Need a hotel that can keep you happy on your trip to the golden state? Whether it’s relaxation by the waves, sightseeing, or fun with the kids, these are the best hotels in California.
Holiday Inn Resort Catalina Island
Tucked away in the foothills of Catalina Island, is the first on our list, the Holiday Inn Resort on Catalina Island. This paradise is hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the harbor, but close enough to the beaches of the island to make it the perfect convenience.
The luxuries of the hotel guest rooms are designed for those needing to unwind, some of the key features of those rooms are:
- Rollaway bed/cot
- 80+ channels of cable TV
- Walk-in Shower
Decorated with a modern bungalow style, and equipped with king or queen-sized beds, it can accommodate every need. Each room comes with black shades on the windows to keep out the sun on days that get too hot. You’ll get to experience the island to its full potential, in this slice of paradise.
Located in the resort is a singular restaurant, the Cover Bar and Grill. Full of flavorful dishes and fruity drinks, you can savor your meals, while looking over the island’s spectacular views. Available for lunch and dinner, you can find the exotic food that you’ve been craving, full of fresh ingredients that will delight everyone. If you don’t feel like eating out though, the hotel can have food delivered from the restaurant.
If you’re looking to accommodate your kids, then this is the place. It has kid suites available whenever you’re ready, their own little get away from the grown-ups. All perfectly safe and ready for whatever your kid might need.
The thing that the Holiday Inn Resort boasts the most about, is that this is the only hotel on the island that has a swimming pool. An amazing place to relax, when the beach gets a little too crowded. Along with the pool are a fully equipped gym, meeting rooms, and spa that will help you unwind.
Hilton Santa Barbara Beach Resort
If you’re looking for a hotel that is as close to the beach as it can be, then this one is it. The Hilton Santa Barbara is right across the street from the beach, just a minute walk once you get out the front door. Along with the incredibly easy access to the beach, you’re also close to the Funk Zone, which is a hub of fun, full of art, café’s, and surf shops that teach you what Santa Barbra is all about.
The hotel itself has everything that you need, particularly the rooms. All designed with soft coast-inspired themes that give a sense of calm that you could use after a day of fun. Each room is equipped with its own private balcony or patio, that you can step out onto and take in the ocean breeze.
A few enjoyable qualities of the rooms are:
- King or Queen sized bed
- Pull out bed
- Streaming services, such as HBO, CNN, and ESPN
You can choose what type of room would accommodate your needs, based on the size of the bed and whether you want an ocean view or resort view.
This tour of the Hilton wouldn’t be complete without talking about its impressive selection of dining. First up is the Fess Parker Wine Tasting Room, the perfect place for everyone in your group to enjoy. The wine tasting has a variety of options, suited for every kind of taste, everyone can find something at the Fess.
Java del Mar is the resident coffee shop for the caffeine lovers staying at the Hilton. It hosts primarily Starbucks, and with that comes everything a coffee shop could need. Starbucks coffee, on-the-go snacks, breakfast sandwiches, and teas.
Lastly, there are two primary dining experiences, the Roundhouse, which is mainly used for breakfast, and the Set, which as you can probably guess, is used for lunch and dinner. You can find the Roundhouse adjacent to the lobby, or you can just follow your nose in the morning when the smell of breakfast hits you.
The Set is a little different from the Roundhouse, a classier-looking place, that serves a selection of deliciously cooked meals, and comes equipped with a full bar. It opens at 11:30 am every day, and closes at 9:00 pm, except for Friday and Saturday, which then closes at 10:00 pm.
Of course, when talking about dining, we can’t leave out the in-room dining. The resort can bring up pretty much anything you want, though it has specific times at which you can order. You can find what times there open on their site.
The resort has a lot more than just food, it has a business center, meeting rooms, an outdoor pool, and a gym. This can all be set up or guided to by the amazing concierge, they can get you whatever you may need during your trip, which does include anything from the Fun Zone or downtown.
Ventura Beach Marriott
This is the hotel that everyone imagines when thinking about California. It’s how many people picture their hotel on their summer trip, breezy palm trees, a wavy pool with plenty of sunbeds, and only three minutes away from the San Buenaventura State Beach.
You have four options available when picking your room, a guest room with one king bed, a guest room with two queens, a larger guest room with a king, and the suite which has a king and two bathrooms. Each is decorated with a contemporary coastal style and excellent views outside each window.
The best things about each room would be:
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- State of the art LCD TVs
- Deluxe bedding
The hotel’s dining has a single restaurant available near the lobby. The Channel Kitchen + Bar is a two-sided restaurant, one side is a modern lounge that has ample seating, and the other is a warm dining experience, it’s the best of both worlds.
The chef that runs the place is Rick Rossignol. The menu that they have is inspired by a coastal bounty of seafood and locally sourced produce. It has something for everyone with its many options.
