Visiting san diego for 5days in April (Corona, Belmont: renting, how much)

[shablee33]

My sister and I are looking for a fun place to stay with restaurants, bars, and the beach near by.

we are renting a car so we are able to drive to attractions and such

where do you suggest we stay?
Good restaurants to check out?
what beaches are best?
good night life?
Attractions to see??

Please and thanks!

[shablee33]

why is no one answering?? lol

[Oerdin]

How much money do you have to spend, what sort of hotel experience are you looking for (pampered at a spa, a family atmosphere with kids, or a romantic couples sort of place), will you have kids or with the spouse or are you going with a friend, what sort of age range do you want the people around you to be (loud college kids, successful couples, or older retirees), and what sort of activities do you enjoy? We get threads like this one fairly regularly and none of us want to recommend the wrong place to you so we need a bit more information.

Restaurants: There are tons of good ones but we'll need to know what sort of cuisine you're looking and what part of town you'll be in. Alternatively you could just search some of the old restaurant threads here or at chowhound.com's San Diego forum though Chowhound will probably give you the best up to date advice on which chef is working where and which restaurant is the latest trendy thing.

Beaches: Like everything it depends on what you're looking for. I like Coronado and Del Mar as they have the classic huge white sandy beaches but much of those beaches are private and/or only for guests of certain hotels. Pacific beach is where the young college kids go to see and be seen while flirting with the opposite sex, Ocean beach is a more chill hippy sort of place, while surfer and scuba folks have their own favorite hang outs.

Nightlife: The main night club area is downtown in the gaslamp though there is a huge younger bar/club scene in Pacific Beach, the gays tend to club in Hillcrest, while there are some decent bars and clubs spread out in pockets in various neighborhoods but most of those are more neighborhood sort of places and not worth driving to unless you happen to already be near by.

Attractions: Tons, tell us what sort of activities you like so we can help narrow things down or failing that you could browse one of the dozens of tourism websites or check out one of the guide books at your local bookstore.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

Beaches: Like everything it depends on what you're looking for. I like Coronado and Del Mar as they have the classic huge white sandy beaches but much of those beaches are private and/or only for guests of certain hotels.

FWIW, there are no private beaches in Del Mar. They're all open to the public. I don't know about Coronado.

[Oerdin]

Good to know.

[cruitr]

By state law, all California beaches are open to the public. There are a few exceptions where the US military owns the beach with no public access. Coronado has a couple of private military beaches.

[shablee33]

Originally Posted by Oerdin

How much money do you have to spend, what sort of hotel experience are you looking for (pampered at a spa, a family atmosphere with kids, or a romantic couples sort of place), will you have kids or with the spouse or are you going with a friend, what sort of age range do you want the people around you to be (loud college kids, successful couples, or older retirees), and what sort of activities do you enjoy? We get threads like this one fairly regularly and none of us want to recommend the wrong place to you so we need a bit more information.

Restaurants: There are tons of good ones but we'll need to know what sort of cuisine you're looking and what part of town you'll be in. Alternatively you could just search some of the old restaurant threads here or at chowhound.com's San Diego forum though Chowhound will probably give you the best up to date advice on which chef is working where and which restaurant is the latest trendy thing.

Beaches: Like everything it depends on what you're looking for. I like Coronado and Del Mar as they have the classic huge white sandy beaches but much of those beaches are private and/or only for guests of certain hotels. Pacific beach is where the young college kids go to see and be seen while flirting with the opposite sex, Ocean beach is a more chill hippy sort of place, while surfer and scuba folks have their own favorite hang outs.

Nightlife: The main night club area is downtown in the gaslamp though there is a huge younger bar/club scene in Pacific Beach, the gays tend to club in Hillcrest, while there are some decent bars and clubs spread out in pockets in various neighborhoods but most of those are more neighborhood sort of places and not worth driving to unless you happen to already be near by.

Attractions: Tons, tell us what sort of activities you like so we can help narrow things down or failing that you could browse one of the dozens of tourism websites or check out one of the guide books at your local bookstore.

as i said its me and my sister. Both in 20s. Looking for night life bar/restaurant area and beaches. Not too worried about there being a spa. Price is negotiable. Im just wanting to know what area is best to stay to get to beaches/good restaurants/bars

As far as food goes would love to try some good mexican restaurants, american/steak/italian/french/ whatever

as far as activities im just kind of asking what YOUR favorite attraction is and we will look into it.

[RoxySD]

where do you suggest we stay? - Downtown Gaslamp Quarter
Good restaurants to check out? Phil's BBQ is know for best BBQ in town, Bronx pizza is some of the best pizza in town, Chinese and Mexican is on every corner, almost. LOTS of good asian food on Convoy Street.
what beaches are best? La Jolla Cove (seals @ Children's Pool) or La Jolla Shores (surfers and bonfires @ night) and Del Mar. You can't visit SD and not check out at least one, if not both.For people watching, Mission Beach @ Belmont Park.
good night life? Gaslamp Quarter or Pacific Beach (Garnet Ave.)
Attractions to see?? Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Sea World, Mount Soledad, Old Town, San Diego Zoo, Coronado (Hotel Del Coronado), Balboa Park (lots of museums or just walk around), Horton Plaza, La Jolla Cove (Prospect Street)

[RoxySD]

Oh, and Yelp is really good here in SD so I highly recommend you use it for restaurants. Also check out restaurant.com if you want to save some $$$ on dining.

[shablee33]

Originally Posted by RoxySD

where do you suggest we stay? - Downtown Gaslamp Quarter
Good restaurants to check out? Phil's BBQ is know for best BBQ in town, Bronx pizza is some of the best pizza in town, Chinese and Mexican is on every corner, almost. LOTS of good asian food on Convoy Street.
what beaches are best? La Jolla Cove (seals @ Children's Pool) or La Jolla Shores (surfers and bonfires @ night) and Del Mar. You can't visit SD and not check out at least one, if not both.For people watching, Mission Beach @ Belmont Park.
good night life? Gaslamp Quarter or Pacific Beach (Garnet Ave.)
Attractions to see?? Gaslamp Quarter, Seaport Village, Sea World, Mount Soledad, Old Town, San Diego Zoo, Coronado (Hotel Del Coronado), Balboa Park (lots of museums or just walk around), Horton Plaza, La Jolla Cove (Prospect Street)

awesome thank u soo much!!