SDee

Hi,
I was originally going to San Francisco May 23-May 27, but my best friend now wants to go to San Diego. I've check several websites and most hotel are family oriented. Since she is not bringing her kids, she wants a hotel/area that is not family oriented, and also near water (she lives in Texas)

Can anyone suggest an area/ hotel for us? We are both in our 40's.

Thanks

mlgb

La Jolla or Del Mar.

tchoiniere

Definitely agree with those 2 that mlgb mentioned. Just make sure that you have a car though as everything is spread out.

I would also check the Hilton Bayfront which is on the water but walking distance to the Gaslamp District.

SDee

Oh, I wasn't planning to rent a car as I didn't think we needed one. Can I rent one at the airport?

Thanks again

hpeabody

Perhaps consider the Best Western Island Palms. It is a lovely location on the Marina. You would want to look into Marina view room, otherwise it's the parking lot (BLAH!) Free parking at this hotel. A car will be nice in San Diego except if you want to visit downtown/gaslamp, then maybe try the trolley from Old Town that day. You will be able to see more with a car for sure.

janisj

You can manage w/o a car. But you will be able to see/do a lot more - and more efficiently - if you have a car.

1JAR

Here is my suggestion (a car would be beter, maybe a convertible would be fun?)

Tower23, LA Jolla ocean beach upscale hip hotel, great bar & restaurant if you want to stay in first night.
Close enough to great La Jolla shopping, restaurants (Georges at the Cove, Marine Room both great ocean views and food) drive down the scenic coast drive to San Diego downtown.
http://www.tower23hotel.com/

One day go over the Bay Bridge to Coronado for more shopping, spa at Hotel Del with sitting out on the Spa deck mezmerized by the ocean followed by lunch at Hotel Del's Sheerwaters on the ocean and you can enjoy the great sand beach.

Hotel Del is another lodging option and if money is no object I would highly rec staying in the Hotel Del Beach Village with private parking, concierge, gated area with private pools, hot tubs, private beach access and private. They have some specials now and if you stay in ths ares there will be fewer kids.
http://www.beachvillageatthedel.com/

Another day go north about an hour to Laguna, more shopping, lots of art, followed by lunch at the Beach House with great view of the ocean and crashing surf.

Do you play golf? One day you could go to Torrey Pines and have lunch at Hilton Torrey Pines. Torrey Pines State park is a great hike with ocean views just around the corner.

Hilton at Torrey Pines is another hotel option however there is not anything close by and the ocean views are limited.
http://www.hiltonlajollatorreypines.com/

One night you could drive down to Shelter Island and have dinner at Bali Hai on the San Deigo Bay and then go to Humphreys concerts.

The previosuly mentioned Best Western Island Palms is on Shelter Island but I do not rec for this trip...I would instead rec Kona Kai (property alittel more upscale at teh end of a penninsula cul-de-sac, with a request for a room with a San Diego Bay view/to ocean view on the end of the property. That way you can see the ocean enterance from your patio/deck chairs. and there is alot to see!
http://www.resortkonakai.com/

Tomsd

You already have some good things to check out - and I would get away from downtown or on Shelter/Harbor Island, but all the places have advantages and disadvantages.

In PB - I would recommend you consider the condos at Capri - which have stunning views - http://caprisandiego.stores.yahoo.net/ and in La Jolla - there are any number of options - http://www.lajollabythesea.com/ depending on what you want to spend, etc. And definitely stop by for dip in The Cove - like going to the Med. http://www.sandiego.gov/lifeguards/beaches/cove.shtml

Personally - I would choose close to the Village on down by La Jolla Shores (near the Marine Room restaurant http://www.marineroom.com/?src=ppc_g...rineroom_brand), v. staying out along La Jolla Village drive/U area.

However, for the best Ocean Front setting, literally on the rocks above the surf crashing below - is the Inn at Sunset Cliffs - beyond Pt. Loma. It's just a two star place, but clean and a great place to have a few beverages and watch the surfers, etc - and/or even cook dinner at their BBQ's. You might tell them you have a friend in SD and ask for the "local" discount. http://innatsunsetcliffs.com/

And not far away - on Harbor Island - may be the best view of downtown - at the Island Prime/C Level restaurant, which also has some good/inexpensive choices for happy hour - 3:30 to 5:30. http://www.cohnrestaurants.com/menu-.../island-prime/

Also for very good seafood - the Fish Market downtown (next to the USS Midway/Museum) - is as fresh as it gets - with great views of Coronado, and you can also buy fresh fish there, or have sushi - or go upstairs to the gourmet restaurant. http://www.thefishmarket.com/

Tomsd

Uno Mas: Old Town is also worth a visit/stroll/margarita/whatever - - and watch the women making tortillas - through the big windows - in the front of the Old Town Mexican Cafe: http://www.oldtownmexcafe.com/

ncounty

If you want an upscale place to stay, the L'Auberge del mar is lovely. The lobby/public space is just gorgeous. You can walk to the beach and Del Mar Plaza is just across the street. I like pacifica del mar's happy hour and the views are fantastic.

