Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa - San Diego, California

Romy R.

I stayed at the Catamaran for one night with my 1.5 year old daughter and we loved the hotel so much we basically didn't leave. Diante, my reservation agent, was super helpful and even generously upgraded me to a better room with incredible sweeping views of the bay and the ocean. The hotel property is absolutely beautiful and has everything you could want. The stunning lobby has a waterfall that instantly made me feel like I was on vacation. My daughter loved looking at all the koi fish, parrots, turtles, and other birds around the property. We had great meals at the restaurant which was super convenient and had beautiful bay views. Another great area was the pool, it was very easy to find chairs and we enjoyed the environment. There was even an arcade which I'll be excited to check out next time. The room itself was very spacious and comfortable. The best part was having a kitchenette and the stunning and huge balcony overlooking that gorgeous view. I didn't really mind the hotel being slightly outdated because the room was very clean. The only downside I found was that the bed wasn't the comfiest and the pillows could be better. If that element had been better it would've been a perfect stay. But in spite of that, I think the hotel is wonderful and extremely family-friendly, so I would totally stay there again.

Virginia C.

Had a delightful stay at the Catamaran this past week for a farmers market conference. The resort is beautifully situated between the ocean and the bay, so you can easily get sunrises and sunsets over the water. The rooms are expansive and so comfortable. I only had drinks at the hotel bar, no food, but the catering for the conference was solid. The bartenders were really terrific, and it was fun to see how they had built a community with locals. The resort grounds are beautifully landscaped and it feels like a little slice of paradise. All of the staff were personable and friendly, and shoutout to the front desk person from Maryland!

Payment was a bit cumbersome in booking for a work trip--there is a resort fee to be paid at the property, along with a $100/day deposit. I was able to pay everything in advance with an electronic CC agreement, but that is only possible if you book directly with the hotel. My only other complaint is that the toiletries could have been much higher quality--there was no origin listed (usually that means made in China), and the shampoo had food dyes (red no 5). For an otherwise luxurious feel, they should do better on the toiletries. Oh, street parking is abundant. Skip the $39/day fee for hotel parking.

I went as a single traveler, but it would be a blast with a family. I will definitely stay here on my next trip to San Diego!

Waterloonie

Truly a tropical hideaway in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego. Remarkable property with lush grounds with parrots and hummingbirds everywhere. Enormous koi pond. Management has obviously given a lot of thought to give their guests what they need and want. ||Extremely welcoming staff, and kudos to Lorenzo at the front desk for making our stay particularly special. He is an exemplary employee.||Room are a little dated but spacious and comfortable.||One of the nicest hotel gift shops we have every experienced. So many useful gift items and reasonably priced.||Oceana Restaurant is first-rate with outstanding sushi. Try the red snapper and Caesar salad!||Recommended hotel in Pacific Beach!

Claudia D.

The grounds of this resort are amazing with birds and fish and great staff. Renee our reservation person was the best! The view from our room was of the entire Mission Bay and the ocean along Mission Beach. My only complait is with Trip advisor that insisits on lengthly reviews I am typing this sentence b/c its demanded to make this review

Tracy

First thing……..thank you to Joanne (who checked us in) and to the Catamaran Resort for comping us the four days of parking. She said it was because we’re repeat guests. It was an unexpected surprise and greatly appreciated. We stay at the Catamaran twice a year because we love the location. We only stay in the tower (in their 1 bedroom suite) with the bay view because you also get a view of the ocean. Best of both worlds. All staff are very friendly except at check out. I wish they’d ask how our stay was so I could thank them for a wonderful stay, but they don’t. An added perk is the taco shop (La Playa) a minutes walk from the resort. Had a good breakfast at Lava Java but have never eaten at the restaurant so I can’t comment on that. Anyway….thank you again for the free parking and a wonderful stay.

Melissa M.

Wow what a beautiful resort and I had the most amazing massage by Christina in the Spa. She knew where my trigger points are gave me a relaxing yet the best massage I have ever had. I highly suggest her she was so knowledgeable and the pressure was perfect, and I left feeling completely rejuvenated and relaxed. Such an amazing stay at The Catamaran!

Audrey Z.

We recently stayed at The Catamaran in San Diego and had an overall pleasant experience, though with a few notable drawbacks. Our room, a Bayview, had a breathtaking view of the water.
Checking in was a breeze, thanks to Dante at the front desk. He was friendly, welcoming, and made the process very easy. We felt taken care of right from the start.
However, our dining experience at the Oceania restaurant was less impressive. While the food was good, the service was just "so-so." The staff seemed overwhelmed, and we had to wait quite a bit longer than expected to be attended to.
We also visited the bar another night for a nightcap, but it was disappointing. Every table had not been cleared from previous guests, and there seemed to be a shortage of staff, particularly busboys. The bar area was noticeably dirty, which left us with the impression that they were stretched too thin, so we ended up leaving without staying for a drink.
The pool area was nice, but upon arriving, we found some trash that we had to remove ourselves before we could sit down. It's unfortunate that these small details were overlooked, as the hotel itself has great potential.
Additionally, housekeeping seemed to be at a bare minimum. While our room was cleaned, it felt like the bare essentials were done, and there was little attention to detail or extra touches that you would expect at a property of this caliber.
Overall, The Catamaran is a beautiful hotel with great views and a fantastic location, but it seems to be struggling with staffing issues. With better attention to cleanliness, service, and housekeeping, this could be an exceptional stay. We hope they work through these challenges, as it really is a lovely place.
PS: we stayed in the bay front suite which has been renovated. The tower rooms are old and dated and in much need of a renovation.

Venture555565

I booked this stay through Diante and was so pleased with the reservation! He was so helpful in making this trip memorable and went above and beyond. My expectations were well exceeded. The grounds and amenities are top notch. 10/10 recommend!