Where to stay in San Diego?

[Big Ed]

The wife and I are thinking about vacationing in San Diego this December. Recommendations on places to stay?

[Jim Richards]

My wife and I like La Jolla.

[BeyGon]

Look on line and find a deal with the Omni, it is in the Gas Lamp District, right next to the baseball field. We stayed there last Christmas and loved it. Plenty of places to eat and drink, I would do it again.

[kstar]

La Jolla: La Valencia, Lodge at Torrey Pines

Rancho Santa Fe: Rancho Valencia

Del Mar: L'Auberge - they've been remodeling, but I think it's done

[RKC]

Second the La Valencia - but pay for the balcony. If money's no object, get one of the newer suites by the pool.

Hotel Del Coronado is nice too and I think it was just rehabbed.

[Rick Lee]

Hotel del Coronado is aweseome, as is all of Coronado. But I wouldn't stay there if you don't have a car. You'll be stuck on that island, which is nice, but pretty isolated from the rest of SD. Sure was cool riding my bike over that huge bridge.

I think the Gas Lamp Dist. is overrated. See it, sure. But the area around SD has so much to offer. La Jolla is as close to paradise as exists in the U.S. Be sure to eat at Pancho's in Pacific Beach (dive, but great). If you have the time, fly into Phoenix or Tucson and drive to SD. The scenery is amazing. Last time I did it, I got off I-8 and took back roads along the Mexican border.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

La Jolla is a nice area (wife and I looked into moving there about 2-1/2 years ago). As a temporary visit I like the downtown area near the Star of India and the Seaside Village/Convention Center. Centrally located, lots to do there and a pretty nice area.

S.D. is an awesome city. If I had the chance to move there again I would - bummer that it didn't work out the last time.

[VincentVega]

The W in SD is nice. It's a couple blocks from the water and easy to get around by foot.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

The W in SD is nice. It's a couple blocks from the water and easy to get around by foot.

Agreed!!! If money is no object, you you can cash in points, the W is a remarkable place to stay.

The bar on the roof is neat too, heated sand floors and you can bare foot it in there.

The rooms are well appointed and the beds, the beds,....... heavenly.



Funky blue lit elevators:


Cool spot in the room to read a book or put on a show for the folks ont he street.



The lobby was a cool place to just hang out as well:

[VincentVega]

I had the same room setup, very nice. I just remembered they left a dessert for me when I got back from dinner.

The lobby bar was busy after hours too.

[Arizona_928]

Torrey Pines, gas lamp district and coronado island would be my top 3.

and if you never been on the midway, check it out!!

[VincentVega]

x2 on the Midway. I could have spent all day there.

[911boost]

The wife and I spent 4 nights on Coronado at the Del a couple of years ago. It was awesome....

Getting up early and watching the Buds class run was cool as well.

[upwardr]

I have a contact that rents condos and small homes around Pacific Beach which is a very nice area. Good prices and very clean homes. If any one is interested
I can post it up,

We also stayed in Point Loma area which is inexpensive.

[JavaBrewer]

La Jolla is the cheap knockoff to Rancho Santa Fe...

A place to stay... Loews Coronado. Great views, great restaurant, get a lunch packed in the 3R's (Edit - oops now called Market Cafe) and head across the street to the strand. Local taxi to downtown SD and Coronado.

[Rodsrsr]

To Live: Rancho Santa Fe, to visit: La Jolla, theres so much more to do there.

[kstar]

From one who lives in RSF, I'd have to agree with Rod.

If you like tennis or riding horses, then RSF is great; awesome trail system. The Village of RSF offers a few shops, a couple of excellent restaurants (Mille Fleurs and Delicias) and mostly realtor offices! I forgot golf, which is nice too. It is a really beautiful area and you should check it out.

La Jolla has the ocean, beaches, cove and lot's of shops and food.

Regarding PB (Pacific Beach), it is heavily slanted to the young, beach crowd and filled with spring break style bars, IMO. A stand-out is Tower 23 on the beach - it's a boutique hotel with a great bar and restaurant and an interesting mix of all kinds of folks. There are also places you can stay in on the pier in PB, over the ocean. I've never stayed there, but would think it would be booked up this time if year.

FWIW.

Best,

[Big Ed]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, this is really helpful.

I was about to pull the trigger on La Valencia when David suggested Loews Coronado. I can get a room at the Loews for $139 a night, which seems impossibly cheap.

In terms of activities, we'll be playing a round or 2 of golf, we enjoy biking, and we'll also do the touristy stuff (zoo, seaworld, midway). And time at the beach of course.

In light of those details, does it sound like the Loews would work for us? Or should I Spring for the more pricey La Valencia?

Thanks again.

[RKC]

If you're going day tripping, golfing, etc. - off property stuff - take the Loews deal. No reason to pay $$ just for a bed. La Valencia only if you're going to limit yourself to walking/beaches within walking distance.

[RKC]

And December probably means just sitting or walking along the beach - water is probably 56 or so that time of year...(used to live/swim/surf in SD).