Hotel Prices Going Down in SD

Now is a great time to visit and book in SD. The county and especially San Diego offer dyno-mite prices on rooms. There are many hidden gems to savor.

I'm Going to San Diego-- They Got Some Crazy Little Women There

I'm going to San Diego, San Diego here I come! I'm going to San Diego, San Diego here I come! They got some crazy little women there and I'm gonna get me one. Well I might take a plane, I might take a train, but if I have to walk, I'm gonna get there just the same.

The song, "I'm Going to Kansas City" really rings true of San Diego. Unlike many California beach towns that can't be accessed by plane or train, San Diego has both Amtrak and San Diego Airport.

The song mentions crazy little women. San Diego nightlife is one of the best in California. The nights are foggy and cold in San Francisco. L.A.'s nightlife is expensive, it's hard to park your car in West Hollywood, and it is really crowded. But when San Diego host special street scene concerts, Mardi Gras festivals, St. Patrick's Day events, and food nights, the city really does a great job with their parking and public transportation of getting people to and from events.

I really love the nights in San Diego because they're so warm and tropical.. but more than that, the music scene (including blues) is incredible. Music is the heartbeat of this million plus town where salsa and latin jazz meet blues, metal and classical. It's my kind of town, and it ain't Kansas City or Chicago (both of which I have live in). If you want to stay in Kansas City or Chicago

Visit San Diego Hotels and visit its charm

Visit San Diego Hotels looks like the launch of another site selling the hotel rooms. I am all about visiting San Diego and get bit by the bug every few months. San Diego has a lifestyle that no place in California offers. Combing south of the border customs, foods and lifestyle with California charm, sunshine and luxury hotels, you thrown in a bit of Balboa Park, a pinch of the San Diego Zoo and some Broadway tunes at one of the musicals, and you have the most casual, most fun vacation to be offered on the West Coast.

San Diego's fabuloso vacations

San Diego has simply blossomed into the finest hotel accommodations destination and beach vacation in California. Not that it wasn't always the best. But just to prove its worth, there are so many new hotels and remakes of oldies, that you will simply find yourself in the epicenter of vacation land in San Diego.

Conventions, meetings, concerts, special events, street fairs and plain old fashioned family vacations can be gladly accommodated there. I love what's happening in the Gaslamp Quarter especially. It retains a bit of the old San Diego grit on a late night or early morning stroll as cars head to work. But the region and boutique hotels are totally happening, and though Hollywood cries out, "look at me" with their rooftop decks of their hotels, San Diego's got them beat, hands down.

Some great new offerings you may want to check out include names like Se San Diego, Ivy and Indigo.

Sandcastle Contest in Imperial Beach

This weekend the huge sandcastle contest in Imperial Beach will completely wipe out the modest inventory of hotel rooms in the city. Nearby places such as Coronado Island, Chula Vista and San Diego will be where you need to look and book for overnighters for this event. Expecting to draw over 100,000 people to the 2-day festival, the good times will climax with awards for best sand sculptures.

San Diego's 25th Street Scene Features Black Eyed Peas Band

Black Eyed Peas is going to headline the 25th annual Street Scene in San Diego on Aug. 25 & 26, 2009. This literal street scene is not a mob, per se, but a well organized party of music, dining, and delight for those who want to rock all day and night. The event will take place in San Diego's East Village next to Petco Park. street-scene.com

One Year Later the Gas Prices Are...Going Up!

It's like a hot air balloon rising, then falling, then rising again as the prices go up and down. In Los Angeles and San Diego the prices are mid-$2-- and going up, to be sure. They're trying to reach $3 once again. Just last year, the price of a gallon of gas was around $4 as one blog reminded me. I am hoping that the prices will slow, but that's not very likely. Once promising note in my neck of the beach is that there are a lot more small cars returning to the roads. Now that's a refreshing sign!

San Diego Hotel Prices are Not that Bad This Summer

If you're looking for a great vacation, don't let San Diego stop you. It's welcoming visitors with that warm southern hospitality it is famous for. One of our friends says that when you live in San Diego, you just know that when traffic stops, someone is probably giving a tourist directions. It's that popular -- and that friendly. Like any city, use caution, however, especially at night.

So you're thinking of hitting the mean streets of Gaslamp Quarter at night for some fine dining, music and beverage. Then stay at the Gaslamp Quarter hotels so you don't have to drive after drinking. There are a number of fine hotels in and around Gaslamp.

Not your bag? The pick a family destination hotel such as Town & Country, next to a shopping mall. The hotel includes several swimming pools and a family vibe. It's a favorite our family enjoys.

Beach vacations are tops and there are a few beaches where you can stay right next to the sand. They include Mission Beach, Mission Bay and Pacific Beach. Ocean Beach has a few hotels but not as much.

Get packing, and get heading to San Diego. It's the greatest sunshine on the planet!

