San Diego questions

DH and I are going to San Diego for BIL's med school graduation at the end of May. We also plan to spend a few days doing a bunch of touristy things.

FIL is staying at a hotel in the gaslamp district. These hotels seem more expensive than others in San Diego. Since we're taking a few vacations this year, we'd like to keep the hotel cost down if possible. Is it worth spending more to stay in the gaslamp district or are there hotels in other areas that are nice?

I assume we should rent a car since we have to go to the med school and we plan on going to the zoo, Sea World, etc.

Does anyone have any recommendations on things to see/do there? Thanks for your help.

Re: San Diego questions

I don't have any rec's (sorry), but I'm planning a trip to SD in the spring, too, so I'm looking for hotels, too - we don't want to spend too much, but want something nice-ish that's not too far from the action.

(sorry to hijack!)

Re: San Diego questions

The thing about the Gaslamp is that's the heart of "downtown" - where there are clubs, restaurants, some shopping, Petco Park, etc. If you want to do those things and be right there in the middle of it all, it's good to stay in the Gaslamp.

But San Diego isn't like NY - it's much smaller and a little more spread out, and a lot of what there is to do and see, isn't necessarily all right downtown. So if you want to cut costs, I'm sure you can find a hotel in another area that's also nice.

You should definitely rent a car.

Suggestions/recommendations... you already mentioned the zoo and Sea World. Go to Balboa Park, go to the beach, Torrey Pines is an awesome golf course if you like golf, there's the Wild Animal Park, check out Coronado Island and the Hotel Del Coronado, I like to take people to Horton Plaza or Fashion Valley (outdoor malls), go to Old Town San Diego, eat at the Strip Club (steak place, you get to cook your own steak right there), Fred's for Mexican in Old Town... I'm sure your BIL will have some suggestions if he's been living out here a few years too. Depends on what kind of stuff you're looking to do. Let me know if you need any more specific suggestions...

Re: San Diego questions

the gaslamp district is great, but if you stay there - don't rent a car for the entire time - you will pay for parking. you can do a lot by trolley from downtown, but a car is needed to do the outskirt trips.

the airport is downtown, so a cabride to gaslamp is nominal.

Re: San Diego questions

We stayed on Coronado Island and it was amazing. The Gaslamp is okay but I would rather spend the money on Coronado.