Archive for June, 2009

San Diego Neighborhoods: Hillcrest

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Looking for a selection of culture and diversity with everything from bar burgers to authentic Afghanistan restaurants, classic thrift stores to independent fashion forward shops, and urban cafes to wine cellars, all in a low key, laid back area? Then you cannot afford to miss Hillcrest.

When planning a San Diego vacation, make sure to spend some quiet time away from the regular hustle bustle of busy city life in this suburb. The warm and welcoming tree-lined streets with boutique shops and specialty restaurants in this quaint San Diego area make Hillcrest an ideal place to spend a day.

Near the grassy Balboa Park and majority of the San Diego museums, Hillcrest, known as the first suburb of San Diego, closely resembles a village rather than an urban town tucked away on a ridge between Mission Hills and Bankers Hill.

This small suburb is full of little coffee shops, restaurants, specialty food outlets, antique stores, specialty shops, bookstores and boutiques. Hillcrest is a classy suburban shopping destination for those who have shopping on their agenda. Thanks to its cool and serene California atmosphere, you will often find tourists with their families either walking or cycling through the Hillcrest neighborhood. So if you need to get away from your San Diego beach rental for a day, make your way up to this colorful neighborhood.

San Diego Family Vacations on a Budget

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Summer family vacations are a yearly tradition for many, but sometimes a vacation can be overwhelmingly expensive. Good news is, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a great family vacation! There are many tips and tricks, from choosing close to home destinations to varying what activities you do, that will help you save money while still making memories and having fun. Here are a few useful tips that we’ve gathered to help you have a family vacation on a budget that is both fun and affordable.

Transportation:

  • Flying alternative routes, having a flexible schedule, or adding a stop-over can keep ticket prices down. For example, traveling during the off season is typically cheaper than on holidays.
  • Travel close to home – save money by taking a road trip instead of flying somewhere
  • If renting a car, ask about special discounts, or search online for a coupon before renting.
  • If you have  frequent flier miles piled up, or points from a credit card with rewards programs, a family vacation is the perfect time to use them.

Accommodations:

  • For bigger groups, opting for a San Diego vacation rental instead of a hotel can be much more affordable. You can even try splitting costs with another family, for a great group getaway.
  • The summer months always equal special deals for everything from flights to vacation rentals. At Penny Realty, we are currently offering a summer special of $300 off selected properties. Just use the promo code PENNY09 when booking.
  • Bring snack foods and/or cook your own meals instead of eating out for every meal
  • If eating out, choose places with kids menus

Activities:

  • When going out for activities, don’t forget to ask about kid prices or family discount
  • Alternate paying activities with free ones – parks, beach, tours, nature walks, etc.
  • Choose family friendly destinations that are close to many attractions. Mission Beach is a great example as it is close to the beach, grassy parks, Belmont Park/Boardwalk and Balboa Park, which features free museum days, and the botanical gardens.
  • Before you go, start a “vacation fund” by cutting out little things like trips to fast food places, gourmet coffee, or other splurges and putting that money towards your fund instead.

San Diego Number One on Hotwire.com’s Top 10 Summer Road Trip Destinations

Saturday, June 13th, 2009


Hotwire.com, a leading travel search engine recently came out with a top 10 list of the best places to go on a road trip for summer 2009. The list showcases the most highly-sought summer destinations with the highest percentage of hotel transactions coming from nearby locales, and San Diego is number one! I guess vacationers just can’t resist the amazing weather and gorgeous beaches ;)

With gas prices at historical lows and families looking for cheaper alternatives for vacations, now is a great time to take a road trip and spend some time in a San Diego vacation rental.

Curious to see what cities made the rest of the list? The top 10 summer road-trip destinations are:

1. San Diego
2. Philadelphia
3. Houston
4. San Francisco
5. Dallas
6. Los Angeles
7. Boston
8. Phoenix
9. Saint Louis
10. Washington DC