My husband has a business rate on hotel circle. How nice is that? Where would you stay under the $150. price range? We do have a rental car. I'm planning the zoo, photography museum, Sea World, shopping, Mexico. What hints can you share? How is it driving there? Should I go up to Disneyworld? Anywhere else on the coast?

Thanks.

Hotel Circle is in a good location for the areas attractions. It is, however, located on a busy highway. Be sure and inquire about room location so you can be removed as much as possible from the freeway. I would forget Mexico, I would add a trip to La Jolla,also Lego Land with a 2 year old. The Harbor Cruise would be nice. Disneyworld would be great if time allows. About a 2 hour drive. Try to go when traffic would be lighter. There is also the Wild Animal Park. Visit Old town for Mexican food, Seaport Village for shopping etc. The Gas light District.

In any case do not stay at the Handlery resort (hotel circle).
Noise and bad service are the principal reasons.
some posts have more details.

i'd skip disneyLAND (disneyworld is in florida). 2 is too young to make it worthwhile. check out the doubletree at 1515 Hotel Circle South. they had a nice room for a family - one room has 2 queen beds, mini-kitchen (i.e. microwave, etc.) and then the other small room has a pull out couch with t.v., balcony. so you can put your kid to bed in one room and you & hubby can sit up later in the other. decent pool. be sure to rent a stroller at the zoo - it's a lot of walking. sea world is GREAT. if you were thinking of going to tijuana, i'd skip it. if you can get further south to rosarito (you can't take your rental car) - that's a nice place for a day. or consider headin inland to tecate. but, remember, coming back into the states will take some time - especially at tj. driving in san diego is very easy.

I'm sorry but, I can't help with hotels, I haven't stayed in one here. But, I do have a 2 1/2 year old. Definately the zoo & Seaworld. If you are going to Balboa Park for museums the little one should like the model railroad museum & there is a great dinosaur exhibit in the Natural history museum, with animatronic dinosaurs, if s/he's into that yet. It is kinda big, a few kids have been scared there, my 2 yr old loved it.

I have lived here 5 yrs, and still have never been to Mexico, so I would skip it. I do however, have annual pass to Disneyland and my 2 yr old absolutely loves going there. There are a lot of rides s/he can go on. All of Fantasyland, Toontown, Pirates, Jungle Cruise, Tiki Room, Tom Sawyer Island, etc. Beg. Nov 8 the Christmas decorations will be up too. DL won't open until 10am during the week, so you can make it up there just about opening time & have a great day. It's about a 2hr drive, and you can take the carpool lane half the way, which is nice. Your baby is still free, too! I would skip Legoland, you have to be 34" tall, or there are only 3 rides to go on. Even at 34" there is only 6 or 7 rides. There is a big playground & interactive fountains, but we much prefer Disneyland to Legoland.

As for the beach, Del Mar has a small playground that overlooks the ocean, with some grass you can play in too, then walk along the beach a bit. There are also some nice places to eat there. There is nice shopping at Seaport Village and good eats too. It's on the marina near the convention center downtown. The 2 yr old should like the fountains and boats.

Have a wonderful vacation!

We stayed at the Hotel Circle Inn which is now the Comfort Inn Hotel Circle or something like that and they just finished redoing their rooms which are very nice. when we stayed the rooms were pretty reasonable on price but I think they went up since last year.

San Diego is great! We stayed at hotel circle with my little 6mth grandson and I would not want to stay there again. The traffic is horrible. At one time we stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon and the Shelter Island area was much more relaxing. Driving in SD is easy and there isn't that big city feeling there. Disneyland is memorable at any age I took my grandson there lsat year at one and he still talks about it. The drive to L.A is lovely if you stick to the coast. Do not miss Sea World though way more fun than the zoo and not as much walking. Take good walking shoes and a stroller with you to the zoo. have a wonderful time. I'm jealous.

Thank you so much!

She is a bit scared of the museum dinosaurs. And she is very scared of people in costumes. I'm thinking Disneyland may not be worth it.