Local Wally's Guide to San Diego
The original locals guide to San Diego...since 1996
Home to the "Del", Sweeping Beaches, Cape Cod Bungalows and .....Munchkins?
Since its inception, Coronado has been a special place in San Diego. Its founding fathers purchased the "island", which is actually a peninsula, in 1885 for $110,000 with the dream of turning this barren land nto a resort destination. Just three years later they opened the Hotel Del Coronado, then considered "the talk of the Western World", a reputation that's as true then as it is today.
Along the way Coronado evolved into the quintessential small town, albeit one filled with well to do citizens and famous visitors. Sugar king John D. Spreckles built his mansion here, Charles Lindbergh flew his plane here, Marilyn Monroe filmed a movie here, and Frank Baum wrote some of his Wizard of Oz books here.
Today Coronado is as sparkling as Disneyland's Main Street, filled with charming restaurants and shops, quaint Cape Cod bungalow homes and impressive turn of the century mansions. It's a destination in itself, but when you want to see the sights it's great to know that the main attractions are still just minutes away.
BEST OF 2009 AWARD, BEST OCEANFRONT HOTEL
Ask any local what the best ocean front beach resort is in San Diego and their answer invariably will be "The Del". Built in 1888, it stands today as one of the most beautiful beach resorts in America. The Del has earned its reputation as "one of the top ten resorts in the world" by USA Today and more importantly, Local Wally's pick for Top San Diego Resort.
From the moment you pull up to the valet you know you've arrived. Red carpet, white gloves, this is old school elegance. Inside, the darkened room hosts the original lobby and the original birdcage elevator with an actual human being pushing the buttons for you! But don't worry that the rooms are ready for Grandma and done up with doilys and Hummels. Room decor varies depending on whether you stay in the more modern towers or the original historic hotel, but all of it is tasteful and classic. Room size also varies from teeny tiny "is this the closet?" to large ocean view suites to private beach cottages, and views range from parking lot to full ocean view. You get what you pay for, so pony up the big bucks if you want the ocean view experience - and if your budget only affords you a dinky room, so what? You're still at The Del, quit complaining!
Over the years the Del has attracted it's fair share of celebrities. Marilyn Monroe was here for the filming of "Some Like It Hot", Lucy and Desi concocted the idea for "I Love Lucy" while staying here, and L. Frank Baum of Wizard of Oz fame hung out here (he rented a house down the street) and even modeled The Emerald City after the Del. And check out the weird chandeliers in the Crown Room dining hall that look like giant, well, crowns. Guess who designed them? Yup, the man behind the curtain himself, Baum . Presidents, luminaries, even King Edward VIII have all stayed at the Del, so why not you? After all, if it was good enough for them it's good enough for you.
LOCAL WALLY HOTEL DEL CORONADO GHOST TIP: Is the Del haunted? Some claim that Kate Morgan was killed in 1892 and is waiting in room 3502 for her killer to confess. I guess she must be bored waiting and flushes toilets and turns lights on and off just to pass the time - or so they say. A real ghost or clever marketing? You be the judge, but avoid this room if you see dead people.
The Hotel Del Coronado also has San Diego's Best Brunch, and at $72 per person it better be good! Those on a tighter budget should head outside to the more reasonably priced Sheerwater - tell your wife you're not cheap, you just like sitting outside where you can feel the sun and smell the ocean air. And the beach, ahh yes, the beach is one of San Diego's finest with tons of sparkling white sand and no abrupt falloffs or rip currents, perfect for the kids.
There's a reason why the Hotel Del Coronado has remained San Diego's top resort from the day it opened over a hundred and twenty years ago. The magnificent resort continues to delight visitors to this day and is the backdrop for the quintessential San Diego vacation. Book it!
PRO'S: You'll feel like royalty even if your kid has a mullet haircut!
CON'S: Can be expensive, especially if you dine here, and often packed with lookie-loo's on a Summer's day.
WALLY SAYS: It doesn't get much better than this. The best beachside resort in San Diego!
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Located right across from the Hotel del Coronado, you can't beat this location. Restaurants up and down the street, the beach within walking distance, this is prime time Coronado. Step outside your door and you'll forget you're staying at a two star hotel. Walk across the street and do the Del, hang out on their sundeck, order a cocktail and peoplewatch at their bar, partake in the beach behind the resort (don't worry, it's public) , then come back at the end of the day to crash. Not bad, not bad at all.
To set your expectations right, this isn't the Del. In fact, you take the new wife here on your honeymoon and you go straight to divorce court! OK, it's not that it's bad, it's just not all that fancy. You're not going to get that spa bathroom, and there's no contemporary linens or decor. But it delivers where it counts with a clean room, a bit of old world charm, and a killer location. Right outside the hotel is Miguel's Cocina, a decent enough Mexican restaurant with great fish tacos. Inner courtyard rooms face the restaurant so expect some evening noise. Look, it's sort of like staying in a nice place in a Mexican resort town. You drop your standards a bit but in the end it all works out and you go home happy with a few extra bucks in your wallet. That's El Cordova.
