San Diego Oceanfront Condo Rental

When making vacation plans that include a visit to the beaches of San Diego; consider renting a oceanfront condo. Not only will you have all the comforts of home available, you could also save a considerable amount of money.
Beach rental condominiums are are really beach houses, apartments and town houses all mixed into one. Rentals on beach locations are available on Mission Bay, Mission Beach and Ocean Beach. Their are other areas but these are the most popular beaches that out of state travelers seem to gravitate.

You do have a ton of choices when renting. Some are very inexpensive for a reason... they are not luxury and most were built many years ago and show the wear and tear that comes with renting to families with kids and the Spring Break crowd that doesn't know when to go home.

Most of the rental properties are attractively furnished and include basic amenities such as cooking appliances and cookware, linens and towels, televisions, stereos, telephones, and Internet access. Some may be sparse and some are over the top with luxury amenities.

The three beach house rental properties include access to golf courses or community clubhouses. Others include boats and other watercraft rental. Many include amenities for children such as inflatable backyard swimming pools and water slides, play houses, and swing sets.

Most San Diego beach house rental areas suggested above are near only one golf course. This course is located next to the Town and Country resort just off Interstate 8.

Beach area rentals offer a central location for visiting local sites.

• Sea World
• San Diego Zoo
• Old Town San Diego
• Seaport Village
• Gaslamp Quarter
• Little Italy
• Several large malls and movie theaters

And don't forget... you are in walking distance of Crystal Pier and The old Boardwalk amusement park... which has a real wood roller coaster. Very historical.

Some condos are pet-friendly... but most are not. In the summer months beach housing is only available by the week... as it is considered high-season.

Last, but not least, nearly every beach house owner requires a 50 percent deposit due within ten days from the date you make your reservation. Additionally, most charge a Reservation Fee (usually $50 to $150); and a refundable Damage Deposit (approximately $200 to $500). Other fees may include pet deposits or cancellation penalties.

Mission Bay rentals are generally lower in rental cost. This beach is quite calm and very good for small children. Everyone is friendly... some cottages are year round residences for locals. You may have neighbors that are quite familiar with good dining and day excursions.

Mission Beach is where all the action is... if you love to people watch, you will never have a moment without something to look at. It's lively during the day, as all ocean view beach rentals are on the boardwalk.

The boardwalk is a 2 way street that is full of everything except cars. Roller blades, skateboards, walkers, joggers, bicycles, baby strollers.... etc. You will see most every type of dress... and undress on this boardwalk. We love it... because we are constantly entertained.

M.B. has few restaurant's and eateries... just pick the nearest one to your beach rental. You won't find a bad dining place in M.B. and we have been going for years. One of our favorites for breakfast is Mission Cafe', and eclectic eatery that is so much fun... oh, make sure you try the pancakes... to die for.

We eat at Rubios for the fish tacos. It's a chain, but it still feels special. And if your feeding a family its quite inexpensive.

The Boardwalk restaurant is the place to dine for really good fish. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Eat outside... the umbrellas make it nice and it just feels really special. This restaurant is not actually located at the Boardwalk amusement park. Mission Beach is about 2 miles long and The Boardwalk restaurant is located almost exactly in the middle

Ocean Beach doesn't have much in the way of Ocean Front Living. Some rentals are available on the cliffs with beautiful views but not great access to beaches. Ocean Beach is however one small beach town that attracts hoards of visitors every summer. They hold a giant farmers market weekly that is worth a late afternoon visit. The street is jam packed with live entertainment, food and craft vendors. Plus... you can get some of the best fruit and honey in the world.

O.B. also offers a diverse selection of restaurants, antique shops, beach wear and funky little artist galleries. Don't miss the restaurant on the beach. It's on the second floor of the only two story building at the beach. Sunset is best.... the view is wonderful and the food is very good.

Many years ago... when we first started to vacation on the beach in San Diego, we only stayed one week. Now... we always stay 2 weeks, and we highly recommend that you do the same. One week is just enough time to start relaxing... 2 weeks and we are limp like noodles.

