San Diego from Des Moines, 16 – 18 Oct: £1,367 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Not worth it this week
- Clear forecast all weekend, highs 85–90°F
- Samesun Ocean Beach scores 9 from 1,716 reviews, free cancellation
- Frontier gets you there in 5h 31m with one stop
The catch: At $784 per person the fare is $25 over the typical $759, there's one stop, and resort fees and a checked bag aren't in the total.
Worth it if you're fine with a shared dorm and one stop for a sunny weekend; skip it if you want a private room or a lower fare.
Not worth it this week: the fare is running above typical for a one-stop trip. The total for two is $1,813, which is $1,568 for flights plus $245 for the hotel, taxes and fees included. That covers Oct 16–18, 2026, 2 nights, on Frontier with one stop each way, not nonstop.
The total, before you go
£1,367 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes & fees
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £1,182 |
| Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £185 |
| The total, before you go | £1,367 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £181 |
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £45 each way per bag on Frontier, £181 for two return); a resort fee, if the hotel has one, is collected at the desk. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£591 per person, return
£1,182 for two, taxes and fees included · Frontier · 1 stop · 5h 31m
Out Fri, Oct 16, 8:25 PM – Fri, Oct 16, 11:56 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier | £591 | 1 stop | 5h 31m |
| Frontier | £594 | 2 stops | 34h 27m |
| Frontier | £625 | 1 stop | 21h 33m |
Prices checked 13 Oct 2026, 19:43 GMT-5. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
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Why now
The numbers come first. Frontier is at $784 per person, which is $25 above the typical $759 on this route, and recent checks went as low as $632 per person, with the lowest found on Oct 13. That's why we'd hold off this week. The weather is the good part: the forecast for Oct 16–18 is clear every day, with highs of 85–90°F and a rain chance no higher than 4%. The $1,813 total for two pairs the fare with two beds at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel, breakfast included and free cancellation. It doesn't cover resort fees, a checked bag or spending money. We budget $520 for spending, which puts the full weekend at $2,333. If the fare drops back toward typical, this is a solid beach-and-tacos long weekend for two.
The kind of trip this is
A quick beach-and-city weekend: surf towns, fish tacos, a sunset over the cliffs and a morning at the zoo or on the water. It suits a couple or two friends who travel light, don't mind sharing a dorm, and are happy to fill two packed days. The pace is easy once you land, with warm, clear weather that keeps you outdoors from breakfast to sunset.
Weather in San Diego, 16 – 18 Oct
Highs 85–90°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 16 Oct | 90 °F | 78 °F | 0% |
| Sat 17 Oct | 86 °F | 77 °F | 4% |
| Sun 18 Oct | 85 °F | 76 °F | 0% |
Where to stay in San Diego
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel is the best value and the one in the $1,813 total: $245 for the stay ($123 a night) for two beds in a shared dorm, with breakfast, free cancellation and a 9 from 1,716 reviews. Kasa Little Italy San Diego is the top rated pick at 9.3 from 219 reviews. It's a queen studio with self check-in for $1,134 for the stay ($567 a night), room only and no free cancellation. Wyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld is the budget private room at $389 for the stay ($195 a night), scored 6.8 from 1,968 reviews, with free cancellation. For nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront on foot, look at Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown. Mission Beach / Pacific Beach is the area for the boardwalk and surf.
Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel
£185 for 2 nights, two guests · £93 a night
See roomsKasa Little Italy San Diego
£855 for 2 nights, two guests · £427 a night
See roomsWyndham Garden San Diego near SeaWorld
£293 for 2 nights, two guests · £147 a night
See roomsAll hotels in San Diego for these dates
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Where in San Diego
- Gaslamp Quarter / Downtown: Nightlife, Petco Park and the waterfront on foot.
- La Jolla: Coves, sea lions and upscale village hotels.
- Coronado: Wide beach and the landmark Hotel del Coronado.
- Mission Beach / Pacific Beach: Boardwalk, surf and a young bar scene.
- Mission Valley: Chain hotels with easy freeway access to the zoo and parks.
What to do in San Diego
- Kayak the sea caves at La Jolla, where you'll also find coves and sea lions
- Swim at Coronado Beach beside the Hotel del Coronado
- Spend a morning at the San Diego Zoo and the Balboa Park museums
- Tour the USS Midway aircraft carrier on the downtown waterfront
- Eat fish tacos and drink craft beer in North Park
- Watch the sunset at Sunset Cliffs
Also worth it
- Visit the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park museums
Tours and tickets in San Diego
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Des Moines | Des Moines International (DSM) |
|---|---|
| Airports in San Diego | San Diego International (SAN) |
| Flight time | 5h 31m (1 stop) |
| Distance | 1,428 miles each way |
| Time difference | -2 hours |
What 2 nights in San Diego costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £1,182 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel) | £185 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £392 |
| Total for two | £1,759 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Des Moines to San Diego
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £591 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £476 (13 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £572 |
| Price checks | 10 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for San Diego.
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and you'll pay in US dollars.
- San Diego is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
- Frontier flies DSM to SAN with one stop in 5h 31m, covering 1,428 miles.
- Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't in the $1,813 total.
- Samesun and Wyndham Garden offer free cancellation. Kasa Little Italy doesn't.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Not this week. The weather and the hotel are good, but the fare is $784 per person, $25 above the typical $759, and recent checks found it as low as $632. We'd wait for a lower fare.
How much is the whole trip for two?
It's $1,813 for two, all in: $1,568 for the Frontier flights plus $245 for two nights at Samesun Ocean Beach Hotel & Hostel. Resort fees, a checked bag and spending money aren't included. With our $520 spending budget, the total comes to $2,333.
Is the flight nonstop?
No. Frontier makes one stop each way, and the outbound takes 5h 31m from Des Moines International (DSM) to San Diego International (SAN). It leaves Friday evening, Oct 16.
What is the weather like?
The forecast is clear all three days, with highs of 85–90°F and lows in the upper 70s. The rain chance is 0% on Friday and Sunday and 4% on Saturday.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip, you pay in US dollars, and San Diego is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
Is 2 nights enough?
It's enough for a long weekend: a full Saturday plus Sunday for a beach, a kayak at La Jolla or the zoo, and the sunset at Sunset Cliffs. Keep in mind the Friday evening departure leaves little of that day for San Diego.
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 15 Oct 2026.
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