San Diego’s weather approaches perfection. Its beaches, nightlife, eating scene and collection of museums make it a good tourist destination year-round. As with other cities along California’s coast, San Diego can be quite expensive. Hotels, restaurants and attractions often carry a high price tag, or rather, a higher price than similar services and experiences in a more easterly city.

But San Diego does not have to be expensive. Laying your head in a hostel or in an out-of-the-way hotel can significantly reduce the cost of a trip. There are plenty of quality non-chain fast-food-type restaurants and authentic ethnic restaurants that offer cheap eats of reasonable, if not superb, quality. And then there is San Diego’s largest attraction, its beaches. Aside from an occasional parking fee, visiting these stretches of sand is completely free.

There are several cheap accommodation options in San Diego. One of the most popular is 500 West Hotel (500 West Broadway). This YMCA-style hostel costs less than $50 per night. Hostelling International San Diego Downtown (521 Market Street) and USA Hostels San Diego (726 5th Avenue) both have dorm beds for $20 and private rooms for $50.

Though San Diego’s public transit system is not as all-encompassing as San Francisco’s or New York’s, it is possible to take the train from the downtown area to major sites around the city. It is also possible to ride the rails directly up to the border, where you can walk into Tijuana and shop for better bargains than can be found in San Diego.

San Diego’s expansive urban parks and perpetually pleasant weather make it a perfect park city. Balboa Park is the largest of the parklands. While it hosts numerous museums and attractions, the Balboa is also a nice place for a simple picnic, a stroll or a pedal. There are trails and parks throughout the city offering similar activities.

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