By Lena Vasquez, Community Features & Culture Editor
If you’ve been thinking about a beach trip, San Diego might not be the bargain it used to be.
A new proposal is moving forward to raise the minimum wage for tourism workers in San Diego to $25 an hour, up from the current $17.25. If it passes, that 45% jump could hit your wallet hard—especially when it comes to hotel and entertainment prices.
Right now, mid-range hotels in San Diego average $220 to $280 per night during peak season. Once you tack on taxes, resort fees, and parking, you’re often looking at $350 to $400 per night. That’s without splurging on food, tickets, or souvenirs. A short weekend with the family could run $1,200 to $1,500, easy.
If hotels, resorts, and parks have to pay significantly more in wages, it’s likely those prices will climb even higher.
For families already stretching their budgets, a lot of them are starting to look further south—to Mexico.
Mexico: Affordable, Scenic, and Surprisingly Easy
Tijuana (TJ)
Drive two hours south from L.A. or San Diego and park in San Ysidro, then walk across the border. From there, you’ve got two options: enjoy Tijuana itself or fly out of TJ Airport, which is connected by the Cross Border Xpress (CBX) pedestrian bridge.
From TJ, flights to places like Guadalajara, Mazatlán, Cancún, or Puerto Vallarta can cost as little as $60 to $120 round trip if you book ahead.
Hotels in Tijuana start at $50 to $90 a night, and meals are often under $10 for fresh tacos, mariscos, and even steaks.
Ensenada
Just a 90-minute drive from the border, Ensenada is a laid-back coastal city with ocean views, fresh seafood, and a more relaxed feel than the U.S. resort towns. Hotels start around $80 to $130 a night, and you’ll find beachfront rentals, family-friendly spots, and cozy B&Bs with charm.
It’s known for its fish tacos, surf culture, and harborfront shops, but still costs a fraction of what you’d pay in San Diego.
Valle de Guadalupe
Known as the Napa Valley of Mexico, Valle de Guadalupe is Baja’s wine country—just 20 minutes inland from Ensenada. It’s got over 100 wineries, boutique hotels, and gourmet restaurants.
You can book a high-end glamping stay or luxury villa for $150 to $250 a night, with wine tastings ranging from $10 to $30 at top-rated vineyards. Fancy dinner for two? Often under $100, wine included.
And unlike Napa, you don’t have to dress like you’re going to a board meeting. Just roll in with jeans and a good attitude.
Why This Matters
This isn’t about politics. It’s about price tags. If San Diego wants to boost wages, that’s up to them—but Sacramento families still have to make choices that make sense for their own budgets.
Right now, heading to Mexico can give you better scenery, better food, and better prices—all within reach and without the California price tag.
Lena Vasquez
Lena’s where the story starts—before the hashtags, before the headlines. Street fairs, protests, hole-in-the-wall bars, and the rhythm of the city’s real soul.
