Moving: Little Italy? (San Diego, August, Kensington: extended stay, rent, hotel)

[hockeylfe11]

Okay!
So time is ticking. Less than 6 months until I'm making my move to San Diego. I was there visiting in August and I stayed near the Harbor. I was trying to get a feel for some of the neighborhoods in San Diego to help narrow down my search. I loved the harbor/little italy area. It was wonderful being able to walk everywhere and people were really chill and friendly. I know the area is a large tourist area but the it felt cozy for me. I checked out the north park/kensington area and absolutely fell in love with Kensington. However, finding a studio/1 br in that area didn't seem to be in my $1200/mo rent range. Pacific Beach was great, but maybe just a little too much, too often. I'd like to be able to enjoy San Diego and move so far inland that we don't feel like doing anything. If that was the case, I'd stay put in the scorching hell hole of Arizona.

Back to the point, I'm wondering if Little Italy is as cracked up to be as I've made it in my short visit. It seems like a lot of the areas are similar but this little area stood out to me and my g/f tremendously. Its close to downtown. Easy accesible for the highways. 10-20 min commute to the beaches.

Any feedback of people living in the area or recently lived there would be great. I know it seems like another 'what area is best for me' but hopefully I've been more specific.

[kettlepot]

Given what limited information you have provided, I think you will enjoy Little Italy provided you can accept the plane noise. And it really isn't so big of a tourist area that it is oppressive with them.

You might also like Normal Heights, North Park, South Park, University Heights, Bankers Hill, and Hillcrest, essentially all of the Balboa Park neighborhoods. All of them have their little or somewhat bigger old style commercial districts - except Bankers Hill which relies on the commercial district for Hillcrest though there are more and more things opening up along 4th & 5th Avenues.

[mandasand]

I think $1200 in Little Itlay may be difficult...there was very few on CL and they looked like an extended stay hotel.