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Multilingual staff at the International Visitors Information Center can answers queries on activities and accommodation, and also sell tickets to attractions. Ask for a copy of the Official Visitors Pocket Guide . The Mission Bay Visitor Information Center is handy if you’re driving on the I-5 and need help with accommodation. The Coronado Visitors Center can give you a map of Coronado and suggest activities in the area.

The San Diego Reader is the best source of the latest happenings in town. You’ll find restaurant reviews, movies and theater timings, and music events. Free copies can be found throughout the city.

Websites offer useful information about package vacations, current events, new attractions, city services, transportation, sports, parks, and restaurants in San Diego.

Maps from the tourist information offices are good for basic sightseeing. To explore San Diego further, Auto Club maps give a good overview, or buy comprehensive street maps of the county published by Thomas Bros.

For visa information, international travelers should check with their embassy or the US Department of State’s website. Canadian citizens only need proof of residence. If you’re in Tijuana for the day, and your visa has expired or does not allow multiple entries, plan on flying home from Mexico.

Get comprehensive travel insurance before arriving in the US, or you can expect large bills even if you aren’t denied medical care. If renting a car, ensure what your auto insurer and credit card company covers in case of accident or theft. An auto insurance policy is not valid in Mexico; buy Mexican insurance at the border.

San Diego enjoys the most temperate climate in the nation. The rainy season usually begins in December, with a few large storms rolling in by spring. Winter days can be warm and sunny, but ocean temperatures are cold. Summer showers are mild, and offshore breezes ensure pleasant evenings.

Casual dress is the rule. Evenings can be cool, so tuck in a sweater or lightweight jacket.

Depending on your stamina, San Diego’s sights can be covered in a week or less. SeaWorld and the Zoo tend to be exhausting all-day affairs, so plan a light day after your visits. Allow a few days to travel up the coast or around the backcountry.

Most flights land at Terminals 1 and 2, with Southwest Airlines located in Terminal 1. Short flights within Southern California operate from the Commuter Terminal. The only non-stop international flights fly to and from Mexico.

Exiting Terminals 1 and 2, the skybridge links to the Transportation Plaza. Flyer Route 992 is a public bus that departs every 10 minutes and connects with the trolley and Amtrak before continuing up Broadway. Many hotels are only 10 minutes away.

Door-to-door shuttles are available at the airport’s Transportation Plaza. Fares are based on distance and per person. Limo services can meet you in baggage claim. Call ahead to book a pickup to the airport.

Located 5 miles (8 km) east of downtown, frequent flights link Tijuana to the rest of Mexico. Domestic flights within Mexico are often cheaper than flying internationally from California.

Each person above 21 is allowed one liter of liquor and 200 cigarettes duty free. Citizens may bring in $400 worth of gifts, non-citizens $100. Cash exceeding $10,000 must be declared. Fresh produce, meats, and plants are prohibited.

All cruise ships moor at B Street Terminal along the Embarcadero on N. Harbor Drive. Ships sail to the Mexican Riviera or do mini-cruises to Ensenada and Catalina.

Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliners arrive at the historic Santa Fe Depot. Eleven trains travel daily to and from Orange County and Los Angeles, and four continue directly on to Santa Barbara.

Greyhound buses operate 24 hours, are air conditioned, cheap, and cover the entire US and most of Canada. There are direct connections to LA, Las Vegas, and Phoenix, and buses from downtown to Tijuana’s central bus terminal.

From Los Angeles, I-5 passes along coastal towns, heads into downtown, and continues to the international border. Shortly before La Jolla, I-5 splits with I-805, reconnecting at the border. If coming from the east, I-8 passes through Mission Valley and ends just past SeaWorld. I-15 from Las Vegas serves inland San Diego County.

Inexpensive and fun, this light-rail system has two lines. The Blue line travels to the Mission, Mission Valley, Old Town, downtown, and San Ysidro. The Orange line is handy for the Gaslamp Quarter, the Convention Center, and Seaport Village. Tickets are available at station vending machines, and are good for buses too.

Buses connect with the North County Transit District, which serves coastal and inland San Diego County. Fares are payable in exact change as you board. The Transit Store offers maps and the Way to Go! brochure, which details how to reach sights by bus.

A regional rail service runs between downtown and Oceanside, stopping in Old Town, Sorrento Valley, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside. Trains run Monday to Saturday. Buy tickets at a vending machine and validate them before boarding.

A fun way to travel to Coronado is on the San Diego–Coronado Ferry. It takes passengers and bicycles only. Buy your ticket at the San Diego Harbor Excursion Dock or the Ferry Landing Market Place in Coronado. Ferries leave San Diego at 9am and run hourly until 9pm, Sun–Thu, and an hour later on Friday and Saturday.

