I think we need to have a post dealing with using points/miles to travel to San Diego! When I was young, our family drove almost every summer from Mesa, Arizona, to San Diego, California. I loved it so much that I always dreamed of someday living there! Northern California was my home for 40 years, but it’s definitely not the place that dreams are made of, like San Diego. A family trip to San Diego is a great place to build vacation memories!

When we went to San Diego, we always spent time at a beach, Sea World, and Disneyland. No wonder I loved it so much!!

 

Getting There

We would always drive there because it was so close. The best airport to fly into is San Diego Airport (SAN). Other options are John Wayne in Long Beach  (SNA) or Los Angeles Airport (LAX).

Southwest is a great option to fly into San Diego. I plugged in the dates of June 10-14 wanting to book a long weekend. I also like to book nonstop when possible and found this option for arrival and departure:

 

From Salt Lake City to San Diego, it will cost me 13,001 points per person, which is a great deal. It helps that Southwest will also let us check baggage for free.  For a family of four, that means we can pretty easily all get there and back with one credit card welcome offer. 

You can travel for even less if you have the Southwest Companion Pass. Many other airlines frequently fly to San Diego, and costs are usually relatively low for cash or points. A family can take a trip to San Diego with points easily.

 

Where to Stay

Each of the four major hotel chains has options in San Diego. You can find some nice places to stay depending on what hotel chain you like and what credit cards you have (or want to get). Let’s concentrate on family hotels with free breakfast and luxury stays for when you want to go that route.

 

Hyatt Hotels

The Hyatt Place San Diego/Vista-Carlsbad is a really economical choice. At only 12,000 Hyatt points/night and free breakfast, a family could stay five nights with just one World of Hyatt Credit Card welcome offer. Hyatt Places are excellent choices for families! This hotel is close to Carlsbad Beach, a fun beach for the family to explore.

 

If you’d like a more luxurious stay, another option is the Manchester Grand Hyatt. It will cost 20,000 points/night, and it looks gorgeous! Waterfront views and the convenience of downtown sounds perfect!

 

Marriott Hotels

I like a Marriott Residence Inn for family travel because you get a full kitchen. You can save some costs by cooking some of your meals or at least having snacks available when you stay there. I picked out this Residence Inn is located just 6 miles from Sea World. Check out the Residence Inn Chula Vista. Better yet, you get the fifth night free with Marriott award stays. They have a great breakfast at the Residence Inn and snacks in the evening on weeknights. When my children were young, those snacks were often enough for dinner because they sometimes served pasta or pizza.

 

 

To stay here for five nights, you will need to sign up for one of the Marriott credit cards, refer your spouse, and have him/her sign up, too. 

I love a Westin hotel for luxurious Marriott stays. Remember, you get the 5th night free on award stays! The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter looks perfect to me!

 

 

IHG Hotels

Staybridge Suites is another family-friendly brand. I chose the Staybridge Suites San Diego-Carlsbad for its full kitchens, beautiful pool, free breakfast, and proximity to beaches. IHG also offers the 4th night free on award stays for cardholders making this hotel a great deal! A four-night stay here can be booked with points to spare if you apply for one of the IHG credit cards.

 

Again, if luxury is your jam, IHG has you covered. The InterContinental San Diego exudes luxury to me. With views of San Diego Bay and a beautiful room, it can be booked for as little as 50,000 points/night. 

 

Hilton Hotels

Hilton hotels are another option. You could stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton for about 50,000 points/night. You would get a two queen bed suite with a sofa bed, free made-to-order full breakfast, and complimentary evening reception at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Carlsbad North San Diego County. Having that full kitchen is a game-changer for families wanting to save costs!  There are several other Homewood Suites in the area, too.

 

The Carte Hotel San Diego Downtown Curio Collection by Hilton is a nice luxury option. It is 70,000 points/night, so you may need to apply for a couple of cards for this one! Refer your spouse/partner and get those referral points, too.

 

No matter which hotel chain you prefer to stay at, there will be multiple family and luxury options that you can book with points. Check several out, see where they are located and what amenities they offer, and pick the best one for you. These are just ideas to get you started.

 

What to do in San Diego

There is so much to do in San Diego that you will have to pick and choose. Luckily, because we have saved you so much money on flights and hotels, you have more money for fun!

 

Beaches

There are just so many beaches in the San Diego area! I have always loved La Jolla Beach, Carlsbad Beach, and Oceanside Beach. Here is a great article about the 20 Best San Diego Beaches. Which ones do you suggest?

 

San Diego Zoo

Who even plans a family trip to San Diego without visiting the San Diego Zoo? Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! And it is much more! One-day passes include a guided bus tour and the Kangaroo Express hop on/hop off the bus, unlimited rides on the Skyfari aerial tram, and all regularly scheduled shows. Plan on quite a bit of walking and spending a good part of the day there.

 

 

Legoland

My grandchildren say that Legoland is the place to be! Located north of San Diego in Carlsbad, it is a world of fun for young children. There are over 60 rides, shows, and attractions, including a water park. My grandkids brought mini-figures, and they could exchange them with the workers—they loved it!

 

 

Disneyland

Although it is 90 minutes away, we often went to Disneyland during our trips to San Diego. It certainly is the happiest place on earth, and I still feel that way as a grandma. Be sure to read Alex’s post on Disneyland to see how you can offset ticket prices with points and miles.

 

Other Attractions

For other ideas, read this article about attractions in San Diego. There is a multitude of things you can do.

 

Bottom Line

San Diego is the perfect destination to create family memories. By using credit card points/miles, you can pay for your flights and hotel leaving more money for food and attractions. Let us know if you plan a trip to San Diego—we’d love to post about it!