San Diego has an abundance of two things; sunshine and hotels. While one is free, the other can cost you big if you are not careful. In most cases if you are travelling with children you are already on a budget and are probably looking for the bang for you buck. This being the case, hotel circle is probably your best bet. There are some pros and cons so before you jump to the reservations page, take a minute to read up on both.
The best way to describe hotel circle is, Las Vegas without the casinos or lights. As you enter the San Diego area on I-8 you will find yourself immersed in a forest of 6's, suites, and Westerns. "The Circle" is perfectly situated five minutes from Sea World and ten minutes from down town. With so many choices one would wonder how you could go wrong. The down side is, you are not the first quest to choose "the circle" and won't be the last. Odds are you will find yourself to be one of thousands of people with same ideas on lodging as you. Here is how to avoid the potential pitfalls of the swirling circle of hotel deals.
1. Do your research. Find a hotel that serves a free breakfast. It is the best way to save yourself anywhere from $20 to $50 a day depending on the size of your family. Also, try to avoid places that sound "not right." "John's Jolly Suites" is probably not the jolly you are looking for. Go with big chain names.
2. Get a room with refrigerator. If you travel like us you always have an extra supply of sandwich fixins, juice, and water. You will appreciate having a cool place to store your food that doesn't say "Igloo" on the side.
3. Don't go for the cheapest rate. I know you are on a budget, we all are, but a cheap hotel room is not the way to go. Cheap can also mean "scummy." And that reflects both the clientele and the quality of the room.
4. Arrive early. Getting into town early gives you the advantage of haggling for the best room. We prefer rooms on the top floor to avoid stampeding elephants waking you at 0130.
5. Google Earth! Go online and check out the area. Look for retail centers, convenience stores, and restaurants in the area.
Our choice? La Quinta Inn San Diego Mission Valley. The rooms are always super clean, the staff is awesome, and guess what? FREE BREAKFAST! If you are not a La Quinta fan, or want other options click here for a choice of like a 100 other hotels.
Other pros of staying in hotel circle include, dozens of restaurants near by, a Target store, two grocery stores, and quick access to most of the SoCal freeways.
Good luck, and travel well!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Vegas !
There is a misconception out there that Vegas is only for imbibing soul or the gambling aficionado and if you don’t fit into either category, then Salt Lake has some vacant hotel rooms. Our last trip to “Sin City” showed nothing could be further from the truth. To give you some background I traveled to Vegas twice last year; once for business and the other for fun. The first trip was to attend a conference and besides being the designated navigator during a short pub crawl, the fun was limited to the conference hall. The second trip however was all fun.
We travelled to Vegas with another couple from Poland who was enjoying the western US for the first time. They chose not to drink on the trip, which suited us fine since we also were not predisposed to drunken shenanigans. We stayed about two miles off the strip at the Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport which had its pros and cons. The first pro was the price, since were in Vegas over the weekend the average room price along the strip was close to $200.00. Our hotel room was about half the average, and each couple got a huge room. The room would have been sufficient for a small family as it included a full kitchen, pull-out bed, huge bathroom, and plenty of space. Another pro? Free breakfast! Anytime you can get a free meal from the hotel is major plus because it saves most people an average of $20 a day. The only con of course was the distance from the action. We drove to and from the strip each day which when you include looking for parking took about 30 minutes each way. In the end however the hotel was a home run as far as price, cleanliness, and overall customer service.
Sleeping arrangements taken care of, it was time to find some fun in the city that never sleeps! If you are looking for free exhibits the first place to stop is the Bellagio. Outside you will be awe inspired by the fountain shows every 15-30 minutes. During the shows the giant lake in front of the hotel is transformed from a shimmering reflection of Bellagio grandeur to a stage complete with dancing pillars of water accompanied by classic and modern music. When you’ve had enough of the fountains, head inside for a cool stroll through the Botanical Gardens. Trust me when I say both attractions are awesome for adults and kids.
When your eyes get tired of the vibrant colors of the gardens, take a short walk around the corner to the Jean-Philippe Pastry Café. This is a perfect spot for mom and dad to grab an edible piece of art. We tried two different cakes, raspberry and carrot, and both knocked our taste buds out of the park. Due to the price and potential line, I would save this little piece of culinary heaven for the adults. The kids won’t appreciate the artistic nature of the café or the food. And no one wants to see a seven dollar carrot cake take a dive off the front of the stroller.
From the Bellagio we walked to Caesar’s Palace, which is by far my favorite spot on the strip. The layout of the shops looks like a European street complete with cobblestone walkways, fountains, and a myriad of Cafés and specialty stores. We stopped at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, which is situated behind a massive indoor aquarium. To our surprise we were treated to a multi-media mythological battle between the forces of good and evil, played out above the aquarium. The show incorporates smoke, animatronics, fountains, and fire. It is loud and may be too intense for the little ones, but it is cool to watch while munching down on some gourmet cheesecake.
The next day we ventured into the Luxor for two museum exhibits, “Body Worlds” and “Titanic.” Both were cool in their own way. “Body worlds” is of course a morbid trip through plasticized human bodies splayed or posed for your viewing enjoyment. If you ever wondered what you look like on the inside, this is the exhibit for you. Titanic is a somber look at the boat, the crew, and passengers who perished on the moribund cruise. Much to the dismay of some, Leonardo Di Caprio was not found among the dead. The artifacts that survived the tragedy and years of salt water are displayed along with personal stories from both the survivors and deceased. It was very a well displayed exhibit and really brought to the light the stories of real people. Both displays are somber and may cast pallor on what would ordinarily be a festive day, so keep that in mind when you go.
On a happier note make sure to check out the M&M’s factory, and Coke store! Both are awesome for kids and adults!
