Lia CabreraWhile vacations exist to destress, planning them can be a chore. Without a proper guide, what would have been a stress-free time becomes a mess, especially when you don’t speak the language.
This is where travel agencies come into play. They’re great at providing affordable packages that are full of exciting experiences that you wouldn’t have thought of.
So don’t fret because I’ve done the work for you. I’m confident that my recommendations for the best vacation packages in San Diego will make your trips smooth and provide you with experiences that’ll last a lifetime.
1. Piper & Heath Travel
Address: 7710 Balboa Ave, CA 92111
Contact Details: +1 858-598-5559
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Piper & Heath Travel is perfect for those wanting to explore Africa. They specialize in a variety of experiences across sixteen different countries, with destinations such as the Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
Customization at Piper & Heath is extensive, and every aspect of the trip can be tailored to suit each traveler’s preferences. I was pleased to know that I could even head to remote islands, like Madagascar and the Seychelles.
Each country has a long list of camps and destinations for clients to peruse. Additionally, they offer a great selection of points of interest, including the Chobe National Park and the Elephant Havens in Botswana.
Bookings are easy, and tourists appreciate that their accommodations are included with each package.
On the other hand, I would’ve loved it if they offered more than just sixteen African countries, as their service is top-notch compared to others.
You won’t regret if you use them
“I want to write the perfect review to convey how entirely SPECTACULAR our experience with Piper & Heath was but I’m not sure if words will ever be sufficient. Mads and the P&H team planned a magical safari experience through Victoria Falls, Botswana, and South Africa for our family of 5 (2 parents and three young adult children.) The attention to detail, thoughtful and personalized care, and effortless transportation were beyond anything I have ever experienced. My family jokes that we never want to go on another trip unless P&H organize it. Use them; you won’t regret it!!”
– Lesley Santos, Google Review
The trip was beyond my expectations
“Dreaming about a trip to Kenya is easy. Actually planning one is daunting and best left to the experts. That’s where Piper and Heath comes in. We started planning our family’s journey a year ago. Mads was our planner. He’s very knowledgeable and passionate about Africa. He answered all our questions and met with me many times. After a couple (or more) sample itineraries, we finalized our plans and just had to wait. During that time, the Piper and Heath team made sure we had everything ready to go, from visas to packing lists and everything in between. The whole team is incredible and as they are based in San Diego, I loved that we were supporting a local business.
We returned from Kenya a week ago. I’ve dreamt of going to Africa since I was a child. This trip was beyond my expectations. All the people we encountered, from the airport team, to the base camp staff, the guides, and the people in the villages, were welcoming, attentive, and kind. Seeing the animals was absolutely incredible. The team at Piper and Heath made this trip everything we imagined and hoped it would be. I cannot wait to start planning our next adventure.”
– Kelly Feuillet, Google Review
2. Rental With A View
Address: 1235 Sassafras St, CA 92103
Contact Details: +1 619-210-0933
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Rent With A Review is a great travel agency for those who want to feel at home while in San Diego. Rather than being cramped inside a hotel room, guests will find themselves in some of the best vacation houses around the city.
From private resorts to luxurious townhouses, guests love the variety of choices they’re given by this travel agency.
Personally, I found that the best rentals are near the beaches, as these areas tend to have quieter neighborhoods compared to those inland.
While they don’t include any events in their rentals, they offer some great discounts to each guest. Some have even gotten a $50 gift card to either the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld, or Legoland just for booking a 4-night stay with them.
Additionally, there’s a great military discount for American veterans. Their brochures are also comprehensive and contain lots of great suggestions, such as Balboa Park.
The house was amazing
“Had an absolutely amazing time here. Was such a great experience the house was amazing and had plenty of comfortable space for us all to enjoy. The views from the patio are amazing of downtown SD. They were very accommodating to our needs and helped make our stay a perfect one. 10/10 would stay again.”
– Anthony Cianciolo, Google Review
Everything was set up so nicely for a fun weekend
“We had a fantastic time enjoying the house on Sassafras – everything was set up so nicely for a fun weekend from the pool floats and towels to the grill tools and blender! We loved the indoor/outdoor space and spent most of our time there and made great use of the projector as well. Everything was really clean and comfortable, the property management team was very responsive and we were grateful for the easy check in and clear instructions around the house. So nice to be so close to the airport as well and fun to watch the planes come in. Fabulous place – strongly recommend!”
– Alyssa Curran-Herzog, Google Review
3. Purple Light Vacations
Address: 3650 Fifth Ave, CA 92103
Contact Details: +1 619-324-1444
Operating Hours:
- Open 24 hours
For LGBT travel, I’d highly recommend Purple Light Vacations. I appreciate the customizability of their travel plans, and I love their advice when I was unsure about certain aspects of a trip.
