When I continued my trip through Southern California, I had the chance to visit Carlsbad for a day and stay at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, A Hilton Resort and Spa. This was a very different experience than the more kitschy Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa. It’s more of a standard hotel, but in a good way. It has a coastal vibe, and a relaxed feel, plus it was steps away from the beach. I didn’t have time to fully explore the hotel, but had enough time for a solid first impression.
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach was recently voted #2 in US News and World Report’s Best Hotels in Carlsbad, CA for 2024. If you dig a little deeper though, it is the #8 hotel in the area on Trip Advisor, but still very well reviewed. It received high marks for the location which, as mentioned, is close to the beach. It is in a more residential neighbourhood which adds to the relaxed feeling, but there is shuttle service to restaurants and attractions.
Now, let’s take a look at why Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach received such high ratings in our latest “A Room With a View”.
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach: The Details
Address: 1 Ponto Road, Carlsbad, California 92011
Phone: (760) 602-0800
Instagram: @capereycarlsbad
Website: CapeRey.com
On-Site Amenities: WiFi, beach access (close by), complimentary beach packs: beach chairs, umbrellas and towels, resort-style pool and hot tub, complimentary 90-minute beach cruiser bicycle rental, 24-hour fitness centre, on-site restaurant and retail, Ocean Crest Spa (15% discount for guests) and more.
The Location
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach is literally right across the street (Carlsbad Boulevard) from South Carlsbad State Beach. You can surf, sunbathe or splash in the waves right across from your hotel. It has a central location approximately 15 minutes from Carlsbad Village and ten minutes from attractions like LEGOLAND and the Museum of Making Music. Golf enthusiasts will love that it’s a ten minute drive from a beautiful golf course.
The Room
Upon check-in, you will be told which elevator bank to use to access your room. Listen to the instructions. The property is larger than it seems. It is a low-rise with only three floors, but it is covers a lot of area – and will take some walking to get to your room, especially if you don’t listen to which elevators to use – I clearly didn’t – which is why you are getting this caveat.
As with most resorts, there are a variety of rooms available from large (1000 sq. feet) suites to smaller (but still spacious at 400 sq. feet) balcony rooms. There are standard rooms available as well. You can choose from Ocean Views or Pool Views. If you choose an Ocean View Balcony Room, like the one that I stayed in, request the third floor if at all possible for the best view.
The room was very comfortable including the bed, pillows and linens. If you are there for business, even the desk chair was comfortable! It wasn’t overly decorated, matching the casual-chic feel of the hotel.
The bathroom was large and featured subway tiling in the stall shower. I prefer a stall shower versus a bathtub combination and it was ideal for me. There was great lighting so getting ready in the morning was easy.
The View
The balcony was a nice touch. The hotel is right across from the ocean so you get to see a beautiful sunset if you are on the beach side. It is across a road, but the view, from my third floor room, was unobstructed. In the morning, surfers were everywhere getting an early start and it was fun to watch.
Final Thoughts
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach is ideal for:
- Weddings – they have a number of packages available
- Surfers
- People looking for a coastal vibe and an atmosphere that isn’t stuffy
- Golfers
- Families
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach has a real resort feel. The pool with the fire pits surrounding it, is beautiful. If you want to take surfing lessons or need to buy anything, The Break has everything that you need. Everything around the resort is on-theme – meaning inspired by the ocean, but it’s tasteful, down to the lobby.
Thanks to the location, it is very quiet. The only complaint, and it’s minor because everything is so close, is that there didn’t seem to be a lot of shopping or restaurants (other then Chandler’s which is on-site) in walking distance, but I only stayed for a short period of time, and did not have a lot of time to check out the area.
Carlsbad is a beautiful little city. If you are looking for that coastal, California experience while you are there, Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach is the ideal place to stay.
*Hosted for review purposes – opinions are my own.
