A Perfect Place

Annette Bowers

English 102/Spring, 2012 semester

                                                                                    Michael Pfister, Instructor

The Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, California is one of my favorite places to visit.  Located in the city of Coronado just on the other side of the San Diego Bay from San Diego, it is an historical landmark and one of the few remaining examples of wooden Victorian beach resort architecture.  If you’re looking for a hotel that is absolutely gorgeous, has historical relevance, a first-class staff, offers one of the best Sunday buffets on the west coast and is inches from the sand then I’m sure you’ll agree that the Hotel del Coronado is a great hotel. 

My family and I have visited the hotel several times in the past few years.  Our first visit was just a short weekend stay.  As we pulled up to the front door of the hotel I couldn’t get over how beautiful the building looked.  As you enter the lobby you’re immediately taken to a different time rich with design, wood panelling throughout and large stairways.  We got a room in the older section of the hotel.  The floors creeked and the air was full of that wonderful musty aroma that only seemed to add to the character of the hotel.  After checking into our room we explored as much of the hotel as we could to try to get a glimpse of who was there and what was going on.  It was lots of fun.  The rest of the weekend was spent out on the beach enjoying the cool breezes and warm sunshine.  It was over way too quick and as we’re piling back into our car for the long trip home I promised myself that we would somehow find a way to return.  And return we did.

  

For our second visit we stayed a full week.  We arrived after dark.  The hotel was completely lit up with white lights and busy with guests bustling about asking for directions to local tourist sites or requesting recommendations on where to eat dinner.   The sounds of laughter and people having a good time, the scrumptuous smells emerging from the hotel restaurants, and the band playing in the background made for a perfect first night.  This trip we stayed in one of the newer beach-front cottages.  One step off your back patio and you were on the beach. 

For this trip, as with all of our vacation trips, I make sure that we travel to, and arrive at, a destination on Saturday because one of my favorite aspects of a vacation is that first Sunday morning.  At the Hotel del Coronado, here’s how it goes:  I wake up very early, have breakfast delivered to our back patio, get comfy in a big lounge chair and I read the funnies.  While listening to the peaceful sounds of the ocean waves and the seagulls calling in the distance and enjoying the smell of cool, fresh air, you’ll find me and my funnies.  This is the start of a glorious vacation.  There isn’t a more perfect moment anywhere on the planet.  These are just a few of the reasons why I like coming to the Hotel del Coronado.  Let me offer a few more…

Built in 1887, the history of the resort entices visitors to come check it out.   It’s believed to be haunted by the spirit of a young woman, Kate Morgan, who committed suicide on the steps of the hotel in 1892.  Her ghost has been reportedly seen strolling along the beach and also in the upper tower windows.   Author Frank L. Baum lived at The Del from 1904 – 1910 while he wrote the Wizard of Oz book series.  Affectionately referred to as “The Grand Lady By the Sea” the Hotel del Coronado was used as the backdrop in the 1959 film, “Some Like it Hot” with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.  There is a downstairs museum that includes many books on the hotel and surrounding area and the walls are laden with photos of all the famous people who have passed through the hotel:  movie stars, the idle rich, and politicians to name just a few. 

While staying at The Del you can relax on the beach, swim in the ocean, ride bikes, walk or jog along the water, shop, visit the day spa or enjoy one of several restaurants located at or near the hotel.  The hotel offers quite a variety of dining options.  You can enjoy cocktails in the Babcock & Story bar with its richly designated dark wood bar or have lunch out by the beach at the Sun Deck Bar & Grill.  Their Sunday brunch, held each week in the famous Crown Room, is without equal.   Just take a look:  http://www.hoteldel.com/BrunchMenu.aspx .

The staff of The Del is willing and able to provide you with anything you need.  No request is too trivial.  They are polite, very informative and friendly.  One afternoon, my husband walked past one of the valet stations situated throughout the parking area of the hotel and heard the sounds of a ball game.  As he peered in he noticed several staff members eating their lunch and watching a baseball game.  One of the staffers noticed that he was standing there and invited him in to watch the game.  By the time he left he had directions to a “favorite” Italian restaurant in one hand and a diet Coke in the other.  

The San Diego weather is unparallelled.  It is typically calm with winter temperatures averaging about 65 degrees and summer days reaching into the high 70’s.  You could travel to the Hotel del Coronado year-round and not be disappointed with the weather.

Pricing at The Del can be prohibitive.  The Sunday brunch is $76.50 per adult.  You have several options for rooms at the Hotel del Coronado.  You can stay in the main, older part of the hotel or you can stay in the newer Beach Village.  Both provide quality accommodations; you just need to decide which part of the property you’d prefer to stay.  Rates generally run from about $320 - $1,300 per night.  A bit pricey?  For me, you bet it is.  And it probably is for a lot of people.  But to me it’s worth it.  And I’ve found that once I’ve decided that it’s time for the family to go back, it’s not so hard to save up the required amount of cash.

Finding the Hotel del Coronado couldn’t be easier.  Once you get to the famous Coronado Bridge it’s a beautiful drive about 5 miles untilyou reach Orange Avenue and there you’ll find her in all her glory replete with delicious details, such as her distinctive white paint and red roof tile. The address is 1500 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA  92118; phone:  (619) 435-6611.  Now you have no excuse not to go because you know where she is.

Every now and then I get an email from The Del telling me about their latest promotion.  Their emails are so enticing with the pictures and updates on what’s going on at the hotel.  It reminds me of all the fun times and good memories made when my family and I were visiting.  It makes me want to go back that instant and take in all that The Del and its surrounding area has to offer.  I hope to go again very soon.

So, now you have all my requirements for a perfect vacation:  great weather, beautiful accommodations, good times, an indulgent staff, unique hotel atmosphere, historical interest, easy to find, and last but not least, the funnies.  No such thing as a perfect place you say?  Once you visit the Hotel del Coronado I think you’ll change your tune.  Have I convinced you to give the Hotel del Coronado a try?  I hope so.  You won’t be disappointed.  You can check everything out for yourself on their website:  www.hoteldel.com .  They have complete information on what’s available at the hotel and also include a link for planning your vacation.  Now get going!

                                                                                         Works Cited

           San Diego Resort | Coronado CA Hotel | Hotel Del Coronado. Web. 11 Feb. 2012.

                 <http://www.hoteldel.com>.

          "Hotel Del Coronado." Wikipedia. Web. 11 Feb. 2012. http://wikipedia.com/

                 (some pictures only)