Life at a resort: how daily life in San Diego is different from vacation

Фото: Depositphotos

San Diego is considered the best city to live in America and one of best cities for vacation in USA. There are almost no rains and unpleasant phenomena like tornadoes and storms, the weather is dry, and the Pacific Ocean is not that cold when compared to Los Angeles. What is it like to be a local resident among tourists and a perpetual vacation?

ForumDaily I decided to compare the cost of living in San Diego and how much a vacation would cost, and find out where the locals take rest and enjoy themselves to be away from tourists.

Accomodation

Tourist

Hotels in San Diego are a dime a dozen for every taste and budget. There is even a hotel street in the city (Hotel Circle), which is located in the tourist area Mission valley. Everything is close by: beautiful bay, shopping malls (Fashion Valley, Westfield), shops, restaurants, banks, the famous San Diego Zoo (it was about its inhabitants that the Madagascar cartoon series was shot!) and the water amusement park Sea World. On average per night at the hotel Mission valley will have to pay back from 100 dollars (on weekend prices, of course, higher).

“We very often go to San Diego,” says San Francisco resident Elena Kamnyanskaya. - Always stop at Paradise Point Resort & Spa (located on the bay Mission bay - approx. Ed.), this is my favorite hotel. Already booked a room for the weekend, from Friday evening to Monday it will cost 590 dollars for a room with two beds. queen size. This is a good deal because there are no 35 dollars per day fees at this hotel. ”

If you prefer to live by the ocean, then for a decent hotel will have to pay decent money. But if you are comfortable with a bed in a hostel, then you can pay 30-40 dollars for it and enjoy the pleasures of life on the first coastline, albeit in spartan conditions.

A hostel on Ocean Beach, which our tourists learned about after the “Heads and Tails” program. Photo by the author

Local

The prices for renting houses and apartments in San Diego are quite affordable when compared to neighboring Los Angeles or San Francisco and Silicon Valley. If you queue up for renting new apartments in advance, for example, in Bernardo Ranch, you can rent an apartment for 1000 dollars for 1 BR (one-bedroom) and 1200 dollars for 2 BR. La Jolla and Del Mar are considered the elite districts of San Diego: here you will have to lay out 2 and more than thousand dollars for more or less normal apartments.

Condos are more expensive: for example, two-bedroom apartment in the central area Mission valley will cost from 3000 dollars per month. For those who need cheaper, you should pay attention to areas such as El Cajon, Lemon Grove, National City and Chula Vista.

There is a simple law: the closer to the border with Mexico, the cheaper. But the old-timers of San Diego traditionally do not recommend such areas to families with children: you never know what.

Although, in fairness, it is still far from such criminal areas as the Compton LA or the New York Harlem.

Personal tourist experience

Muscovite Elena Shurukhina, who spent two weeks in San Diego, concluded that it was important for the tourist to have freedom of movement. She rented Chevrolet Cruze 2017 of the year for 500 $ for two weeks. During this time I spent about 40-50 $ on gasoline, I traveled every day and for long distances.

Фото: Depositphotos

Beaches

Tourist

Anyone who wants to experience the atmosphere of Californian beaches and see all the greatness of the Pacific go to Pacific beach or Ocean Beach. Here you can take surfing lessons (on average, the price of 70-80 pleasure dollars), admire the beautiful sunset, chat with local fringe and buy the authentic clothing with San Diego symbols at an exorbitant price.

And don't be surprised when the sweetish smell of marijuana will haunt you on walks along the beaches - this is actually California, there is a legalization, whether you like it or not. By the way, it is quite easy to buy grass here - it will be brought directly to your home. True, the purchase here is not considered - the license for a legal business is too expensive. Therefore, you will be offered one eighth ounce for a donation.

For a relaxing family vacation tourists go to La jolla beach: his beauty is guaranteed to sink into the soul, and from there take away a ton of beautiful beach photos. It is for this reason that it is very crowded and there are practically no locals.

Local

The ocean in San Diego is not to say so warm, but people relax on the many beaches of this city all year round. Local is difficult to surprise the ocean, so they prefer to surf and other water sports, or just stroll along the promenade.

But when the locals want to cool off, they usually bathe where the water is warmer. These are the beaches of Coronado Island (another area of ​​San Diego, which is considered the elite) and the bay Fiesta islandwhere tourists look less often.

Even locals love dogs and seem to take their pets with them everywhere. For avid dog lovers there is a whole beach here - this is Dog beach near Ocean Beach. By the way, next to him there is a huge skate park, where fans of extreme sports can give their souls.

Log on to Pacific Beach. Photo author

Shops

Tourist

Tourists traditionally go to the malls for shopping - here almost every week there are profitable promotions. To have a quick bite, on the recommendation of the guides, go try burgers in Inn-N-Out - they say that they are the most delicious and healthy, if I may say so, in comparison with other fast-food establishments.

