Greetings -

I am going down to San Diego for two nights this weekend. It is an unexpected trip - I am taking my two daughters 10 and 14. I usually stay at Marriotts or Starwood properties as we have points, blah blah blah... I am in the mood to stay someplace a little different. Location is not that important. I do not want to be in North County though - I have to be by San Diego State on Sunday...but driving is not an issue for me...

Any suggestions of someplace a little "different"? I am from San Diego and usually give advice on where to go/what to do...but am drawing a little of a blank..and toying with the Hotel Del..

Budget? I would prefer to stay under 300.00 a night... (less would be better as I usually stay on points/free et and are money is "funny" right now)...

I'd do the Del in a heartbeat!

I have actually never stayed there...

Hi Dawn!
The Hotel Del is so lovely and the girls would love it..
I just received a deal from them for $300 plus resort fees a night till Feb..
Just checked Expedia and they have the US Grant Hotel which is a Luxury collection Starwood and it is a 5 star for $239..the GM is a good friend of mine..Victor is wonderful!
That is in the heart of downtown and you girls can shop and eat in the Gaslamp..
See if they will match Expedia's deal which they usually do..
Charger Fever is all around this town and Sunday is the big day!
Keep us posted Dawn..

Dawn--Since you haven't stayed at the Del, this is the perfect opportunity! I have stayed there quite a bit and it is always such a nice retreat. And perfect for a girls weekend. We always stay in the older section. Views of the water are nice, but the garden views are not too shabby either. The Sunday Brunch is amazing! We took our kids when they were younger and they still remember it.

Oh never mind... spoke with dh - I am going to need to stay on the points. Phewy.

I am going to need to do a Marriott.

There is a Marriott in Mission Valley, Del Mar and Coronado..that would be a good choice for you girls...close to the Hotel Del!

Hi Dawn!

The Marriott on Coronado might be nice for you and your daughters. The others are next to freeways for the most part. The one in Mission Valley is close to Costco though!

Shouldn't you be in front of a television on Sunday? I told you we'd let you support the Chargers!

Dawn, I've done the Marriott Coronado on an awards trip and it was very nice. I assume it still is. And, the pool bar served my now-favorite-drink-of-all-time, an Electric Lemondade.

You can take the ferry over to San Diego. Just a lovely hotel - or at least it was when I stayed there.

Barbara.. I am boycotting anymore football ;-). I am still depressed!

I have stated at the Marriott on Coranado (I love it - I think it was once a Le Meridan no?) - but unfortuantely no points this weekend. We are going to the oh so boring Marrriott Mission Valley. (anyone feeling sorry for me?? LOL).

They have "pointsavers" this weekend and they do say they have an indoor pool??? The girls will enjoy that at night et.

Tessa is hurt - she has an injury in her foot that will most likely require surgery to correct. (the hits just keep on coming) - we have serious issues going on with my 17 year old stepson and I need to get out of dodge for the weekend to give him and dh space.

I am taking my stepdaughter and Tessa and I think we will do seaworld on Sat (her in a wheelchair) and maybe fashion valley for a bit of shopping.

Sunday is a cheer comp that Tessa was going to be in but now cannot compete - so we will go to the Cox area at SDSU and hang out.

I hate the area that the Mission Valley Marriot is in - but hey... free is free.

Thanks everyone!

And yes... go Chargers Barbara.. I promise I will be happy for you

What did Tessa do to her foot? Have you ever used a wheelchair before?

Tessa has a condition called "assecory Navicular" - it is an extra bone in the foot. Her right foot/ankle had been bothering her in cheer - I thought she sprained it. I took her to ER on Thursday as she had a cheer competition on Sat of last week (in S.D as well) and I wanted to be sure she did not have a fracture or something - (she had a fracture last year and there was no bruising/little swelling) - well ER says - just a sprain.

We go to the competition in San Diego - she throws all her tumbling, but does not stunt (she is a flyer and stunts on her right foot - it was too painful) After she comes off the floor she is crying (hard) not typical for her.

She sleeps the entire way home from S.D. (we did stop and have a nice meal at King's fishouse in Carlsbad right off the freeway) - I "knew" something more was wrong.

