Overview of San Diego

San Diego characterises a typical Southern Californian beach city: with year-round sunshine and surf, a superb coastline with miles of sandy-white beaches, easygoing inhabitants, and a wide variety of world-class family attractions tourists, long-time vacationers and would-be residents can't help but be drawn to 'America's finest city'.


Although California's third biggest city with an ever-increasing population of more than a million, San Diego prides itself on its conservative small-town ambience, with very little of the pollution, highway congestion and raciness of Los Angeles. In 1769 a Spanish missionary by the name of Father Junipero Serra established a Catholic mission and fortified settlement in what was later to become San Diego; it was the first permanent European settlement on the West Coast of the United States. It remained a village backwater until, with the bombing of Pearl Harbour during World War II, the US Naval Fleet Headquarters was relocated to San Diego Bay and the booming of wartime activity transformed it into a thriving city.


The city is a vibrant collection of colourful neighbourhoods and communities. It has award-winning restaurants, trendy shopping districts, attractions such as the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, and a dynamic downtown district that includes the city's historic Gaslamp Quarter. There are numerous indications of its Mexican and Spanish heritage in the traditional architecture, typical Mexican cuisine, and strong links with the town of Tijuana just across the Mexican border.


San Diego is also rich in art and culture, and the city boasts the largest urban cultural park in the US, with beautiful gardens and Spanish architecture featuring 15 museums, art galleries and theatres to be found in Balboa Park. More than 70 miles (113km) of beaches around the city offer superb surfing and beach activities and provide the perfect introduction to this accessible and laid-back city.

Whats included in San Diego

Shopping in San Diego

If you’re looking for some retail therapy, San Diego is the perfect place to indulge. Shopping can be enjoyed outdoors in San Diego, where open-air malls and shopping centers beam with sunshine throughout the year. From luxury brand storefronts, unique boutiques, vintage shops and antique malls, if you’re looking to make some investments or just browsing for inspiration, there’s plenty of places to exercise your stroll, and your wallet.

Dining and Nightlife in San Diego

With an abundance of locally grown fresh produce and seafood right off the dock, San Diego has attracted the hottest chefs who now call this city home. From fish tacos to decadent ten-course culinary adventures, San Diego restaurants can satisfy every craving.


And when the sun goes down, the city comes alive at rooftop bars, hot nightclubs featuring celebrity DJ's, moody jazz clubs and iconic rock venues. The heart of the action is found in downtown's walkable Gaslamp Quarter, where the city streets are filled with outdoor bistros and party revelers. So bring your dance shoes and get ready to celebrate as you hit the streets in San Diego.

Whats included

Balboa Park

Balboa Park contains one of the biggest groups of museums in the USA, many of them housed in magnificent Spanish-Mexican buildings, in addition to more than 85 Performing Arts and International Culture Organisations including theatres like the internationally acclaimed Old Globe Theatre, and several art galleries. The park also houses the world-renowned San Diego Zoo with more than 800 species in spacious re-created natural habitats. The oldest and most famous of the 14 museums in Balboa Park is the Reuben H Fleet Science Centre with a big screen Omnimax Theatre and virtual reality simulator that transports visitors to outer space.


Other museums cover a wide range of interests, including cars and motorbikes, anthropology, various forms of art, and natural history. The Spanish Village Art Centre provides a traditional ancient village setting for viewing sculpture, painting, glassblowing and pottery performed by crafts people in classic tiled-roofed studios. The park has numerous features and facilities including golf courses, hiking and cycling trails, promenades, extensive landscaped gardens and horticultural treasures, a Japanese Friendship Garden, fountains and restaurants, a pavilion for Sunday afternoon concerts and the world's largest outdoor organ. Visitors can purchase a day pass that includes entrance to five museums

Flights to San Diego from Ireland

There are no direct flights to San Diego from Ireland but plenty of connections via UK or USA airports


The average flight time from Dublin to San Diego is 12-13 hours.



