In March, one of our agents, Barbara, got the opportunity to escape down to San Diego for a multi-generational family vacation.
She has come back full of tips for families travelling to the area, so whether you have your trip booked already, or you’re thinking about planning your vacation you’ll want to read on!
Travelling with a group of people ranging from young children to Great-Grandparents can be difficult to plan for. San Diego offers a number of options for families that will make everyone feel included, and entertained!
The four big sites that offer the most to families of all ages and sizes are the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, LegoLand, and the USS Midway. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your visit to these sites:
- Any of these booked online in advance have lower prices. In addition, most hotels or the tourist board centers, have a variety of coupons offering different reductions.
- There are many “multiple attractions” offers, but before committing to any of these take a look at the places you want to visit and the time you will spend there. You may find that these offers are not actually advantageous, depending on your plans.
- There are rentals available for wheelchairs, electric scooter, strollers (single or double) and “wagons” (for children, bags, etc).
- In general, strollers are not allowed in the show areas, and have to be left outside the entrance. Wheelchairs are acceptable and have a special area for them to park.
- When visiting the sites you might want to consider packing your own snacks. If purchasing food, try going off of the main meal times as the lines get very long.
- A fast pass, if available, may be worth the extra cost but keep in mind that you will lose some flexibility and will need to plan your day around ride & show times.
For hotels, and accessibility to the various locations, Barbara chose the Homewood Suites Liberty Station. This hotel offered a number of great perks including:
- Close to the airport
- Free parking
- Free airport shuttle
- Free daily breakfast
- Free evening “snacks” Monday through Thursday, 5:30-7:30pm. The snacks were a good meal substitute, and were based around a different theme each night. They also included beer and wine.
- Fully equipped kitchens
- Cribs available upon request
- Close to a number of restaurants, as well as a large VONS market (Extra tip – get a VONS card if you plan on getting groceries. It was well worth the savings!)
Above all, the staff members at the hotel and all sites were friendly, competent, helpful, and obviously well trained. They made everyone feel welcome and accommodated, no matter what their age! Truly a great place for families!