Southern CA...need recommendations on beach area to visit

[cepmom]

we're planning a trip to Southern CA this summer (probably 8/12 - 8/21) Visiting Disneyland of course, but also want to spend a few days at the beach.

I'm overwhelmed at the choices...never been to the area and have no idea what's good and what isn't. We're a family of 5, myself, DH DD20, DD12 and DD9. Looking for a nice,safe place to go, hoping for a hotel close to the beach reasonably priced (like $200/night or less). We are open to traveling south towards San Diego too...maybe even squeeze in a trip to Seaworld if we end up down that way.

I did find the Pacific Edge hotel for a decent nightly price, but it was an advanced purchase rate that is non-refundable and I'm not ready to pull the trigger on booking yet without knowing really what else is out there. Any suggestions on an area or hotel?? TIA!

 

[eduk8r26]

San Diego is a nice place to go, also La Jolla just north of San Diego. Carlsbad is another consideration. There are lots of beach towns between Anaheim and San Diego.

 

[Cinerbelle]

Huntington Beach is nice and has a great "downtown" area with shops, restaurants, etc.

 

[AustinTink]

Huntington Beach is nice and has a great "downtown" area with shops, restaurants, etc.

We like Huntington. My favorite is Coronado Island. We go every summer...

 

[cepmom]

San Diego is a nice place to go, also La Jolla just north of San Diego. Carlsbad is another consideration. There are lots of beach towns between Anaheim and San Diego.

I know....that's why I am having such a hard time deciding where to go!

Huntington Beach is nice and has a great "downtown" area with shops, restaurants, etc.

We like Huntington. My favorite is Coronado Island. We go every summer...

do you have any hotel recommendations? I know a hotel on the beach within my budget is unlikely....so if we get a hotel not on the beach, is there easily accessible parking at Huntington Beach?

 

[smkiss02]

I know....that's why I am having such a hard time deciding where to go!




do you have any hotel recommendations? I know a hotel on the beach within my budget is unlikely....so if we get a hotel not on the beach, is there easily accessible parking at Huntington Beach?

Hi there. We've stayed in Huntington Beach twice now in the last 3 years and we're a family of 5 too.

The first time we stayed at a Howard Johnson on the main drag (Beach Blvd.) and it was fine. We were pretty much at the beach all day so it was a place to sleep. They had a basic continental breakfast too. We ended up finding a coupon book and used a coupon from there for less than $100 a night. We were about 5 minutes away from the beach.

The second time we stayed at Comfort Suites on Beach Blvd (pretty much right off the freeway). It was around $115 a night I believe and it had a big continental breakfast (waffle maker, eggs, sausage, toast, cereal, etc.). All you had to do was drive straight and you were at the beach..probably about 10 minutes.

We drove to the beach and parked there everyday. Parking was fine. We never found it to be a problem. Although we did head down to the far side of the beach one Saturday afternoon and there were huge line-ups on the highway trying to get into a full parking lot.

Of the beaches from Malibu to San Diego...Huntington is our favourite. San Diego has really nice beaches as well!

 

[dejr_8]

San Diego is a nice place to go, also La Jolla just north of San Diego. Carlsbad is another consideration. There are lots of beach towns between Anaheim and San Diego.

If you have never been to CA I would also suggest driving down to the San Diego area for the beach visit. It is absolutely beautiful.

If you can afford it - Stay at the Hotel Del.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Why don't you head over to the Southern CA planning board and get lots of advice and threads to read?

 

[cepmom]

Hi there. We've stayed in Huntington Beach twice now in the last 3 years and we're a family of 5 too.

The first time we stayed at a Howard Johnson on the main drag (Beach Blvd.) and it was fine. We were pretty much at the beach all day so it was a place to sleep. They had a basic continental breakfast too. We ended up finding a coupon book and used a coupon from there for less than $100 a night. We were about 5 minutes away from the beach.

The second time we stayed at Comfort Suites on Beach Blvd (pretty much right off the freeway). It was around $115 a night I believe and it had a big continental breakfast (waffle maker, eggs, sausage, toast, cereal, etc.). All you had to do was drive straight and you were at the beach..probably about 10 minutes.

We drove to the beach and parked there everyday. Parking was fine. We never found it to be a problem. Although we did head down to the far side of the beach one Saturday afternoon and there were huge line-ups on the highway trying to get into a full parking lot.

Of the beaches from Malibu to San Diego...Huntington is our favourite. San Diego has really nice beaches as well!

thanks for the info! I looked at the Howard Johnson and it looks decent...the price is great too. I will keep it in mind! Is there a fee to park at the beach?

If you have never been to CA I would also suggest driving down to the San Diego area for the beach visit. It is absolutely beautiful.

If you can afford it - Stay at the Hotel Del.

I wish we could afford the Hotel Del! I looked and it's so beautiful! Unfortunately, it's out of my budget

Why don't you head over to the Southern CA planning board and get lots of advice and threads to read?

I looked there and while there's some great info, there's not a lot of traffic on those boards so I thought I'd post here as well. Hope that's ok.

I found the Inns of America suites on 5010 Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad for a good price...anyone have any thoughts on this area? The website says it's 1/4 mile from the beach...I'm just wondering if most of the beaches have parking available or would we have to walk from the hotel?

 

[dejr_8]

I wish we could afford the Hotel Del! I looked and it's so beautiful! Unfortunately, it's out of my budget

If you make it down to San Diego make sure you make a visit to the Del just to look around. It is amazing.

 

[smkiss02]

thanks for the info! I looked at the Howard Johnson and it looks decent...the price is great too. I will keep it in mind! Is there a fee to park at the beach?

We did have to pay to park...$10 a day maybe? I don't quite remember.

 

[KAMLEM]

We rented a condo on the beach in Oceanside a few years ago and it was great. I'd love to go back there.