hotel in San Diego... help?

[AmyK]

Our plan is to spend 3 days in DLR, and I've got Hojos booked for that. Then we're driving south towards San Diego. We want beach time and then a day for the trolley tour/San Diego tourist stuff. Not doing SeaWorld or the zoo. From San Diego, we'll be driving to Arizona.

So... I'm not sure if I want a hotel on Hotel Circle for easy access to the trolley (Vagabond, Days Hotel? looking for $125 or under), or do we go for something further out?

So confused. Any advice?

 

[JaxsonsMom]

I would suggest the Holiday Inn on the Bay, it probably is pushing your budget a little, but it has an amazing view of the harbor. I am sure that the trolley tour (if we are thinking about the same one) probably stops there or nearby. You are directly across the street from the Star of India and the Maritime Mueseum. There is also Anthony;s Fish Grotto (yummy). You are in walking distance of the USS Midway and the shops at Seaport Village. It is a very fun place to stay with a lot of things to do within walking.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[erinbharris]

Our plan is to spend 3 days in DLR, and I've got Hojos booked for that. Then we're driving south towards San Diego. We want beach time and then a day for the trolley tour/San Diego tourist stuff. Not doing SeaWorld or the zoo. From San Diego, we'll be driving to Arizona.

So... I'm not sure if I want a hotel on Hotel Circle for easy access to the trolley (Vagabond, Days Hotel? looking for $125 or under), or do we go for something further out?

So confused. Any advice?

Have you ever used Priceline? We stayed at the Omni a few weeks ago. It's in the Gaslamp district. $88/night plus $17/day to self park across the street. If you use priceline, select the area you want and 4* I'd start at $75 a night...then add an area one at a time but stick with 4*. After $75 I'd go to $80 and then $85 and then $88. I've always gotten something at $88. I also try to add areas that I know don't have 4* hotels (you can play around first and it will show you what * ratings are in each area). Sorry, that sounds confusing...but Priceline is super easy if you're sure of your dates and not canceling. We did the trolley tour, there was a stop about 2 blocks from our hotel. Good luck!

 

[AmyK]

I never have used Priceline. Haven't generally take vacations where I need to line up a lot of hotels. How close to the trip should I start doing this? the trip isn't til next summer.

Thanks!

 

[erinbharris]

I never have used Priceline. Haven't generally take vacations where I need to line up a lot of hotels. How close to the trip should I start doing this? the trip isn't til next summer.

Thanks!

Check out this website... www.betterbidding.com ...there are some great Priceline tips.

What I would do is book something in 5-6 months NOT on Priceline. Just so that you have something but can cancel if you get something with Priceline. Then 3-4 months out you can start bidding on Priceline if you want. Just know that once you select an area, star rating (I always go 4* except in Minneapolis I've done 3*) and price then you're committed to it and they charge your credit card right away. I started about 4 months out and just stuck with Downtown. I tried a few times at $75 (you have to wait 24 hours between bids if you're not willing to add another location) and then when that didn't work I added another location and went up a little in price. Does that make sense? I don't mind helping you when it gets closer. The one thing I will say is just know that you risk sometimes not getting a pool...there is one hotel in that area in SD (The Grant I think) that doesn't have a pool...I'm not sure how important that is to you. I thought it was important to us...but in the end we only used the Omni pool once!!

 

[AmyK]

Thanks. the pool isn't important, I don't think. We'll probably hit a beach somewhere on Saturday and then Sunday will be sight seeing.

We usually like either a fridge or a continental breakfast, and it looks like the 4* hotels don't do that kind of thing. I have time to figure out what's most important to us, I guess.

 

[diskids2]

Thanks for posting this...we are going to San Diego next summer too!

I just booked the Hyatt Regency because we wanted to stay in Mission Bay...wanted a pool...etc. I plan to do the same thing with packages, discounts, etc.

What are your plans for your trip?

 

[kim3339]

Not sure about the prices or deals right now, but you could also look at Old Town for hotels. It's a great little tourist area with about 4 or 5 hotels. It's right next to the trolley station and freeway wise, it's right off the 5 and the 8E exit is right there as well.

 

[amym2]

We stayed on Hotel Circle this summer and found it to be very convenient. I can highly recommend the Residence Inn. Not sure if the Kids Suite is in your budget, but we loved that the kids had their own room with bunkbeds. We've stayed at lots of Residence Inns and this one had the best breakfast of any- and a huge breakfast room.