additional two nights in San Diego, where to stay?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

We'll be staying in Carlsbad for the week but have two extra nights so I thought it'd be fun to stay in San Diego proper to knock off some of the central sights. Should we stay at Gaslamp Plaza Suites? Other recommendations? There are four of us so I'd like to avoid a regular hotel room unless we can get connecting rooms. Gaslamp has a 1 bedroom unit available for our dates. I also wouldn't mind more of a beach location if there is such a thing in the downtown area....

Tia!

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We'll be staying in Carlsbad for the week but have two extra nights so I thought it'd be fun to stay in San Diego proper to knock off some of the central sights. Should we stay at Gaslamp Plaza Suites? Other recommendations? There are four of us so I'd like to avoid a regular hotel room unless we can get connecting rooms. Gaslamp has a 1 bedroom unit available for our dates. I also wouldn't mind more of a beach location if there is such a thing in the downtown area....

Tia!

There are no beach locations in the downtown area because there are no beaches. It is the harbor. I own at Gaslamp Plaza Suites and definitely recommend it. It is in a great walkable location very central. Downtown San Diego is great for walking.

We lived in San Diego for 20+ years and now live just an hour away. We frequently use bonus time at the Gaslamp Plaza Suites for 2-3 nights to play tourist.

One thing we like to do is take the ferry to Coronado, great views of the San Diego skyline. You walk 6 blocks down to the Broadway pier and the ferry is right next to it. On the Coronado side, you can walk about a mile down to the landmark Hotel Del Coronado or take a cab. Right across the street from the Hotel Del is a good Mexican restaurant Miguels Cocina that we eat at quite frequently. It is in a courtyard and not visible from the street.

Let me know if you have any questions.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Where I would stay is the Hotel del Coronado. But, that is a hotel, and pricey at that.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Where I would stay is the Hotel del Coronado. But, that is a hotel, and pricey at that.

Or stay at the Coronado Timeshare across the street.
That would be better than a hotel room.
The resort is cute.
http://coronadobeachresort.com

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Or stay at the Coronado Timeshare across the street.
That would be better than a hotel room.
The resort is cute.
http://coronadobeachresort.com

It is a nice resort. Units are small with just a mini kitchen, and it's not on the beach, but just across the street.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

The OP specifically said they wanted downtown San Diego. Coronado is not in San Diego let alone downtown SD.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Or stay at the Coronado Timeshare across the street.
That would be better than a hotel room.
The resort is cute.
http://coronadobeachresort.com

Good idea - I will check it out. I have visited the big hotel and don't think I'd like to stay there, just too crowded. AND the prices are pretty ridic. But I forgot about the timeshare there!

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Or stay at the Coronado Timeshare across the street.
That would be better than a hotel room.
The resort is cute.
http://coronadobeachresort.com

We visited this TS when we were in San Diego. Great location. Very limited availability. Near beach but you will be (practically) on the beach in Carlsbad so why not switch it up?
For touristy stuff, I would recommend Gaslamp

[ronparise Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ronparise]

Worldmarks Inn at the Park is nice, but for something different there is a Marina on Shelter Island that operates a "boatel" stay on a yacht for a few days. if the timing was better you could stay on mine but I havent yet moved my boat to that marina

[buzglyd Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buzglyd]

I own at Gaslamp too. It's a great little place but those sleeper sofas will make your roommates hate you for life.

Check Resortime for different locations. They have some Del Mar locations as well. Villa L'Auberge is awesome.

Maybe get a couple of those over water cottages on the Crystal Pier. It would be a really cool experience.

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

The OP specifically said they wanted downtown San Diego. Coronado is not in San Diego let alone downtown SD.

She also said she'd like to be on the ocean.

We were in San Diego earlier this year. Stayed at the Wyndham Balboa Park. It was fine for our use, but doesn't meet your criteria really. However, we did quite a bit of walking in the Gaslamp district. I was not impressed.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

There are no beach locations in the downtown area because there are no beaches. It is the harbor. I own at Gaslamp Plaza Suites and definitely recommend it. It is in a great walkable location very central. Downtown San Diego is great for walking.

We lived in San Diego for 20+ years and now live just an hour away. We frequently use bonus time at the Gaslamp Plaza Suites for 2-3 nights to play tourist.

One thing we like to do is take the ferry to Coronado, great views of the San Diego skyline. You walk 6 blocks down to the Broadway pier and the ferry is right next to it. On the Coronado side, you can walk about a mile down to the landmark Hotel Del Coronado or take a cab. Right across the street from the Hotel Del is a good Mexican restaurant Miguels Cocina that we eat at quite frequently. It is in a courtyard and not visible from the street.

Let me know if you have any questions.

I will take a look at the ferry, that sounds like it might be nice, thanks!

Worldmarks Inn at the Park is nice, but for something different there is a Marina on Shelter Island that operates a "boatel" stay on a yacht for a few days. if the timing was better you could stay on mine but I havent yet moved my boat to that marina

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OOOOHHHH, the Boatel looks awesome, thanks!! I am used to staying on a friend's boat with no running water while it's at the marina -- it's a big pain to walk all the way up to the facilities at night. But if these have working heads it could be perfect and a fun way to start the trip. Plus, when we move to the t/s everyone will appreciate the extra space

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

We found the trolley to be a great way to get around as well. Where we were staying near Balboa Park we were a couple of blocks walk to the nearest trolley station. For $5/day you could get unlimited rides. We used it to get to Little Italy, Old Town, down to the waterfront (don't remember the stop) and walked to the Midway. There is also a Gaslamp stop (or two I think, one at each end of 5th).

I have a list of some great restaurants a friend gave to me before we went (they used to be in the restaurant business and really appreciate good food and service). If you PM me your email address I'll send it to you.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Worldmarks Inn at the Park is nice, but for something different there is a Marina on Shelter Island that operates a "boatel" stay on a yacht for a few days. if the timing was better you could stay on mine but I havent yet moved my boat to that marina

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1011[/ATTACH]

Ron, I'm curious - looks like most of the listed rates start in May and you aren't moving your boat yet -- is April too early for this Boatel option do you think? I did send an inquiry about one of the boats that looks like it would work.

[ronparise Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ronparise]

Ron, I'm curious - looks like most of the listed rates start in May and you aren't moving your boat yet -- is April too early for this Boatel option do you think? I did send an inquiry about one of the boats that looks like it would work.

Sorry. What I know about this I read in a local boating newspaper. They had a long article about folks that use their boats as a vacation rental to recover some of the costs of ownership. Which is something I want to do. The focus of the article was; is it legal? Turns out not so much except in San Diego Harbor. But I havent researched it. That's a job for my next trip to San Diego. Sorry I dont have more to offer