If you will be traveling to America's finest city, AKA San Diego, you will be faced with the inevitable decision of where to stay. Many visitors to San Diego do not live near the ocean, so they want to stay somewhere with an ocean view. That being said, your accommodations will be less expensive if you are not watching waves crash in the Pacific Ocean from your room.
I recommend securing reservations at least six months in advance, if possible. If you will be traveling in the summer months, book even earlier. Certain events such as the Comic-Con convention, held in downtown San Diego in late July, will fill up every room in town.
As a lifelong resident of San Diego, here are my thoughts on the five best areas to stay in San Diego:
1. CORONADO: Coronado is a unique geographical feature, being a long peninsula, connected by "the silver strand," a long strip of land. It is often referred to as Coronado Island, but it's really a peninsula. You can get to Coronado with a $3 ferry ticket from downtown San Diego, or you can get there on the famous Coronado bridge off I-5. Coronado offers 15 miles of dedicated bike and roller blading paths, nearly 100 restaurants, and more than 200 beaches. If you want to spend your vacation near one of San Diego's most beautiful beaches, play a round of golf, or go bike riding, Coronado is a great place to stay. You will find world-class condos and vacation rental homes in Coronado. Coronado is probably one of the most expensive places to stay, and ocean view locations will be the priciest options.
2. DEL MAR: If you drive around Del Mar, you will often see local license plate frames that read "Del Mar... Where the Turf Meets the Surf." Del Mar is located about 20 miles north of the San Diego airport. Del Mar will be most crowded during the summer months, when the horse races come to Del Mar. The downtown village of Del Mar offers ocean view and ocean front dining and plenty of unique boutique shopping. In the evenings, hot air balloons frequently launch out of Del Mar or nearby Carmel Valley.
3. CARLSBAD: If your trip to San Diego will include a trip to LEGOLAND, Carlsbad is a great place to stay. Carlsbad is about 30 miles north of the airport, and offers some great beaches, golf and spas. Downtown Carlsbad has a fun nightclub and dining scene and is a good alternative to the crowds of downtown San Diego. Whether you want to eat sushi, Mexican food or Irish fare, you will find a restaurant you'll love in Carlsbad.
4. DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO: Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter are the best places to stay downtown. If you stay downtown, you will be close to the Horton Plaza Mall, Petco Park, home of the Padres, the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park.
5. MISSION BAY: Mission Bay is a great place for families to stay. You can camp in the Mission Bay Park and enjoy the popular aquatic sports of wakeboarding, sailing or jet-skiing. The kids will love the roller coaster at Belmont Park (as seen on MTV's Beach House), and the Sea World Adventure Park is nearby.
This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by San Diego native and enthusiast Valerie Ashton.