We are considering spending Christmas through New Years in San Diego this year. Which hotels are nice yet affordable? Restaurants? Things to do and/or see? Other places in southern Cal?

I regret that you left out a LOT of information.

> Which hotels are nice yet affordable?
Depends on your definition of "nice" and "affordable."

> Restaurants?
If you mean which are nice and affordable, ditto above response.

> Things to do and/or see?
I recommend you should the things that are of interest to you (which we have no idea about), that is age appropriate for any family of yours (which we have no idea about), and which is within you budget (which we have no idea about). With the information we presently have, nobody can give any better answer than that -- although I'm sure some people will try.

> Other places in southern Cal?
Ditto above response.

No idea on hotels without more data. But a generic answer to things to do would include
Old Town, Gas Lamp Historic District, Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, visit to the aircraft carrier Miday, Sea Word, Legoland a short drive away, the beaches. the Temecula wine country that's nearby, etc.

Budget???

You have plenty of options for various priced hotels and resataurants in San Diego during the Holidays - and also - plenty of things to do. If you wanted to get up to say Disneyland - it's a little over an hour from SD.

As suggested - a little info on your budget range and sight seeing preferences would help in receiving better recommendations.

Where to stay and what kinds if things you can conveniently do both depend to some extent on whether you will have the use of a car.

Agree w/ d_claude: Having a car makes it much easier to enjoy what San Diego has to offer. You could get around without one if you stayed "centrally" - but it's much faster/easier to drive - and SD normally doesn't have that bad of traffic, outside of commute times of course.