The bar, which is a new addition, is right at the center of Ventura Beach Marriott’s Great Room, which mainly features hand-crafted cocktails, small batch bourbons, locally crafted beers, and tequilas. Something that was inspired by California’s central coast is the Ventura Spirits, it’s a drink that is a micro-distillery, which specializes in craft spirits.
Something great about Ventura Beach Marriot is their amazing pool, a relaxing little place in the center of the building that can cool you down after a great day out. It can also be a great place to get a tan, with its abundance of tanning beds.
Fitness can also be a big thing at this hotel, as it comes equipped with a fully stocked gym. It’s ready with any weight or machine that you can want. Along with the fitness center is the bike rentals. You can talk to a concierge and they can arrange for your bike to use for the day.
Marriott also loves to host weddings. All you have to do is schedule it on their website, or you can talk to the concierge to set it up. They have tons of room for a sort of wedding event, ready with ten event rooms, and a capacity of 850 people. A little happy note to add to that is that they offer catering with locally sourced seafood and craft beer from the Channel Kitchen + Bar.
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
The views from the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows are stunning from your patio or balcony, it’s a shock that anyone would want to leave them to go explore. This hotel on our list is the most historic of the bunch, boasting visits from dozens of celebrities, ever since 1923 when it opened. It’s had the likes of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and President John Kennedy stay there, so you could end up in the same room that they had, if you’re lucky.
You have the option between a guest room, a bungalow, or a suite for your visit, all of them amazing in their own right. Bungalow One is the most basic of the bungalows, but perfect for anyone who could use it. It has a plush residential feel to it, using a Southern California styled decoration and using glamour from a mid-century pad, which was designed by the interior designer Michael Berman. It can hold up to eight people comfortably, has 3 and ¾ baths, 2 king beds, 2 double beds, and all with a lush view of the best California can offer.
Meanwhile, the guest rooms that are offered are all amazing, and can all accommodate at least two people comfortably. A few of the excellent amenities provided are:
- Plush Robes
- Nespresso Machine
- Bathtub
Finally, the suites are everything the guest rooms are and more. Situated on the sixth floor and up, each suite can hold four people comfortably, and all fuse classic with the contemporary style of decoration. Each suite is at least 785 Square ft and has tons of relaxing amenities inside, each has a giant king bed and lovely complimentary coffee.
The dining at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is truly impressive. It has three different restaurants, in-room dining, and a coffee shop.
First up is the stylish FIG Restaurant, full of fresh produce and California dishes that will delight. With plenty of space and tons of options, it has plenty of dishes to choose from. A thing to note about FIG is the fact that it is closed on Sunday and Monday.
Lobby Lounge is an inviting outdoor restaurant, great for a quick bite, and then onto the fun. It’s a great place for rendezvous, meeting up with friends or business associates. It features premium mixed cocktails, wine by the glass, and light bites that taste amazing. It’s open every day from 4 pm to 10 pm.
The last restaurant featured at the Fairmont Miramar is The Bungalow. It’s a sprawling indoor-outdoor lounge, furnished with Baja chic style décor. It has cozy indoor fireplaces, couches, and billiards tables, and it has an outdoor deck that has a great view of the Pacific Ocean, so it won’t be hard for you to find a place to sit.
Dogtown Coffee is a coffee shop that boasts organic, micro-roasted drinks. It’s a stylish place to visit in the morning before a long day of fun. It’s opened every day, opening at 6:30 pm, and closing at 4 pm.
Moving on from the food, the hotel also has a lot of activates for you to choose from. It has its own personal Miramar Beach Club, which means you get your little private piece of beach, Lloyd’s Barbershop, which has some quality barbers for your hair, and Glam+Go, a great place to give your looks a touch-up.
Kona Kai and Spa
The last on our list is the Kona Kai and Spa, located in San Diego. Newly renovated and expanded, this resort is ready to welcome you to a world of relaxation and luxury. You can breathe in the ocean air on your expansive balcony, enjoy the day at their private beach, and try specialty drinks from their tiki bar, near the all-new adult-only swimming pool.
Like the rest of the resort, all the rooms at Kona Kai have been renovated with a laid-back charm and an added bit of California fantasy, which was created by California Project Management. Each guest room is spread out and open, with a private outdoor space. Each guest rooms have a SoCal style of decoration and comes equipped with a deluxe king, a queen, or twin beds. A few great things about these rooms are:
- Marble bath with rainfall shower head
- Minibar
- Connecting rooms
The dining at Kona Kai is primarily the Vessel Restaurant + Bar, a fun chic place right on the San Diego Bay. It’s a great place to feel the tropical breeze as you eat fresh food. Along with the restaurant is a brand-new poolside bar at the adult’s only pool.
A few of the fun activities that are e available are the nightly bonfires that you can share with friends and family, and the SpaTerre, a great place to unwind with their treatments made to help you relax.
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