Help!!!!

[BlueChariot]

We booked a trip to San Diego / Anaheim the week of Thanksgiving months ago. Plane tickets are already purchased and we already have our hotels lined up. Unfortunately, we've had a lot of unexpected expenses (i.e. medical, etc.) since then and still need to figure out tickets for Disneyland, car rental, food, and activities in San Diego.

Anyone with pointers on how to save some money on these items. The car rental we have booked right now is crazy expensive, but we need a car!!! Flying into San Diego and flying out of John Wayne....

Thanks!!!!

 

[ozziejen2000]

We live in Southern California. I usually tell our visitors that are coming to get the City Pass
http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

I am not sure what things you want to do here other than Disney. San Diego has alot to do. There is the zoo, seaworld, Wild Animal Park. There is also Legoland about 1/2 hour north of San Diego.

Near Disneyland, there is Knotts Berry Farm which is alot cheaper than Disney but with alot of rides too. I do not know what you are looking to spend either.

 

[MichiganKris]

Check your car rental prices often. Prices for cars can change very quickly, although over a holiday that may not help much. You may also be able to divide it into to car rentals that are cheaper than one because of the days you are there and using coupons.

 

[littlelulu33]

We are going to CA next summer and I used Priceline for the car rental-name my own price got a mid size for $18 per day.
Also look into the San Diego go card---knotts is on there, legoland, sea world, both zoo's

 

[DawnM]

You may not be in much luck during a holiday week.

Expedia is showing a weekly rate of $266 including taxes and fees as the lowest for an economy car for picking up in SD and dropping off at John Wayne.

I think another problem is that your pick up and drop off are in two different locations. If you pick up and drop off in San Diego for the same week, it is $112 for the week including taxes and fees.

Dawn

 

[Katy Belle]

We went to CA this summer and needed to rent a mini van. They were crazy expensive. Then I found that Hotwire had awesome deals. Saved us hundreds of dollars. We flew into LA and out of san diego. I think it was through Alamo.

 

[bamor]

We did this same exact trip over February vacation, into San Diego and out of the John Wayne Airport.
Thrifty had the best price on the minivan. Try priceline or hotwire closer to your trip if the rates do not come down.
We stayed at the Homewood Suites Liberty Station. Great free breakfast daily and evening meals mon-thurs evenings. This is a big help with the food budget.
Here is what we did in San Diego:
Trader Joe's and Von's were just down the road, we picked up all our snacks, waters, beer and wine, breakfast items for Anaheim.
There was a Subway in the Liberty Station, we purchased sandwiches to bring into the San Diego Zoo (food is crazy expensive there).
We toured the USS Midway (AAA discount, I think), Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego Zoo (AAA discount), walked around Old Town. On the way to Anaheim, traveled along the coast and stopped at The Children's Pool in La Jolla (free parking) and Torrey Pines Nature Reserve ($10.00). There is a Roberto's Rolled Tacos right near Torrey Pines, good and delicious.
Disneyland was offering a special on the tickets, check Ares travel. We ate at P F Chang's one night in the Anaheim Garden Walk, they offer a happy hour menu and validate parking. Order children's meals at counter service restaurants for lighter lunches. Takeout one night from Mimi's, turkey dinner was big enough for one adult and one child to share. Breakfast in our room daily (we stayed at the Hojo Anaheim for $69/night).
Have a great trip.