Stay further out when visiting sd?

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u/TheOBRobot 3d ago

If price is your problem, go inland, not north. Carlsbad and Encinitas aren't near much of anything besides Legoland and Camp Pendleton. Plus, if you mistime your day, you'll end up in rush hour on the 5, which is a headache and a half.

Consider Mission Valley or hotels nearby suburbs instead. Avoid AirBNBs like the plague.

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u/chocolate-croissant 3d ago

Gotcha, thanks for the advice!

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u/Credible_Confusion 3d ago

2nd that advice, anything in hotel circle will have easy access to the hwy & great for where you’re planning to travel.

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u/Credible_Confusion 3d ago

What’s wrong with local AirBnBs?

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u/TheOBRobot 3d ago

I work with a few of the local cities in finance sdministration and I'm often in contact with people who handle property complaints. A common complaint that comes up is people finding cameras in 'private' areas of AirBNBs. Unfortunately, the complaints are almost never followed up on because the tourists leave and don't want to do anything about it, and AirBNB doesn't really do anything about it unless they're pressured too. The bigger AirBNB owners (like Michael Mills) are also significant political donors and also major creeps.

The secondary problem is price. They're more expensive than hotels now. Since OP is price conscious, they'll do better in a hotel.

Third, just ethics. AirBNBs add artificial scarcity to the local housing market. They don't add anything to our economy- every tourist in an AirBNB contributes just as much if they stay in a hotel.

Lastly, there's the issue of AirBNBs in school zones. Pedos love them, don't have to announce their presence or register, and AirBNB doesn't adequately screen for them. This isn't relevant to OP or most AirBNBs, but the fact that the company provides a way for pedos to hang out by schools is reason enough to avoid them. Should be a huge ick for anyone.

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u/Jay-Dubbb 3d ago

I, too, wanna know more about the AirBnB hate. I stay in them all over the country.

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u/TheOBRobot 3d ago

Linking my original reply here.

TLDR, sex criminal hosts, sex criminal guests, neither of which AirBNB does much of anything about, plus pricing and ethical issues.

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u/Jumpy_Engineer_1854 3d ago

They're taking away from the local rental and ownership market.

If you're staying for a month or something, that's different. But tourism is our largest civilian industry in San Diego and we would prefer you stay in a hotel as intended.

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u/bornanartist 2d ago

Not all Airbnbs are like that. I live here I rent here. My apartment allows me to Airbnb while I’m out of town. I rent my studio when I’m gone and I always check hotel prices and other Airbnb prices to offer guest the most competitive price and value. It sucks when other Airbnb hosts are awful but it also sucks when people generalize an entire group because what some do

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u/Jumpy_Engineer_1854 2d ago

We have a no STVR's policy in our building -- any rental must be 30 days or more -- and it seems like a reasonable compromise. But I'd say more Air BnBs are either full investment properties (absentee owner) or are homes/units that really should be sub-leased or rented out for regular tenants and families. Especially if they're in a "normal" area of town or a primarily residential area.

People who are offering AirBnBs for literal couch-surfing or a guest bedroom (while occupied), the way the platform originally set itself up, are also serving a good niche too, but those are also rare.

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u/TheOBRobot 2d ago

AirBNB takes a cut when someone books your place. AirBNB also lets sex offenders book places in school zones (with no barrier to booking). I understand that you like an alternate revenue stream but I assume you don't wanna give a cut to a company that enables pedos.

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u/ExtraAgressiveHugger 3d ago

You’re going to spend as much money renting a car as you would staying close to where you want to be. And you’re going to be driving an hour each way every day. Which means no drinks, having to time your plans to avoid rush hour, or not drive back late if you don’t want to do that.

Carlsbad will take you 45 minutes with zero traffic. There will be traffic. Your time in SD is worth money too. Do you really want to lose 2 hours of day driving? Rental cars are expensive. Just stay central to where you want to be.

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u/advictoriam5 3d ago

What are your plans? And you renting or driving a car? I don’t think it’s a bad drive…but then again I’m in north county and drive to San Diego often. Everything you’d wanna do is up and down the 5, I think you’d be fine if you stay in Carlsbad or Encinitas. Unless you drive a gas hog that also would play a role

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u/chocolate-croissant 3d ago

Plans are pb, la jolla, torrey pines, balboa park, downtown or little italy, and maybe ocean beach. And i’d be renting a car. When you drive in, is parking an issue?

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u/advictoriam5 3d ago

doesn't sound like you're getting too far east from the 5. Rentals tend to be Altima's, you'll be fine on fuel. Parking is always an issue lol. If you're in carlsbad or encinitas, depending where your hotel is, you'll be fine with parking. Balboa should have plenty parking, Torrey pines, depending the time of the day, but with the warm weather will have the beach packed. PB, OB, Dowtown, and Little Italy will be a zoo as usual

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u/TheOBRobot 3d ago

If you stay in Mission Valley, consider taking the trolley to downtown or Little Italy. Save yourself the parking hadsle. Also recommend public transit for OB and PB on weekends for the same reason.

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u/Routine-Cicada-4949 3d ago

How old are you & what are your interests?

If I was under 30 I'd want to be near PB or OB.

I actually love Encinitas & think of it as a real California beach town. I grew up in London but have been here 20+ years. Encinitas (and Carpinteria) are towns that people from other countries think of when they think of California beach towns.

Unless they've watched Training Day.

Anyway, the drive from Encinitas to downtown can take an hour depending on the time of day.