San Diego Hilton Resort on Mission Bay

Through the years we've had the joy of spending vacations at the Hilton Resort on Mission Bay, San Diego. One of our friends always treated us to special suites on the bay, and the fabulous stays. While the property is a vacation playground for all ages, the rooms receive an incredible amount of wear from the popularity of the location, and the large amount of business meetings and family vacations hosted there.

On site, there are sand volleyball courts, a small pier where you can board the hotel's yacht, there are sailboat rentals, and a beautiful swimming pool surrounded by tall palms. One favorite activity for the kids used to be a game room arcade.

They've recently renovated the hotel.
see it!

vacation time in SD, but not for me

It's vacation time in SD, but not for me. This year the vacations will be day trips, at most. I spent my $250 at Hard Rock Hotel last spring, but today, $250 goes toward paying bills.

Nevertheless, many are unaffected by this economic downtown. If you have a job, you'd hardly know there's a recession going on. When you go to work day after day, vacations are your salvation. They get you through the work week and the year. I've been there--ever so briefly.

Having worked for myself all these years, vacations have always been more of a story to write, photos to take and things to see and do for a buck or two.

San Diego has always been one of my favorite "vacations" even though the trip has normally surrounded some sort of assignment or job.

Wishing you were here in San Diego

The weather outside is delightful, let the sun shine in! We're visiting San Diego beaches this weekend and discover such a cool vibe. Many of our friends are playing volleyball at Ocean Beach, and we just took a stroll on the OB pier. San Diego has two piers that I am aware of...Ocean Beach and the Crystal Pier at Pacific Beach.



As for hotels, I booked a room at a beach hotel, the Bahia, which is one of the best beach hotel deals currently. Check out rates (I found one under $100!)

San Diego beaches are by far my favorite Southern California beach vacation and by the numbers, they top out any other Socal region for beach vacations.

There's a special list of strictly beach hotels, which makes it easy for you to decide where to stay if beaches are your thing.

What to do in San Diego? Are you kidding? Museums, art, theme parks (SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo & Legoland), sports, nightlife, shopping, etc.

San Diego's Hard Rock vs. Oxnard's Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach

San Diego hotels will offer a few deals this summer. If you can't afford the newest luxury hotels in San Diego, some of the finer properties will continue to offer special promos. We previously mentioned Hard Rock Hotel, for instance, that now has a Sunday stay and pool part invite (DJ or band) for around $150. Trouble is, when I did the math on it in the blog, that room actually cost $216.64. San Diego is not immune to charging the tourist for rooms. They've added five cents to the booking in a new tax. But Hard Rock itself is over the top in fees...$17 for in service (phone, fitness center, business center), which some hotels offer free of charge. Then there's the $32 parking fee. For those who can't do the math or don't care, the offer is still a good one at $216, but not everybody can afford that kind of money.

The deals are better in some beach cities over others. A suite in Oxnard at Embassy Suites will cost me on my own web site,

$167.41 - room ($150 night) plus parking $15, taxes, = $172 -total

$186.92 - room 0n Embassy Suites web site ($169) plus parking $15, taxes = $201.92

So look at the comparison. San Diego's same $150 room at Hard Rock total price is $216.
Oxnard's hotel suite on the beach at $150 at Embassy Suites total price (on my site) is $172.

San Diego and Hard Rock are charging $44 more for staying there.

How much of it actually goes to Oxnard versus San Diego?
Oxnard Sales Tax = $15.31
San Diego Sales & Hotel Tax = $18.68

While the difference of $3.50 for a one night stay doesn't seem like much, if you add up a week of stays in San Diego, you're paying over $23 more in taxes. Most of us figure it's worth that amount to stay where we want, so it probably won't affect your choice of destination. However, the lesson here is beware of room charges, valet parking and parking fees, and "in fee" charges for free local calls (we all have cell phones, so who needs the in-room phone, gym and business center, etc.) I can live without all that stuff personally, and would prefer it be an option rather than a mandadatory fee.

Which San Diego Hotels are Hot for Spring 2009?

If you find your favorite hotel in San Diego booked this spring, it could be that you aren't alone. What's hotel "hot" at California beaches is affordable luxury, affordable comfort, or budget. For example, out of nine America's Best hotels, six of them are booked on an upcoming weekday span, leaving only three with rates ranging from $51 - 95.

With the cheapest Best Western room going for $78, all 28 Best Western hotels in San Diego have availability during the same time frame, however.

Comfort at Comfort Suites can still be yours for less than $100. Half the Comfort Suites are full, while there's still room in the inn at Comfort Suites at Sea World, Escondido, and Gaslamp Quarter ranging from around $90 to $140.

Do you like the name "Coronado"? Don't bother with it. The handful of Coronado-named hotels on Coronado Island are booked during the upcoming timeframe.

Here's a deal amongst the La Jolla digs... Hilton Hotel La Jolla Torrey Pines for $99! Pretty unheard of. However, Hilton San Diego Bay Resort is sold out during the days after Easter.

