San Francisco Car Hires and San Diego Shopping

A trip to San Diego isn't complete until you've made a trip to the local mall. Shopping is serious business in this suburban metropolis, and it's easy to see why. San Diego has embraced the shopping mall like no other city in the nation, providing customers of Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires with plenty of great window browsing opportunities. Because let's be honest, the trunk in the back of your rental car is just a waste of space until you fill it full of shopping backs and bargain-basement deals.

One stop shopping

Don't have a lot of time to spend browsing boutiques during your upcoming Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires vacation? Well don't fret - you'll find everything you need in the two mega malls of Mission Valley. These two complexes (Fashion Valley and Mission Valley) have more than enough stores to satisfy even the most seasoned of shoppers, plus parking is free. Travelers will find all of major chain retailers in these malls, along with numerous high end designers and specialty stores. But be forewarned - these malls are almost always packed. Shop early and during week days to avoid as much of the congestion as possible.

Let's talk about tax

Customers of Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires should note that San Diego has a state sales taxes of 7.75%. If you're from out-of-state, remember to have larger items shipped directly home at the point of purchase to avoid paying this additional cost. San Diego stores tend to stay open late, particularly in malls like Fashion Valley. Individual stores are generally closed by 5 or 6pm.

Head to the Gaslamp District for a luxurious shopping experience

If you're looking to update your wardrobe with a few timeless pieces, Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires highly recommends browsing the boutiques of San Diego's Gaslamp District. You can even find designer delights for your dog in this area, care of the Lucky Dog Pet Boutique on Fourth Avenue. Other eclectic shops include Kita Ceramics & Glassware, and Design Within Reach. Cute children's clothes are regularly displayed at the trendy Pout boutique on Eighth Avenue, while high fashion statements are celebrated at Buzz on 10th Avenue.

Find fantastic art in Little Italy

If you're looking to add to your art collection during your upcoming Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires vacation, look no further than the city's Little Italy neighbourhood. Here you'll find a conglomeration of crazy cool stores, including galleries, showrooms and shops. In fact, the areas along Kettner Boulevard and India Street, from Laurel to Date Streets are best known as the Art and Design District, or TADD for short. Throughout the year, customers of Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires can enjoy evening open-house parities at local venues, as well as exclusive showings and demonstrations. Top shops in the area include Vetro, a vintage glass shop; Mixture, for modern furnishings; and the Scott White Contemporary Art gallery for paintings and prints.

Head for the hills.... or at least Hillcrest

The compact area of Hillcrest is the ideal shopping destination for customers of Super Cheap San Francisco Car Hires. As the center of the city' gay and lesbian community, Hillcrest offers plenty of establishments selling cool trinkets, vintage clothing and chic housewares. And who could forget the plethora of bakeries cafes and globe-hopping restaurants? The best place to start your browsing in Hillcrest is right at the neighbourhood's axis: University and Fifth Avenues. The greatest concentration of boutiques spreads for about 1 or 2 blocks in each direction from this point. Street parking is available almost everywhere, but beware that most meters devour quarters at a rate of one for every 12 minutes. Local lots are also close by, with varying rates.