My d will be spending four weeks out there in November/December doing a clinical rotation. Would like to find housing that is within walking distance of the zoo as she won’t have a car. Have tried AirBnB but 99% say that she needs car. Any guidance I can get would be appreciated. Thanks!
The Zoo is in the midst of a large park (Balboa) that doesn’t have any housing too close by - also, it is separated from downtown S.D. by two highways (163 and the 5). The Zoo is a tough spot for one who wants to walk to work. There are buses that run there regularly. Maybe she can find something near the Gas Lamp district.
Who is sponsoring the rotation? Is it her college? Have her contact the department and see if they have an housing through them or through the zoo.
There is a residential area past Upas street on the Morley Field side of Balboa Park. And I see that has at least one hotel with kitchenettes that has monthly rates:http://www.san-diego-hitching-post-motels.com/embassy-hotel-hillcrest.htm
That would be about a 15 minute walk to the zoo. I don’t know anything about that hotel, although the neighborhood is not bad. Bill Walton lives in that area, or at least he used to years ago. I don’t know whether he still does.
If that or other housing options in the area are unsuitable, the next option IMO would be to shop around for a lower cost monthly car rental rate and then live anywhere you want in the San diego area.
If she will not have a car then I suggest looking at bus routes she can use to get to Balboa Park. Public transportation here is not very good so you would have to see how long a commute by bus would take her from potential housing.
@glido is absolutely correct: most of the areas near the zoo do not have housing.
The only walkable area is just north of the zoo in “Hillcrest” however, the housing costs are outrageous if you could find anyplace. She needs a car or a strong, fast bike for more housing options. Since “it never rains in California”, she needs to be prepared for it and the “cold” weather that we do get in November / December.
Balboa Park is 1200 acres and within that acreage is the Zoo.
West of the zoo is a major highway within the Balboa Park area. Walking through the park, over the freeway bridge, through more park, to get to housing, is unsafe and would take, at least 40 minutes. East of the zoo, is Morley field with canyons, mostly hilly trails (that I would never allow my daughter to walk up and down by herself); it is within the 1200 acres, but that area is very hilly and not conducive to walking nor biking.
South of the zoo, is highway 5 and the beginning of downtown (not the best part of town, lots of homeless). You would think that in a large city like this that there would be decent transportation. Poor transportation and wait times are horrible. I’m told there used to be a really good transportation system, about 100 years ago, before they got rid of it to accommodate the car.
If she got the internship through the UC system, she may be able to get UCSD housing. Then, she could ask if they have a shuttle to the zoo for their students. It’s worth asking. UCSD has a hospital in Mission Hills, northwest of the zoo.
Thanks all, much appreciated and great information. When you live on the other side of the US, this is not an easy task!
The problem with San Diego is that good bus coverage usually is only in areas your daughter probably should not try staying alone.
I forgot to add that they shuttle the UC kids to the hospital in the mission hills/hillcrest. I would assume they shuttle students to the zoo.
She could try long term housing through VRBO? Send us the zip codes she’s considering, and I’m sure the locals on this site willl help tell you what the area is like.