Suggestions in San Diego Area
Oct 14, 2008, 4:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Half way between SAN and TIJ
Programs: Welfare
Posts: 1,506
Totally agree, the Hyatt and Marriott are geared towards the conference and convention crowd who most likely won't be spending a lot of time in their room or on the property although the Marriott does have a nice pool area.
I honestly can't recommend the Manchester Grand Hyatt in the luxury hotel forum. Yes, it does have spectacular views as it sits on the downtown waterfront. And it is an easy walk to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. But it is a large conference hotel, adjacent to San Diego's convention center, with the indifferent service hotels tend to give who don't depend on repeat guests. We booked a night there last December, during Hyatt's Faster Free Night earn period. I am a Hyatt Diamond, so should get the best possible service and room. My room was tiny, with a small window. And service was inexcreble. We went home and slept in our own bed. There is a lengthy thread in the Hyatt forum with more information about the hotel.
The hotel might work well for the OP's conference nights. But I wouldn't chose it for the days past the conference.
The hotel might work well for the OP's conference nights. But I wouldn't chose it for the days past the conference.
Oct 17, 2008, 9:39 pm
#17
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: Continental, United, AA
Posts: 324
Oct 18, 2008, 10:01 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Boston, Jo'burg, HK
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Lifetime Diamond, CX Gold, Mrs. Pickles travels for free
Posts: 13,161
I honestly can't recommend the Manchester Grand Hyatt in the luxury hotel forum. Yes, it does have spectacular views as it sits on the downtown waterfront. And it is an easy walk to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter. But it is a large conference hotel, adjacent to San Diego's convention center, with the indifferent service hotels tend to give who don't depend on repeat guests. We booked a night there last December, during Hyatt's Faster Free Night earn period. I am a Hyatt Diamond, so should get the best possible service and room. My room was tiny, with a small window. And service was inexcreble. We went home and slept in our own bed. There is a lengthy thread in the Hyatt forum with more information about the hotel.
The irony of it all is that the Grand Del Mar and the Manchester are owned by the same guy, Papa Doug Manchester, a self-promoting hard-core Republican reactionary Real Estate mogul. Photographs of him and his lily-white country-club family posing with assorted Republicans are all over the lobby at the Manchester, and, in keeping with the Del Mar's more upscale tone, limited to a discreet hall in the restaurant floor.
Feb 1, 2013, 11:29 am
#21
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
It is not just renovated, it also has entirely new owners, so essentially it will be a different hotel. I have not stayed since the owner change, but it is a beautiful property in a great location.
Feb 1, 2013, 11:41 am
#22
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
I wonder how La Valencia is. La Valencia is in the heart of the charming village of La Jolla. It is one block up from the ocean, with a spectacular panoramic view. The walk along the ocean is beautiful, from the children's cove now taken over by sea lions, to the beautifully landscaped frontage further north. The hotel is immediately adjacent to high end galleries and stores as well as a broad range of restaurants. The Museum of Contemporary Art is 4 blocks away.
Grand Del Mar has sweeping grounds in suburbia. It has extensive grounds with space for its own golf course, lots of tennis courts, and large swimming pools. Views are what we call "back country" - rolling, semi arid land with its own beauty. If you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing, then the Grand has much quicker freeway access. It can be a slow drive from downtown La Jolla to the freeway.
Grand Del Mar has sweeping grounds in suburbia. It has extensive grounds with space for its own golf course, lots of tennis courts, and large swimming pools. Views are what we call "back country" - rolling, semi arid land with its own beauty. If you are planning to do a lot of sightseeing, then the Grand has much quicker freeway access. It can be a slow drive from downtown La Jolla to the freeway.
Last edited by SanDiego1K; Feb 1, 2013 at 12:36 pm Reason: Mistakenly attributed La Valencia description to Rancho Valencia
Feb 2, 2013, 12:06 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: United global services, BA gold,
Posts: 839
I think rancho Valencia is the best property in the San Diego area. I know the new owners and their intention is to make it better and better! I highly recommend although I have not been since the renovation was completed. Will be there again in April.
Feb 2, 2013, 5:09 pm
#24
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
You're right. I was thinking of La Valencia. I'll edit above.
Feb 3, 2013, 10:26 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mem
Programs: Delta GM, Amex Reserve, Amex Plat, JP Morgan Palladium
Posts: 984
I would pick Rancho Valencia ove the Grand Del Mar unless I was a serious golfer. Rancho Valencia is a lovely little resort. I would try to book one of the brand new fractional villas they have built in the last few years. They are gorgeous. You might be able to find one on VRBO or through Timbers who manages them. It would be great fun to share one of those with another couple or family.
Mar 27, 2015, 4:43 pm
#26
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
Fairmont is going to manage the Grand Del Mar.
The luxurious property, which will be rebranded as the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, has received plenty of recognition throughout the years. The resort has been named a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star property every year since 2012, and a AAA Five-Diamond property every year since 2009. In 2014, the resort was praised as the No. 1 hotel in the United States in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Under a long-term management agreement, Fairmont will oversee day-to-day operations of the San Diego icon, while private equity firm Blum Capital stakes majority ownership of the resort. Manchester Financial Group and Fairmont’s parent company, FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), will both hold a minority interest in the AAA Five-Diamond hotel.
The luxurious property, which will be rebranded as the Fairmont Grand Del Mar, has received plenty of recognition throughout the years. The resort has been named a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star property every year since 2012, and a AAA Five-Diamond property every year since 2009. In 2014, the resort was praised as the No. 1 hotel in the United States in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.
Under a long-term management agreement, Fairmont will oversee day-to-day operations of the San Diego icon, while private equity firm Blum Capital stakes majority ownership of the resort. Manchester Financial Group and Fairmont’s parent company, FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI), will both hold a minority interest in the AAA Five-Diamond hotel.
Mar 27, 2015, 9:25 pm
#28
In memoriam
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: AA EXP "Life is good! Really good.""
Posts: 4,923
Agree with Pickles' assessment of Doug Manchester up thread.
This is part of the back story of the Grand and the Manchester holdings.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2...di-fis-hubby/#
This is part of the back story of the Grand and the Manchester holdings.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2...di-fis-hubby/#
