Excellent view. Slept well. Very quiet location. Friendly owner. Would stay here again. Close to shops and restaurants. Use the same stairs as Avalon hotel. read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Buena vista hotel use same stairs as Avalon hotel - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

This hotel provides you with the bare minimum. We checked in for the Henry room. We arrived at 11am. Check in is supposed to be at 3p but Jim was kind enough to let us leave our luggage and get our room ready by 1230p. As we arrived up the stairs to our room, we had to unlock the tiny lock and slide the door open. The room had very little space to walk around. The view outside the room was spectacular. There's no screen on your window so beware of bugs. There was only one channel provided on the mini TV. The bed was uncomfortable but we didn't mind since it was a one night stay. The shower head was surprsingly strong BUT there was no shampoo or conditioner provided. The bathroom was also very cramped so be mindful of your space when toweling off. The toilet paper was see-through thin so watch out for that haha. The noise wasn't too bad but I slept over on a Sunday night so it wasn't crowded. Tips: -There's a small discount for bringing your own towel. -Stay here only if you are the type of person that is out exploring most of the day -Bring your own shampoo, conditioner, 2 towels, hair dryer Enjoy the island life! ~ read more

Buena Vista Hotel - View from Henry room - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Lovely stay at this hotel. Definitely outdated and need upgrades, but we knew this going in. If you bring your own towels, you'll save $10/night. View was beautiful. Lots of storage in room and bathroom. Shower was tiny. Easy walking distance to Avalon. They were able to store our luggage after check out so we didn't have to lug it around town waiting for our boat. There's no AC, but there was a fan and a good breeze with windows open. TV has basic cable. Overall, would stay here again. Great deal for Avalon!!! Lots of stairs to get to the hotel as well, so keep that in mind. read more

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My best friend wanted to go to Catalina and since he knew i have gone numerous times, he asked me to look into hotels and wanted me to tag along to celebrate his birthday on the weekend of Mar. 17th thru 19th. Jim, the manager was very helpful and responded to the emails and upon making the reservation he did give me the heads up that its a simple hotel with simple amenities and we get some $$ off if we bring our own towels which i was fine with that so was my best friend. When we arrived at the island it was at night so I knew possibly finding the hotel would be a challenge and it wasnt, gotta really look for the signs and the stairs leading to the hotel. Check in was easy, we got the room with a view. The room itself was indeed simple, but my god the view was amazing especially in the mornings. There was a bed and futon, had a little trouble with the futon but that didnt phase me. My only small thing (to me) the hot water took a long time to kick in, taking a shower was a quick quick. The overall experience at this hotel was great, inded it was a simple hotel, affordable and super close to the shores. My best friend enjoy his weekend birthday celebration on the island. read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Our view - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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We've been to Catalina a few times over the years and love the place but its super expensive to stay on the island as far as hotels go. Then, we discovered this hidden gem: The Buena Vista. It's fun, clean, friendly and we saved so much money we were able to spend at restaurants, go shopping, zip-line, island tours. And the beach, shops and bars literally start at the corner. We also like the staff a lot. They are very knowledgeable about island history and things to do. Almost every room in the hotel has some kind of ocean view ... even the cheapest ones.  And YES! It is really true that you get $10 off per night if you bring your own towels.   If you're wanting to spend a few days on Catalina Island, check this place out. read more

Great service and Jim was very nice . Very basic room and does need some TLC. Great location and nice view . We stayed in the Hayward room. Great price read more

The view from this room was amazing. The room itself wasn't a hotel type but more of a homey atmosphere. Not perfect but still calm and nice. Doesn't really matter when you're out enjoy Avalon anyway. The manager was kind and generous as well. Would highly recommend. read more

