Day trips to San Diego

[CdnCarrie]

I remember having this same dilemma on our last trip to California in 2005.

We're going to Legoland for sure and now thinking about SeaWorld as well. However I really hate the idea of checking out, moving down to San Diego for 1 night and coming back up. Plus if we do that then we miss the advantage of offers liek the current stay for "5 pay for 3".

I don't remember the drive from DL to San Diego being all that bad.

Would it be crazy just to do 2 day trips there rather than changing hotels? Probably wouldn't be consecutive days.

Don't want to just add the San Diego days to the end of the trip as then we would have to get a room the night before our early flight home and that means 3 hotels for a 8 night stay.

 

[sonnyjane]

I don't remember the drive from DL to San Diego being all that bad.

Would it be crazy just to do 2 day trips there rather than changing hotels? Probably wouldn't be consecutive days.

Ehhh...I don't think I would want to do it. It's 90 miles, so depending on your driving speed, about 90 minutes each way, and that's with absolutely no traffic, which can't be guaranteed! I drive up for the day to go to DL (I live right by Sea World for comparison's sake) and 90 minutes is pretty standard if I purposefully leave before or after rush hour, in both directions. I also *may* drive a little faster than the speed limit Plus think of the time lost and gas money spent... if you really wanted to take advantage of the 5 for 3 promotion heck, I bet you could find a hotel down here for one night and never even have to check out of your DL hotel and you'd probably still save some money!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Hmm might be able to do a cheap hotel for one night. That wouldn't cost much more than the gas would it?

 

[Astro Orbiter]

SW and LL are not near each other, but I'm sure you know this. PP lives by SW and has a 90 minute drive - that sounds about right. I live right by LL and it's 45 minutes or so. No I-5 disasters, rainy days, or rush hour traffic included!

Personally, I'd stay at DL and make the drive - but I would rather drive than switch 'homes' anytime. And, if you want to do them as non-consecutive, it makes even more sense to rent a car and do the drive.

 

[erinbharris]

If you decide to grab a hotel for one night then try Priceline...I got the Omni San Diego for $88 a night.

We're moving hotels....starting in Carlsbad for 3 nights, then San Diego for 3, and then Anaheim for 5. My kids can't wait--sure, it's a hassle to move, but it's also super fun for them to stay in a few different places (ie. new pools, new restaurants) and saves us from worrying about bad traffic.

 

[CdnCarrie]

It would be cool if we could fly into San Diego and fly out of Orange County. But we're redeeming Airmiles for our plane tickets and don't know how that would work. Maybe I should check!

 

[erinbharris]

I wonder if you could do that? Where are you flying from? I'm flying in from Winnipeg...and have a crazy flight on AC--Wpg, Toronto, SNA...but...got it for $110 each way so am not complaining!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Winnipeg as well! How cool is that!

Haven't book yet as too early. Almost have enough AM for 2 flights. Probably use Air Canada as WJ does not fly into SNA only LAX.

We did the trip once in 2005 and we just had to change plans in Minneapolis.

 

[erinbharris]

AC flies to SNA but only from Toronto..so you'll have to go to TO first and then to SNA. We are just making a fun time out of the travel part--left ourselves 3 hours in Toronto so we can go for something to eat and build up the excitement!!

We got a great deal during the Olympics--with taxes it was less than $400 each, I was beyond happy with that.

Funny...small world! Nice weather we're having today...I'm just hoping the snow they are predicting for the weekend holds off!

 

[CdnCarrie]

Maybe we flew NW in 2005 then. We certainly did not have to go through Toronto! It was Minneapolis - Orange County.


Snow! I had only heard rain. Yikes!

 

[SnowWhite09]

We stayed at Hojos right near DL and drove to San Diego on 2 separate days. Once to the zoo and once to Sea World. We didn't think the drive was bad at all and quite enjoyed it. We left at around 8am on each day and arrvied just before opening for Sea World which allowed us to be one of the first families in the line.

We didn't want to change hotels for one or two nights as we thought this would be annoying.

I hope you have a great time whatever you decide.