LAX to San Diego Hotels/Motels

[gwix98]

To all;

DW and I are going to be doing a trip into So Cal
in late July. Its our plan to drive the coastline from LAX
to San Diego.
Looking for ideas from those who know the area for
reasonable lodging near the beaches if possible.
We will have one week.
Typically when I travel for leisure I use priceline, but
I suspect at peak times like this, it may be a bit difficult to find typical priceline rates.
I realize we may be a bit late for the best choices
in lodging, as we are finding many places already booked solid.
Also very open to suggestions for sights to see
outside of the San Diego tourist traps

We did Monterey area last year and had a great time
so I am really looking forward to a relaxing time.

gwix

[wildcat]

Quote:

We did Monterey area last year and had a great time so I am really looking forward to a relaxing time.

Driving on Calif interstates is relaxing?? Ask Laurence for a suggestion.

[Nords]

Sorry, haven't been there in years. We stayed at San Diego's Old Town Plaza Hotel in 1998. Nice place but I don't know how the years have treated it since then...

[laurence]

Old town is still great, can't tell you about hotels here, because, well, I live here.

Traffic is always bad, but for Pete's sake don't drive between 7-9 am or 4-7 pm here or you will swallow your tongue!

As far as locations, if you have the money, the Hotel Del Coronado is THE place, Coronado Island is breathtaking, DW and I are thinking about buying a 700 sq foot beach house there (about 600k, if anyone wonders - and that's walk to the beach, not on it). Gas Lamp district, near the new ball park is great. If you have a chance to catch a Padre game, it's really a great place to watch baseball (I love live games there). The Zoo is awesome, San Diego wild animal park is amazing, look into becoming members, as it gets you into both all year, but might be cheap enough to be worth it if you just visit both once.

Carlsbad village is neat, we go there a lot since we are just outside of it. But most coastal communities down here have become snotty rich havens, every open space bought and turned into 2 million dollar townhouses piled on top of each other, not much for the tourist to see. Again, Coronado has the best beach, right outside the Hotel Del mentioned above.

My personal feeling is San Diego is a top ten in the U.S. city. Beutiful weather, awesome beaches, tons to do, nearly 50% politically, (slight lean Republican), feels very safe, even downtown, and it's not nearly as fake as L.A.

Can you tell I love this place?

[gwix98]

Laurence,

Thanks for advice/recommendations. WOW, what
a nice hotel from the photos on the internet. Is that
sand really that white? Looks a bit like the sand outside
of Carmel. Or Caribbean areas.

Best rate is $295 a night for basic room during our
times. While I could go that high, I'd rather not, so I
wonder if there is something else on the same beach?

Guess I'll do a bit more investigation.

gwix

[saluki9]

Yeah, the Del really is as nice as the pictures! I stayed there for 4 nights last year (thankfully it was a conference so I didn't pay a dime)

The beaches are so beautiful, that I spent hours walking them back and forth each day. My one suggestion is that when you see the sawhorses with the signs saying do not enter at risk of being shot, I would advise you obey them.

The US Naval special warefare training center is about half a mile down the beach from the del. This is where they train Navy SEALs. (You will see them running up and down the beach all day) I got a rifle pointed at me for taking a few steps too many.

I suggest you at least stay there for at least one night.