<p>I agree with flying into SD if you can. Flying into LAX and driving is a doable option as well but just less convenient, especially since there are non-stops between Honolulu and San Diego. </p>
<p>I’m fairly sure you could rent a car at one or both of the big hotels next to the CC if you decide you want one for the day or something.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting HiMom, I was in SD last fall for a convention and stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt - DH and I had such a good time that we are taking DS, a HS senior, for a short graduation trip in April - he’s a zoo buff and has never been to the SD Zoo. we are probably going to stay at the Hard Rock Hotel, it has a good special going on for our time frame. The Manchester is a very large luxury hotel that is in walking distance to the convention center, but far enough that I wouldn’t wear heels - I think the Hard Rock is actually closer to the convention center. The Manchester, though, has great views - bring binoculars and try to get on a higher floor. We were there the week before Fleet Week and there was amazing activity in the harbor. Try to get up to the bar on the top floor for sunset one evening - beautiful. Half of Seaport Village is basically behind the Grand Hyatt, too.
We went to the last Padres game of the season and had dinner at a great little fried fish joint about a block from Petco Park, I’ll try to find the name, it would be fun for a couple of college age guys.</p>
<p>Oh and the trains are pretty noisy if you are a light sleeper - don’t know what you can do about that, really.</p>
<p>Bring a white noise machine for your room. It will drown out the trains/trams as well as any ambient hotel noise.</p>
<p>OK–have put in housing request & see how close they are able to house me to the convention center. Am crossing my fingers and asked them to call me if I am unable to get my top 3 choices.</p>
<p>Am not too good with earplugs or headphones, but will figure out something. White noise machine sounds like more work & weight than I’m interested in. Maybe the woman sharing the room with me will have a good idea.</p>
<p>When you fly into SD try to sit on the left side of the airplane if you can. You get a very nice view as you approach the landing. You see San Diego Bay spread out before you with the graceful curve of the Coronado bridge. You can see the aircraft carriers and other Navy ships in port below. As you fly past downtown you get below the level of the office towers and hotels and get the illusion that your plane is threading its way through them. It is actually going around them on the eastern edge of downtown. It’s a scenic approach.</p>
<p>White noise machines weigh about 4 oz these days and can be turned on with a push. Brookstone has several travel sized ones. </p>
<p>S.D. does have a spectacular bay. The Midway Aircraft carrier is right on the edge of the Embarcadero and well worth a visit if you have time. The Star of India is there as well if you prefer tall ships to the more modern navy.</p>
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I just always use the room A/C or fan. It works pretty well except for those units where the fan turns off as soon as the thermostat hits the set point. I prefer the ones where the compressor kicks off but the fan stays on.</p>
<p>
I second this and have recommended it to many people. It’s a nice view at night as well with the lights of the downtown buildings so close and the lights on the Coronado bridge. However, the right side of the plane gets a view of Balboa park that’s pretty nice.</p>
<p>“As you fly past downtown you get below the level of the office towers and hotels and get the illusion that your plane is threading its way through them.”</p>
<p>^I always feel like we’re going to crash into something!</p>
<p>Last visit the pilot tried touching down three times with almost zero visibility, then would suddenly pull up, md go over the ocean. Finally we just went to Vegas…but enough about that…</p>
<p>I went to a convention at the SD convention center a couple of years ago, and stayed at the Marriott adjacent to the center - Shinkrap’s description of the walk between them was quite familiar!</p>
<p>I had to change rooms after the first night, because the noise from the train was so loud. They run either all night or most of it, and the conductors ring the very loud bells at every block. I am a very sound sleeper, but could not sleep through this. I don’t think a white noise machine would be enough. I moved to another room on the bay side and was fine. Wherever you stay, check out the train noise situation.</p>
<p>I have had good luck with Priceline. You can learn a great deal about using it successfully at biddingfortravel.com. Often you can get a pretty good idea of what hotel you are likely to get.</p>
<p>I am usually a terrible sleeper, but I don’t have problems with high floors (15 plus?) at the Marriott Marina. I always choose city view ( @$10 cheaper… yay!)</p>
<p>OK–for the time I’m looking at, there is nothing in the zone on Priceline, so I’ll splurge & pay the convention rates & try to get them to book me a room with minimal train & trolly noise, so bay view request it is. I tend to have a very tough time sleeping when I travel anyway.</p>
<p>OK–we’ve splurged & are are staying at the SD Marriott attached to the convention center on the bay side. It’s pricey at $270/night. We could try for a room with city view, but don’t want to risk being awake all night with the train/trolley.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. They were very helpful & I’ll report back when we return.</p>