Cheap Flights To San Diego

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Cheap Flights To San Diego

Overview
When to Go
Airport Information
Weather
Things to Do
Local Attractions
Must See Sights
Insider Tips
Getting Around

Overview
San Diego is not so much a city as a collection of communities hiding in canyons on small shoulders of land overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From the laid-back attitude of Carlsbad to the gentrified sophistication of La Jolla to the urban vibrance of the historic Gaslamp Quarter downtown, each neighborhood has a charm of its own. Stunning natural beauty, stellar outdoor recreation options, a bustling nightlife, family friendly world-class attractions and some of the best beaches in the country make San Diego a popular destination for travelers.

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When to Go
High Season
Almost anytime of the year is pleasant in San Diego, offering the most temperate climate in the country. Airfares and hotel rates are generally higher during summer months when tourists fill the city and beaches. Tourism peaks during summertime, when coastal hotels and lodging near major attractions fill to capacity, weekend restaurant reservations are hard to book and attractions are packed with visitors and locals off from work and school.

Low Season
Fewer tourists and lower hotel rates make travel easier during winter, spring and autumn when savvy travelers can snag affordable mid-week airfare and accommodations. Spring and autumn are ideal times to visit, with lower traveling costs and fewer crowds. The period from Thanksgiving to early February is generally the least crowded.

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Airport Information
San Diego International Airport (SAN)
Distance: Three miles northwest of downtown San Diego
Drive time: 11 minutes

San Diego International Airport is the main gateway to the city. The airport sky bridge links travelers to Transportation Plaza, where taxis, limos, shuttles and buses provide services from the airport. Via taxi, a trip downtown is about a 10 minute ride and will cost approximately $10.00 to $15.00, with trips to Coronado and Mission Beach running 20 minutes at $20.00 to $25.00 and La Jolla running 30 minutes at $30.00 to $35.00 dollars.

The San Diego Transit System bus #992 carries passengers downtown and departs every 10 minutes with a one-way fare of $2.25. The Southwest Shuttle travels to major points in the city with fares running from $8.00 to $25.00 per person. Many major hotels offer free shuttle services to and from the airport.

Alternative Airports
John Wayne Airport (SNA) - 76 miles from San Diego
Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) - 86 miles from San Diego

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Weather
San Diego rarely reaches a point of extreme hot or cold, boasting excellent weather. Bays and beaches are bathed in sunshine 75 percent of the time and there are less than 10 inches of rainfall per year. However, the city’s coastal areas are sometimes engulfed by “June Gloom” during late May and early June, an ocean fog that keeps the beach cities overcast into early afternoon hours.

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Things to Do
SeaWorld
This 189-acre park within a park, housed in Mission Bay Park, is one of the world’s largest oceanariums, with 12,000 marine and aquatic animals. SeaWorld offers 20-minute live shows featuring orcas, otters and dolphins, marine environments and sealife exhibits. Highlights include the Penguin Encounter, the Wild Artic, Shark Encounter, Manatee Rescue and Journey to Atlantis. 

Birch Aquarium
The Stephen Birch Aquarium offers an insight into local and tropical marine life. Special hands-on activities, scavenger hunts and workshops are held throughout the year.  Attractions include the Hall of Fishes, an outdoor tide pool and a spectacular view of La Jolla Shores and cliffs from the outdoor plaza. 

Balboa Park
Balboa Park’s 1,174 acres offer something for everyone. One of America’s finest city parks, it is home to 15 museums, three art galleries, four theaters, dazzling gardens, picnic groves and the world’s largest zoo. Highlights include the San Diego Museum of Art, the Old Globe Theatre, Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the Museum of Man. Primary entrances are on Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street on the west side and Park Boulevard and Presidents Way on the east.

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Local Attractions
La Jolla
Atop a rocky peninsula 10 miles north of downtown lies the idyllic community of La Jolla, filled with drop-dead views of surf, caves, hills and lagoons. Its narrow, curvy 1930s-era streets are easier to walk than drive and filled with posh hotels, chic boutiques and gourmet restaurants. Top attractions include Ellen Browning Scripps Park, the La Jolla Playhouse, the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla Cove and Torrey Pines State Reserve.

Coronado
Picturesque Coronado lies on a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego Bay. Home to the largest beach resort on the North American Pacific coast, the Hotel Del Coronado, beautiful Victorian houses, stucco bungalows and Spanish-style haciendas surrounded by pine, eucalyptus and orange trees, Coronado is gorgeous all-around. Highlights include the Coronado Bridge, Ferry Landing Market Place and Silver Strand Beach. Take the San Diego Ferry from Broadway Pier to reach Coronado. Ferries leave every hour on the hour from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM; roundtrip tickets are $6.00.

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Must See Sights
Gaslamp Quarter
Scores of preserved commercial buildings from the Civil War through World War I line the 16 block historic downtown Gaslamp Quarter. Now housing stylish restaurants, nightclubs and trendy shops, it is within close proximity of the harbor, airport and nearby attractions. Highlights include the Balboa Theatre, Horton Plaza, the William Heath Davis House and Old City Hall. 

San Diego Zoo
The world famous San Diego Zoo is one of the largest zoos in the world, with over 4,000 animals. The 100-acre grounds can be explored via open air tram tours, Skyfari ride or by foot. Highlights include the Polar Bear Plunge, the Gorilla Tropics, the Children’s Zoo, Ituri Forrest, Koala Habitat and the Giant Panda Research Center. 

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Insider Tips

• Catch San Diego’s Major League Baseball Team, the Padres, play at PETCO Park, a state-of-the-art ballpark incorporating seven buildings. Season runs April to September.
• At local attractions, work your way backwards throughout a park instead of stopping at the first attraction. This helps beat most of the crowds.
• The San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau offers discount coupons on restaurants and attractions. Visit them at 2215 India Street.
• San Diego has some of the highest gas prices in the country. Save money by filling up your tank at stations away from tourist attractions and beaches.
• Half price tickets for music, dance and theater performances can be purchased at the Arts Tix kiosk in front of Horton Plaza.
• For shopaholics, San Diego has three outlet centers, the Carlsbad Company Stores in North County, the Shops at Los Americas and the Viejas Outlet Center.

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Getting Around
Visitors don’t need a car if they plan to stay downtown, but a rental is a good idea to get around the rest of the city quickly. There are no car rental booths at the airport, but shuttles run every few minutes from the Transportation Plaza to off-site rental offices including Avis, Budget Rent A Car and Enterprise.

The San Diego Trolley is an inexpensive above the ground rail system with 53 stations along three lines that run throughout the city. The Blue Line travels between Old Town, downtown and San Ysidro, the Orange Line stops at the Gaslamp Quarter, the Convention Center and Seaport Village and the Green Line travels between Old Town and Santee. Tickets are available at station vending machines or online. Day passes begin at $5.

The Coaster train service runs between downtown and Oceanside and stops in Old Town, Sorrento Valley, Solano Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside with trains running Monday to Saturday. Fares run between $2.00 to $3.00. 

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