We plan to visit San Diego with two teenagers. We do not plan to have a car so need a hotel where we can walk to the beach but with easy public transport or hotel shuttle /organised trips to the Zoo, Animal park and Sea World. Please can anyone advise us of a suitable hotel.

Ruth, try the Pacific Terrace Hotel, the Catamaran, the Bahia, the Best Western Blue Sea Lodge and the Ocean Park Inn. All have easy beach access. Public transportation in San Diego is never easy, but the beach areas are usually well served (relatively speaking). I can't answer your question about shuttles or organized trips, sorry.

public tranportation is not the greatest in sd. if you are in good shape it is really cheap to rent a bike and san diego has great biking trails that will get you most everywhere. i'm not sure you can get to the wild animal park with out a car. (i would highly recommend renting one if you can)

Ruth,
As a San Diegan, let me apologize in advance for our poor public transportation. I would highly recommend renting a car if at all possible. Barbara has some good hotel recommendations. I'm sure you'll have a good time.

I hate to agree, but you really do need a car to enjoy all that San Diego has to offer! We stayed at the Pacific Terrace, it was geat and right on the ocean with a heated outdoor pool also.

by the way, if you are worried about driving in san diego - don't be. it is really easy to get around and we don't have the horrible traffic that l.a. has.