The casually elegant resorts of San Diego North County offer endless possibilities for quality business meetings and leisure vacations. They are all within 30 minutes of San Diego’s main airport; Lindberg Field, and just as close to the great San Diego attractions of the zoo, harbor, shopping and dining in the Gaslamp area.
And, when you decide to relax and unwind at the resort, take a few minutes while there to learn more about the history and design of your hotel. Many offer some surprising information when you dig for more details. Also check out the natural expanses nearby with a walk or quick drive. Some of the best restaurants, golf, shopping, beaches and art galleries will be just around the corner from where you are staying. There are over 89 four or five star hotels to choose from, 36 miles of beaches to go to, 40 golf courses and world class attractions like Legoland and the Wild Animal Park.
How to choose the right hotel? I recently had an opportunity to explore the area and toured many north county hotels. I came back with some new found knowledge and appreciation into this wonderful destination, even though it is in my backyard. I will present several of the hotels that I visited. All offer a unique travel experience because of their location, their architecture and the particular vision of the hotel management. Note all hotels are rated with four stars, unless otherwise mentioned.
1. Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines—Originally opened as the Sheraton Grande Torrey Pines in 1989, it is located in a serene and secluded location near the Torrey Pines golf courses. The design by John Portman & Associates of Atlanta works well with the surrounding environment and cleverly disguises the proximity of Scripps Hospital and UC San Diego. The contemporary and clean lines compliment the golf courses and the natural landscape of Torrey Pines. Within a short walk are the beautiful beaches of Torrey Pines State Park, to include Black’s, which used to be a clothing optional beach. As you enter the lobby you are greeted with a beautiful view of the pool, the Torrey Pines Golf Course and the ocean beyond. This hotel has 419 sleeping rooms and over 60,000 square feet of meeting space. The sleeping rooms are spacious and quiet. This hotel is an excellent recommendation for business meetings and conferences. Good use of design spread out the meeting space on various floors so there isn’t a congested feeling like you get in so many hotel conference areas. The hotel is clean and well maintained. Parking at $20 a day seems steep. Construction has begun on a multi-million dollar restoration of their lobby and restaurant area.
2. The Grand Del Mar—This new hotel was opened in October, 2007. Built upon the architectural ideas of Addison Mizer’s work in Palm Beach and the Breakers in South Florida, the 249 sleeping rooms and 12 suites are set in luxurious surroundings. Every hallway or public area offers interesting and unique touches. In fact, there is so much to see you should give yourself some extra time just to wander around and enjoy the beautiful designs, artwork and furniture. This is definitely a resort for a corporate executive to hold a board meeting, followed by some golf on the Tom Fazio course and finished up with a relaxing treatment in the spa. There are world class restaurants right on property or nearby in Del Mar or La Jolla.
3. Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa—Utilizing the original site of the Scripps newspaper baron’s 10-acre rancho, the Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa opened its doors in 2004. The architecture is early Californian Rancho and offers a laid back casually elegant atmosphere. With 210 sleeping rooms, this quiet and serene hotel also offers a perfect backdrop for a business meeting or conference with over 21,500 square feet of meeting space. There is a learning theater on property that holds up to 125 guests and other meeting space that is very well laid out. The hotel offers meeting packages that include all day coffee breaks and lunch. The hotel also offers some excellent outdoor locations for weddings. Check out the patio and fireplace at Mustang’s and Burro’s bar. You won’t be able to resist enjoying a margarita in this most inviting venue.
4. Lodge at Torrey Pines—This craftsman style gem of a hotel is located directly on the Torrey Pines Golf course and offers spectacular views of the course and ocean beyond. Opened seven years ago, the hotel highlights design features from the Blacker and Gamble houses in Pasadena and contains genuine Green & Green era furniture. Guests can play golf on the famous Torrey Pines golf courses which are right on property, relax in the 10,000 square foot spa, and enjoy dinner at AR Valentien, a restaurant highly rated for its unique and delicious cuisine. There is a total of 170 guest rooms and spacious suites and 13,000 square feet of meeting space. This hotel holds the only five-star rating in San Diego and has the reputation for making the best hamburger in town.
5. Inn at Rancho Santa Fe—The original construction on the Inn began in 1922 by architect Lilian Rice. She was commissioned by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad who had formed the Santa Fe Land Improvement company to develop the area. Lilian designed the first building in Spanish Revival style and continued on from there. This building was used to house prospective customers who would come to the area to buy land in the development. The hotel still stands with 87 total sleeping rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting space on 23 total acres. It is adjacent to the town of Rancho Santa Fe and within five miles of Del Mar Race Track and the town of Del Mar. There is a golf course nearby and a full service spa at the Inn.
6. L’Auberge del Mar—A complete remodel started in November, 2007 under the direction of Barclay Butera, a designer extraordinaire from Newport Beach. The re-opening in June, 2008 revealed a completely renewed and sparkling hotel complete with Kitchen 1540, a gourmet restaurant, Spa L’Auberge for relaxing spa and beauty treatments, 16,500 feet of remodeled meeting space in 6 different rooms, 120 extremely comfortable sleeping rooms and suites. This unique property offers many tantalizing outlets to have a drink, socialize and enjoy the ocean views. Weddings are a specialty of the hotel complete with the Director of Romance to make sure everything runs perfectly.
I hope you find this information helpful on some of San Diego North’s destination hotels. You would not be disappointed in any of them. Set against the backdrop of beautiful beaches, rolling hills and a perfect climate, all have made an exceptional effort to feature talented designs and unique architectural contributions in their construction. The San Diego North hospitality community really has emerged with these hotel gems. It makes perfect sense to consider this area for your next meeting, event or getaway weekend.
For more information, contact Marilyn Froggatt, AtVantage Marketing & Travel Services, and 760-966-0173.
