We'll be in San Diego (2 adults, two teenagers) for a couple of days in early August and thought it might be interesting to take a side trip to Tijuana. Since we've never been, any suggestions as to what to do, see, etc. for the day? Worth staying overnight?

Also, any hotel suggestions for San Diego that are convenient to sights and near beach would be appreciated.

We were in San Diego a few years ago, but made the mistake of staying in a hotel recommended for business travel, and nothing was close by but industry and a golf course (can't remember the name of the hotel, but the location made the trip unmemorable).

Thanks to all for any suggestions and feedback.

My two cents: Tijuana is not worth an overnight stay. In all honesty, I wouldn't plan on more than a few hours. The last time I visited was a while ago... but I can't imagine it's that much different today. It's nothing like a typical vacation resort area, if that's what you're expecting. I would expect a really shabby flea market with a bunch of vendors and lots of beggers. The children begging for handouts are the most sad. In my opinion, I think it's a really dirty town and nothing more than a flea market. It's also known for under 21 college kids from the US going down there to get drunk, since it's legal to drink at 18. Bad mix, if you ask me.

Your time is better spent in San Diego!

TJ is so not worth the bother for a day trip. Leaving aside its aesthetic charms, it is a hassle to cross the border these days. Friends who arrived in SD too late to park and walk across had to drive in. Two hours each way to get through the checkpoint.

That's four hours you can be having a great time in San Diego.

I wish I could help you with hotels, but when I go I usually stay with friends.

If you want Mexican flavor while in San Diego, go to Old Town. Its clean, its lovely and has great restaurants. I wouldn't waste my time leaving the country.

i will agree with the above. i wouldn't go to tj. if you have your own vehicle and want to venture driving (it' not bad) then drive right through tj and go down to rosarito beach and puerto nuevo (sp?) for the day. it's a beautiful drive and those places are much more enjoyable because you don't get overwhelmed with beggers.
for hotels, check out the ocean park inn or the catamaran. great location for all.

Another vote for skipping Tijuana and spending more time in either San Diego or go up to La Jolla. See http://www.gaslamp.org/ for info about the Gas Lamp District downtown.

Great suggestion, HarryR. La Jolla is gorgeous!
Head north, not south.
Or go to Coronado and spend a day at the beach.

Nevalee

We like The Ocean Park Inn - see many excellent reviews on www.tripadvisor.com. We stayed here last November and plan to do so again. Includes breakfast and free parking. Hotel web is www.oceanparkinn.com
Sometimes their are offers on www.sandiego.org or expedia. The rooms on the second or third floor with balcony facing the ocean are terrific.

Sandy

We were also in San Diego last August with 2 teenagers - they really wanted to say they had set foot in Mexico so off we were to Tijuana. Drove to border, walked across.

I agree with all above posters - it was hot, dirty and very depressing. What we saw were junk and trinket dealers, lots of bars, liquor stores and pharmacies advertising just about any prescription medication you have ever heard of. Our daughter bought a t-shirt stating she had been to Tijuana and we bought a bottle of tequila (which we opened this winter and turned out to be excellent)

The line to recross border back into US had about a 2 hour wait - in the hot sun. We think this was partly because INS was rounding up a large group of men and hauling them away in official vehicles - but have heard the line to leave is often quite long.

We loved visiting San Diego - I suggest you spend your time there instead.

I have to agree with all of the previous posters. When I visited my brother a few years ago in San Diego, I said I wanted to go to Tijuana because I'd never been to Mexico. He tried to talk me out of it and I should have listened. It's a very depressing place.

It sounds like your time in San Diego is very limited at only 2 days so I would be inclined to stay there and see many of the things on offer.

I was in San Diego a few years back for 4 days and we made a short trip to Tijuana. I was in a group of 5 and probably only a couple of us thought the trip was worthwhile.

Luckily we didn't encounter any wait to get across the border in either direction - this was October 2001 so things may be more strict now. I think we may have waited a couple of minutes coming back to the US on our return but that was it.

We did use the Trolley to get there and back from San Diego which may have saved time crossing the border.

Thanks to all for the feedback. Looks like we'll skip Tijuana and head north instead.

We were looking for a hotel that is conveniently located, but perhaps still near beach (I know it maybe too much to ask).

The Ocean Park Inn looks like a great choice, however it's in Pacific Beach. Is this close to most of the sites?

How about the Humphrey Half Moon Bay?

Thanks again for the assistance, this forum makes traveling sooooo much easier, it's better than a travel agent.

Have you tried tripadvisor.com? Hotels are ranked by popularity by city and you can read guidebook and customers' description of hotels. I was very pleased with the hotel I chose in Nice this way.

Another poster mentioned that he got the Hyatt Regency La Jolla for $50/ night on Priceline. Biddingfortravel.com will give you the scoop so you can make an informative bid on PL.
Have fun researching!