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San Diego & Palm Springs


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Now I've booked some obscenely cheap flights into LAX my Mrs has decreed that she wants to spend 3-4 days in SD and not further up the coast.

 

Could anyone offer any advice of areas of the city to stay in? We'll be AirBnB I think.

 

She's also talking about a few days in the Palm Springs area. Again, any advice welcome.

 

Thanks in advance.

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I assume you'll rent a car? If you can find something affordable Del Mar is a very nice beach town, with easy access to La Jolla, Coronado, Pacific Beach, and downtown/gaslamp. The latter is also very convenient, but be careful to avoid renting in the dodgy areas just outside downtown.

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Now I've booked some obscenely cheap flights into LAX my Mrs has decreed that she wants to spend 3-4 days in SD and not further up the coast.

 

Could anyone offer any advice of areas of the city to stay in? We'll be AirBnB I think.

 

She's also talking about a few days in the Palm Springs area. Again, any advice welcome.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Firstly, it's a heck of a drive from SD to PS, along a very boring freeway.

 

When I knew it, the best place to stay in PS was Merv Griffin's (now renamed the Parker) hotel - it's where Robert Downey had his most famous drugs bust, if that helps make your mind up. Fabulous restaurant even now. Steer MILES clear in PS of the hotel 'resorts' out of town, which are usually casinos with row upon deathly row of slot machines pinging away 24/7.

 

The cable car is worth a ride up a vertiginous mountain face - it'll scare the kids, I promise. And the zoo's great, as is the air museum. Best of all though are the relics of old Hollywood - fabulous architecture and history.

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When we went we stayed in the Gas Lamp district in a youth hostel, right in the middle of the city, by all the bars and restaurants. Obviously the hostel is not much good for you and your missus but the area was very nice. Further out than that, La Jolla (pron. 'Hoya') is a very nice part of town.

 

Who are you flying with out of interest?

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Lighthouse

When we went we stayed in the Gas Lamp district in a youth hostel, right in the middle of the city, by all the bars and restaurants. Obviously the hostel is not much good for you and your missus but the area was very nice. Further out than that, La Jolla (pron. 'Hoya') is a very nice part of town.

 

Who are you flying with out of interest?

 

Flying United into LAX. They fcked up on comp' when we had flights into NYC from Manc cancelled and had to travel from LHR. Ended up with 2 x $200 off codes, 2 x $300 off codes and €1300. We've used the $300 codes so flights come in at £150 each. We'll be using the $200 ones for an east coast trip.

 

Dark Munster

I assume you'll rent a car? If you can find something affordable Del Mar is a very nice beach town, with easy access to La Jolla, Coronado, Pacific Beach, and downtown/gaslamp. The latter is also very convenient, but be careful to avoid renting in the dodgy areas just outside downtown.

 

Yes we'll be renting a car. I'll have a look at Del Mar and La Jolla. Originally I had thought of staying somewhere like Oceanside but my missus would prefer in the city, or very close to.

 

Verbal

Best of all though are the relics of old Hollywood - fabulous architecture and history.

 

That's the sort of stuff she loves.

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  • 2 weeks later...

We stayed in a great AirBnB south of Belmont Park on Mission Beach last year. Steps away from the beach and close and easy access across Mission Bay to everything in the city.

 

If you're looking for a well priced hotel, Old Town Inn is our goto place. Again, easy access to get around the city and also close to a 'trolley' stop.

 

Smashing city. Enjoy! (Let me know if you like 'craft beer' and I'll give you my picks of the best taprooms)

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Bit late to the party on this one. San Diego is an absolutely gorgeous city with perfect weather. Last year we stayed downtown at a Marriott Vacation Club which was an absolutely perfect location, really close to the Gas Lamp district and walking distance to the Marina.

 

Like many West Coast cities, homelessness is a massive problem but never felt unsafe. So many great places to visit in San Diego it is untrue - we loved the Karl Strauss brewery downtown. Great food and beer there.

 

To be honest, if you're flying into LAX I would stay somewhere like Pasadena and skip Palm SPrings which my customers out that way are pretty scathing about. A lot of the LA tourist traps are awful but there are some tremendous places outside of downtown LA.

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Bit late to the party on this one. San Diego is an absolutely gorgeous city with perfect weather. Last year we stayed downtown at a Marriott Vacation Club which was an absolutely perfect location, really close to the Gas Lamp district and walking distance to the Marina.

 

Like many West Coast cities, homelessness is a massive problem but never felt unsafe. So many great places to visit in San Diego it is untrue - we loved the Karl Strauss brewery downtown. Great food and beer there.

 

To be honest, if you're flying into LAX I would stay somewhere like Pasadena and skip Palm SPrings which my customers out that way are pretty scathing about. A lot of the LA tourist traps are awful but there are some tremendous places outside of downtown LA.

 

My Mrs changes her mind every 5 mins anyway but we will be doing Sat - Weds in, or close to, San Diego. I intend to ride this route on the Tuesday https://www.strava.com/routes/13574360 and this one with my Mrs on the Monday https://www.strava.com/routes/13574446

 

After that we will, in all likelihood, head either north of LA to Malibu or Santa Barbara, giving me a chance to ride this route https://www.strava.com/routes/13574446 from the former or do Gibraltar Road from the latter, or both depending as to whether I can get away with it.

 

The biggest debate is as to whether I take my own bike or rent one in SD and another in the north!

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