dgwright99

I agree - I drive it every time.

Outside of drive time, it should be 90 minutes tops to Mouseland.

To LAX can run into traffic on 405 around LAX - esp from mid-afternoon and mid-evening. I have done it in as little as 90 minutes, and as long as 3 hours; usually around 2 hours (from North County). Use the toll road.

SanDiego1K

Consider staying in La Jolla Shores. You've got a lovely beach, and quick access to beautiful downtown La Jolla. I've never stayed here, but have put customers here: La Jolla Shores Hotel. It's right on the beach, next to even grander La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. Christine Onassis used to stay here on her annual visits to San Diego.

caleo

If you do any driving in southern california, I'd highly recommend looking at www.sigalert.com before heading out.

It has almost-real time traffic info and, especially if there's an accident, can be quite helpful in planning routes. At the very least, it can give you a snapshot of what conditions are currently like.

sdsvtdriver

Definitely drive. With no traffic, it is a little over 2 hours from SD to Santa Monica. Disneyland from SD is about 1:45. Plan a full day for Disneyland.

I'll second (or third) the suggestion for staying on La Jolla Shores. Very nice area, right on the beach, and near some nice little shops. Mission Bay is also nice, however the area is primarily a younger crowd (college age) and alcohol is allowed on the beach and bay. While the bay side is a bit calmer, the beach side isn't really family oriented.

Enjoy your stay in SoCal!

Smirnoff

Thanks everyone for all the advice. We'll definitely plan to drive up from SAN.

As for recommendations of where to stay, I've looked at the La Jolla Shores, which seems to be full for my dates.

Elsewhere in the area is the Hilton La Jolla Pines, which seems to be near to, but not on the beach. Any views on this, or any other places on the beach.

We're basically looking for somewhere nice, preferably on the beach, which we can use as a base for doing the sites, but also for spending some of the time by a pool or on the beach. So any other recommendations for that area woould be appreciated.

Going back to Coronado Island, is this not as nicea place? Or is it the traffic getting there that's a problem. I see the Marriott is not on the beach side, so not a beach resort. There's also the Hotel del Coronado - any views on this?

Other places I have seen that look nice (although not on the beach) are the La Cost Resort in Carlsbad. The Four Seasons Aviara at Carlsbad also looks nice although rather pricey. And perhaps too genteel for taking teenagers to.

USA_flyer

The problem with Coronado is that it's 20 minutes to get off the island and then another 20 minutes to get anywhere. It is however, a very nice place to spend time. People have been complaining that the Hotel Del is a bit shabby these days, especially in some of the standard rooms. It's also a tourist destination in its own right, and not particularly peaceful looking. I would recommend either downtown or La Jolla as places to stay.

UNITED959

Coronado is nice, it's just really isolated. If you were staying for a month to relax, I'd recommend it...but to those teenagers will surely give you lip if you stayed there.

There's really not much in Carlsbad; the city isn't anything great.

Keep in mind that San Diego beaches are a good 15-20 minute drive north of the downtown area.

SanDiego1K

La Costa Resort and Four Seasons Aviara are both beautiful properties. They are designed to keep you onsite, with a wide array of restaurants, sporting venues, and spa facilities. I go to the La Costa Spa several times a year and love it. It's built around an outside pool, with a full range of roman showers, saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzis, and treatment rooms.

Having said that, La Costa (the part of Carlsbad which surrounds Aviara and La Costa Hotel) is truly suburbia. Further, La Costa is north of most sightseeing. Legoland is in Carlsbad, but your teens are too old for that. It's as convenient as any hotel for Wild Animal Park, but you'll struggle with the freeway traffic for drives south to the zoo, Sea World, harbor excursions, or Cabrillo National Monument, all of which I recommend.

I like the beach areas, from Coronado to La Jolla to Del Mar to Carlsbad. All of them have small shops and charming restaurants as well as good beaches.

As for the particular Marriott that interests you, I suggest that you stop in the Marriott forum and read reviews on it. I don't know it, and am not sure of the specific location. I like Coronado Island.

norse_aztec

If keeping the teenagers happy is important for your relaxation, then staying at a beach location in San Diego is the way to go. Coronado is a very nice island, but isolated. Downtown (the Gaslamp Quarter) in now quite nice, but it's a poor alternative if you're interested in a beach location. La Jolla should have everything you're looking for, but there are precious few hotels there, and the ones that are there are typically removed from the beach.

There are more choices in Mission and Pacific Beaches, just south of La Jolla. These beaches and the surrounding neighborhoods aren't as upscale as La Jolla, but they're not bad. It's a very, very beach scene: a boardwalk, skaters, bikes, volleyball, surfing, etc. Lots of tourists as well as locals. The Catamaran and the Dana are two hotels that have been the mainstays of that areas for many years, but it's been awhile since I've stayed there and can't report on the current conditions.

Smirnoff

Thanks for all the advice everyone. After reading and re-reading, and changing our plans about 3-4 times, we've finally homed in on the Four Seasons Aviara for our base. We're a big fan of Four Seasons, and decided the guarantee of nice accommodations, good clean pools, and activities/games rooms for the kids was more important than being on beach. This will be fine for a base to hang out mainly at the report, but also do an excursion every day to San Diego and other places of interest. Through AMEX we got a decent FHR rate, and the guarantee of connecting rooms, and a late checkout. Also being to the north of SAN, I guess it should be a shorter drive to Anaheim on the night we leave (we'll probably stay over, and do Disneyland fresh in the morning).

I was also really surpised to check out CLD airport, and see there is a daily flight on US from PHX (where we'll be coming from), which should make the transfer from PHX even easier. And it's really cheap too.

Thanks everyone again.

brendamc

Have fun - it's a gorgeous hotel. You might want to see upon check-in if they'll give you a suite with extra connecting bedroom for the kids. Yes, the drive will be shorter to Disneyland & you'll miss most of the San Diego traffic mess.

Paubri

One thing to be aware of is that this flight is in a commuter plane and operated by Mesa Airlines for US Air. Mesa does not have a good reputation, nor does it deserve one. If it were me I'd rather fly on a mainline aircraft into SAN.

Enjoy your visit!

Smirnoff

Thanks for the warning about Mesa. Can you be more specific - is this flight often delayed, cancelled? I see it's only once a day, PHX-CLD.

SanDiego1K

I've taken the flight and love it. You have your bags within about 2 minutes of your arrival. You're then 5 minutes from Aviara.

The only car company with on site rental is Avis.

Wainwright

Definitely check out the flight into CLD. The airport is much easier to deal with than SAN. Beware, I'm not sure about the times, but traffic will be pretty much ever present during the Summer months heading south out of Carlsbad.

As for your hotel questions. I agree with all the recommendations to stay nearer the beaches with the teens. I work literally right across the street from the Hilton La Jolla, Torrey Pines and it will be a drive (or serious hike) to anywhere so the kids will be disappointed if they want to get out on their own.