Where to stay in San Diego?
 

Do I need a car to get around and where is a reasonable place to stay

Yes, you'll need a car, unless you plan to stay in a hotel near a beach and just lay out on the same sand all day. San Diego has many wonderful things to do and see but they aren't within walking distance of each other and our public transportation is NOT very good. <BR> <BR>With any luck, SD Sam will see your post. He is always full of excellent ideas about San Diego hotels.

Car would be definitely helpful. If you have money, check out the Marriott and Hilton downtown hotels. They both overlook the harbor and is walking distance to all the downtown restaurants and shops. When you get a car, use some gas and drive around. It's a wonderful area.

San Diego Sam is here but I need some more information. What do you consider reasonable? Where you stay and what you wish to see will dictate your requirements for transportation. In general, you will need a car in San Diego to see eveything. However, there are many things you can see by walking, ferry, trolley, etc. without needing a car depending on where you stay. <BR> <BR>Do you have any particular things you want to do or see? <BR> <BR>Define your requirements a little more and I should be able to give you some suggestions.

I have stayed at the Marriot (right on the water near the Gaslamp Quarter and Horton Plza) and at Embassy Suites (nearer to Seaport Village, down the street from Marriot). What is your pricerange? Bringing kids? You'll definately need a car...there's lots to do!

WE ARE GOING THERE TOO. WE NEED A FAMILY/KICTHENETTE SUITE NEAR OR ON THE WATER. WE CAN ONLY SPEND NO MORE THAN $200 a night.WE WILL BE THERE JUNE 24 FOR 2 WEEKS. PLEASE GIVE ME MORE HOTEL NAMES.

Hi Carolyn. I've just seen this post today and thought I'd contribute my thoughts, although I'm no San Diegan, Californian, or even American. <BR>I asked the same question on this site last year when my husband and I were planning a 26 day trip to the Western US in November. I recall that just about everyone said we would definitely need a car to get around. Because we are from the UK we wished to avoid driving in a big US city, on the right, during our first week, although we did hire a car for the rest of the trip. <BR>Let me tell you, we never had so much fun as during those 5 days in San Diego- legging it, busing it, trolleying it, and, 'coaster'ing it, all around. We are no spring chicks either. We got info on the SD public transit systems from the Internet (from a suggestion on this site), Fodor's guide to San Diego is great for transport info. too, and more info. when we got there. We found the public transport system to be easy to fathom, reliable, frequent, so-clean, polite and helpful staff, and a relaxing, no hassle way of seeing the city and surrounding areas. The 'coaster' and the trolley trip to Tijuana were both wonderful. Compared to our system here in the UK, getting around SD was a dream, and very, very cheap. <BR>We stayed in Old Town at the Ramada ($50 something p/night)and took a taxi only once in all that time. We loved meeting people on the public transport system, and everyone, without exception, was helpful and chatty (we don't normally do that in the UK, too recserved!) and we received some great advice/suggestions on where not to miss and how best to get there. Go on, Carolyn, take a chance and take the bus. You might have sore feet at the end of the day, but you'll have a lot of fun, less worry, and no parking charges! <BR>Weather-wise November was just beautiful. Not too hot for walking and sight-seeing. <BR>Wish it were me going back to San Diego. <BR>Have a wonderful trip. <BR>