San Diego, California is a very popular tourist destination. From the be./.aches to the animal attractions it’s no wonder people flock to San Diego. San Diego can be an expensive city, if you don’t know where to find the bargains. This guide will give you all the tips you need to know so you can have a fun and inexpensive summer vacation in San Diego.
There are many places to stay in and around San Diego. If you will have a car, you have more options of where to stay. If you are looking for nice, but cheap hotels the best thing to do is look right outside of the city. If you want less expensive areas you should look in Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa, La Mesa, and La Jolla, these are all inexpensive but decent areas. You should also compare prices at both Hotwire and PriceLine. At both of these you will not know the exact hotel you are staying at before you book it, but you can often save %75 or more. These are great options if you want a nice hotel for a great price but are not to picky about the exact hotel.
There are many things to do in San Diego you will have no trouble keeping busy without spending much money. When I go to San Diego the first thing I do is check and see if any of the large amusement parks are having any good deals. Often the Wild Animal Park, or the San Diego zoo has 2 for 1 admission. Sea World sometimes has great discounts or buy a day get a year free. I make my decision of where to go based on what discounts places are offering, this way I still get to go to a large attraction but save as much money as possible.
There are many attractions around San Diego that are very cheap or free. Walking around in the Gas Lamp district can be a day worth of fun. While the shops are expensive to shop at, window shopping is fun and free. The beaches in San Diego are great and of course free. Seaport Village is right on the water and has lots of things to do. The weekends at Seaport Village are crowded but lots of fun, you will find many musicians, clowns, and street performers of all types.
Food in San Diego can be expensive, but if you plan ahead you can find many cheap eats. Mexican food is abundant in San Diego and is usually very good and authentic since its close proximity to Mexico. Mexican food tends to be very cheap, and serves very large portions. Another great budget tip is to never buy food at large amusement parks and tourist attractions, most parks especially the zoo has no problem with you bringing in a picnic lunch. Packing in a lunch will save you lots of money and lets you eat healthier. If you are staying in a hotel room with a kitchenette, be sure to use it. Having a simple breakfast at your room will save you the cost of going out to eat an expensive breakfast.
The best way to save money on your summer San Diego vacation is to look around. You can always find deals if you look in travel brochures. Ask locals the best places to eat.. And most of all be open to anything, many times you will have the most fun when it is least expected.
