SAN DIEGO SEPT 14-18 2006
 

Hello, 4 women planning a trip to San Diego this September 2006. Here is some info on hotels? Can anyone give advice on these hotels? Where to stay? Where not to stay?
Hotel possibilities:
The Dana Mission Bay, rated 3 on the bay $630 for room and taxes for
five nights for three people
Bahia Resort, rated 3 also on the bay $945 room/tax for three
Holiday Inn on the Bay $978/room/tax for three...rated 3
Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island $1758 for room/tax for three. (i think this might be too spendy for us!)
This is a historical hotel rated 5 stars.
It is the hotel where Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe was filmed.
Nice location on the water.

Northwest has a new item called the Go Card. For $109 per person for
three days... gets entry into many
locations such as the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Historical Homes,
Japanese Gardens, Aquarium, Belmont Park
horse racing venue, Coronado Ferry, bike rental on Coronado Island,
the Wine Tasing center and others.
Is this a good value for the price?
Five Day Go Card is $139.00 per person.

Car for five days...full size...with Alamo is $223.00 plus taxes to be
paid at counter.

Thanks for any info / advice. I know the zoo is a popular attraction in San Diego (not so much for me!) I'd rather see/do something else. What is absolutely NOT to be missed? thanks!

I would skip the Go Card. I don't think there is anyway you will "get the value" back. I assume you are planning on spending time on the beaches. If so that takes up a day or two. SD is made for just lazing on the beach and September is great weather.

The Zoo or Animal Park is a full day. Belmont Park is free unless you want to ride carnival type rides.

Places not to miss
- La Jolla Cove
- Torrey Pines State Park & Beach
- Gaslamp Quarter for dinner/drinks

I would opt to stay on Mission Bay or in La Jolla.

thanks for the info

Hi..
I would skip the Dana and the Bahia and do Hotels in La Jolla and either go direct or Expedia.com works well with me..
Hotels
ljbtc.com Sea Lodge
hotellajolla.com
thegrandecolonial.com

Skip the Go Card..you are here for only 4 days and you won't get your money out of it..
Renting a car is a must..
La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Santa Fe and Coronado are must do's along with the Gaslamp in Downtown SD..
Restaurants not to miss are;
georgesatthecove.com Terrace Lunch
ljbtc.com Marine Room for Lunch

Coronado I love the Hotel Del and maybe you can get a good deal..try Priceline or direct..also, Glorietta Bay is a cute boutique hotel..
lajolla.org
lajolla.com
Must see places are;
La Jolla along the coast..walking
Torrey Pines State Reserve
Coronado
Swimming at LJ Shores
SD Zoo/ Museums/ Balboa Park
Have a blast!

Are you three planning to stay in one room? Do you all want to be where all the action is? Where the beach is? Do you like baseball, shopping, eating, what is it you all want to do? I am betting that you just want to hang out some of the time, and being on the beach is good for that. Pull up a lounge chair, get a bottle of wine and sit on the patio and watch the people on the boardwalk go by. Or rent a bike in South Mission and go play for half a day...

I would think that that time of year you could get better rates. The Dana is not right on the beach but on the bay, the Del is, hence the high price.

On Coronado there is also the Leows, haven't stayed there but looks nice. There is also the Marriott, wonderful hotel but not on the great part of the beach and only double beds. If you all want to be in one room, you would want queens, right?

How about checking the Catamaran, right on the beach in south Mission, or the BW Blue Sea Lodge, right on the beach. Not fancy but right in the middle of everything, beach, boardwalk, shops, pier, cafes, bars, etc.

Or check out La Jolla, there are many options there also. Depends on if you want to be right on the beach. September is still usually pretty warm in SD.

One of my favorite things to do is go to Balboa Park and walk around. It can be really fun on a Sunday. And yes, the zoo is great in the morning when it is cool and the animals come out more. The zoo is beautiful and a great place to walk around and spend a morning for a few hours.

Seaworld might be fun too, but it is expensive. If you have the car, just drive around up the coast. If the races are still on at Del Mar, go and catch a few races. lots of fun.

San Diego is a great town with lots to do. Downtown is even great now, with Petco Park everything is upgrading. Wonderful restaurants. Catch a game if you can. The stadium is a fun place to spend an evening. Then walk around the Gaslamp and have a drink.

thanks everyone! HEAVENS, I think you know us. Yes, we 3 (possibly 4) usually like to be in 1 big room, yes we'd like queen beds. Yes, we do want to be in the midst of all the action. Yes, we do like to eat, shop, go to the beach (I wasn't sure if weather would be warm enuf) & 2 (possibly 3 or all 4) definitely like baseball. I will check all suggestions on web sites. Thanks for info on the go card, guess everyone is in agreement, it's probably not worth it, good to know. thanks everyone!

