My kids are 11 & 15 so we really need at least 2 beds. A seperate bedroom with a sleep-sofa in the living room would be the best but is out of our budget. <BR> <BR>Don't they have small motels around the beach areas?

Val, <BR>I tried the sites that you suggested but unfortunately I did not get the rates that you got. Maybe I should also mention that I need a room for Aug. 2nd to 4th. This is probably why I can't find the rates or availability you have found. <BR> <BR>I contacted a travel agent here and he could get me (last one left) a room at the Howard Johnson Sea World on Rosecrans for $172 CDN taxes included. I have to call him before 3pm if I decide to take it. <BR> <BR>I still wish I could find something cheaper. This Howard Johnson is only a 2 star hotel but it includes a breakfast buffet <BR> <BR>

Lucie, <BR> <BR>We're English and we stayed at the Handlery Hotel in Hotel Circle a couple of years ago and are going back there in August. <BR> <BR>It isn't too costly (about $100 per night I'd guess) and there is an outside pool in the centre of the hotel so you don't get a view of the roadway from there! You can also use the hotel's leisure centre (just down the road) for free. <BR> <BR>The rooms are decent and if you have a car it won't take long to get to wherever you're going in San Diego. <BR> <BR>We've decided to return to this area because it's about half the price of other hotels in 'better' locations. <BR> <BR>Can't remember about if there's a fridge, sorry, <BR> <BR>Steve <BR>

Thanks Steve, <BR> <BR>Handlery is one of the first ones I checked but it's all booked. <BR> <BR>

Now Ì'm hesitating between the following hotels: <BR> <BR>Days Inn (543 Hotel Circle) $89.10 - no breakfast <BR>Vagabond Inn (625 Hotel Circle) $82.40 - Continental breakfast included <BR> <BR>The Vagabond Inn in Mission Bay did not look really nice compared to the one on hotel Circle. <BR> <BR>Any readers has been to one of these?

...and Days Inn Harbor View (1919 Pacific Hwy) @ $89.10 (breakfast included but no whirlpool)

Sorry I didn't notice your time frame, but the priceline.com suggestion would be the way to go IMHO. I'm staying at a AAA 4* hotel in a reasonably good location Downtown for $35/night. go to this site: http://pub4.ezboard.com/bpricelineandexpediabidding . <BR>IT is an outstanding forum with info on successful priceline beds and bidding strategies. Do your homework and I think you'll be well satisfied with priceline.

Whoops, Just saw your "family of four" comment......nevermind

Janet: You asked about the Sheraton in Anaheim. It is impressive-looking (like a castle) but when I stayed there, there were strange problems with water not working so we had to bathe every day in a different room (once in a separate building on the property). Since then, everyone whom we know who has stayed there has related other strange stories about this place. I have gone to Disneyland many times and stayed in several places, but eventually settled for the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites, right across the street from Disneyland. This obviates waiting for and surviving the shuttle buses. The place is clean, has several rooms, 2 TVs, a fridge, a microwave oven, and a breakfast. What else could you ask for?

Lucie: Go with one of the places on Hotel Circle. Don't worry too much about breakfast-there's a great place for breakfast right on Hotel Circle called Adam's Steak and Eggs.You'll be pretty conveniently located there, with easy access to all the freeways.

Barbara - <BR> <BR>We reserved the Days Inn on Pacific Hwy and then I saw your post. I can always cancel it and take the Days Inn on Hotel circle if the one on Pacific Hwy if you think it's not so nice. We chose the one on Pacific Hwy originally because it's a bit cheaper and the breakfast is included but we have not idea if it's clean and if the area is nice. <BR> <BR>If someone know anything about this Days Inn please let me know. <BR> <BR>Thanks

Stay in Hotel Circle. The areas around Pacific Highway are generally not that good.

Paul - <BR>Thanks for the advise about the location of the Days Inn I booked on Pacific Hwy. <BR> <BR>Louis had previously mentionned this street as a somewhat good location to find cheaper accomodation but Barbara said that it was dubious and that she would not stay there. <BR> <BR>What is wrong with this area? Although it looks very close to the railtrack, it`s close to downtown and 1 block from the harbor. Would it be a noisy area perhaps? <BR> <BR>The Days Inn on Hotel Circle looks better on their website then the one on Pacific Hwy but the price go up by $9 on week ends and the breakfast is not included. On the other hand, I know my kids will miss not having a whirlpool if we go to the one on Pacific Hwy. <BR> <BR>By the way, I just realized that I posted the wrong dates. I`ll be in SD from Aug.2nd to 6th <BR> <BR> <BR>

Lucie: I drove down to take a look at these hotels. I took a couple of digital pictures which I tried to send to the email address you post here, However, they were returned. If you'd like to see them, send me your correct address privately. <BR>The Days Inn on Pacific Highway is barely OK. the railroad track is RIGHT behind the hotel, so if your room happened to be in the back, you would be only a few yards (feet?!) from the trains. There is a pool though. <BR>The Days Inn on Hotel Circle is much, much nicer.It also has a pool, though you can't see it from outside. They still have rooms available when you need them. <BR>The Vagabond Inn on Hotel Circle is two hotels along from the Days Inn. It is also very nice and actually has two pools, one towards the front and the other at the back. That one was full of kids! <BR>You couldn't go wrong with either of these hotels. <BR>

Lucie; Now I've actually read why the pictures were returned - not enough storage space. I'll try sending them one at a time - there were three.

I am not sure where Days Inn is on PCH but I can tell you that anywhere on PCH is generally not a prime tourist location. You have potential traffic noise, railroad noise, airplane noise and seedy areas. Hotel Circle is a prime tourist location. Your chances of being unhappy are less at Hotel Circle.

Paul: this Days Inn is across the road from the County Administration Building parking lot, just a few yards from Grape (is that the one that goes uphill?). Definitely not a prime location.

Thank you so much Paul & Barbara. <BR> <BR>I received your pictures and I am so gratefull. A picture is worth a thousand words and the one on Pacific Hwy is definetely not what I expected... Did you also take a picture of the Vagabond? I read many bad reviews (dirty, cockroaches & all) about the Vagabond Inns. That's why I did not pick it. Probably can't tell from the outside though. <BR> <BR>Thanks again, <BR> <BR>Lucie

Any idea if the Vagabon Inn is clean? I read bad reviews on the cleaniness of the Vagabond Inns in general. <BR> <BR>My husband tend to want to reserve the Vagabond Inn since it's cheaper... <BR>Days Inn = 89.10 x 2 & $98.10 x 2 (breakfast not included) <BR>Vagabond Inn = $77.40 x 2 & $81.90 x 2 plus $5 x 4 for a fridge but breakfast is included <BR> <BR>Any personnal experience from readers on the Vagabond in on Hotel Circle is welcomed

Jeez. . .everybody has gone WAY out of their way for you and you keep whining and asking for a different hotel each time. Just book one, if you don't like it when you get there, go to another one! Wow - my impression is that you seem VERY ungrateful to the time and effor that people on this board have given you here. San Diego is an expensive city. People have given you many different ideas and yet, you keep posting. Perhaps you should search for some relatives that will let you stay at their home for free and have a fridge? Sorry if I offend anyone with this post, but I'm tired of people coming to this board and then others providing really good suggestions/answers but it's never enough. <BR> <BR>Note to Barbara - details and pictures - you are amazing! That is incredibly generous and yet this poster just keeps asking about something else! <BR> <BR>I have a suggestion to solve your problem: if it's this much trouble for you to make a decision, just stay in your own home and don't go on vacation. You have been given so many options by people by now that your "yes, but. . ." has gotten old (IMO).