Getting There

By Plane

Flights arrive at San Diego International Airport/Lindbergh Field (airport code: SAN), named after aviation hero Charles Lindbergh. It's close to downtown San Diego and is served by most national and regional air carriers as well as AeroMéxico. Although no airline uses San Diego as a hub for connections, Southwest Airlines controls one-third of the airlift into the city.

Major airlines flying into San Diego include AeroMéxico (tel. 800/237-6639; www.aeromexico.com), Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com), Alaska Airlines (tel. 800/252-7522; www.alaskaair.com), America West (tel. 800/235-9292; www.americawest.com), American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com), Continental Airlines (tel. 800/525-0280; www.continental.com), Delta Airlines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com), Express Jet (tel. 888/958-9538; www.xjet.com), Frontier Airlines (tel. 800/432-1359; www.frontierairlines.com), Hawaiian Airlines (tel. 800/367-5320; www.hawaiianair.com), JetBlue (tel. 800/538-2583; www.jetblue.com), Midwest Airlines (tel. 800/452-2022; www.midwestairlines.com), Northwest Airlines (tel. 800/225-2525; www.nwa.com), Southwest Airlines (tel. 800/435-9792; www.southwest.com), Sun Country Airlines (tel. 800/359-6786; www.suncountry.com), United Airlines (tel. 800/864-8331; www.ual.com), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com). The Commuter Terminal, a half-mile from the main terminals, is used by regional carriers American Eagle and United Express and for connecting flights to Los Angeles (for flight info, contact the parent carriers listed above).

If you are staying at a hotel in Carlsbad, Encinitas, or Rancho Santa Fe, the McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad (CLD) may be a more convenient point of entry. The airport is 42 miles north of downtown San Diego and is served by America West Express from Phoenix and United Express from Los Angeles.

Immigration & Customs Clearance -- Foreign visitors arriving by air, no matter what the port of entry, should cultivate patience and resignation before setting foot on U.S. soil. U.S. airports have considerably beefed up security clearances in the years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and clearing Customs and Immigration can take as long as 2 hours.

People traveling by air from Canada, Bermuda, and certain Caribbean countries can sometimes clear Customs and Immigration at the point of departure, which is much faster.

By Car

If you're planning a road trip, being a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA) offers helpful perks. Members who carry their cards with them not only receive free roadside assistance, but also have access to a wealth of free travel information (detailed maps and guidebooks). Also, many hotels and attractions throughout California offer discounts to AAA members -- always inquire. Call tel. 800/922-8228 or your local branch for membership information.

Visitors driving to San Diego from Los Angeles and points north do so via coastal route I-5. From points northeast, take I-15 and link up with Highway 163 South as you enter Miramar (use I-8 West for the beaches). From the east, use I-8 into the city, connecting to Highway 163 South for Hillcrest and downtown. Entering the downtown area, Highway 163 turns into 10th Avenue. Try to avoid arriving during weekday rush hours, between 7 and 9am and 4 and 6pm. If you are heading to Coronado, take the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge from I-5. Maximum speed in the San Diego area is 65mph, and many areas are limited to 55mph.

San Diego is 130 miles (2-3 hr.) from Los Angeles; 149 miles from Palm Springs, a 2 1/2-hour trip; and 532 miles, or 8 to 9 hours, from San Francisco.

By Train

Trains from all points in the United States and Canada will take you to Los Angeles, where you'll need to change trains for the 2-hour, 45-minute journey to San Diego. You'll arrive at San Diego's Santa Fe Station, downtown at Broadway and Kettner Boulevard. A few hotels are found within walking distance. The San Diego Trolley station is across the street. For price and schedule information, call Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com). Trains depart about 11 times per day, and one-way fare runs $32 (round-trip is $64).

By Bus

Greyhound buses serve San Diego from downtown Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and other southwestern cities, arriving at the downtown terminal, at 120 W. Broadway (tel. 800/231-2222 or 619/239-3266; www.greyhound.com). Several hotels, Horton Plaza, and the Gaslamp Quarter are within walking distance, as is the San Diego Trolley line. Buses from Los Angeles are as frequent as every hour, and the ride takes about 2 1/2 hours. Round-trip fare is $28 (one-way is $16.50).