I also enjoy the Estancia in La Jolla. The setting is very elegant Santa Fe.

LSky

San Diego without a car? I have nightmares about that. It would add hours to any where you wanted to go.

ncounty

I agree; I consider a car a must in San Diego to really do it justice. Sure, you might be able to get by without it but it would be difficult and there is a lot you would not be able to see/do.

lcuy

I agree about the car. The only places it would be fine would be if you stay in the gaslamp or Embarcadero areas (downtown) or in Coronado. Both of these are easily reached by shuttle or taxi from the airport, and for 4 or 5 days you could fill your time in the immediate area. Both areas have great restaurants and of course coronado has a beautiful beach and some fun shopping.

There is a trolley downtown that will get you to the tourist spots (Balboa park, zoo, etc). In Coronado, bicycles or walking are the way to go, and if you want to leave the island, you can catch the foot ferry across the bay, or take the bus across the bridge. It is a pretty efficient bus for getting to tourist spots, but will take forever to get to Mission Beach or La Jolla.

Most of the downtown hotels are not family friendly, mostly because downtown is more geared to adults. In Coronado, I'd go with the 1906 Lodge. I doubt there are many kids there. If you stay at the Hotel Del there might be families, but you can avoid them.

I think you'd be happy in either.

lcuy

Tower 23 would be a good Hotel w/out a car too. Once you got there, you could use the local bus or taxis and find lots to amuse yourself on the boardwalk or in Mission/Pacific beach. It is definitely more of an adult scene there. I haven't been in a couple of years, but the restaurant inside the hotel (JRDN?) was fabuous the times we went.

Tomsd

Again - some good advice. You could stay in PB (Pacific Beach) - at Tower 23 or the Capri, etc- or Ocean Beach/Sunset Cliffs/Pt. Loma (forgot - Liberty Station Pt. Loma - http://tinyurl.com/cvcggd6 ) - or in the Villages of La Jolla (love Estancia but a little off by itself if you don't have a car), or Del Mar, or even Carlsbad, etc - as well as by Old Town - and take the trolley. Here is a little more info about Old Town and also there is a Convention Visitor's bureau update I just received. http://tinyurl.com/cyx2lkz

For Hotels by Old Town, which has a trolley stop and good bus service, to such places as the SD Zoo, etc. http://tinyurl.com/865a9x4

But having reviewed all this - still best to have a car in SD if you can work that in. Try this webpage for the best prices, and they have all the carious companies, and the lesser named ones work just fine. www.carrentals.com,

Lisagirl_Odp

Probably too late for this trip but if your friend wants waterfront lodging, the Crystal Pier has cottages on a pier...you can't get much closer to the water than being on top of it! http://www.crystalpier.com/

The Hotel del Coronado has a guided tour, well worth the $15. http://coronadohistory.org/WalkingTours.html . If you have a car, beware of parking in the hotel lots. Even after validation it cost us about $40.

I recommend a visit to Old Town in San Diego. Parts are quite touristy but the original buildings are there and will give you a sense of San Diego's history. Also, the 1st of California's 21 missions is in SD and another great history spot.
http://www.oldtownsandiego.org/ and http://www.missionsandiego.com/

sheri_lp

Take a ride up to Encinitas, stop by Robertos and get a shrimp burrito, and fish tacos:

http://www.robertos.us/locations.php

Take your lunch to a picnic table at Moonlight Beach:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/moonlight-state-beach-encinitas

Then go walk around the meditation gardens at Swami's (free):

http://www.yelp.com/biz/self-realiza...ns-encinitas-2

geanster

Hi! I'm trying to plan a last minute trip within the next 3 weeks. I'm in the mood for a hot long wide beach with clear water, but I haven't been to Southern California and could really get into this trip idea (did SF to Napa and down to Big Sur last summer). I'm from Kentucky and Miami is my favorite water/US Beach so far.

Question, weather? The northern cali beaches seemed brisk... are the LA/Sa Diego beaches toasty? I want to bake in the sun. lol I'll read through responses again in the morning, but let me know if any specific resorts seem logical...
Does San Diego to private resort beaches or is everything public? Thanks!

Barbara

You might get more responses if you start a new thread.

Coronado Beach was just named America's top beach by Dr Beach. It's long and wide. The water is not very warm anywhere in S. California. You would also like Del Mar beach at 15th Street, La Jolla Shores and Mission Beach/Pacific Beach.

LSky

Baking in the sun is an iffy prospect in June, here in San Diego. Today is a perfect day, the sun is out and it may even be nice at the beach. Yesterday was cold.

If you are planning a last minute trip, keep an eye on the weather. We generally have a marine layer in June that is the bane of sun seeking tourists.