Where to stay in San Diego?

[Paul K]

All:

Where’s a nice area to stay in San Diego? I’m thinking small studio apartment or house? Kathryn & I are heading there May 27 through June 2. The plan is to go test drive an electric Moke in La Jolla (Jim Lyons at The Sports Car Company is the Moke dealer. Anyone know him?) We plan to stop by some Land Rover shops (scoping for someone to do the rebuild on my Defender), visit the zoo & chill for a week. I looked at VRBO but am having a tough time deciding where to stay. We’d like to be within walking distance of the ocean, nice restaurants etc.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Paul.

[billybek]

We stayed in a little air bnb apartment close to the museum area.
Was very cool. Loved the city.

[motion]

Coronado

[red-beard]

La Jolla. Not much to do in Coronado, except the Hotel Del.

[motion]

Originally Posted by red-beard

La Jolla. Not much to do in Coronado, except the Hotel Del.

Coronado is pretty vibrant these days. I assumed he meant something closer to SD proper. But yes, La Jolla is great.

[red-beard]

I did move out in 2004...

[Jon B]

Originally Posted by Paul K

Where’s a nice area to stay in San Diego? I’m thinking small studio apartment or house? Kathryn & I are heading there May 27 through June 2. The plan is to go test drive an electric Moke in La Jolla...
We’d like to be within walking distance of the ocean, nice restaurants etc.

If not in La Jolla, then just to the south in Pacific Beach (PB) or Mission Beach (MB).

[Tobra]

That Hotel in Coronado is something to see, brunch was not bad in the olden days. The beach along there is pretty nice. Last there about 25 years ago, got some very good fish tacos from a little place across the street from the beach.

[Evans, Marv]

If you want to stay someplace central to the city, you might consider the Banker's Hill area. It's close to the park, down town, embarcadero, Gas Lamp area, ferry terminal to Coronado, etc. La Jolla is nice, but I think of it as limited in activities - the same for Coronado. They're nice places to visit, but you have to go from there to most other places of interest. Pacific Beach hops, but has the highest concentration of bars in the S.D. area. I don't know for sure but Mission Beach might be not too far behind. The good thing is most things associated with S.D., tourism wise, is not more than a twenty minute drive from one end to another.

[Bill Douglas]

Lucky you.

[John Rogers]

The beach communities such as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach or even Ocean Beach have lots of rentals. There is a huge fight going on about them right now. Some things to be careful of:
- Watch out for DUI patrols.
- STOP fully at every stop sign and watch for bicyclists who do not stop.
- No alcohol on the beaches.
- Be careful of drivers who drive with their arms stiff and straight.
- Watch for bicycle lanes as they are going "bike crazy" and actually convert a traffic lane to a bike lane.
- If you have a concealed carry permit, San Diego county does not recognize other states.
- There are several bicycle rental companies with hundreds of bikes (Lime, ETC) so if you rent one check it carefully as they are getting their brake cables cut.

Finally if you have to see cars and such Symbolic Motor Cars has one of the best restoration shops in the country and is run by Patrick Van Schoote. If you ask nicely they will let you walk around their shop area or at least they used to.

Have fun.

[BeyGon]

The Omni in the Gas Lamp District, on sixth st. Lots of really good spots to eat, and even get a drink. Great Art Gallery in the 500 block, if not the Omni there are a lot of other good spots to stay right there.

[Paul K]

Thanks guys.

[red-beard]

There is a Hilton on Mission Bay. Central, close to beach. Water is warmer. Spot is not as touristic as Pacific Beach/Mission Beach. Quick access to I-5

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Jon B

If not in La Jolla, then just to the south in Pacific Beach (PB) or Mission Beach (MB).

We stayed in PB because we got a good deal on a hotel, I guess because it is so close to the beach & university a lot of surfers & college kids. Upside of that is a lot of cool bars, restaurants, shops.

Downside is your bartender might look like a kid.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by motion

Coronado is pretty vibrant these days.

Coronado has always been vibrant when you know where to look. I owned a house there in the 1980's...Orange Ave was great then and now.

Here are some AirBnB listings: https://www.airbnb.com/s/Coronado--CA--United-States/homes?checkin=2018-05-01&checkout=2018-05-04&adults=2&children=0&infants=0&place_id=ChIJf9GTj2JN2YARLPuQziFPsTg&guests=2&source=mc_search_bar&s_tag=lMYigLLP&allow_override%5B%5D=&refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes

Coronado is a great way to relax in San Diego.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by John Rogers

Some things to be careful of:
- Watch out for DUI patrols.
- STOP fully at every stop sign and watch for bicyclists who do not stop.
- No alcohol on the beaches.
- Be careful of drivers who drive with their arms stiff and straight.
- Watch for bicycle lanes as they are going "bike crazy" and actually convert a traffic lane to a bike lane.

Have fun.

I visited a Navy friend a little while ago and this is exactly what he told me too.

[JavaBrewer]

My personal favorite is Coronado island, but you have to take a ferry or drive the bridge to get into the city. I really like the Omni Hotel suggestion - great location near the waterfront, loads of resturants & bars, near the trolly, and if the Padres are playing at home they have a private access ramp from inside the hotel to Petco Park.

What places are you considering for the Defender rebuild? I have used 'The British Garage' near Miramar road on our various Discovery I and II. They used to be owned by a husband and wife team and named something different. Last time I was there (4 years ago) they retained two wrenches who have worked there a long time and were very good. I also used California auto h a u s in (PP is blocking the name for some reason) Encinitas and they did good work with reasonable prices.

[Paul K]

Booked this.

https://www.vrbo.com/1272683

It’s tiny but will do for what we need.

Thanks for all the help guys.

[SoCal911T]

Since you're in Crown Point, you'll have to check out Rocky's. Arguably the best burger in San Diego. Rocky's Crown Pub – Home of the Best Burger in San Diego!

I don't know if it was on your radar but there's a Land Rover shop just a couple of miles away in the Midway District. I don't know anything about them but they always seem busy.