Help with San Diego logistics

[geegee14]

We're sailing out of San Diego in October, which is our first time out of this port, and I'm feeling like the logistics are complicated. We have three in car seats, so it's not as easy as "just take an uber!" That won't work for us. We're flying in the day before, will rent a car, and would like to stay and park right by the port. We're staying in San Diego after (not by the port) which is why we want the car. I have read other threads that mention the best place to stay and park is the Wyndham Bayside. Checked that one! Sold out already! What other hotels are very close where we could stay and also leave our rental car for 5 days? Or is there some sort of lot?
Also, what about actually walking to the port? We don't mind walking, but I worry that it's going to be a struggle to get all the kids and all the luggage there depending on the actual length of walking or street traffic. Seems like we wouldn't have enough hands...! Or maybe there's a different way to do all this? Thanks in advance!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're sailing out of San Diego in October, which is our first time out of this port, and I'm feeling like the logistics are complicated. We have three in car seats, so it's not as easy as "just take an uber!" That won't work for us. We're flying in the day before, will rent a car, and would like to stay and park right by the port. We're staying in San Diego after (not by the port) which is why we want the car. I have read other threads that mention the best place to stay and park is the Wyndham Bayside. Checked that one! Sold out already! What other hotels are very close where we could stay and also leave our rental car for 5 days? Or is there some sort of lot?
Also, what about actually walking to the port? We don't mind walking, but I worry that it's going to be a struggle to get all the kids and all the luggage there depending on the actual length of walking or street traffic. Seems like we wouldn't have enough hands...! Or maybe there's a different way to do all this? Thanks in advance!

Well, SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott are not far. By "no far" I'm saying at least as far as the Wyndam is, but the other direction. A couple of blocks.

May I ask why you are renting a car pre-cruise? Since you're renting just to pay for parking while on the cruise, why not wait until after the cruise to rent it?

 

[cisobe]

I believe most of the hotels have free shuttles from the airport (which is really close to the pier and hotels). We were in San Diego for 3-4 days before our cruise and drove up to Disney, so we did rent a car. If we didn't go to Disney, we wouldn't have rented a car, as we could have easily gotten from the airport to the hotel with the airport shuttles.

I believe on disembarkation day, there are shuttles back to the airport, so you can pick-up a car if you need it.

When we went on our EBPC, the Wonder docked at Broadway Pier instead of the World Pier. Many people just walked over from the Wyndam. We had 2 young kids so we took the shuttle over.

 

[geegee14]

I was thinking that it would be convenient having the car waiting close to the pier after the cruise. That way we could get the car and head right off on our adventures without having to find transport back to a car rental place. Also, I like to have my kids in car seats. This is all assuming there is hotel parking or a lot nearby? If there's a better way to do it, I'm open to it! That's why I am asking for everyone's expertise! Looking for the most seamless way to go about things to ease stress with three little kids.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The pier in San Diego is downtown so your parking prices will be downtown prices. The hotel and surface lots are fairly spendy.

Add in the cost of car rental and CA tax and you are looking at $50+ per day while you are not even there.

 

[Sarah Fallon]

Check out BRIC North, it’s right at the SpringHill Suites which says it’s 1/2 block from the port. We booked there, it was $16 a day. Check about Bayside though, one site I went on said it was sold out while another had it as available.

 

[deanimal]

When we got off a repositioning cruise with two little kids, we caught a city bus from the street across from the port to the airport. It was super easy! They came along every 15-20 minutes (this was about 10am on a weekday) and I think it was $2 for the adults. We just looked up directions using the transit option on google maps. I was also prepared to walk the 2 miles to the airport since we walk those types of distances all the time, but the bus stop was right there so it was too easy to pass up.

Most hotels also have shuttles. However if you're not comfortable with your kids riding in a van shuttle with no car seats, you should know that all the car rental desks at San Diego airport are off site and reached by shuttle. I guess you could have one parent go pick up the car while the other one waits at the airport with the kids and seats, then come by and pick everyone up and install the seats, but it's something you would need to plan for.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Check about Bayside though, one site I went on said it was sold out while another had it as available.

Same thing happened to me. It was sold out on one website, many months in advance, but I found it on another site. Another idea is to ask for valet parking which costs more but probably has more availability.

If you can walk/drag your luggage for a mile, park at Aladdin lot. They do have shuttles, but it sounds like you don't want to use a shuttle.

 

[AlohaNow]

When we got off a repositioning cruise with two little kids, we caught a city bus from the street across from the port to the airport. It was super easy! They came along every 15-20 minutes (this was about 10am on a weekday) and I think it was $2 for the adults.

Thanks for mentioning this! I found this easy public bus route when researching our transit options. There will only be two of us when we cruise in October, so we plan to take the 992 route both to and from the port. DCL wants $30 a head for a two-mile transfer from the port to the San Diego airport. No thanks, Disney. We'll pay the current $2.50 a head to get there!

 

[geegee14]

I’m not totally opposed to shuttles. We do the ME and busses to/from parks. Not sure why this feels different to me!

 

[Travel60]

While SD is a very walkable city and I would ordinarily suggest walking.....NOT with 3 carseats (and presumably 3 kids and related luggage). There is a trolley line to cross and a quite wide, busy street. You can do a lot of sightseeing in SD without a car (before) then take a shuttle to Port. Then, perhaps at end of cruise, one person can disembark as early as possible, cab or bus to car rental (?airport?) and come back for everyone else. There may be downtown rental spots.