Thank you to all the folk who took the trouble to respond to my earlier posting: SouthWest USA in November. All the suggestions and information is spot on and has really helped us to plan this trip of a lifetime. Spurred on by the willingness of users of this site to share info. and to help if they can, I have a couple of Q's which should complete our preparations for our trip to America 1 - 25 November.

1: We arrive in San Diego about 10pm and have booked at the Comfort Inn, Old Town for 7 nights. It's in the AAA book so we guessed it must be clean and safe. Agree, anyone? If it's not so good I have almost 6 weeks to find alternative, but would rather know now than taxi up there at midnight after a 22 hour journey from the UK and find it's the pits (But unlikely if recomm. by the AAA?)

2: Is there a web-site for info. on San Diego public transport systems? And, any other useful sites I could visit for up-to-date info. on San Diego, e.g. dining, special events?

3: Recommendations for travel info. books, particularly with local photographs. I already have Fodor's San Diego, The Rough Guide to the South West USA, and, Frommer's USA Cities Guide, all '98. I have thought of writing to the SD Chamber of Commerce, or Tourist Info.Centre, but I doubt if they would mail to the UK, or would they?
'Looking forward' to our holiday in the South West US is an understatement, and thanks again to everyone in anticipation. This is a brilliant site! Joan.

San Diego is a great town - you're sure to have fun.....

1) Comfort Inns are not operated/owned by a single parent company - some are better than others. Typically, 3 star AAA lodgings are fine but they don't revisit every hotel every year - neighborhoods and hotels change - best to try for specific feedback in this forum on that particular topic.

2) http://www.sandag.cog.ca.us.sdmts/
for SD public transit info

3) httpidewalk.com for specific on events, dining, neighborhoods, shopping etc.. They cover major US cities, SD being among them.

Did I mention that you'll have fun? {

Owen, Thanks for your help BUT, are these web-site addresses correct, I keep getting the message that they do not exist?
Joan

On a hunch, I changed the last part of the URL from

.sdmts

to

/sdmts

And found the correct listing. The part '.ca.us' is a giveaway that this is a California state agency in the US; thus, anything AFTER .ca.us should come after a '/'. In the same way, anything after .uk should come after a / as well.

As usual.... one is a typo and the other a mystery - Paul is correct but you could also try
http://www.sandag.cog.ca.us/ftp/html...ridelink/sdmts

I left out the backslashes on the other
http://sidewalk.com

I bet the SD Tourist Info would send literature to UK. I've received info from the French Tourist Board here. Try it, what's to lose? If not them then the California Tourist Board. I wish I knew your hotel. As the above poster said these chains are not nationally managed and I had a disasterous experience at a Days Inn which WAS listed in the AAA book. Keep looking in this forum. The hotel I like in downtown SD is the Embassy Suites near Seaport Village. The very best travel book I think is "San Diego Access"--hope you can get a copy in the UK. They have a unique format that's really helpful. Hope this helps a bit.

With so very much to see in California and elsewhere, I'm wondering why you're doing 7 nites in San Diego? Unless you have family there or some other commitment, I should think a few nites would be plenty before moving on to other sites? Sorry if this appears too nosy -- just an opinion. Regardless, I hope you have a wonderful visit!

I was thinking the same thing about the 7 nights BUT, if you are taking some side trips if wouldn't be too long. You might want to go to Tijuana or Ensenada- its a real "eye opener"- especially if you've never been in a poor country. You might want to take a trip up to Julian for a night- spend a night in a cabin or Bed and Breakfast. There is one B& B with a gorgeous tree house accessible by a winding staircase around the trunk. You may want to come North to Temecula and visit the wineries, southwest/Indian and antique stores. Or drive out into the desert from Julian. Its called the Anza Borego desert. I wouldn't stay in one hotel the whole time. Make reservations for the first night and then try

Joan,
We travel to San Diego almost every year and love it to death. So much to do there and the weather is always great. Old Town is the place to stay IMHO. We stay at the Ramada. Free Margarita in the evening and free breakfast in the morning and close to the main street. Be sure to stop by and say "Hi," to Maria making tortillas down on the main street. Get one they're delicious. There is a Mexican Resteraunt in the Old Town circle called Casa de ? something (can't remember this very minute) but it is the best Mexican resteraunt in the world. Also take the trolley that starts in Old Town and takes you all over San Diego. It will help you get oriented to the area. Of course Sea World is the greatest and our kids love it more than Disneyland (but they're kind of strange kids, ha). Freeway access is close to Old Town so you can get almost anywhere in a matter of minutes. You will have to rent a car.

We come to UK alot. Have friends all over the country (particularly in St. Albans and Tring). Have fond memories of times there. Many f our friend stay with us when they are here and vise versa. Hey have a wonderful time. It is a big contry. Takes about six hours to fly from one coast to the other.