LA / San Diego travel ideas needed

[g4fishing]

My wife, teenage daughter and myself will fly into LA on July 7th and out on the 16th. We have a week booked at the Gas Lamp Plaza Suites starting on the 9th. What I need help with is where we should stay and what we might do before our timeshare begins and how we should get ourselves to and from San Diego. Thoughts at this point are may-be do Disneyland on the 8th for one day and to rent a car. The Gas Lamp apparently charges for parking so may-be do a one-way rental? Any thoughts or suggestions?
By the way, the reason for not going straight to San Diego is complicated but it involves the using up my airmiles. Thanks

 

[libraria99]

Amtrak ?????

 

[ricoba]

Living here in Southern California pretty much unfortunatley requires a car. So I would suggest you rent one and maybe someone can point out cheaper parking options in San Diego.

Lots of things to see and do here...

Hollywood, Universal, Getty Museum, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica & Venice are all an easy day to explore.

My favorite beaches are in Orange County, Laguna & Dana Point are beautiful.

Inland, Temecula & the wine country, Palm Springs is great in the summer if you love the heat

San Diego, north county is lovely, Indian casino's if that's your thing, the Wild Animal Park.

Enjoy your stay and play here in California.

Rick

 

[CaliDave]

There are no cheaper parking options in Gaslamp. The $18 a day you'll pay Gaslamp suites is pretty much standard for that area.
Gaslamp and San Francisco are the only two timeshare areas that you really dont need a car.. If you stay in the area. You can get around with trolley's, shuttles and buses.

I would rent a car for a couple days and return it in San Diego. I'd either stay in Anaheim.. you can get really nice hotel room pretty cheap on priceline.
Or drive down the coast towards San Diego.. there are tons of great communities to stay.
Laguna, San Clemente, Carlsbad, La Jolla

I like the freedom of having a car and I'd pay the $18, but I live in California and I wouldnt also be paying to rent a car. If that were the case. I'd try public transportation.
Call Gaslamp Plaza's front desk.. they could probably tell you how hard it would be to get around without a car.

 

[loosefeet]

If you can do Amtrak b/t San Diego and Santa Ana/Anaheim, it's a wonderful trip. Not hard with the trolley. It will take longer, but No traffic to contend with.

 

[g4fishing]

Thanks for these good ideas. We will rent a car and pay the parking.