Just a heads up on the Catamaran Hotel is in Pacific Beach and it is not on the beach, its on the bay and depending on your age..if you are more college age, I would go to Pacific Beach if you are over 30ish, I would go to La Jolla and shop and dine and the beauty is stunning and alot safer!! Rates are still high for September but do drop a little after Labor Day..
Petco Park is great to catch a game if they are in town..
padres.com
Also, there is alot of homeless people in PB and Mission Beach..not so much in South Mission but that there are no Hotels..
Have fun..

If you are young women and you want to be within walking distance of the ocean, you probably want to stay on or near Pacific Beach or Mission Beach. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with hotels there.
If you want to be closest to the most swinging clubs and "in" restaurants, you should stay near the Gaslamp District, which means staying in or near downtown. However, then you can't walk to a beach.
The Mission Bay area, where the Bahia and Dana Mission Bay are, is sort of between Pacific Beach and downtown but you couldn't walk to either. It is a pretty area, however.
I did stay at the Bahia several years ago and was not impressed. Also, I know someone who stayed at the Hyatt there and thought it was way below typical Hyatt standards. Nearby is Paradise Point, which was totally renovated a few years ago and is supposed to be nice.
I have stayed at the Hotel Del in one of its standard rooms and it was small and dark -- way over-priced.
I think the Loews would be very pretty and there is a great beach behind it. The hotel itself faces the bay, with views of downtown. You would have to cross a busy street to get to the beach. You would also need a car just to get to "downtown" Coronado. Overall, Coronado is very pretty with some good restaurants and limited shopping, but is kind of quiet.
La Jolla was also mentioned. That is a very attractive area with generally more sophisticated shopping and restaurants than downtown San Diego. I would divide La Jolla into three sections: the old downtown part, with most of the restaurants and shopping and beautiful views of the ocean, but no real beach; La Jolla Shores, which is on a good beach and has some hotels that should be nice and has a few good restaurants but not much else; and the Golden Triangle section, which is the newer, more commercial area which has name brand hotels and good restaurants but no Southern California charm, so you should make sure any La Jolla hotel you consider isn't there.
The only La Jolla hotel in which I have stayed is the Sea Lodge at La Jolla Shores. It is right on the beach, and, at least five years ago, it was very nice. If you have a car, it is a short drive to "downtown" La Jolla, where the best restaurants and shopping are.

thanks for all the great info. I'm going to check these hotel websites for photos & prices. Seems like LaJolla is pretty well rated. Someone told us they stayed at a Manchester Hyatt (I think that's the name), in LaJolla, & they liked the area & hotel. I'm going to check that for pricing, has anyone stayed there? thanks again for info!

The Manchester Hyatt (named for the unscrupulous developer who built it) is on the waterfront in downtown San Diego. It's an excellent hotel. I thnk mscarls was referring to the Hyatt Islandia.

I have stayed at the Bahia twice. It's a great location. You can have a bonfire on the beach behind the hotel. They have a complimentary cruise across the bay every evening with live entertainment...the boat goes back and forth all evening to their sister hotel The Catameran (which is nicer and also has the boat ride). Bahia's cheapest rooms are old and small. Larger rooms are available though.

One of my favorite San Diego hotels is Pacific Terrace, which is an older boutique hotel right on the beach in Pacific Beach. The service is great and they have a good complimentary breakfast. This hotel can be expensive...see if their own web site is having specials.

Hotel Del Coronado is an historic landmark in a beautiful setting. You could stay somewhere less expensive and just visit for a meal if you want. Try to eat at the outdoor terrace bistro at George's in LaJolla...make a reservation in advance and reserve a table next to the ocean.

Have a great time.
Kathy
http://www.cheers2wine.com

I believe you are thinking of the Hyatt in La Jolla at the Aventine, corner of I5 and La Jolla Village drive. Beautiful hotel and pool. Not on the beach, it is on the east side of 5, but not far from beaches, shopping and is in a small restaurant complex with four or five upscale places right there. One of them is the sushi place that has been there forever, can't think of the name rightn now, but very good. A little pricey but beautiful people work and eat there...

CJBROWN

If you like the Pacific Terrace Hotel www.pacificterrace.com but would like to spend a few less $'s try Ocean Park Inn www.oceanparkinn.com located in the same area and directly on the beach. It is hard to beat falling asleep to the sound of the surf.

We are a older couple and we enjoyed this area very much. Lots of places to eat, rent bikes, grocery store etc.

Go to www.sandiego.org the official convention & visitors website for money off coupons, where to stay, what to do.

Enjoy beautiful San Diego.

Sandy