CityBreakUSA is a trading name of Platinum Travel who are fully licensed and bonded by the Commission for Aviation Regulation in Ireland (Licence number TA0634)


As we are a fully service Travel Agent we would be delighted to arrange your holiday from start to finish including flights, transfers, accommodation and general advice.


Most of our special offer package prices already include flights, However, if you have already booked your flights we can also tailormake a package for you to just include accommodation and anything else you may require.

San Diego International Airport

San Diego International Airport is often referred to as Lindbergh Field. It is situated a quick drive from downtown. As it is located in a suburban area, departures are only allowed between 6.30am and 11.30pm.


The three terminals at San Diego International are well-equipped with a range of amenities. They are also easy to navigate and despite having only one runway, the airport is quite capable of handling its 18 million passengers each year.


Location
The airport is situated two miles (3km) northwest of San Diego.


Getting to the city
A train service connects to the city centre as well as other parts of San Diego and neighbouring cities. (Tel: 800.262.7837). Flyer Service No. 992 leaves every 10 minutes for the city centre between 5:00 a.m. and 12:50 a.m. and costs about $2.50. Public buses connect to downtown as well as commuter trains and depart every ten minutes. A host of shuttle companies are available to share rides into downtown and are available from arrivals. Taxis take about 10 minutes to downtown San Diego and cost around $10 (Tel: 619-234-6161). Shared shuttle vans offer door-to-door services and are a cheaper alternative to taxis.


Time
GMT -6 (GMT -5 from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November).


Contacts
Tel: +1 619 400 2404.


Car rental
Car rental companies include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz.


Transfer between terminals
A free Inter-Airport Red Bus operates between the three terminals.


Facilities
Lifts, bathrooms and telephones cater for the disabled. Currency exchange and ATMs are available. Other facilities include bars and restaurants, postal services, shops, several airport club rooms, tourist information and hotel reservations.


Parking
Parking rates range from $2 per half hour to daily rates of $11 to $26, depending upon which parking option you choose.


Departure Tax
None.


Website

www.san.org

Airlines
Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, British Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Virgin America, Volaris and WestJet all offer flights to San Diego International Airport.


Internet
Free wi-fi is available throughout the terminals.


Business Lounges
San Diego International Airport doesn't have business or conference facilities on site, but there are a number of hotels nearby.

Prices and Departure Dates for San Diego

Transport

Getting around San Diego is relatively easy without a car, with three types of public transport servicing the city. Buses and the Trolley light rail cover the city, but service generally stops around midnight. The Trolley is the best way to get to the border with Mexico for trips to Tijuana. Passes are available from the Transit Store for both bus and trolley fares; it also provides timetables and route information. A Coaster train service operates during morning and evening rush hours, linking downtown with the outlying northern coastal communities as well as providing four services on Saturdays. The Coronado Ferry as well as a water taxi service shuttle passengers between the city and Coronado Island (also connected to the mainland by bridge). Privately-owned Old Town Trolley Tours offers hop-on, hop-off narrated tours of places of interest for tourists, though this option is a bit more expensive than the public Trolley. Taxis must be ordered by phone, but waiting times can be long. Cycling is a popular way to get around San Diego, and there are numerous bike hire shops and many designated bicycle lanes. Some bus routes, the trolleys and the Coronado Ferry offer free passage of bicycles, allowing people to get to an area by public transport and then explore from there. Although possible to get around using public transport, many people prefer to rent a car, especially as there is no public transport late at night, and some areas are easier and quicker to get to by car. The city is easy to navigate with well laid out highways, and parking meters are plentiful. Car rental agencies require a credit card or cash deposit and a valid driver's license, and the minimum age is usually 25 years.

Escorted Tours forSan Diego offer

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If there is something in particular you are looking for please phone 01-8535000 or email info@escortedtoursusa.ie or complete our enquiry form with your requirements and details and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

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San Diego Escorted Tour Offers

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