San Diego for Spring Break 2008 - Where to stay?

Question

My kids (7, 10, 13 and 16) want to go to California for Spring Break. I like the Ocean and I like warmth so I'm wondering first if San Diego is warm in late March? Also, where is a good place to stay? I would love to be on the beach somewhere but when I was looking up reviews on Travelocity a lot of people complained about places being in a not so great area. Where is a safe place to stay with my kids? I'll be renting a car and we'll be spending the better part of our vacation at the beach (we hope) so I don't have to be located right near everything. Thanks.

Answer 1

the weather will be mild that time of year, but it has been warmer the last two years than average for that time of year...expect mid 60s to about 70 on the beach...there are a number of decent places to stay on the beach in the san diego area, I suggest a place near Pacific Beach, we used to stay at a place named Capri by the Sea, pacific terrace beside it is wonderful but will be pricey, Blue Sea lodge, diamond head inn...you can find resources for beachfront hotels online, there is good hanging out from north of crystal pier, north of the firehouse lifeguard station (across from which is the busiest 7-11 in the US) and all the way down to the rockwall which divides mission beach from ocean beach...(it goes LaJolla, LaJolla south, Pacific Beach , Mission Beach (that is where the old wooden roller coaster is, they shot MTV spring break there a few years ago) then Ocean Beach (north to south)) in the Pacific beach area there is nice shopping for the kids and dining, you can go down just south of coronado (wonderful clean well patroled beach area) to IB (not the best neighborhood but...) where there is a lot of surfing (also in north LaJolla)...there are cool beaches to hang out up and down the coast when you get to SD...Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad have nice beach areas to hang out at also... when you get there see if you can get the kids over to the Wild Animal Park in Escondido (one exit from where I lived before moving out of s. cal ...started in LaJolla, moved to Mira Mesa , then to Escondido...worked in Coronado and the top gun school in Miramar) to Sea World and to the Zoo...good eating all over but try to get down to Old Town for mexican (OTMC is good) a historic area with good and not terribly overpriced mexican food...if your kids like seafood get them down to pt. loma seafoods in Pt. Loma...fresh catch, great seafood salads, sandwiches, scallops and smoked fishes right next to the sportfishing landings...a lot of locals will tell you , a great place to eat...I can drop you more info on places, just hit me with an e mail...travel safely to san diego have fun and good luck!

Answer 2

San Diego is great. Lots of good beaches and many different hotels to choose from. Hotel Coronado is an old established land mark that is in a great neighborhood. It has been used in dozens of movies and is right on the beach. it is pricey. But... Your kids will love the area. You have the Zoo that is world famous. Sea World is great as well and you are close to the Mexican border. A stay of a couple of nights at Rosarito beach could be in order. Type in San Diego in your search engine and the Yahoo San Diego Visitors guide will really give you an idea of where to go and stay. good luck and happy spring break.

Answer 3

There are tons of things to do but the main thing is that the police is VERY aggressive and have ZERO tolerance for spring break BS so just make sure you stay within the legal parameters of the city and follow all the rules on the beach that are posted on the signs. Arrests run high in San Diego during spring break.

Answer 4

In March expect the daytime temperatures to be in the mid to high 60s and the night temps to be in the mid 50s. So "mild" might be a better term than "warm". And the ocean temp will be in the low 60s (at best) so while being at the beach would be fun, being in the ocean would not...too cold!

For kids, the Paradise Point resort is very fun...lots to do, nice area, somewhat close to Seaworld and right on the beach. It's expensive though. It won't be as cheap as a Mission Valley hotel. If you want a safe area that is very boring but centrally located you might want to look at a hotel in Mission Valley...however, if you do stay in Mission Valley I doubt that you'll want to hang out around your hotel. Those hotels are mainly geared toward business travelers so not a lot of kid things to do on site. But since there are a lot of them it makes for a reasonably safe area.

Lots of good info for visitors can be found on a website provided by our local newspaper http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/visitorsguide.html

Answer 5

Go north on I 5 for 38 miles
to Carlsbad, take the Poinsetta Lane off ramp, or the Palamar Airport Rd off ramp, you will be looking at the ocean, take your pick of clean motels, walking distance to beach(1 or 2 blocks) safe, clean, beautiful beach, lego land 2 miles, downtown CB 1/12 miles, McDonalds 1/4 mile away overlooking the ocean with the flower fields in back. If you are lucky you might see the end of whale watching season, might see a whale, you will know doubt see dolfins frolicking out in the ocean might see some seals. Weather should be perfect. No rowdies!

Answer 6

In March...San Diego can be cool. I would definitely be prepared with some long sleeves and a sweatshirt. It may be cool in the mornings and then warm up in the afternoon. It will not be hot.

For info on beach hotels visit: http://www.sandiego-romantics.com/

Answer 7

It won't be as warm as you think it will be and that's our "rainy" season. It's typically overcast, damp and cool.