Train to SD for day at the zoo...Hotel nearby?

I am planning a little trip down from LA for Veterans Day holiday for my 2 kids. They wanted to take the train as part of the adventure, and given the price of gas, it doesn%26#39;t look like a bad plan. So, the Amtrak station is about 4.5 miles from the zoo. We would like a hotel close to the zoo, since our 1st day is zoo, and next day is Balboa park. Balboa Park Inn is full. Except for their most expensive rooms. The Lafayette reviews are all over the map. Has anyone stayed at the Lafayette? Or, are they familiar with the area? Is it safe to walk with 2 young kids? Are there any other ideas of places that we could stay that would be conducive to no car, arriving by train, and spending most of our time at Balboa Park. Thanks

Train to SD for day at the zoo...Hotel nearby?

Don%26#39;t go to th e Lafayette. The last family who went checked out after the 2nd day and then messaged me to tell me about their plight.

Balboa Park/zoo is a very short bus ride from downtown so you could easily stay at any downtown hotel,near the Amtrak and be OK.

The area around the zoo is mostly residential which is why there are few hotels. What is your price range?

Train to SD for day at the zoo...Hotel nearby?

Thanks for the quick reply. Was trying to stay for around $125/nt. If there are any hotels in the Downtown area that offer a shuttle to the zoo, that would solve our problem.

Try the Holiday Inn Express downtown. They have a shuttle but you can really walk to the park although the zoo is further. $125 is low for downtown so not too many choices and most do not have shuttles. The #7 bus is really easy to use.

I%26#39;d look at the Super 8 or the Porto Vista, right in Little Italy. Porto Vista has free shuttles to and from the zoo, and they are just a couple blocks from the Santa Fe Depot.

http://www.portovistasandiego.com/

I am glad that I decided to check in here first, we almost just booked at the Lafayette since it was only one night. Unfortunately the Holiday Inn Ex. is booked, I see there is also a recomendation for the Porto Vista--is this close enough to walk to the zoo? Or at least convient to take the bus? If it comes down to it, we could always bring the car, it%26#39;s just that the kids wanted to take the train...sounds like fun to them. Any other hotels near the Holiday Inn Express? Thanks for the help

The Porto Vista has a free shuttle to the zoo, I have walked from the Little Italy area where it is located to Balboa Park, but it is 3 miles, so would be probably further than you might want to walk. You could also catch the #7 bus as Riffsmom mentioned, it goes right from downtown past the zoo and Balboa Park.

Is Porto Vista closer to the SD train Station or to the Old Town train station?

13 minute walk from SD AMTRAK station (old town is farther away)

Google can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/38lpu2

In the top left, you can also change to public transport instead of walk, but it doesnt really save time according to the page.

supposed to say ';google map';

also, you actually have to select WALKING in the menu on the left to see the walk route - but yeah should be self explanatory ;=)

Thanks--didn%26#39;t know that you could specify walking or driving directions for the map function. That should be a perfect way to stretch our legs after our train ride.