Took her to her orthopedic on Monday and sure enough - he took one look at the X-ray and diagnosed her. She is in a large (heavy) boot and will be in it for 4-6 weeks - after that we will decide if it was just a flare up or if they need to go in and remove the bone. Often this causes no issues (the bone is in 10 % of people) but with her high level of activity she has a high chance of it reoccurring.

It heals about 25% of the time - the surgery is not a big deal but the recovery does not seem like fun - 4-6 weeks in a cast - 4-6 weeks in the boot she is now in - and 4-6 weeks in a brace. They have to re-wrap the tendion in her foot.

Sorry so long!It has really been one heck of a year. Ryan's senior year/pregnancy, Tessa's illness last year (mono - and they thought she had hepatitis, missing over a full month of school - canceling our Africa trip at the last minute - her getting sick again in Europe - dh being unemployed, the very big issues that I cannot post about regarding ss ..sorry this should all be in the lounge!)

No, I have never used a wheelchair before - is it hard? (sorry if that is a silly question)

Sorry Dawn about Tessa's foot..
When I broke my foot, I had to use a wheelchair at times and by yourself for me it was somewhat difficult and being very active gal, I was surprised how inept I was with it..my husband helped me but if you are renting one at Sea World, it should be fine..
Good news with the wheel chair is that you get in the front of the line!
Marriott Mission Valley has lots of shopping from Nordy's rack to Off on 5th which is Sak's..Costco, Ikea, and Loehman's too..
If you are going up by SDSU, the best pizza is Etna's on El Cajon Blvd..OMG..the best!

Dawn, that sounds ...not great. My daughter had one of those heavy boots a couple of months ago. We had a wheelchair for her, and when we evacuated my trunk was full of wheelchair so I couldn't take so much stuff! My son had the same Mono experience. He missed at last four weeks of school then when he went back after the Christmas break, he could only tolerate one, or maybe two, periods a day. Needless to say his grades for that semester were in the proverbial toilet.

Have you got a wheelchair?

Isn't there a very nice Marriott directly next to the downtown convention center? You can walk to Sea Village from there, even to Gaslamp, take the ferry to Coronado, etc.

We liked the Omni downtown, but it's not a Starwood prooperty, I don't think.
>-

Maureen, I think it's full this weekend.

Hi Barbara - is your daughter okay now? It is not fun. Has not been a very fun 08 so far.

No wheelchair - I am going to rent one at Seaworld - she is feeling very strange about being in one. The boot is way too heavy for her get about all day.

There are no rooms downtown this weekend for "points" that I could use at a Marriott (maybe the Residence Inn? - but I did not want to stay there - I do not like the location).

I am so sorry your son had Mono as well Barbara. It was a rough season. Lot's of blood work to figure it all out - I feel horrible for parents that have a seriously ill child.

Dawn, my son had mono several years ago. Somehow, the memory lingers....

Barbara..it does "stick" with you. It has just been a rough year here. Could be much worse though... keep trying to remember that.

A good girlfriend said to me "oh Tessa cannot have surgery - YOU need a break." That is sort of how I feel...

Dawnnoelm:

I am so sorry about all that is happening. You are right to escape to a hotel now. I think I am competing with you for lousy year, but I think you might win that award. Any my son had mono too about 7 years ago. Like you it took several trips to childrens' for them to figure it out and many scary middle of the nights calls to the dr.

So for cheering your crew up, how about taking them to Hodad's in Ocean Beach during the day for lunch. Its an experience but they have the best burgers and shakes. Also in Kennsgton, there is a place called "Burger Lounge" that is getting great reviews. Your girls might like it on the way to SDSU.

We stayed at the Mission Valley Residence Inn during our floor refinishing catastrophe the summer before last (guy ruined our floor so we had to stay in san diego hotels for close to 3 weeks during the middle of summer-we were vagabonds because we had to move every 2-3 nights).

Also my son plays hs football so we have a great ortho guy who has saved many a kids' playing ability. Let me know if you want the name. I'll keep you in my prayers and hang in there. Just figure you have to hit the down button before you can hit the up button.