Resting in San Diego, tourists try to taste Mexican cuisine and, following the guidebooks, do it in a restaurant South Beach, What's on Ocean Beach.

Based on the fact that San Diego is located on the Pacific coast, tourists try to dine at sea ​​food institution. Their sea here, and the choice of restaurant depends only on your location and wallet.

San Diegues love the Westfield network breakwaters. Photo: Depositphotos

Local

In San Diego, you can buy absolutely everything - it is a paradise for shoppers. San Diegus lovers network moles Westfield - the most popular of them, UTC located in La Jolla. The most expensive shopping center of the city is considered Fashion Valley, where you can give your soul by spending hundreds of dollars in branded stores - Prada, Michael Cors, Hugo Boss, Carolina Herrera, Coach and many others.

However, good branded items can be bought cheaper - they do not have to be only from new collections. Locals outfit shopping, starting with Nordstrom Rack, Ross, Marshalls and ending with surfer and skate shops - Rip Curl, Quicksilver, Vans and so on. There are many Garnet avewhich leads to Pacific Beach.

As for grocery stores, local people like to buy for the future Costco and buy organic products in Sprouts Farmers Market and Trader Joe's. But for delicious seafood locals go to Island prime, which is located on an island near downtown. As a bonus - from this restaurant offers a breathtaking view of the city.

Personal tourist experience

“My most profitable purchase was an investment in my own education,” says Elena. — I decided to improve my English, so I went to a language school. The lessons lasted 4 hours, but I think they would have had a greater impact if I had studied longer and lived in the USA without being able to communicate in my language. For 2 weeks the courses cost $720.”

Sightseeings

Tourist

Every San Diego Mastkhev is a map Go san diego cardwhich allows you to walk to any of the city’s largest amusement parks for one, three, five or seven days. Accordingly, for it will have to pay from 89 to 274 dollars to every vacationer. But it's worth it, believe me: after all, during this time you can get impressions on 39 rides, including parks, museums, cruises and tourist programs.

There are other profitable tickets that allow you to go to the best parks in Southern California with profit. For example, Southern California City Pass, which includes two days of visits Sea Worldthree days in Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park and one day in Legoland, now worth 353 dollar (adult) and 324 (children).

Another favorite place for tourists is La jolla covewhere real fur seals and sea lions live in their natural habitat.

You can get close to these cutest animals and watch them enough, but it’s better not to touch them: they say sweet cats can bite or even drag off particularly annoying onlookers. Anyway, rescuers are always on duty near the cat's habitat.

Seals in La Jolla Cove. Photo author

Local

Explore the sights and beauty of San Diego can be, it seems, endlessly. The locals, even having traveled far and wide across their city, regularly travel to their favorite places. These are Legoland, Zoo, Safari Park and Sea Worldand also amazing Balboa Parkwhere you can visit the most interesting museums 16.

The most popular time to visit is October: this month, admission to parks and museums is free for children up to the age of 12. After all, one-time tickets to Legoland, the zoo and other famous San Diego amusement parks are quite expensive: from $ 50 for adults and from $ 40 for children. And in one day the same zoo can not be bypassed - so huge it is. But there is still a safari park, which is located in the suburb - Escondido!

A bonus for local residents is annual tickets with a good discount, which allow you to visit the most popular places in the city almost every weekend. The ticket is personal and can only be purchased by a person officially living in the city and in his own name.

It is best to buy annual passes in the so-called low season - then they are sold at the most favorable price. So, the prices for annual access to amusement parks now start from 111 dollars per ticket, and in Costco annual passes can be bought even cheaper: for 99 dollars apiece.

A sailor kissing a girl is the most romantic monument dedicated to the Second World War. Photo: Depositphotos

Personal tourist experience

“The most beautiful place I visited was Cabrillo National Park - a beautiful park where you can walk and enjoy gorgeous views from above, learn the history of the military base,” says Muscovite Elena. “What I remember most is the view of Coronado Beach. It will be interesting for both adults and children. On the way to the hill there is a military cemetery, which is striking in its size. Tickets cost $10 and are valid for a week.

I also liked the embankment in downtown, where the US Navy Museum is located Midway. We didn’t climb the aircraft carrier, and we didn’t sail on the ships either: we didn’t have enough time. But at the end of the embankment there is a very beautiful park with good shops.

Of the attractions of San Diego, I was also impressed by the Mexican Old Townand I would like to go there again and have dinner in some Mexican restaurant. One of the evenings we spent on Gaslamp (party district of San Diego - author's note). Everything here is so beautiful, fashionable and fun!”

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