You won’t need a car if you’re only visiting downtown, but it’s essential to get quickly around the rest of the city. A few car rental agencies have cars you can drive into Mexico. Don’t forget to buy additional insurance at the border.

Taxis don’t cruise for fares. You can usually find one in front of large hotels, the airport, or some shopping centers. Rates are clearly posted on the taxi door; distances in San Diego can make some trips an expensive proposition.

San Diego has miles of dedicated bike lanes. Get a copy of Ridelink’s San Diego Region Bike Map, available at visitor centers. Bicycles may be taken at the back of trolley cars, or stowed at the front of many buses.

For a touch of luxury, limousines can be hired for one-way and round-trip transfers, or for the entire day. Drivers can provide you with good insider information.

Old Town Trolley Tours continually circle Old Town, Seaport Village, Horton Plaza, Balboa Park, the Zoo, and Coronado. You can get on or off all day; the full circuit takes two hours. Contactours offers narrated tours of the city and Southern California theme parks, as well as day trips to Mexico.

Morning and afternoon rush hour on Interstates is an appalling exercise in futility. A 30-minute drive on the I-5 can take hours. Ask someone at your hotel how to time things, and know your directions well. Parking in Mission Beach or La Jolla can be next to impossible in the summer.

San Diego’s proximity to the Mexican border makes car theft a concern. Even if your car is found across the border, the paperwork to bring it back is a nightmare. Neighborhoods prone to theft include Pacific Beach, San Ysidro, and Mission Valley.

If your car is stolen while over the border, your US car insurance won’t cover it. If you are in any way associated with an accident, your vehicle will be impounded and you will be arrested until liability is sorted out. Protect yourself by buying a policy before driving over the border.

Coyotes, sometimes called polleros or chicken keepers, smuggle illegal immigrants over the border. A clampdown in San Diego has forced the crossings into the desert, where death by heat-stroke is common. Narcotraficantes, or drug smugglers, thrive along the border with the local drug cartel.

Slather on the sunscreen during the day and be sure to take a hat whenever you’re outdoors, especially at SeaWorld and the Zoo. California has one of the country’s highest incidences of skin cancer; no surprise since people pursue outdoor activities year round.

Dangerous riptides can occur along the coastal beaches; ask the lifeguards about swimming conditions at an unfamiliar beach. Posted green flags indicate safe swimming, yellow mean caution, and red flags denote hazardous surf. If you are caught in a rip-tide, don’t try to swim directly to shore: let the current carry you down the coast until it dies out, and then swim in.

Ocean waters are generally clean except after a heavy storm. Accumulated and untreated runoff from miles away washes down storm drains and empties into the ocean, and sewer leaks are common. Especially hard-hit beaches are Imperial Beach and Border Field State Park. There are signs indicating safety levels of the water.

Smoking is forbidden inside any public enclosed area, including restaurants and bars, although a few establishments have designated smoking patios. Some communities are trying to forbid smoking on streets and beaches, and the state legislature is considering a bill to ban smoking inside private cars when young children are present. It’s possible to spend your entire vacation in San Diego without smelling a single cigarette.

Like any major city, San Diego has its share of panhandlers, most of whom are not aggressive. Downtown has the largest concentration, followed by the beach towns, including La Jolla.

When flying into Southern California, consider an open-jaw ticket, with which you can fly into Los Angeles and depart from San Diego. Two good budget airlines are Southwest Airlines and JetBlue.

Discounts are offered to Auto Club members, military personnel, corporate employees, and retirees. The best on-line prices and rooms are usually on the hotel’s own website. Contacting the hotel directly might find you a lower rate.

Every museum in Balboa Park offers free admission on one Tuesday of every month to their permanent exhibits; special traveling exhibits or programs still charge admission. The Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla is free on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month.

Stop by the tourist brochure racks at hotels, restaurants, and visitor centers to pick up discount coupons for museums, SeaWorld, the Zoo, car rentals, hotels, and restaurants. Promotional coupons can often be found in Sunday papers and the San Diego Reader (see Media).

Unwind in Balboa Park, daydream in the lobby of Hotel del Coronado, or hang out on the Mission Beach boardwalk. Hear a free Sunday concert at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Check out the local talent in cafés and bars. Walkabout International organizes free daily walking tours.

Many hotels operate shuttles to SeaWorld and other attractions. Parking at the Zoo, Balboa Park, and Old Town is free, as well as at many trolley stops. At Horton Plaza, buy anything and receive a few hours of validated parking. At the Tijuana border, park for free on the street in front of the outlet center.

San Diego has some of the highest gas prices in the US. If you fill up in La Jolla or along the freeways, you’ll be broke. Look for stations away from the coast and tourist attractions; Arco stations tend to be the lowest priced.