I can honestly tell you when we first walked up to this hotel I was scared. It's the much older and somewhat neglected looking building behind a gorgeous hotel. A couple of feral cats out in the courtyard complete the almost creepy looking scene. My husband looks at me and asked "Jill what did you get us into?' It was his 40th birthday and I was afraid I blew it. However, I will tell you all that went away when we got to our room. We stayed in the Marya room on the top floor and I am not exaggerating one bit when I say I think you would be hard pressed to find a better view of the island from any hotel at any price. Freakin Amazing!! Windows on 3 sides, a view of the entire city of Avalon with the cruise ship in the middle. No ac but we really didnt need it, great breeze We actually booked this particular place because in addition to their great reviews and VERY reasonable prices, one line on their website caught our attention. "If you're coming to Catalina to party, the Buena Vista is not the place for you." Finally a quiet hotel room in a beach town. SOLD!. Anyways, bottom line. This is not the Ritz, the floor was so uneven you almost felt at times like you were walking on a boat. The TV was crazy old, the towels and sheets, old, shower but no bath. Having said that it was very comfortable, very clean and we would go back there in a minute. Highly highly recommend! **I thought the cats were feral but I was informed by the staff that though they are shy they are really beloved members of the hotel family so please treat them with respect. read more

You know what? People who come here should not complain. You know what you are getting yourself into! Even the owner tells you on the phone when you book that this place is super basic and not to expect any extra amenities and luxury. Let me preface this post by saying that I just paid $190 (total) for 2 nights where as the hotel next door is charging $395 plus tax a night (I asked the lady at the front desk). Catalina is expensive. Catalina is very, very expensive- especially in the summer. This hotel is the best deal in town if you can snag a room! Now, down to the details! You wonder why is it super cheap? Well let me tell you! The rooms aren't big and are really old. They smell like old wood because the rooms haven't really been updated in a few decades. The walls are cracked, the bathrooms are small and the shower barely fits one person. I'd figure that if you're extremely overweight, you would not fit so you would probably need to rent a room elsewhere. The carpets are old and feel damp and dirty because of the usage and many visitors coming in and out of these rooms. The bed is kind of lumpy. The door to the room is a sliding glass door that locks from the inside but requires a padlock from the outside. There are no amenities (however they did give us some plastic cups and 2 small bar soaps). Toilet paper is literally half-ply so bring your own if you require better toilet paper (I used my baby wipes I brought for my number 2). There is a TV! The public beach is right down the street and since this is a little farther than the main strip, the public beach closest to this hotel is less busy! Somehow, with all of the aforementioned horrible things, I slept like a rock and woke up really refreshed! The people here are very nice and if you're out all day (which you should be anyway because it's Catalina), then the room shouldn't matter! I would definitely come back because of the price! I would advise you to think about your priorities before you book your room here and judge for yourself! The money I am saving renting this room is going to other activities on the Island because things aren't cheap here! read more

I like to play all day... and if you are like me, booking this hotel is no biggie. It's no penthouse suite, but I like it. It's simple and very very affordable. I booked two nights here in the "Henry", a room that has an awesome beautiful view. Here are the pros and cons to staying here: Pros: - The people who overlook this place is awesome. Very friendly, helpful and accommodating. - The location is perfect! It's in the middle and everything is within walking distance - Beautiful view since it is up a hill - Quiet and peaceful. Serenity at last =) . - Fridge to stash your water (just buy a case of bottled water from Von's nearby and you are set for your trip!) Cons: - No elevators - No A/C (but I'm loving this beach breeze) - Old vibe (but has a beachy feel) - Gotta walk up a hill and some flights of stairs (gets tiring if you do it 5 times a day like I did) - There's curfew. No loud talking past 10pm and before 9am. The guy that owns this place is name Jim and we bought his book. He wrote some spooky ghost stories on things that have happened on the island. It's an awesome book and a perfect read if your gonna relax at the beach or on the boat. Both owners are really cool. I couldn't be happier staying here. The hotel is kinda hidden behind the Avalon hotel. You'll be happy finding it though =) read more