Book your reservations... the best places are rented a year in advance.

Things To Do On Valentines Day In San Diego

Stumped for ideas for Valentines Day? Do you live in or are traveling to San Diego? Well... you need some great things to do on Valentines Day. How about taking a trip down history lane and spend the day in the Gaslamp Quarter?

The Gaslamp Quarter is in the historical district of San Diego. You will stroll past at least two-and-a-half miles filled with Victorian style buildings and over 100 restaurants. There is also an arts and entertainment scene with art galleries, theaters and nightclubs. Surrounding this is residential and work lofts.

So... you could park and take a leisurely stroll down the streets, stopping for a latte' and window shopping the galleries and unique stores. We found a shop that had hand rolled cigars... they were rolling them on the spot! Several corners have great gourmet coffee carts that serve just what you need to keep warm in the February San Diego chill.

One of the best ways to see and get around Gaslamp Quarter is by pedicab. Pedicabs (bicycle taxis) will take you on tours throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, and other downtown San Diego spots. These pedicab tours are ideal not only for tourists, but also for long time San Diego residents, who may simply want a romantic ride. Tours are about 30 minutes and prices start at $35 per couple.

If you are an art enthusiast, you can check out the Tim Cantor Gallery. His gallery consists of oil paintings, different writings and other types of art. There’s the CJ Gallery that focuses on art from an Asian perspective. If you’re looking to find art created by national and international artists, you can go to Michael J. Wolf Fine Arts.

Remember to look up as your walking (but watch out for lamp posts... :) and check out the architecture. You can see the building names and construction dates often carved in stone at the top of the buildings.

If you need a Hotel in the Gaslamp District:

There is the Ivy Hotel that has 16 suites with a spiral staircase that connects to a private cabana. To cater to your needs, a butler is available. This hotel also has a nightclub that boasts four levels, a restaurant, rooftop terrace and swimming pool. If you need to have a business meeting, they have facilities for that too.

The Keating Hotel is a boutique style hotel that features Italian design. These designs are created by the same people who are responsible for Ferrari and Maserati. The hotel’s interior has a historic look and feel to it. It features a concierge and a lounge that is located underground.

Now... It's Time To Eat

The late musician Jim Croce has a restaurant named after him. Croce’s Restaurant & Bars is owned by his widow, Ingrid. It has been in the San Diego are for more than 20 years and features jazz and fine dining.

Eating At Croce's is really special in the morning. Take a table in the sidewalk cafe' so you can people watch as you eat. The Eggs Benedict is highly recommended... by me :)! Oh... and don't forget the Mimosa... it is a special day after all.

We have dined at the Buca de Beppo Italian Restaurant... which has great food and unbelievable interior decor. But... as this is a romantic holiday, probably not the best place for dining.

There are other restaurants in the Gaslamp Quarter that you can choose from. They cater to about every cuisine you can imagine. Some of them include Afghan, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Persian, Thai and many more.

Nightclubs in the San Diego Gaslamp Area

The Side Bar features house and hip-hop music so you can get it on. If you don’t want to dance, you can just sit back and enjoy a refreshing cocktail in the lounge area. If you want to put some salsa in your dance, Café Sevilla features hip-hop music and Latin beats. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can enjoy a flamenco dinner show.

Other Holiday Celebrations In The San Diego Gaslamp District

• New Orleans isn’t the only city that hosts Mardi Gras. The Gaslamp Quarter has a Mardi Gras celebration on Fat Tuesday. It includes a parade and block party held outside. There is also live music from different musicians.
  

• On Halloween, the Monster Bash is annual event that features an outdoor music festival surrounding the streets. There are also live bands and a costume contest that’s out of this world.
  
  
• If you decide to visit around St. Patrick’s Day, there’s an event called Shamrock that has live music, and Irish cuisine, green beer and lots of Guinness beer.

No matter where you go in the Gaslamp Quarter, there’s something available for people to do. There is never a dull moment in this historic area of San Diego.