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After landing at San Diego International our group took a cab over to Coronado Island and the Hotel Del. The cab ride takes about 30 minutes and it takes you over the Coronado bridge. Even though I don’t have acrophobia, I always find driving over this bridge a little intimidating. At the hotel we pulled in the front receiving porte cochere and walked into the hotel’s check-in area. The Hotel Del Coronado is beautiful from the outside with a bleached white structure and bright red roof. The hotel has a long history and has been at this location since 1890’s.
Introduction: Southwest and San Diego
Review: Southwest Airlines Domestic Coach Sacramento to San Diego (and back)
Review: Hotel Del Coronado – Ocean Towers Coastal View Room
Review: Delta Sky Club San Diego International Airport – Terminal 2
Front porte cochere
Entrance into the hotel
The interior of the receiving lobby is a dark rich wood with little daylight coming in. It makes the space seem very dim and dramatic when walking in from a sunny day. The associate checked me to a Coastal View room 6602 in the Ocean Tower building. This structure was built in the late 1960’s and has a very different feel than the original hotel.
Hotel lobby
Further into lobby area
Reception desk
I’ve stayed at this hotel a number of times in the past, mostly for business. I’m always impressed with the property and location, it’s just so beautiful. To access the Ocean Tower building from the front of the hotel you walk on a concrete walkway that leads around to the right. It terminates in into the lobby of the Ocean Tower and then it’s an elevator to the sixth floor. Once on the sixth you circle around too the right, walk down the main hall, and another right to room 6602.
Out hotel front with walkway on right
Ocean Tower Building
Views from sixth floor hallway
Room 6602
Entering the room, a small entry hall leads to the main space. Coming in on either side is a bathroom to right and a closet with vanity area to the left. The layout is a standard hotel room setup. The furniture includes two double beds, a sitting chair, desk with 2 chair, and TV console. It was cheerful decorated in yellow, pastels, and dark wood accents and has a fun beach-y feel.
Entry into room
Vanity to the left
Closet behind vanity
Main room with 2 double beds
Left double bed
Right double bed
Sitting Chair
Shared nightstand
Desk and TV console
Close up of TV console with combined room door
Working desk
Opposite the room entry was an outdoor balcony with 2 chairs and a small table. Access to the balcony is through a slider that takes up most of the wall on the south side of the room. The balcony is modest in size, but large enough for 2 or 3 persons to relax and enjoy the Pacific and outdoors. The perspective for this room faces a south angle and includes the beach and Pacific Ocean, as well as a smaller hotel pool and a neighboring building. The views of the Pacific Ocean and beach are beautiful.
Slider on south wall
Balcony
Pool (with seagulls) below
Views from room
The room has a sweet vibe to it. It feels relaxed, cheerful, and like you’re on vacation. It also feels slightly dated, or at least dated with a rehab done as a face lift. Even though the construction and design are not modern, for this property and building it feels right and comfortable.
The bathroom is small and its square footage reflects the sensibilities of the 1960’s. Even so it was has received a makeover in order the make the most of its given size. The walls are a pastel lime green and the finishes are dark wood with marble to tie in the look of the entire room. Water pressure was good.
Entrance in
Shower
Commode and sink
Toiletry amenities
Another view
My agenda was full for the two days I stayed at the hotel, so I didn’t partake in any of the in room or hotel based dining. I will include picture of the in room menu to indicate what is available.
In room dining menu
Breakfast
Lunch and dinner
Late night
Other items
Beverages
Although this trip was mostly business I was able to sneak out and take some pictures of the ocean side of the resort. The Hotel Del Coronado sits on one of the most beautiful North American beaches in the United States. Coronado beach is a sizeable piece of real-estate with beautiful white sands and great access from the hotel. There is a well maintained path that follows the beach and the main hotel pool is also located on this side of the property.
Facing Hotel from beach path
Lawn area towards ocean
Another views of Hotel beach side
Beach views
Walking path along beach
Main pool area
Close up of pool deck
Summary:
The Hotel Del Coronado is an amazing property, and this is primarily because of the beach location and rich history. The grounds are wonderful and if you enjoy being on or close to the Pacific it’s hard to do better. My room although great, was not luxurious by modern standards. The rooms have been updated and maintained over the years, but they still have the original layouts and geometry of older designs. Having said all of this, I love this hotel and looked forward to coming back. Hopefully next time it will be for more pleasure than business.