This is just a small sampling of what we found in Vegas. For more family fun, or just plain fun ideas, see the Vegas section on the blog.
Enjoy, and remember what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Best Beach in San Diego
May not be in San Diego after all!
This last week we had a chance to spend some time in the City of Coronado, also known as Coronado Island. Being their during the 4th of July weekend was a super experience! Most of the houses were decorated with large red, white and blue banners, and flags were everywhere. The dozens of Star Spangled Banners and patriotic ribbons were enough to make anyone's heart swell with patriotic pride. The decorations and independence day festivities ushered us through the small streets to our favorite beach in southern California, Coronado Beach.
The entire beach begins just south of the Naval Air Station and runs past the Hotel Del Coronado, which is where we found the best spots. The beach near the hotel is clean and there is plenty of room. Even during the Independence Day Weekend, the beach was large enough so that we always had enough room to spread out the let the kids run. You had enough space between you and the next person so that you didn't feel squished, but they were close enough to strike up a conversation if you so desired.
The clientele on the beach was as diverse and the size of the ocean waves, there was everything from two-year-old children to senior citizens enjoying the cool ocean breeze. The diversity of beach goers created a festive atmosphere where you were not afraid to say hi to the people sharing the sand. The rhythm of the ocean waves crashing in on themselves was occasionally punctuated by the sounds of a random sand volleyball game, or an intense bout of Smashball. Relief from the heat of the sun was found in diving into the cool Pacific waves or by purchasing a large bowl of Ice Cream from the sweet shops in the Del.
We spent two days on Coronado Beach, and could have easily spent more. Alas, bills need to be paid therefore we reluctantly packed up, and drove home. But that does not mean you have to! So here is how to get to the best beach around San Diego:
Proceed South on I-5 to California 75
The 75 will take you over the "Blue Bridge" and on to Coronado Island
Once on the Island take a left on Orange Avenue and follow it through the center of the city
Orange Avenue turns into Silver Strand Way just past the Hotel Del Coronado, this is also the best place to find parking for the beach.You can take a right turn on Avenida Del Sol and park for free. However, unless you arrive before 10:00AM there is a god chance this will be full. For more free parking, park along Silver Strand Way.
Good luck and have fun!
This last week we had a chance to spend some time in the City of Coronado, also known as Coronado Island. Being their during the 4th of July weekend was a super experience! Most of the houses were decorated with large red, white and blue banners, and flags were everywhere. The dozens of Star Spangled Banners and patriotic ribbons were enough to make anyone's heart swell with patriotic pride. The decorations and independence day festivities ushered us through the small streets to our favorite beach in southern California, Coronado Beach.
The entire beach begins just south of the Naval Air Station and runs past the Hotel Del Coronado, which is where we found the best spots. The beach near the hotel is clean and there is plenty of room. Even during the Independence Day Weekend, the beach was large enough so that we always had enough room to spread out the let the kids run. You had enough space between you and the next person so that you didn't feel squished, but they were close enough to strike up a conversation if you so desired.
The clientele on the beach was as diverse and the size of the ocean waves, there was everything from two-year-old children to senior citizens enjoying the cool ocean breeze. The diversity of beach goers created a festive atmosphere where you were not afraid to say hi to the people sharing the sand. The rhythm of the ocean waves crashing in on themselves was occasionally punctuated by the sounds of a random sand volleyball game, or an intense bout of Smashball. Relief from the heat of the sun was found in diving into the cool Pacific waves or by purchasing a large bowl of Ice Cream from the sweet shops in the Del.
We spent two days on Coronado Beach, and could have easily spent more. Alas, bills need to be paid therefore we reluctantly packed up, and drove home. But that does not mean you have to! So here is how to get to the best beach around San Diego:
Proceed South on I-5 to California 75
The 75 will take you over the "Blue Bridge" and on to Coronado Island
Once on the Island take a left on Orange Avenue and follow it through the center of the city
Orange Avenue turns into Silver Strand Way just past the Hotel Del Coronado, this is also the best place to find parking for the beach.You can take a right turn on Avenida Del Sol and park for free. However, unless you arrive before 10:00AM there is a god chance this will be full. For more free parking, park along Silver Strand Way.
Good luck and have fun!
Welcome to the Travelling Detective Blogspot!
Whether you are a seasoned traveler or just felt your first bite from the travel bug, the Travelling Detective blogspot has the information you need for an enjoyable trip! I specialize in finding destinations and accommodations for the travelling family but always have an eye for deals for the travelling couple.
Is this your first time visiting the southwestern portion of the United States? Well you've come to the right place! Travelling in Arizona, California, and Utah is unlike any travel experience you've ever had and you need a good resource to navigate you through the Saguaros, Sacatons, and San Diego Mountains!
My travel partner, who also happens to be my wife, and I have traveled to dozens of places in the United States and Europe. Together we have a very impressive list of places to eat, sleep, relax, and be entertained. We've ventured through Eastern Europe with three children, braved busy airports with a newborn, and cruised the West Coast while watching Disney movies! In all of our travels the one thought we always had was, "We need to share these wonderful places with other families!"
Read on, and travel well!
Is this your first time visiting the southwestern portion of the United States? Well you've come to the right place! Travelling in Arizona, California, and Utah is unlike any travel experience you've ever had and you need a good resource to navigate you through the Saguaros, Sacatons, and San Diego Mountains!
My travel partner, who also happens to be my wife, and I have traveled to dozens of places in the United States and Europe. Together we have a very impressive list of places to eat, sleep, relax, and be entertained. We've ventured through Eastern Europe with three children, braved busy airports with a newborn, and cruised the West Coast while watching Disney movies! In all of our travels the one thought we always had was, "We need to share these wonderful places with other families!"
Read on, and travel well!
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