Top 10 Getaway for Luxury Travelers – Hotel Del Coronado, California

In 2006, FTF’s annual Top 10 survey of award-winners honored Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, California as a Top Luxury Beach Resort.

Whether a high-end vacation is a matter of course for you and your family or a treat reserved for a special occasion, our 9th annual awards focus on the latest travel segment to embrace young guests: the super luxe resort.

Hotel Del Coronado
1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
619/435-6611

Southern California is known for its Pacific beaches, and one of our favorites fronts the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island in San Diego, a city with a myriad of theme parks, zoos and family attractions. This 28-acre Grand Dame property, which has been a landmark for generations with its Victorian style and distinctive red roofs, has won enough awards over the years to paper its walls.

But while the ambience is upscale — complete with manicured gardens, elegant landscaping and fine dining — the resort is proud of its humble beginnings in 1888 as a Tent City, where locals came to play and listen to concerts and vaudeville acts.

The hotel’s charming guestrooms are spread out into four areas of the property, including the original Victorian building and the newer Ocean Towers. All 679 rooms were renovated in 2005 to the tune of $10 million, and, an even more luxurious transformation costing $150 million, was unveiled in 2007.

The new area, called Beach Village, features 78 ocean-view guestrooms and suites with great rooms and fireplaces, as well as private swimming pools and a dedicated concierge staff.

For some serious pampering, the Spa at The Del offers 21 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, relaxation areas for men and women, steam rooms and a menu of teen treatments worthy of Mischa Barton. For continued relaxation, there is an oceanfront terrace, and you can take a refreshing dip in the vanishing edge pool.

If you can tear the children away from the ice rink, created seasonally on the Windsor Lawn, they will likely love the traditional ways of Kidtopia, designed for ages 4 to 12. This A-List program’s activities include sandcastle building, beach games, scavenger hunts, bonfires and meals during afternoon and evening programs.

Or drop them off at the one-hour arts and crafts program and let them spend the rest of the day surfing, kayaking or exploring the island on guided bicycle excursions under the guidance of super enthusiastic counselors.

2009 rates for a family of four start at $259/N in the low season and $359/N in the peak season.  Contact The Del for suite rates.