By Katie Dillon • Last modified: April 19, 2025
My San Diego travel guide will help you plan a trip that suites your budget and interests whether visiting with kids, on business, as a couple or on your own
I’ve lived here for many years and am a travel advisor who helps people plan San Diego vacations and upgrade their stays through our insider connections and discounts.
This is a brilliant place to start researching the best places to stay, restaurants, museums, outdoor activities, water sports, and other fun things to do.
How to Start Planning a Trip to San Diego
People decide where to stay and when to come based on the following things:
Hotel prices often determine which part of town to choose. For example, many families looking for nicer beach resorts choose The Seabird Resort in Oceanside if Hotel del Coronado in Coronado is pricing high. Your activity itinerary typically falls into place once flights and hotels are booked.
Best Time to Visit San Diego for…
Our local’s guide by month will help you decide when to visit San Diego, but here’s a quick run down.
Weather
Our average temperature is about 70 degrees year round. Some months are sunnier than others.
Price
Shoulder seasons are the best times to plan San Diego travel because the kids are in school and there are no major holidays. These include:
Which San Diego Hotels and Resorts to Choose
No one keeps tabs on San Diego hotels like I do. My lists are put together by neighborhood, travel style, hotel features, and budget. They will help you figure out where to stay. You can upgrade your stay by using the VIP programs I have access to at many 4+ star and luxury hotels around the county.
Or Browse by Type
Family Vacation Considerations
Most of the clients we help are visiting with kids. Because we are also a traveling family, I know what amenities are helpful to families traveling with babies, toddlers, grade schoolers, tweens, and teens. Traveling with multiple generations? No problem; we’ve got you covered.
If you’re traveling with kids, see our full guide for planning a San Diego family trip.
What to Do in San Diego
Whether you are visiting San Diego with kids, on your own, as a couple, or on a business trip, you will not run out of things to do. We have plenty of outdoor activities and gorgeous beaches thanks to our sunshine. You can tour famous theme parks like San Diego Zoo and world-class museums. Learn what you can do here.
Where and What to Eat
Our local restaurants have stepped up their game. While you should eat fish tacos and hearty cheap burritos, look forward to colorful farm-to-table cuisine, fresh seafood, local wines, and (lots of) craft beer at our fabulous San Diego restaurants ranging from fine to casual dining.
General San Diego Travel Tips & Discounts
I estimate that half of the people get rental cars while the other half rely on Uber and public transportation.
Guide to San Diego County Neighborhoods
Depending on which neighborhoods in San Diego you visit, you might find yourself in a vibrant arts and culture enclave, a charming 1950s-style small-town, or a laid-back beachy paradise. Not sure where to vacation in San Diego? You can find out a lot more about each San Diego neighborhood in our area-specific travel guides.
La Jolla
This luxurious La Jolla neighborhood is surprisingly laid back. Million-dollar homes sit on cliffs overlooking San Diego’s beautiful beaches, but don’t make the mistake of thinking this San Diego neighborhood is inaccessible! Tourists and residents alike flock to La Jolla (which residents affectionately call ‘the village’) to dine, sightsee, and to watch the famous La Jolla seals and sea lions doing their thing.
Downtown San Diego
The thrumming heartbeat of San Diego can be felt in our urban center. Downtown San Diego is a buzzing neighborhood (which includes the historic Gaslamp Quarter) has it all, from chic boutiques and fine arts to family fun plus a sizzling nightlife scene. It’s also where you’ll find attractions like Petco Park® (home of the San Diego Padres®) and the New Children’s Museum®. The San Diego Zoo® is just north of downtown.
Coronado
Just across the bay from downtown San Diego, you’ll find Coronado; an exclusive beach community that has a quaint, old-fashioned vibe. There are quiet, tree-lined streets, old-timey storefronts, and friendly sidewalk cafes, plus miles and miles of walking paths, a great public golf course, and plenty of beaches to enjoy. It’s a popular resort destination and home to the iconic Hotel Del Coronado®, which you can enjoy at the Virtuoso rate if you book through me.
Pacific Beach
Called PB by the locals, this San Diego neighborhood is a hub of students, young professionals, and surfers, so the vibe is hip and energetic. In Pacific Beach, you’ll find plenty of flip-flop friendly restaurants and bars — this is definitely the hub of San Diego’s beach culture — along with Pacific Beach hotels catering to every type of traveler. If you’re traveling with kids, there are quieter spots that will still give you access to great restaurants and the boardwalk.
Mission Beach/Mission Bay
This casual San Diego neighborhood is a whole lot of fun! There are amusement parks, including SeaWorld San Diego®, and waveless beaches on Mission Bay that are just perfect for young kids. The paths that wind around this neighborhood are lined with vacation properties. There are great hotels for family travelers in Mission Beach, too. Enjoy plenty of fantastic restaurants, bars, and a hot volleyball scene.
Balboa Park
This area of San Diego boasts the largest urban cultural park in the US. It draws visitors from all over the world who come for the 17 museums, gorgeous gardens, beautiful Spanish-Renaissance architecture, art installations, performances, musical events, and of course, the famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park should be a part of any visit to San Diego — in fact, you could probably spend an entire vacation exploring this area’s attractions.
Del Mar
I used to live in Del Mar and it’s pretty fantastic. You have a long stretch of quintessential SoCal beach with swimming, surfing, volleyball, and even dogs. A couple of coastal hotels like L’Auberge Del Mar put you within walking distance of excellent shops and restaurants. It’s particularly busy during racing season at the track and the early summer San Diego County Fair.
Carlsbad
Known as “The Village by the Sea,” this wealthy San Diego neighborhood has so much to see and do – including LEGOLAND® California. It is a shopper’s paradise and a foodie hotspot, with a huge variety of restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops to enjoy. That said, if you prefer outdoor amusements, Carlsbad also has plenty of gorgeous beaches where you can go to catch a wave and there’s also Carlsbad Lagoon — a popular spot with paddle boarders and kayakers.
Oceanside
We have a lot of people choose Oceanside lately for various reasons. There are two newer beachfront hotels that are part of Hyatt that price lower than many others in the County. Not to mention the beaches are fantastic and all sorts of casual, excellent dining is popping up in the beach area as well. It’s a place where you get more value, if you don’t mind the drive (or Coaster train ride) to downtown attractions.
Need to Know
Language
English
Currency
US Dollar.
Transportation
A rental car is advised though you can use Uber. The public transportation system helps but is not robust.
Best Time to Visit
For weather, come between July–October. For price, come in shoulder seasons of September (after Labor Day)–beginning of November or January–mid-March. Families should try to come in October since it’s Kids Free San Diego.
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