Can't decide on hotel choices in Anaheim

[ChristieJA1971]

Thank you, thank you all sooo much for the amazing advice I received about planning a trip to Disneyland and San Diego in late April. I have one more obstacle to decide on and because I'm very unfamiliar with California I could really use more help. We are a family of 5 with three girls ages 14, 5, and 3. Currently here's our potential trip (we just bought our plane tickets last night):


*April 28, 2012-Fly JetBlue and arrive at Long Beach airport 1pm and rent a car. Head to our hotel and basically have a free evening.

*Ramada Maingate at the Park is a potential choice for 4 nights w/ Southern California City Pass, Character Dining and 2 Princess Packages

*Check out of Anaheim hotel May 2 and head to San Diego for a beach day

*Reserved 3 nights at Old Town Inn and will go to Sea World and the Zoo

*Drive back to Long Beach after a leisurely afternoon and fly back home at 8pm on Saturday May 5

Here's my dilemma...I called Get-Away-today and we can stay at the Desert Palms in a kids room with bunk beds, City Pass, Character Dining and Princess Package for $100.00 more.

So I'm wondering which hotel is better, Desert Palms or Ramada Maingate? Basically same amenities but Desert Palms is $100.00 more (both have free parking and breakfast).

Also, does anyone have experience/opinion for Old Town Inn in San Diego? It seems to get good reviews on TripAdvisor.

Thanks again!
Christie

 

[skiingfast]

I'd stick with the Ramada.

It has a nicer pool and I'm pretty sure with the mid day arrival you could use it. Also it's half the distance and the short walk is nice.



In SD, it's a bit hard to get a perfect hotel in SD. Old Town Inn to me I always found a bit strange. It was on my commute when I lived down there and my thought was, "Why a hotel here?" It's in the middle of an industrial area and I sat there in front of it in traffic every evening waiting for the light to change. The actual place, Old Town is a couple blocks away and a decent neighborhodd. It's not too blocks walking though, it's on the other side of I5 and the proverbial and literal railroad tracks. I don't know why that hotel gets good reviews, I really think people are overlooking its poor location.

There is a nice looking Holiday Inn in Old Town.

 

[ChristieJA1971]

Wow, great advice skiingfast. I'll look up the Holiday Inn that you mentioned in San Diego. Since posting my question I've come into another dilemma with finding even lower rates at the Howard Johnson so I think I'll start another thread with more questions.

Thank you again!!!!

 

[AustinTink]

We've been to San Diego every for summer for the last 7 years. We've never stayed in Old Town. It's great to visit but I wouldn't want to stay there with my family since it can get loud and crazy at night.

I recommend the Mission Beach area hotels in San Diego. There are plenty to choose from.

 

[ChristieJA1971]

Advice well taken. I'm currently looking on TripAdvisor for alternate hotels to Old Towne. I can't tell which hotels are in the Mission Bay area, do you mind giving me a few choices off hand to look up?

 

[sonnyjane]

In SD, it's a bit hard to get a perfect hotel in SD. Old Town Inn to me I always found a bit strange. It was on my commute when I lived down there and my thought was, "Why a hotel here?" It's in the middle of an industrial area and I sat there in front of it in traffic every evening waiting for the light to change. The actual place, Old Town is a couple blocks away and a decent neighborhodd. It's not too blocks walking though, it's on the other side of I5 and the proverbial and literal railroad tracks. I don't know why that hotel gets good reviews, I really think people are overlooking its poor location.

There is a nice looking Holiday Inn in Old Town.

Ski, was it really??? I live off of Linda Vista... I know that stop light well lol.

Sorry for the threadjack OP I haven't stayed there obviously, since I live 3 minutes away, but I agree with Ski that you might want to look at the Holiday Inn instead if you want a place in Old Town, but I like AustinTink's suggestion of a place in Mission Beach - close to the beach and Sea World.

 

[starry_solo]

Don't lose your City Pass. DLR won't replace it if you do (I was standing behind someone at Lost & Found who reported them lost and the cast member said they couldn't be replaced!)

 

[blackjackdelta]

Having traveled to SD numerous times we rather stay down by the bay at this place..http://www.catamaranresort.com/. We did this when the kids were 8-12 and they loved it and got a great price at that time. Have fun.

Jack