Booking here is easy and can be done on the website. Aside from this, they ask specific questions upfront, such as the people you’ll be travelling with, to fully customize each customer’s experience.
Purple Light Vacations offers specific listings for men and women to popular destinations, including Thailand and Singapore. Additionally, there are cruise options available for those wanting a longer trip around the world.
Accommodation is included with each booking. Plus, their travel agents ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
There are also concierge services available that can secure items such as concert tickets and spa appointments, making travel easy and convenient.
However, they have limited packages for US trips.
It was beyond amazing
“We just traveled to Ireland for our first time. Jonathan at Purple Light Vacations planned our trip for us. It was beyond amazing! We had 5 adults, Jonathan planned a driver for each destination we were traveling to. It made our trip a “no stress” vacation. Each driver was highly qualified, punctual, and very polite. Jonathan also suggested and booked all our hotels which were absolutely fabulous! He also booked some of the attractions we went to, we never had to stand in a line for tickets!! Thank you to Jonathan and Purple light for making our vacation so amazing and so relaxing!!! If you want a stress free amazing vacation, have Purple light book it for you!!!!!”
– Michelle Waney, Google Review
Found me the best place for my bachelorette in Cabo
“Jonathan was an absolute pleasure to work with. He found me the best place for my bachelorette in Cabo and provided outstanding customer service throughout my whole experience with him. His advice was spot on and his knowledge/suggestions of the activities I was looking for in the area were super helpful. He even sent a thank you note which included a small gift after my trip was over, and that truly showed me that he has good business sense and character (both of which aren’t found often these days). I would highly recommend working with Purple Light Vacations – you won’t regret it!”
– Serina Durand, Google Review
4. Kahala Travel
Address: 3838 Camino Del Rio N UNIT 300, CA 92108
Contact Details: +1 619-282-8300
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Kahala Travel is your best friend when traveling. Whether it’s a family vacation or corporate travel, they have packages and deals that simply beat others.
I gravitated towards them due to their wide list of destinations. Their ocean cruises and land vacations are extremely customizable, from destination to experience. I didn’t even have to deal with hotel staff, since they took care of that for me.
For families, they offer a few select experiences that are sure to catch your eye. Some of the most notable ones are their Disney and Hawaii vacations, which allow families to explore these popular destinations with a full itinerary planned for them.
Honeymoons are a staple here, with popular destinations such as Cancun and Jamaica. These are perfect for those who want a change of scenery.
Still, I found booking with them to be somewhat complicated, as I had difficulty navigating their website.
They always have the most amazing place to stay and go
“I love working with the Kahala Travel team. They always have the most amazing places to stay and go. So helpful with any issues during the trips. I love tha I don’t have to worry about anything when I am vacation thanks to the Kahala Travel team!”
– Michael Elliott, Google Review
Makes your vacation planning simple
“They plan and take care of the little things you would never think of on your own. If you are going on a trip let Janine at Kahala Travel help you. She makes your vacation planning simple so your vacation is just that a vacation.”
– Marc Robertson, Google Review
5. Avant-Garde Travel
Address: 2121 Fifth Ave, Suite 201, CA 92101
Contact Details: +1 619-446-6400
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Avant-Garde Travel is for those looking for unforgettable experiences. Each of their travel itineraries is unique and created to accommodate each traveler’s needs. Many tourists choose them for their reasonable pricing and exclusive benefits.
They’re partnered with some great companies, such as Virtuoso and Belmond Bellini Club, which is where their exclusive benefits originate. Additionally, they’re partnered with hotels, like Hyatt Prive.
Travel here is available for either group travel or for individuals traveling alone. I’ve spoken with a tourist who said Avant-Garde accommodated their entire friend group of 10 people, which is simply astounding.
Cruises are available here, and I’ve even met tourists who flew to their destinations on private planes. There are even private islands where you can go on vacation, which simply showcases their range.
But though the experience is great, their destinations are limited to places where their partners are located.
The girls will forever remember our magical time in Milan
“Jennifer was attentive, creative, and fully available throughout the planning of our girls’ trip to Milan. As a mother taking three daughters overseas, I naturally felt some anxiety—but Jennifer’s support helped ease my nerves every step of the way.
I wanted to make sure each of my daughters felt seen and accommodated, and Jennifer truly honored that intention. Thanks to her professionalism, care, and warm personality, the girls will forever remember our magical time in Milan.
We’re so grateful to Jennifer—and we can’t wait for her to plan our next adventure!”
– Marissa Allen, Google Review
We had a very good experience
“Our travel agent Lisa Fisher was very helpful in booking our Uniworld cruise in Europe. We had a flight delay and missed our shuttle time and she was able to connect us with a Uniworld representative to make alternate plans. She was also able to get us extra on board credit. We had a very good experience with her. I highly recommend this travel agency.”
– Jocelyn Gonzalez, Google Review