The main thing I've noticed from studying the prices during the post-holidays, is that by researching the entire San Diego area, there's some fairly good availabity and pricing, but you just need to spend about 20 minutes looking at the hotels, the prices, and consider staying in several of San Diego's favorite regions--don't be stuck on one spot alone.

San Diego's Feng Shui Resort Loews Coronado

Loews Coronado Bay Resorts isn't for cool cats, but tweety is quite welcome.

Check out Loews incredibly incredible rates, whatever that means!

What do a cage full of finches facing toward the ocean tell you about the hotel hallways of Loews Coronado Bay Resort? That people in San Diego are nutty perhaps? Well, yes, they are. When I stayed in Catamaran Resort, my next door neighbors was a suite where all the exotic birds sleep each night. A ground floor suite with patio deck and bay views is occupied by a bunch of cuckoos.

So I head for another hotel known for its hospitality, its tennis courts and it feng shui. And what I discover are more birds. I think San Diego hoteliers are tweeting too much these days.

Loews Coronado Bay Resort is absolutely a breath of fresh air, no matter how you slice it and serve it. For those who only know about Hotel del, then keep driving south along the island till you get to Loews at a gated entrance near some luxury bay homes. What's so special about Loews? It's isolation for San Diego, its restaurants and food, its tennis courts, its pools, its special events, its beaches, and yes, its birds. These are a few items that you may find interesting and worth a visit on your next San Diego vacation.

The one thing you may not see specifically, but must be working because it sure captivates me--it's that feng shui!

Those who liked the Loews in San Diego's Coronado might like Loews in Santa Monica.

The GOOD NEWS: Hard Rock Hotel Room

Note: Hard Rock Hotel San Diego photos are better than mine, so do check them out.

OK, I came down a little hard on the hard rock yesterday when I wrote about its seemingly faux vibe. I have to admit that I grew up in the rock generation and it really wasn't like that at all...so my problem may be that I don't "get it". But the truth of Hard Rock Hotel in Gaslamp Quarter San Diego is it has a wonderful room! I would book the place for that alone.

Bed is awesome..comfortable, yet firm. Linens and duvets clean, white, perfect! Floors well vacuumed! Flat screen- big! You can see the tv from any part of the room. Art work is nice. I like the art which is simple, rock-themed, a bit sexy, completely irresistible. The extra side chairs are ideal for reading and the work table works for me. The bathroom is modern, clean, and a special touch is the black satin cover with a little tassle for the spare toilet paper roll.

The view: My room looked out to Petco Park. Since no game was going on, I mostly looked at the other hotels that have sprung up. And being up pretty high (can't remember how many floors), I looked at the little people below walking, catching taxis, etc. At night this view of city lights was relaxing. And most of all, the room was totally quiet.

Since my search in hotels is for a good night's sleep and the creature comforts of home, I rate this hotel tops. What the heck, it gets a 5 diamond or 5 star California Beaches rating as a beach hotel where the beach is within blocks, and you don't have to sacrifice a thing. You can live like a rock king.

For conventioneers, the convention center is right across the street which is perfect for easy strolls. And for those wanting to take the red trolley to Tijuana, it's just outside the hotel.

San Diego Hotel Blog - Hotels in San Diego

Greetings! I am a big fan of San Diego hotels. I have stayed on hundreds of vacations and business trips to this excellent place and I never get tired of it. My latest hotel stay was at the Hard Rock Hotel. It looked really cool on the web site so I decided to go when I found their cheapest price I could possibly get (paid around $200, plus extras). Was it worth it? I personally liked it, though my older travel companion wasn't as excited about her room.

Here's the scoop:

When you check into the Hard Rock Hotel lobby at the entry way to Gaslamp Quarter, you are greeted by a night-time, dark version of the Jetsons cartoon in which cute girls (usually in cool clothes and short skirts) welcome you with the space age video and changing lights behind them...kind of like a Las Vegas or Pechanga night club display. It's just as if you were going into a bar, and by the way, the bar is located to the right of the check in. There's no traditional desk for check in, but kind of individualized podiums or lecture stands, only space age style, again.

What's really funny about this faux modern check-in lobby is seeing all the men in their oxford shirts who are staying at the hotel for a conference. Wearing the little plastic name tags around their necks, you get the feeling the kids are in school and have their names so they don't get lost. Then you put them in a night club and the whole thing kind of creeps you out like this is trying to be one thing, but it turns out to be a joke.

So you get past the cute girls and the dark lobby, heading for your room. Get ready for a surprise, they promised me. Nothing! What's the surprise? I sure didn't find a surprise, and also, my room didn't include an IPOD like I've had in Crescent Hotel in Beverly Hills. For a place focused on rock, wouldn't you assume each room would be wired to the latest sounds? It turns out my surprise was supposed to be a song playing when I entered the door of my room. I guess they forget to turn it on.

The room itself: Are you ready for installment 2? If not, you can just go to sleep now. Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite. (No, there are no bedbugs at Hard Rock.)