PRO'S: Location is key, you can't do much better unless you are across the street at the Del!
CON'S: Feels a bit like a Mexican hotel versus an upscale boutique.
WALLY SAYS: I like it. The rooms may not be perfect but the location sure is!
John D. Spreckles knew how to live. The sugar baron made Coronado his home and built his mansion right on the bay. Today that mansion is the Glorietta Bay Inn, a pristine example of the lifestyles of the rich and famous so long ago.
Located down the street from the Hotel del Coronado, the location is still prime time Coronado. Walk to dinner, take a stroll along the bay as the sun sets, go to the beach without having to fight for a parking spot. Stay in one of the 11 rooms inside the original mansion or go a bit more modern with a room in the newer nearby adjunct buildings. Free continental breakfast and coffee to start the day, comfy beds and top notch service, I think even Spreckles himself would stay here if here were still alive today.
PRO'S: Elegance and service, it feels like a 5 star hotel - but without the pricetag!
CON'S: Some street noise if you are not on the bay side, pool a bit small.
WALLY SAYS: What's not to like? Live like a millionaire for a week? On your budget? Book it!
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MARRIOTT CORONADO ISLAND RESORT 
With sweeping views of the San Diego bay and skyline, the Marriott Coronado Island Resort boasts one of the better views of any bayside hotel. Its location away from the crowds is perfect for the anyone who wants to see the sights during the day but come back to a quiet resort at night. Call it understated, this Marriott stands up with some of the best upper end Marriotts in their chain and is the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway.
The front looks so businesslike you might freak out that you didn't bring your laptop, but step around to the back and the tropical landscaping kicks in. There's three heated pools and tennis courts to keep you busy and when it's time for dinner or some sightseeing, their water taxi service will zip you across the bay to the restaurants and Gaslamp District. Come on, when's the last time you took a boat from your hotel to go to dinner? Rent bikes at the nearby Ferry Landing, book a tee time at the Coronado Golf Course via the concierge, you'll get the type of service and amenities you'd expect from a higher end Marriott.
Now the downside - the bayside location means there is no beach access, so if you were hoping to jump out of bed and into the ocean this is not the place. And the hotel design can appear a bit generic, sort of like you've been here before at your last executive "sales summit" meeting. And the hotel does sort of sit off to itself - no wild parties, no dancing in the streets, no walking to clubs. But these negatives are also positives - no screaming kids fighting at the pool, no long line to get your car out of the valet, no party animals in the hallways at night. Grab a nice glass or wine and sit outside, watch the sailboats at sunset and the reflection of the skyscrapers as they turn to gold. Life is good at the Marriott Coronado Island Resort.
PRO'S: The view is incredible looking back at San Diego, nice rooms and super nice grounds
CON'S: A bit too quiet for some, not much to do right around the hotel, a bit "business-y"
WALLY SAYS: Understated elegance, perfect for a quiet getaway
Make sure you have a good map or that your GPS is working the first time you drive to Loews Coronado Bay Resort. As you might recall, Coronado is actually a peninsula connected by a tiny strip of land going south where it connects back to the mainland. This land, called the Silver Strand, has the beach on one side and the bay on the other. Cross the Coronado Bay Bridge and go past the shops, past the restaurants, past the town, past the Del, and keep on trucking and you'll wind up at Loews, far down the strand and on the bayside. Oh, the disappointment of many past vacationers who didn't know this. But now you know this, and here's why it should still be on your short list of places to stay.
You have to come to Loews with the right attitude. You want to get away from it all, away from the crowds, away from the traffic. You don't want a freeway on ramp outside your door, you don't want hip hop music playing at the bar. If you understand what you are getting - a quiet destination resort that's far from the maddening tourist crowds - then you can't help but love Loews. It's far enough away that you'll get that feeling like you're on a deserted island, but within 20 minutes to downtown and the main San Diego attractions. A private marina filled with yachts, a gondola awaiting you for a romantic evening (I know, it seems like a tourist trap but it's actually pretty cool), and luxurious rooms and views. The beach is right across the street and while it's not my favorite beach, it's nice and deserted - again, you have to know what you're getting yourself into. So yes, it's far away from the crowds. But that's part of the attraction and that's why so many visitors who are stressed out with work and spreadsheets come here to relax, to turn it all off and to find themselves again. And you know, they just might have the right idea.
PRO'S: Like your own private resort on a deserted island
CON'S: Gotta drive to everything, not on the beach.
WALLY SAYS: Not for first time visitors wanting to be in the middle of the action, but perfect for romantic getaways and those seeking seclusion
KEEP ON TRUCKIN'!
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