San Diego CA - 7-day stay in late Oct
 

Any suggestions for staying in or near San Diego other than the traditional hotel chains with their small rooms? It's a pleasure trip (no kids). Moderate in price.

EMBASSY SUITES ... Downtown San Diego ...

There are lots of websites that offer vacation rentals....you could even stay on a yacht for a week.

Some websites that might help you with this:
http://www.vrbo.com
http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...alifornia.html

VRBO is a good suggestion. I would also recommend you check out http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ -- a lot of SoCal real estate is bought, sold and leased on craigslist.

I live in San Diego and highly recommend renting a house or apartment, right on the beach. It's off-season now, so the rental rates are much cheaper. This site has rentals that are either right on the beach are steps to the beach. The bay area, right across from the beach, has awesome rentals as well with nice walking/jogging trails and bonfire pits.

http://www.missionbeach.com/