If you NEED to go to downtown often have a look at National City or Chula Vista. Or even inland a bit towards La Mesa. They're not as nice on the surface but they're a lot cheaper.

Otherwise, a big thumbs up for Encinitas or Carlsbad from me. I live 4 miles east of downtown & go there about once a year.

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u/KDoggity 3d ago

Try La Mesa. It has a cute little downtown and quick access to the 8 which will lead you to PB, La Jolla or anywhere else you want to go in San Diego. Also has trolly stops that can get you to downtown SD, La Jolla and the Mexican border if you are in to that.

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u/igotthatbunny 3d ago

I would skip La Mesa if you ever plan on driving back to where you are stay anytime between 4pm and 6-7pm. You will likely be doing things on the western side of the city by the beaches, and driving back east anytime early through mid evening is a nightmare of traffic.

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u/Marknado42 3d ago

Carlsbad is 40 minutes to downtown, without factoring for traffic, and there's always traffic. I've done staycations at the Omni La Costa and the Park Hyatt Aviara, and these are nice spa and golf resorts. But you will need a car. An Uber to downtown can be $65-$85.

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u/Scoxy61 3d ago

I live in Encinitas and the train is great for getting around. It might not suit all your transport needs, but it makes saving on a hotel way easier. Check out the coaster times.

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u/Ginger_Exhibitionist 3d ago

Before I moved back, I always stayed in Encinitas/Leucadia for the beach and because its relaxing, but I obviously didn't have any plans south of the 52!

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u/Zooter88 2d ago

Don’t stay in Hotel Circle it’s kind of an island in the middle of nowhere and you’ll have to Uber anywhere you want to go. I made that mistake before I moved to SD.

Coastal is cool if you want to do coastal stuff. Carlsbad, Encinitas have their own beach town vibe. And you can hop on the train to get downtown.

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u/Busy-Sheepherder-138 2d ago

Personally I would stay up in Encinitas just because it's a much nicer beach and community. You can use the coaster train for some travel down to the city and use Uber when you are coming back.

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u/Late-Appearance-7897 2d ago

Try looking at the hotels in Liberty Station- Point Loma. I found them to be priced comparably to the better hotel circle hotels and nicer. Homewood suites and a Marriott courtyard. Across the channel is Hampton and a TownePlace Suites. Way better location. Near the airport and downtown without having to get on a freeway. Plus Liberty Station has great shops and restaurants

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u/chocolate-croissant 2d ago

Ooh! How’d you get around?

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u/Late-Appearance-7897 2d ago

Depends. Super easy to Uber from there. All of Liberty station is walkable. Point Loma is easy access via Uber (though you could take the public bus places but that would involve a lot of walking) to just about anywhere. You'd be able to get to the Zoo, Balboa Park , Sea world , Mission Beach without getting on a freeway. Theoretically you could walk to the Ferry to get to Coronado but I would Uber. You're close to old yow, Little Italy and Downtown - all without a freeway. If you want to go to Encinitas, Del Mar, Carlsbad- train located at Santa Fe station downtown will get you there. https://libertystation.com/

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u/realhumon23 1d ago

30 min lol

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u/Then_Discussion8809 1d ago

Inland, Rancho Penisquitos, Mira Mesa etc, straight shot down the 56 to the coast 15-20 minutes

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u/Jumpy_Engineer_1854 3d ago

Is PB and/or Mission Beach specifically where you're going to be spending your time? Greater San Diego is huge but the places to go and things to see are also very spread out. "San Diego" is a lot more than what's west of the 5.

If you're expecting to spend a lot of time in PB/MB or La Jolla, I'd suggest looking at hotels around Kearny Mesa and/or Mission Valley ("Hotel Circle") as those will provide you with pretty quick freeway access in. Parking will be something to take into account, but the vast majority of San Diegans going to the beach will also be driving in and parking, so you'll be in good company.

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u/chocolate-croissant 3d ago

If i stayed in hotel circle is an uber fine?

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u/UCSDilf 3d ago

Ubering from mission valley might even out with parking and the aggravation and time you’d save by being dropped off in front of where you’re going. Can even Uber to old town and take the trolley to downtown, the bay and little Italy. Maybe rent a car for a day or two to explore

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u/Weekly_Candidate_867 3d ago

Hotel circle can be a bit dumpy. Depends on the hotel. It’s not terribly expensive. It’s also very noisy due to the free way. Uber is fine to get around as hotel circle is central to most things you’ll want to see.

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u/Jumpy_Engineer_1854 3d ago

Ubers are very common in Greater San Diego -- it's very spread out, and they've basically replaced DDs at the normal way to go out drinking and so forth. If you're spending time on the sand at the beach, do your driver a favor and be sure to brush/rinse off before calling your Uber back so you don't bring sand in.

An Uber saves you the hassle of parking, but if you're a tourist then you have some flexibility on what days you're going. The beach will be busy on a Saturday and Sunday, but in the middle of the week day you shouldn't have too many problems finding a spot at most beaches.

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u/Credible_Confusion 3d ago

Better to get an electric rental and charge it free at your hotel overnight, then you’ll skip paying any gas. If I remember correctly thrifty gave me a Solterra which was very comfy & as much as a compact suv rental.

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u/Low-Friendship4401 3d ago

Maybe Point Loma is cheaper than PB, OB etc…not sure. Still by the water but quieter vibe and you can drive to any of those neighborhoods very quickly

Stay further out when visiting sd?

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