Visiting San Diego, do I need a car (renting, purchase)

[mayhem_223]

Originally Posted by moved

Don't drive downtown. You're better off taking the bus to Old Town trolley station and taking the trolley downtown. If you drive, it'll be very congested, and you'll have to pay for parking. You can also take the bus to the zoo, and the bus stop is directly across the street. If you have the time, I would take public transportation to where you want to go, unless you go at night.

Nah, I hate buses. I'll think about trolley to downtown if there is park and ride lot/garage by the station, otherwise no, but thank you for suggestion.

[moved]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

Nah, I hate buses. I'll think about trolley to downtown if there is park and ride lot/garage by the station, otherwise no, but thank you for suggestion.

You can park the car in Old Town and take the trolley downtown. If you drive to the Zoo, they have a large parking lot. If you do decide to drive downtown, expect to sit in traffic, and shell big bucks for parking.

[sdurbanite]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

One more question folks: in what order I should see the following destinations once I step my foot in airport.
- Bolboa Park (including San Diego Zoo)
- Old Town
- downtown
- Gas Lamp district
- USS Midway
- Coronado Island (hotel Del lobby, beaches)
- Sea World



Since I will drive around, I'll save myself some time and check in to hotel at the end of day. It will be 2:30pm so still some time left. I will be staying in Wyndham Garden near SeaWorld but I'd rather go there in morning next day cause I dont think I'll see there much late afternoon before it closes

All of those place are fairly close to each other. You might want to consider Car 2 Go. Just rent the car by the minute ($13 an hour). You don't pay for parking meters and you only get charged for the time you are on the road.

car2go San Diego: Car Rental

[mayhem_223]

Originally Posted by sdurbanite

All of those place are fairly close to each other. You might want to consider Car 2 Go. Just rent the car by the minute ($13 an hour). You don't pay for parking meters and you only get charged for the time you are on the road.

car2go San Diego: Car Rental

its very small, i would be afraid of driving in highway. Plus the sign up fee doesn't make it worth it and if I decide to keep it for one day, its $65. I am much better off with conventional rental for $30 a day. Supplied with GPS on my own and CDW from amex.

How expensive are parking meters in old town near trolleys or downtown. Cause $10 a day is nothing compared with $30> per metered garage parking in Chicago where I am coming from.

[mayhem_223]

Originally Posted by moved

You can park the car in Old Town and take the trolley downtown. If you drive to the Zoo, they have a large parking lot. If you do decide to drive downtown, expect to sit in traffic, and shell big bucks for parking.

does the old town have only on-street parking, or do they have large lot/garage parking lot as well? The one at San Diego Zoo isn't that customer only parking?

[futbol]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

its very small, i would be afraid of driving in highway. Plus the sign up fee doesn't make it worth it and if I decide to keep it for one day, its $65. I am much better off with conventional rental for $30 a day. Supplied with GPS on my own and CDW from amex.

How expensive are parking meters in old town near trolleys or downtown. Cause $10 a day is nothing compared with $30> per metered garage parking in Chicago where I am coming from.

- Bolboa Park (including San Diego Zoo) Parking is free.
- Old Town $7-10, or free if you are willing to park on the street and walk, which is what I do
- downtown $7-10, depending on how close to downtown and how long to park
- Gas Lamp district same as downtown
- USS Midway $7 parking near City Hall
- Coronado Island (hotel Del lobby, beaches) $10-15, IIRC
- Sea World $10-12 (rip off, unfortunately)

[mayhem_223]

Originally Posted by futbol

- Bolboa Park (including San Diego Zoo) Parking is free.
- Old Town $7-10, or free if you are willing to park on the street and walk, which is what I do
- downtown $7-10, depending on how close to downtown and how long to park
- Gas Lamp district same as downtown
- USS Midway $7 parking near City Hall
- Coronado Island (hotel Del lobby, beaches) $10-15, IIRC
- Sea World $10-12 (rip off, unfortunately)

Very informative thanks! yeah last one is unfortunate but my hotel is near bus stop that goes there directly in 5 min every 20 minutes. And my hotel has free parking

[futbol]

Originally Posted by mayhem_223

Very informative thanks! yeah last one is unfortunate but my hotel is near bus stop that goes there directly in 5 min every 20 minutes. And my hotel has free parking

You're welcome.

BTW, this is from memory. The other San Diegans might correct those numbers.

[moved]

The parking at Old Town in the garage is free. You can also park on the street and walk farther to the trolley.

[Clevelandgal]

Originally Posted by moved

The parking at Old Town in the garage is free. You can also park on the street and walk farther to the trolley.

Also it's free in the parking lot for the old town trolley right? For the OP, aS far as coronado, you can turn right at the hotel del coronado and there is lots of street parking. It gets tight on weekend, especially warms ones. I think you'd have to like throwing money away to pay for parking at the hotel del Coronado. Actually there is free parking all over coronado.