San diego for spring break - where to stay?

[Anonymous]

We have been to San Diego 5 times over the years with our kids. 4 times we stayed in Mission Bay; once in Del Mar.

Mission Bay is awesome in the summer because you're right on the beach. But it will be too cold for the beach over spring break, so I might look at something in La Jolla or another part of town.

[Anonymous]

So many homeless people there. Be careful.

[Anonymous]

San Diego is definitely “America’s Finest City.” 🏙️

Mission Bay should be fine as the zoo is about a 15-20min. drive away.
Or you could stay closer to downtown San Diego ->> specifically on the Embarcadero/Bayfront, etc.
Because even from there, Sea World as well as some colleges are no more than a half-hr drive away. 😃

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We stayed at Mission beach a few years ago. It was a bit too Wildwood (NJ) for my tastes. Next time we would stay in Pacific beach or La Jolla.

Yes, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach tend to be where the young party people hang out & may be noisy.

If you want a calmer atmosphere, maybe something more family-friendly I would suggest La Jolla.
Del Mar ➕ Coronado are nice as well but are further from the sites that you are going to go to.

Avoid Ocean Beach as that area is full of homeless people along w/high crimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. Will check the recommendations.

What about Hyatt mission bay? I get a rate at Costco, but not sure if we’d be stuck going driving everywhere even for dinner.

Any areas that are walkable? So we could grab dinner in evening without having yo drive

Pacific/Mission/Ocean Beach are all very walkable however during the evenings they may be a little rowdy.

There may be parts of La Jolla that are walkable but not very much (unless you are into very upscale, fine dining.) $$$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have been to San Diego 5 times over the years with our kids. 4 times we stayed in Mission Bay; once in Del Mar.

Mission Bay is awesome in the summer because you're right on the beach. But it will be too cold for the beach over spring break, so I might look at something in La Jolla or another part of town.

Not necessarily.
Tons of people go to the beaches and bays in San Diego during Spring Break!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many homeless people there. Be careful.

I wouldn’t say there are any more homeless people there than any other city in the U.S.

[Anonymous]

Coronado of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all. Will check the recommendations.

What about Hyatt mission bay? I get a rate at Costco, but not sure if we’d be stuck going driving everywhere even for dinner.

Any areas that are walkable? So we could grab dinner in evening without having yo drive

Pacific/Mission/Ocean Beach are all very walkable however during the evenings they may be a little rowdy.

There may be parts of La Jolla that are walkable but not very much (unless you are into very upscale, fine dining.) $$$$

La Jolla is completely walkable and there are lots of restaurants at a variety of price points. We love Puesto (modern Mexican), Taste of the Himalayas, and Bobboi for gelato.

[Anonymous]

We’ve done San Diego for spring break 3 times (but kids are younger than yours - most recent trip was last spring and they were 12 and 8). We’ve stayed on Coronado at the Glorietta Bay in. There are a few rooms that are two bedroom suites. Dinner is walkable, which I appreciate and breakfast is included and the beach is right across the street. They’ve had some problems in San Diego with sewage from Tijuana. You can’t necessarily swim in the ocean in Coronado (I think it would be cold anyway. My understanding is you can in La Jolla but part of that is just different tolerance / town rules for contaminant levels.

We like Coronado because it is SO easy to get to the zoo / balboa park (and the airport).

Last trip we had a really fun (but long) day in La Jolla. We went tide pooling, saw the seals and sea lions, and played in a park. I would have loved to have gotten to the aquarium and / or Torrey Pines. The traffic getting back was terrible. If we go again, as much as we like Coronado, I’d consider spending a night in La Jolla to do more things, but I do prefer the vibe and zoo convenience in Coronado.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve done San Diego for spring break 3 times (but kids are younger than yours - most recent trip was last spring and they were 12 and 8). We’ve stayed on Coronado at the Glorietta Bay in. There are a few rooms that are two bedroom suites. Dinner is walkable, which I appreciate and breakfast is included and the beach is right across the street. They’ve had some problems in San Diego with sewage from Tijuana. You can’t necessarily swim in the ocean in Coronado (I think it would be cold anyway. My understanding is you can in La Jolla but part of that is just different tolerance / town rules for contaminant levels.

We like Coronado because it is SO easy to get to the zoo / balboa park (and the airport).

Last trip we had a really fun (but long) day in La Jolla. We went tide pooling, saw the seals and sea lions, and played in a park. I would have loved to have gotten to the aquarium and / or Torrey Pines. The traffic getting back was terrible. If we go again, as much as we like Coronado, I’d consider spending a night in La Jolla to do more things, but I do prefer the vibe and zoo convenience in Coronado.

Thank you. Op here. I’ve now booked an Airbnb in Hillcrest. We get pretty late so I realized that I’d also like a short ride to the airport. This seemed to provide a balance between cost / distance and had nice reviews.

Thanks all for all the suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many homeless people there. Be careful.

I wouldn’t say there are any more homeless people there than any other city in the U.S.

There is a higher population due to the good weather year round, but there's also been some policy changes in the last few years to try to address it (or just move it outside of view).

[Anonymous]

Belmont Park 🎢 is a carnival 🎡 by the beach so there are a lot of people around, especially on weekends/evenings so it might be a little noisy.

A better location to stay would likely be closer to Mission BAY (not beach), some nicer parts of Pacific beach, or La Jolla.
Or try the Catamaran resort though this may be very pricey.

Coronado is wonderful too but it is the most expensive option and it is on an island so you will have to get there on a bridge over water daily though there are no toll booths and the island itself is very walkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Google “pacific terrace hotel” in PB

We stayed there last year for part of spring break. The hotel is lovely and its great that they have chairs, umbrellas, and other beach equipment you can borrow. But know that it is COLD. This is not a beachy vacation, not in March/April. It is fun to watch to the surfers though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve done San Diego for spring break 3 times (but kids are younger than yours - most recent trip was last spring and they were 12 and 8). We’ve stayed on Coronado at the Glorietta Bay in. There are a few rooms that are two bedroom suites. Dinner is walkable, which I appreciate and breakfast is included and the beach is right across the street. They’ve had some problems in San Diego with sewage from Tijuana. You can’t necessarily swim in the ocean in Coronado (I think it would be cold anyway. My understanding is you can in La Jolla but part of that is just different tolerance / town rules for contaminant levels.

We like Coronado because it is SO easy to get to the zoo / balboa park (and the airport).

Last trip we had a really fun (but long) day in La Jolla. We went tide pooling, saw the seals and sea lions, and played in a park. I would have loved to have gotten to the aquarium and / or Torrey Pines. The traffic getting back was terrible. If we go again, as much as we like Coronado, I’d consider spending a night in La Jolla to do more things, but I do prefer the vibe and zoo convenience in Coronado.

Thank you. Op here. I’ve now booked an Airbnb in Hillcrest. We get pretty late so I realized that I’d also like a short ride to the airport. This seemed to provide a balance between cost / distance and had nice reviews.

Thanks all for all the suggestions.

Hillcrest is definitely very close (and thus convenient!) to the airport but also the zoo as well.
In fact it is right next to them as well as Balboa Park.

This may not be an issue for you and it is not one for me at all but just wanted to offer full disclosure that Hillcrest is primarily known for being San Diego’s gay community.
There are a ton of gay bars, restaurants, clubs, etc. in the area.