San Diego or Carlsbad?

[bangzoom6877]

Planning a Southern California trip for July 2015. The plan is to begin by flying into San Diego (from NYC), go to the San Diego zoo and to Legoland and probably Sea World, so a 3-night stay in San Diego. Then we will drive to Anaheim and stay there a few days to a week while we tour Disneyland and go into LA a couple of times.

We are trying to spend less than $200 per night (not including tax) on the hotel in San Diego. How would it be staying in Carlsbad instead? How is that area? Is it difficult traveling to San Diego for the zoo or Sea World from Carlsbad? We will be renting a car so no problem there.

Any hotel suggestions in the area? Looking for a clean, safe place to stay in a good neighborhood that is good for families, with breakfast available at the hotel even if it is not included in the hotel price. There will be 11 of us altogether including 5 children ranging in age from 1 and a half to 14 years old.

 

[cmwade77]

You can usually get the Doubletree in Del Mar for around $60 a night through Priceline. It's a great area and a good hotel. Really, you shouldn't spend more than $120 per night and that's assuming you want some really nice places.

Basically, use Name Your Own price on Priceline, Express Deals there or Hotrates on Hotwire. You don't pick your hotel that way, but it's possible to get a great deal.

We once got the Omni hotel (connected to the Padres Stadium) for $70 a night. Just be forewarned, parking can get pricey if that's a concern stay away from Gaslamp and Downtown.

If you want the Doubletree, ask for a 3 star in Delmar for $60 per night and you will almost always get the Doubletree for that.Just note that if you use Priceline, be sure to call to request room types as soon as you make the reservation, so that they are large enough for the appropriate number of people. And you will have to book it on separate reservations with either company. But the savings are worth it. If you book directly, you generally will pay $120 for the Double Tree hotel in Del Mar. Same room, double the price.

 

[bangzoom6877]

You can usually get the Doubletree in Del Mar for around $60 a night through Priceline. It's a great area and a good hotel. Really, you shouldn't spend more than $120 per night and that's assuming you want some really nice places. Basically, use Name Your Own price on Priceline, Express Deals there or Hotrates on Hotwire. You don't pick your hotel that way, but it's possible to get a great deal. We once got the Omni hotel (connected to the Padres Stadium) for $70 a night. Just be forewarned, parking can get pricey if that's a concern stay away from Gaslamp and Downtown. If you want the Doubletree, ask for a 3 star in Delmar for $60 per night and you will almost always get the Doubletree for that.Just note that if you use Priceline, be sure to call to request room types as soon as you make the reservation, so that they are large enough for the appropriate number of people. And you will have to book it on separate reservations with either company. But the savings are worth it. If you book directly, you generally will pay $120 for the Double Tree hotel in Del Mar. Same room, double the price.

I don't feel comfortable booking through Priceline. I have to have full control and know exactly where I am staying. I'm weird like that.

$120, really? Where is Del Mar on relation to the San Diego zoo and Legoland?

 

[endy]

Another option would be to spend 2 or 3 nights in San Diego then pack up, go spend the day at Legoland then drive to Anaheim that night. This way you're not back tracking. It's straight up I5 what maybe an hour to Anaheim. Traffic would be lighter in the evening.
Someone can correct me but I think it's about a half hour from Del Mar to LL, can't remember exactly as we usually stay further south and it's 45 minutes to LL.

 

[cmwade77]

Del Mar is actually a little bit north of San Diego and a bit south of Legoland. It's not quite halfway between the two but would be an ready drive to both.

It is also a very nice area and extremely safe.

Really I won't book a hotel without using hotwire or priceline because I know how much better off a deal I can get and still get very nice places.of course I refuse to overpay for anything if I can avoid it.

But as I said even the regular price will fall into your price range. Their breakfast is not free at Doubletree, but parking is and they have no resort fees, so the price with tax is the price you pay. There rooms are nice and so is the staff.

There have been places in downtown San Diego where we paid more for the resort fee and parking than we did for the room, we were able to cancel one that wanted over $100 a night for these fees.

 

[cmwade77]

Another option would be to spend 2 or 3 nights in San Diego then pack up, go spend the day at Legoland then drive to Anaheim that night. This way you're not back tracking. It's straight up I5 what maybe an hour to Anaheim. Traffic would be lighter in the evening.
Someone can correct me but I think it's about a half hour from Del Mar to LL, can't remember exactly as we usually stay further south and it's 45 minutes to LL.

I would say about 20 minutes to the zoo and 30 to Legoland from del Mar solids about right.

In the evening the drive from Legoland to Disneyland could take up to 2 hours depending on the day of the week, the exact time and if the border check station is open.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I would say about 20 minutes to the zoo and 30 to Legoland from del Mar solids about right. In the evening the drive from Legoland to Disneyland could take up to 2 hours depending on the day of the week, the exact time and if the border check station is open.

Where is the border check station and what could we expect from passing it? Stupid question...will we need to bring proof of US citizenship?

 

[endy]

I don't believe I've ever been stopped at the border check maybe because I haveAlberta license plates. I've only ever noticed the truck inspection station along there.
A local will have more info and I'm curious about the check place too.

 

[GrandBob]

I've been recommending Homewood Suites Liberty Station on this board for a while now. Their 1BR suites generally rent for under $200, and 2BR goes for around $250. Great area, not far from the airport and Sea World, free breakfast, pool, walking path. See these threads:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2793314
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2859208

HTH,
Bob

 

[Itinkso]

We always stay at the Del Mar Doubletree. From there, it will take you about 20 minutes to get to the zoo... we just went to the zoo two weeks ago. You'll get the best rate by booking through their website and pre-paying for the reservation. We always used Priceline until the Morgan Run resort got added to the same category.

Plan on arriving at the zoo 45 minutes or so after it opens and there will a shorter wait at the gates.

And, before you travel anywhere in San Diego, check the Google Traffic Map as traffic tends to back up in the Oceanside/Encinitas/Solana Beach area.

ETA: you don't stop at the Border Check area... just slow your speed as there are a lot of CHP and Border Patrol cars in that area.

 

[Pucka1378]

Sometimes the border check can take a while depending on if there are actual agents waving traffic through or not. You don't need any special paperwork. Sometimes they will stop you and ask where you are going and where you came from. No big deal. Just can cause some traffic back ups.

 

[FryingPansWhoKnew]

The Carlsbad area is very nice. So is the Del Mar area. The border check is run rather infrequently, so it's more of just a bit of info. The delay is also usually not that long.