In downtown San Diego, the Convention & Visitors Bureau (ConVis; tel. 619/236-1212; www.sandiego.org) has an International Visitor Information Center located on the Embarcadero at 1040 1/3 W. Broadway, at Harbor Drive. Daily summer hours are from 9am to 5pm; for the remainder of the year it's open daily from 9am to 4pm. ConVis offers great info and deals on its website, but you can also get your hands on the glossy Official Visitors Planning Guide at the information center or by mail. The guide includes information on member accommodations, dining, activities, attractions, tours, and transportation. ConVis also features discounts on hotels, restaurants, and attractions online.

In La Jolla, ConVis operates a walk-up-only facility at 7966 Herschel Ave., near the corner of Prospect Street. This office is open daily in summer, from 10am to 6pm; from September to May the center is open daily but with more limited hours.

The Coronado Visitor Center, 1100 Orange Ave. (tel. 866/599-7242 or 619/437-8788; www.coronadovisitorcenter.com), dispenses maps, newsletters, and information-packed brochures. Inside the Coronado Museum, it's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

You can also find staffed information booths at the airport, train station, and cruise terminal.

Browse for online information and discounts in advance of your trip at www.discoversd.com and www.infosandiego.com; for details on La Jolla's offerings check www.lajollabythesea.com. For information on San Diego's North County destinations -- including Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, and Oceanside -- go to, respectively, www.delmar.ca.us, www.cityofencinitas.org, www.visitcarlsbad.com, and www.visitoceanside.org.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.