If you are looking for a cheap stay for a night but don't want to pay $250-$300 on peak season and don't care where you stay, this is the place for you! This place is family owned so they can charge lower. They have no toiletries and you can save $10 if you bring your own towel. Very basic and that's all you need if you are staying one night. They don't have a 2 night minimum stay like the other hotels. Great for a minication if you live in SoCal. We booked a month in a advance and the weekends get packed! They only had 2 twins available and we just took it and let him know if there's a queen that opens up let us know. We arrived and the room wasn't yet ready but he had a family room available and it had 2 queens, a twin, and a rollaway bed. It was a big family room! He basically upgraded us to a little apartment with no extra charge. Usually runs for $165! As oppose to the normal $95. Nice. We enjoyed our stay. Water ran hot when it was suppose to, beds were very uncomfortable though, my back hurt when I woke up! Place smells old too. But if you don't expect anything to be good, you'll have a good time! But seriously a hotel that allows one night stay and pretty decent! I'll take it. read more

I've been to Catalina MANY times (love it), and August 2009 was my first stay at the Buena Vista... Where HAS it been hiding?!? I stayed here for $75 (price was $85, but I brought my own towels ;-). I asked them why they do that (just SO weird, yes?), and the manager said that they save on water on the island, which is fine with me! The place is old - classic old, cool old. It was built in the 1920's and looks it, but it is CUTE. I learned it's likely one of the 2 oldest hotels on the island. The then-teensy rooms have been combined to make small efficiency-type rooms. Many have great views (mine did), and I've included a photo to prove it! (I hope I can upload it; I'm new at this... This pic was taken at sunrise, before I went kayaking. Oh wait, I went back to bed for a bit, THEN went kayaking.) My room had a mini-fridge, fan, ironing board (?), small but perfectly fine bathroom (shower only - soap included), and a porch! I think that all the rooms have porches. This was a very helpful way to dry my bathing suit. There is a small, sweet courtyard, with seating. VERY QUIET. Close enough to be near all the bustle (?) of Avalon, w/o all the noise of the summer evenings. I would have loved to be there with a sweetheart, but it was a solo visit this time. I had originally planned to stay only 2 nights, but was so relaxed I added a 3rd night at the Buena Vista. They even let me store my stuff there on my last day. Nice. No food service, no elevator, and you have to go up a staircase to get to the Buena Vista, but this no-frills place is worth it, imho (and I've stayed in some great and pricey places -and some not-so-great pricey places - so I can judge ;-) You may catch sight of some of the feral and owned cats that reside in the area. It's crazy - the hotel next door is $400+ a night! I figure I'm only sleeping, not living here, and for me, the historic funky coolness overrules the historic 'age' of the place. I really liked it and WILL return. I don't know if it would be a great spot for everyone's honeymoon, since they don't serve food and they're not 'beautiful', but it would be perfect for me and my guy, 'cause we're groovy like that. Comfy bed (not Hilton-comfy, but comfy), and they were able to give me non-feather pillows. The manager was very nice and helpful, and able to give me some good ideas for visiting the island. (Which was surprising, since I go there a lot.) I'm going to try to upload a picture here... I hope it works! (Okay, not working yet, but I'll try again.) read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Catalina Sunrise from my porch at the Buena Vista (taken with my tiny LG phone - not even retouched!) - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

This was my third overnight visit to Catalina, and Buena Vista Hotel was the best accommodations I've had. Affordable room with a patio that has a great view of the harbor. I would have been happy with the room itself: plenty of storage space (dresser, narrow closet, medicine cabinet) for my clothes and toiletries. But the room came with a patio and mini fridge! I bought groceries at Vons and enjoyed eating on the patio and hanging out there generally, resting between island activities. I kept Chard, brie, and kale salad in the fridge. I liked that I spent most of my awake (and non-adventuring) time on that patio instead of in the room on the bed. Check in was 3pm, but my ferry arrived around noon on the first day. Jim was kind enough to check me in once I arrived. I was fully expecting to drop my bags off then come back in time for check in. But because Jim checked me in early, I was able to put my stuff in the room and head to the beach! On my last day, I checked out at 11am but was able to leave my bags at the hotel until I was ready to catch my 12:45pm ferry. Thank you! If I come back to Catalina, I will try to stay at this hotel again. read more

