San Diego has it all. Beautiful beaches, family friendly attractions like the renowned San Diego Zoo, world class museums and access to sports year-round thanks to the temperate weather. If you are looking for a family friendly, couples friendly or singles friendly place to stay that is right on the beach, then we have the place for you. Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa is close to the airport but you feel like you are in the tropics.
I recently had a chance to stay at Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa. The Polynesian-themed resort is located in the Pacific Beach community on Mission Bay. The hotel opened in 1958 and currently offers 310 rooms over several buildings. It is still, to this day owned by the Evans’ family – San Diego locals.
Let’s take a closer look at Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa in our latest “A Room With a View”.
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa: The Details
Address: 3999 Mission Boulevard, San Diego Ca 92109
Phone: (858) 488-1081
Instagram: @catamaranresortsandiego
Website: CatamaranResort.com
On-Site Amenities: WiFi, beach access, water sport rentals, restaurants on-site, boutique shopping on-site and on-site spa.
The Location
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa is ideally located for beach lovers right on Pacific Beach. It is a very close to the airport and you are walking distance to a slew of restaurants and shops. It is also just a short car ride to many attractions in the San Diego area.
The Room
The resort offers a variety of room options from the spacious (604 square feet) Bay View or Garden View Suites to more standard rooms that are still large at 329 square feet. There are accessible rooms offered as well.
I stayed in a Bayfront Suite (438 square feet) on the second floor of a two story building. It featured a separate bedroom, seating area with wet bar, desk, and balcony overlooking Mission Bay. The blue colour scheme with neutral touches and palm leaf designs gave the room that Polynesian vibe. There is a pull out couch, so you can easily fit a family of four in the room and not feel cramped.
The bathroom featured a beautiful stall shower and the wallpaper tied in the decor of the living space. The room was more than comfortable but the best part was….
The View
I’ve stayed at a lot of hotels in my life – some better than others, but this was definitely one of the nicest views. You can watch the boats go by from the comfort of your terrace, get your bearings and are literally less than two minutes to the beach.
Final Thoughts
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa is ideal for:
- Weddings – you have the option for beachfront or photos with more of a tropical rainforest feel
- Beach lovers
- People who want to experience that laid-back California vibe – the resort is perfect and Mission Bay is far enough away from the downtown core to feel like you are in a different place
- Families
If you have mobility issues, let them know when you are ready to book so that you are on a ground floor or in the tower with elevators. When you stay at the property, take a walk around – the grounds are just beautiful. There is a parrot aviary – one kept talking to me, although you can only say peek-a-boo so many times before you run out of conversation. There is a koi pond located in the tropical gardens with a waterfall outdoors and in the lobby. It doesn’t feel kitschy at all. You can even take a ride on the Bahia Belle stern-wheeler cruises departing at 6:30 and getting back at 7:45 which is a bit long.
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa is a relaxed place to stay if you are in the San Diego area. There is something for everyone at the resort and Mission Bay is a fun, laid-back area.
*Hosted for review purposes – opinions are my own.
