My husband and I just returned from a 3 night stay. I picked this hotel based on Trip Advisor reviews and everyone was right! What a great place for relaxation! We were in room 303, which is a partial ocean view. When the windows were closed there was little noise from outside which was wonderful at night for sleeping. It can be noisy during the day, so we just kept the windows closed and enjoyed the view. The a/c wasn't great, but it did the trick to cool it down the little it was needed.
The king size bed was fabulous, the shower was the best in any hotel period. We enjoyed cookies several times and had the turn-down service on the bed one night because we were in too early the other two.
Everyone at the desk was friendly and helpful, as you will read in all the reviews. The tour of the property was great. I used the small elevator to go to the 3rd floor each time due to a bum knee, but my husband walked up and down the stairs all the time. The rooftop was so peaceful in the evening. We were there for 2 sunsets...all alone. We were surprised no one else was up there.
Parking is tight. We did have to park in the lot across the street on the last night, but the guys at the desk feed the meters for you so you don't have to worry about a ticket. Parking in the daytime wasn't a problem for us, just the last evening.
We had breakfast in one morning. Nothing fancy, but we were filled up and ready to go for the rest of the morning. That also saves money, because no place is cheap.
The first night we ate at Woody's Wharf, a short walk away. We loved it! Our waiter was a great college kid who couldn't have been nicer. The food was the best we had anywhere in the area.
The second night we ate at the Crab Cooker, even closer than Woodys, and we were very disappointed. It was a long wait and they don't take reservations. Our waitress couldn't have been nicer, but the food just didn't measure up. I had the shrimp and scallop skewer. It was very bland and didn't seem fresh. My husband had the seafood paella. There was a ton of rice, along with lots of fish. He also felt it was bland. I guess we cook with too much garlic at home. Our son, stationed at Camp Pendleton, joined us for dinner. He had the salmon and was happy with it. Our breakfast on Monday morning was on Balboa Island. We ate at Wilma's Patio and sat outside. With a long drive home, we were happy to have some more time outdoors on such a beautiful weekend. Take the ferry across early in the day, the wait isn't very long. Otherwise you can drive around to the other side and go over the bridge. Go early and find a place to park on the residential streets a couple of blocks away from the main street and have a wonderful stroll through the picturesque village. All the shopkeepers were so friendly. If you get an omelette for breakfast, split it. It's huge and more than enough for 2.
We went whale watching on Saturday afternoon. There were no whales or dolphins, but the trip out for 2 1/2 hours on a gorgeous day was heavenly. Bring a sweatshirt, it can get a little chilly with the wind. There is food and drinks to buy on the boat. Nothing much, but our son ate 2 grilled cheese sandwiches and had a couple of beers.
We went to a small pizza parlor for lunch on Sunday. I believe it's called the Original Pizza, or something close to that. It was excellent, but a little overpriced. We had enough left overs for dinner that night, again a money saver. Also, they only take cash, but there is an ATM machine inside to get money.
Walking on the boardwalk is such a pleasure. My husband went alone several times when my knee would act up. We walked early in the morning, at lunchtime, sunset, and late in the evening. We always felt safe and loved to watch all the people. One word of caution. Bicycles rule the area. When walking on the boardwalk, you almost have to stay single file so you won't get run over. I have a nasty bruise from a parked bike when I tried to get out of the way of a family of 5 little ones terrorizing all the walkers. And be sure to look before changing direction.
Also, a word for the ladies who keep the rooms spotless. I am not exaggerating when I say our bathroom was the cleanest I have ever been in, and that includes 4 star luxury hotels. The tiles in the shower looked like they were scrubbed with a toothbrush daily. No mold or mildew in sight. That is so unusual. Lately, I feel like I have to take my own cleaning products with me. Nothing grosses me out more than to see a shower with mold. It makes me wonder what else isn't cleaned. So my hats off to the ladies. They do a great job and were very friendly and helpful when we needed more towels, etc.
We even rented a movie one night from the library downstairs when we were too tired to go out. That was fun.
Long enough for you? I just had to rave about our wonderful 3 night stay. On the 6 1/2 hour drive home, I still felt like jello, I was so relaxed. I just can't wait to return. I have found my bliss.