Huntington Beach - Sunset Beach - Newport Beach? (San Diego, Anaheim: hotels, live in)

[Grasonville]

Going to vacation in Southern California in November (Mr. Disney gave me a free pass for my birthday ) - but that is only one day of a five day trip.

Can anyone suggest which of the three listed areas (or nearby) that would be best to stay - trying to spend $150.00 or less per night.

Doesn't have to be luxurious (obviously) just safe and scenic.

Thanks!

[bhcompy]

Depends on what you want

Sunset is a true surf town
Huntington is the tourists surf town and where the teens/20somethings are
Newport is for the older crowd that likes to shop

[Grasonville]

I like "atmosphere" - not interested in bland "could be anywhere".

Can you suggest a specific hotel?

[Paula Lynn]

Sunset is very quaint. Do a google for hotels in the area. Have fun!

[Grasonville]

Originally Posted by Paula Lynn

Sunset is very quaint. Do a google for hotels in the area. Have fun!

Yes - I have been searching - seems like people only comment when they have complaints about a particular feature. Is it better to stay at a "chain" or is there some hidden local gem?

[RobE]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

Depends on what you want
Newport is for the older crowd that likes to shop

Really? When I was a teenager in the 1970's I went bodysurfing there several times a week during the summer and so did thousands of other folks my age. Kinda hard to believe it has changed since then. Also never saw a Nazi skinhead in NB like I have in HB.

Plus the Huntington Pier is a relatively short drive from Newport on PCH. You could check them both out.

[OC Investor2]

Originally Posted by Grasonville

Going to vacation in Southern California in November (Mr. Disney gave me a free pass for my birthday ) - but that is only one day of a five day trip.

Can anyone suggest which of the three listed areas (or nearby) that would be best to stay - trying to spend $150.00 or less per night.

Doesn't have to be luxurious (obviously) just safe and scenic.

Thanks!

Any other idea on what you want to do when in So Cal? Just hit the beach? Go to San Diego Zoo/Sea World? Going to LA/Hollywood for a day? You want to Shop, Drink, relax, meet people, all or any of the above.

Let us know what else you are interested in doing, It will help us help you.

The bad news is the hotels in the beach towns tend to be on the 2 extremes of the spectrum- High end resorts & business hotels or low end dumps (which still cost way too much because of their location). If you have a car, you may want to look at staying a little more inland - Irvine, Costa Mesa or even Anaheim.

[bm22]

I would sugest you try to stay in Huntington Beach for at least 2-3 days at the Shorebreak Hotel. It is a brand new boutique hotel right at the beach and downtown. It is very cool and you just cross PCH to the beach or walk about 50 yards to the bars and restaurants. It has expensive rooms but I just checked and found a rate of $139 dollars a night for the first week in Nov. If you keep checking you may find a good rate for your dates. If you are going to Disney you may want to split up your stay and stay closer to Disney for a few nights. Costa Mesa and Irvine are more central, near the airport, and have many hotel rooms.

BTW, Sunset Beach will be very slow in Nov. and I'm not so sure it's that quaint unless you live in an expensive beach house.

[lapommedeterre]

there are two hotel/motels on pacific coast hwy in huntington beach that would be a good place to stay at not fancy at all but definitely safe and in your price range and right across from the beach and shopping. 720 pch huntington surf inn and 1102 pch sun and sands motel