The Local's San Diego Itinerary

Built by people who live here, around your dates, so your first trip doesn't cost you a day learning what the locals already know.

What You Receive

A day-by-day itinerary for your first trip here. The things worth your time, the ones worth skipping, restaurant picks by neighborhood, and the local knowledge that usually costs you a trip to learn. Works on your phone, and downloads as a PDF.

How It Works

1
Tell Us About Your Trip
Answer 7 quick questions about your dates, group, and interests. Takes about 90 seconds.
2
We Build Your Days
Days you can actually finish, in an order that makes sense on a map. Not six things stacked into a Thursday.
3
Enjoy San Diego
Open your itinerary each morning and know exactly where to go, when to go, and what to skip.

Why a Local Itinerary?

  • The mistakes first-timers make here are specific, and we plan around them before you make them.
  • The zoo is a full day. May and June mornings are grey. September usually beats July. That is the kind of thing that is obvious after your first trip and expensive during it.
  • Two different bays in one city, and only one of them has sandy beaches. If the beach is why you are coming, we will make sure you are looking at the right one.
  • Which famous thing is worth your day and which one to skip, based on who is actually coming.
  • Restaurant picks from someone who eats here, not from whoever markets best.

Choose Your Itinerary

The Local's San Diego Starter Series
The 7 emails I'd send a friend.
$0
  • 7-day email series
  • Segment-specific tips
  • Local recommendations
  • Delivered to your inbox
Send Me the Series
Most Popular
The Local's San Diego Itinerary
The itinerary I'd build if you hired me.
$147
Less than one dinner out
  • Personalized day-by-day itinerary
  • Built around your dates & group
  • Restaurant picks for every meal
  • What to skip, and what to do instead
  • "Choose your own adventure" options
  • Local's Tips from 30+ years
  • Downloadable PDF
  • One free revision
Make My Itinerary for Me
The Local's San Diego Itinerary, Planned with Todd
The trip I'd plan if we did it together.
$357
10 spots remaining this month
Todd takes a limited number of sessions each month
  • Everything in The Local's San Diego Itinerary
  • 30-minute Google Meet with Todd
  • Extended personalization
  • Richer itinerary from conversation
  • Priority support
  • Two free revisions
Book My Session with Todd
Choose your session time →

This Is For You If...

  • This is your first time visiting San Diego
  • You want to see the best of the city without wasting time
  • You want a structured itinerary, not another list of "Top 10 Things to Do"
  • You trust a local's recommendations over generic travel sites

This Is NOT For You If...

  • You've been to San Diego many times
  • You prefer to explore without a plan
  • You're only interested in one specific activity (like surfing)

Not sure yet? Talk to the founder.

Planning a San Diego trip? Talk to the founder for 15 minutes. I will give you my top 3 local recommendations for YOUR trip. Free, no pitch.

Book a Free 15-Minute Call

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does it cost $147?
Because it is built around your dates, your group and your interests, and Todd personally reads it before it reaches you. You can earn money back, but you cannot get a wasted vacation day back. The itinerary is designed to help you spend less of your trip researching, deciding, driving and backtracking, and more of it enjoying San Diego. And it costs less than two Zoo tickets.
What if I don't like my itinerary?
Every itinerary is built from our 30+ years of local San Diego knowledge. If something doesn't fit, just let us know - we'll make adjustments. We want your trip to be amazing.
Can't I just plan this myself for free?
Absolutely! We have 800+ pages of free San Diego content on this site and a free 7-day email series. You could also ask an AI and get a decent generic itinerary in seconds. It knows what has been written down. We know the rest. The paid itinerary is for people who want everything organized into a day-by-day schedule personalized to their specific trip - dates, group, interests, and timing all figured out.
What exactly do I receive?
A personalized day-by-day itinerary for your entire trip. Each day includes morning, lunch, afternoon, and evening recommendations with specific restaurants, activities, and timing tips. Plus "choose your own adventure" alternatives, the places locals actually go, and a downloadable PDF.
How is this different from a travel agent?
Travel agents book flights and hotels. We plan what you do when you get here - the daily experiences that make or break your trip. Every recommendation comes from 30+ years of living in San Diego, not a booking commission.
How long does it take to get my itinerary?
Todd personally reads every itinerary before it reaches you, so it is not instant, and that is on purpose. You will usually have it the same day, and you will get an email the moment it is ready.
What about the Private Planning option?
Private Planning ($357+) includes a 30-minute Google Meet call with Todd to discuss your trip in detail, followed by a richer personalized itinerary. Perfect for special occasions, complex trips, or if you just want the full white-glove experience. Limited to 10 sessions per month.
Can I access my itinerary on my phone?
Yes! Your itinerary is a mobile-friendly webpage you can access anytime. You can also download a PDF for offline use on your trip.
What if my plans change after I buy?
Life happens! If your dates or group changes, reach out and we'll update your itinerary. One free revision is included with every itinerary, and Private Planning includes two.

Ready to plan your San Diego trip?

Tell us about your trip in 90 seconds. We'll handle the rest.

Make My Itinerary for Me