schedule is rather tight if you take Hwy 1.

Like everybody else has said, LA traffic can be a nightmare.

AVOID driving from LA to San Diego on a Friday afternoon - a 2 hours drive could stretch to 7 hours - this was what happened to us last time. We left West Lake Village (just slightly west of LA) around 2pm, and did not get to San Diego until 9pm!!! We were moving in the speed of 10-15 mph all the way...

Corondo - depends on season, should be around $300 and up. In general San Diego hotels are expensive.

Santa Monica hotels are also expensive. You dont need to stay at Santa Monica - only need to drop by there from dusk till night - to experience the small, but unique, seaside theme park.