The “Best of Balboa Park Combo” includes the Zoo and park museums for a set number of days. Other packages include variations of the Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and SeaWorld. The “Southern California Attractions Pass” includes the three animal parks, the Disney Resort, and Knott’s Berry Farm.

Tickets for music, dance, and theater performances throughout the San Diego area are available for half price at a kiosk in front of Horton Plaza. A small service fee is charged.

Reserved parking spaces are marked by a blue curb, a blue-and-white wheelchair logo on the pavement, and by a posted sign. You may also park with no charge at any regular parking metered area. A special disabled placard must be displayed at all times.

Hotels with over five rooms must provide accessible accommodation to disabled guests. Always call in advance to reserve one of these rooms, and specify if you need a roll-in shower. When making restaurant reservations, do clarify that you require access.

All buses, the San Diego Trolley, and the Coaster are equipped with lifts. Amtrak trains have a limited number of accessible spaces and recommend advance reservations. Greyhound provides a lift-equipped bus with advance notice. The Cloud 9 Shuttle provides transportation from the airport, also with advance notice.

The excellent booklet Access In San Diego gives specific access information on several hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers. Also included are tour bus companies, public and private transportation firms equipped with lifts, and car rental agencies that offer hand-controlled vehicles. You’ll also find a directory of medical equipment suppliers and disability organizations.

The city of Imperial Beach provides free power beach chairs. You must bring an ID and a seat cushion, be able to get into and out of a chair, and complete a short training requirement. Advance reservations are required.

Every intersection in San Diego has ramped curbs or at least a ramped driveway. Ramped access is standard in government buildings, universities, concert halls, museums, some theaters, and large hotels and restaurants.

The universal wheelchair symbol indicates those restrooms that are private unisex or single occupancy with locking doors.

The park map indicates walkways where you may need extra assistance if your mobility is limited or you’re in a wheelchair. Have any employee call for shuttle assistance if you need it. Regular and motorized wheelchairs are available for rent near the Clock Tower.

Older buildings are now in compliance for disabled access. Free park trams have been equipped with wheelchair lifts, and most restrooms are wheelchair accessible. For those with special needs and with advanced arrangement, the education office of most museums can supply a staff member to escort and narrate tours.

Some European consuls only deal with trade issues; they do not issue passports or visas. In an emergency, contact your embassy in Washington, DC or LA. Dial 411 for assistance.

Before leaving home, photocopy all important papers. If you lose your wallet, make a police report, notify your credit card companies, and notify the credit-reporting companies to prevent identity theft. You can have money wired through Western Union.

During an emergency, dial this number free from any telephone. Be prepared to specify if medical and/or police assistance is needed and your location. Call the police department for all other matters.

San Diego has some of the country’s best hospitals. If your situation is not life threatening, urgent care clinics are less expensive. Call your insurance company for a referral to a local doctor or clinic.

Sav-On Drugs and Rite-Aid have 24-hour pharmacies.

If you don’t have health insurance, head to a community clinic. Expect to pay on the spot for services rendered. Look in the Yellow Pages under “clinics” to find a walk-in clinic.

Call 911 if anyone is injured. Call the police if property damage appears to be over $500 and/or you need a police report. Drivers must exchange driver’s license information and all vehicle insurance details. If you’re in a rental car, report any accidents or vehicle damage to the agency immediately.

It is California law for all passengers in the car to wear seatbelts. If not, you can be pulled over by the police and ticketed. Children under six and who weigh less than 60 lbs (27 kg) must be secured in a car safety seat. If renting a car, request the agency for a child seat in advance.

All major attractions have restrooms, as do gas stations and restaurants. Shopping centers, public buildings, libraries, and large hotels are other places to try. Beach restrooms are an option if you can’t find a better alternative.

San Diego International Airport has international exchange kiosks in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Major banks handle most transactions; bring plenty of ID. Large hotels exchange currency as well, but offer low rates. Exchange windows in San Ysidro handle transactions in dollars and pesos.

There are 24-hour Automatic Teller Machines all over the city. Look behind your ATM or credit card to see which banking network it’s associated with. ATMs inside convenience stores or malls charge you for the convenience, as does your own bank if you go outside the network.

Most major banks are found throughout San Diego. Banking hours are usually 9 or 10am–6pm, Monday through Friday, with Saturday hours from 9am–1 or 2pm.

Traveler’s checks are good for backup in case your ATM card is swallowed. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops cash them with ID; sometimes banks charge a fee. Checks should always be in US dollars. Personal checks are difficult to cash.

If using a telephone at a hotel, ask what the specific charges are first. Coin-operated pay phones can be found at hotels, some restaurants, and at gas stations, but not all of them accept incoming calls. If calling Mexico, dial 011–52 followed by the three-digit city code and seven-digit local number.

