Every year we, as a family, try to escape the crazy over-the-top insane record heatwave in LA County. Every time summer rolls around my husband and I reminisce about our honeymoon trip to Hawaii, since we both loved the Polynesian island feel and relaxed way of vacationing. Well this year, our budget didn’t allow a vacation to Hawaii, so I looked for the next best thing for our family and succeeded - a very affordable getaway to The Catamaran Resort in Pacific Beach, San Diego.
On the shores of Mission Bay, the Catamaran Resort is only 8 miles from the airport, 5 minutes from Sea World and about 20 miles from family attractions such as Legoland, and the San Diego Zoo. For this particular vacation, we opted to spend a majority of the time exploring and participating in all of the family activities the resort had to offer… and when we did step away from the resort, my kids were itching to return to the hotel and play!
The minute you step into the Catamaran Resort, you will feel like you are in a Hawaiian paradise, instantly bringing you to a tropical oasis. Palm trees surround the resort with koi fish and friendly ducks and exotic birds to greet you upon check-in. The grounds of the hotel are immaculate and picture perfect everywhere you turn. I loved the detailed Polynesian themed décor, and the floor to ceiling waterfall in the lobby was breathtaking; impressively filled with koi fish and including tropical flowers and ferns.
Ideal for family travelers, staying at The Catamaran Resort is a vacation experience all on its own! There is fun for all ages at this beach resort.
The Resort Offers:
- Kids Club by the pool
- Complimentary arcade
- An exotic bird show
- Family Movies on the bay at dusk
- Complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas for use on the bay
- Polynesian dance instruction for all ages
- Outdoor yoga for adults
- Daily surf lessons (additional fee)
- Sunset Luaus (additional fee)
- Beach Amenities: chairs, umbrellas, towels, volleyballs and beach toys for kids
Is your family more on the adventurous side and enjoys water sports? Action Sport Rentals, located right on the bay offers water sport lessons and rentals with FunCats, Paddleboards, Pedal Boats, Kayaks, Sailboats, Powerboats and more! We enjoyed a fun day out on the bay riding a FunCat electric catamaran rented from Action Sport Rentals. The entire bay was stunning and felt this was a relaxing and fun way to explore the sandy beaches along Mission Bay.
We stayed on the 12th floor in the Tower Suites with a spectacular view of Mission Bay’s waterfront and the beach. Every time I stood at the balcony of our room, with the cool ocean breeze flowing through my hair, my breath was absolutely taken away by this view. Catching the sunset each day and seeing the constant flow of bikers, beach-goers, runners and families parading from morning to night made me want to get out and explore. All of the Bay Front Suite rooms are full with amenities ideal for a family that included, a large bathroom with a separate vanity, and a fully equipped kitchenette with all the necessities to enjoy a home-cooked meal.
We dined at the Catamaran’s signature restaurant Oceana Coastal Kitchen for breakfast during our stay and everything was cooked to perfection every time. The portion sizes were great for the kids’ menu and they had a wide array of breakfast items to choose from. The ambiance was great whether you were sitting inside or outside, and the restaurant overlooked the bay which was absolutely gorgeous. The restaurant had indoor seating with an incredibly large jelly fish tank in the center that my kids could not take their eyes off of.
We have tried many breakfast places in San Diego, and I haven’t found a place that does it better than Oceana. If you do dine here, ask for Stacy. He was an excellent server and went above and beyond to make sure we got what we needed. To top it off, they have weekday happy hour specials during the week! Our favorite was the $9 Flatbread, Sushi and Craft Cocktails.
If you are planning a trip to San Diego, I can’t think of a better hotel to stay at. The Catamaran Resort has just about everything you could ever need for a family friendly getaway. There was so much to do to keep the kids entertained, and the beach was walking distance as well. There are classes you can take from sushi-making to Polynesian dance lessons; all without leaving the hotel grounds. The Catamaran Resort truly takes you to a tropical island paradise - and is just a quick road trip away. Expect to return home relaxed and recharged as a family.
Tip: Make sure you stay at the Tower Suites overlooking the views of Mission Bay! You’ll thank me later!
Ready to visit a beachfront San Diego hotel unlike any other? Make your reservations today!
http://www.catamaranresort.com/
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*Disclaimer: I was provided a media rate at the hotel for the purpose of this review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.