Available all over the city, pre-paid phone cards eliminate the need for coins at public phones. Read the card before buying it; many of them charge a three-minute minimum even if you talk for less than that.

Cybercafés are not as common in the US as other countries. The San Diego Public Library offers Internet access, as do hostels. The San Diego Internet Café supplies coffee while surfing. Lestat’s Coffee-house (see Lestat’s Coffeehouse) and the Gelato Vero Caffe offer free wireless access.

Regular post office hours are 8:30am–5pm Mon–Fri, with some branches open on Saturday mornings. Stamps are usually available from vending machines in the lobby, and signage indicates the cost of postage for mail sent to domestic and international addresses. Hotel concierges can post mail for you.

Franchised United Parcel Service stores throughout the city will package and ship for you. Regular parcel post at the post office is the cheapest, and some branches sell boxes and tape. Packages shipped internationally can take over a month for delivery.

Bargaining is an ancient art and social exchange in Mexico. The rule of thumb is to offer half the asking price and work up from there. If the vendor senses you really want an item, he or she will stand firm. Remain polite and remember the vendor needs to earn a living. Department stores, upscale shops, and restaurants all have fixed prices.

Wear comfortable shoes, bring cash, and come early to walk the 21 aisles of this enormous outdoor flea market. Merchants sell clothing, plants, jewelry, luggage, electronics, sporting goods, and much more. Always ask sellers: “Is that your best price?”

The best shopping mall bargains can be found around public holidays. Department stores sometimes bring in outside merchandise to sell at “bargain” prices. Malls with concierge services sometimes have discount booklets.

San Diego has three outlet centers within an hour’s driving distance: the Carlsbad Company Stores in North County, the Shops at Las Americas at San Ysidro, and Viejas on the Viejas Indian Reservation east on I-8. You can usually find good deals at the designer spin-off shops.

To meet San Diegans, drive around residential areas on any given Saturday and you’ll find them selling items in their driveways. To locate garage sales, look for signs posted on telephone poles or find a copy of the Pennysaver , which lists addresses.

Senior discounts are offered at movie halls, restaurants, hotels, and shops. Some theater chains deem senior status at age 55, and many retail stores designate a certain day of the week for senior discounts. Use your AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) card when booking hotels.

Current sales tax in San Diego is 7.75 percent. A non-refundable sales tax is added to all retail purchases and restaurant checks. Food items in grocery stores are not taxed unless they are for immediate consumption. If a store is shipping your purchase to an out-of-state address, you shouldn’t pay sales tax. Hotel tax is 10.5 percent.

Retail shops usually open at 10am and close from 5–6pm. Regular hours at shopping malls are 10am–9pm Mon–Sat and 11am–7pm Sun. Department stores sometimes open at 7am for super sales or extend their hours during the Christmas season. Malls close only during a few major holidays.

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a 24-hour convenience store selling groceries. Many Ralph’s and Albertson’s supermarkets are open all night. A 24-hour SavOn Drugstore (see Pharmacies) has grocery items, and some office supplies can be found at Kinko’s.

Local farmers sell fresh vegetables, fruit, and specialties such as tamales, cheese and bread at special markets around the city. Seasonal produce is usually of much better quality and price than at the supermarket. Take a supply of single dollar bills to make quick purchases.

Entrées on the lunch menu are often half the price of those at dinner. Some restaurants offer early-bird dinners from 4–6pm, with a limited number of entrées at a considerable discount.

Make the most of San Diego’s beautiful parks and beaches. Get items to go from restaurants, or stop by markets such as Trader Joe’s (see Trader Joe’s) in Pacific Beach to pick up salads, sushi, and deli items.

Most food servers expect a 15–20 percent tip; leave it in cash or add it to your credit card bill. If the service is truly awful, you’re not obliged to tip. With large parties, 18 percent gratuity is automatically added to the check.

The legal drinking age in California is 21. If you look under 30, restaurant servers and merchants selling alcohol will ask to see your photo identification. In Tijuana, the legal drinking age is 18.

Fast food restaurants are the cheapest way to eat, are easily found, and many are open all night. San Diego is the birthplace to two fast food chains, Rubio’s and Jack-in-the-Box.

Many restaurants and bars offer happy hours on weekdays. For the price of a drink and a few dollars, snack on anything from a hot buffet to chips and dip. Some Mexican restaurants sell cheap tacos on “Taco Tuesdays.” Check out the advertisements in the San Diego Reader (see Media)

Staying at a motel chain offers standardized accommodation. Most major chains can be found in Mission Valley’s Hotel Circle. Parking is generally free, breakfast is often supplied, and you aren’t charged countless petty fees.

If you plan to stay in San Diego for more than a few weeks, consider renting an apartment. Summer rentals, especially along the beach, are more costly. Always ask what amenities are included.