I reserved this hotel about 2 weeks ago on Catalina Island California. The price I saw was good as well as the excellent view of the ocean and the little village. Made the reservation. Hotel called me back. Said they miss quoted the price as regular season when it was actually low season. They reduced the price by some $500. Can you imagine any business calling you back to tell you that they charged too much and they were refunding $500 even though i i had no idea. That says a lot about the character of the people who work there. In the reliability dependability and honesty of this hotel. This hotels pricing is the most competitive on the island in light of the spectacular view the room I booked has. Comparable rooms with that type of view can cost $500 a night. At that level this hotel is actually not taking advantage of the fact that they are very reasonable. I spent many hours reviewing other accommodations on this resort island off the coast of Los Angeles including Airbnb VRBO and FlipKey Looking forward to being there. Again, unbelievable that any business would call me back to say they charged too much and we're going to give me $500 refund even though I had no idea quoted price was wrong although I had already booked it. Absolutely amazing. Tremendous. read more

Loved this place! My boyfriend and I stayed here for one night. Luckily they allowed a one nights stay. The lady who checked us in, Lauren (if I'm not mistaken) was super nice and we were able to get in early. She gave us recommendations on what to do since we were there for my boyfriend's birthday. The room was called "Henry" it was small but the view from there was so beautiful! read more

Buena Vista Hotel - This name of this room: Henry. Gorgeous view! - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Wow, the cheapest stay on the island. It reminds me of a mobile home, thin walls, and creaky floors, but what you pay is GREAT! The location is off the hook. I was in the Lyle room and if you hung your head out the window you had a view of the whole port and great views of the houses on the hills. There was a frig, bathroom and a bed and the view mad it all worth it. Love it and will go back. $95 a night or $85 if you bring your own towels. read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Lyle room - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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Paid $100 a night to stay in the Henry room. I'm sad that I have to leave this review. I don't think a place like Buena Vista could stay in business if this wasn't a very small island with such limited "independent" competition. You won't find a chain here. And normal hotel standards are swept out to sea *pun* . The people offering these hard-to-come-by rooms have designated the standard, and it's a very poor one. If this is a 5-star establishment in Avalon, I advise you to make Avalon a day trip only. You won't find Buena Vista hotel rated on AAA or even on the Catalina Island website. That's because it doesn't meet the typical requirements of a hotel. A 1-star hotel on AAA literally has more to offer than Buena Vista, which is more akin to a dilapidated hostel than a hotel (except you get meals at hostels?). I considered leaving 2 stars for the following: -- Quiet. -- Takes $10 off if you bring your own towels. Though you definitely should since the cleanliness of this place is suspect. -- Lets you stay for one night during peak season. Though I stayed for two, so this didn't effect me. Unfortunately, that's all I can think of to consider this very dirty and rundown establishment. It definitely is NOT romantic. Let's be frank, romance starts with the bed. You do not want to get in the sheets and cuddle up when you're staying in this room. The mattress is very old, heavy, and soggy. It felt almost damp. This is not the kind of bed that puts you to sleep. I later pulled up the fitted sheet to find a very stained mattress... I've seen cleaner beds on the side of the road. The Buena Vista does NOT have: a phone, air conditioner, internet, shampoo / conditioner / lotion, etc. They also do NOT have window screens. So you can't even keep your windows open during the night (or when you're out). Since they don't have AC, this is a BIG problem. If you're going to go the "open air" route, at least offer a mosquito net to keep the bugs off at night. The "digital cable" on the dime-store TV was broken. It's actually an antenna that picks up a few random stations that happen to make it across the water. I really didn't appreciate the junk furniture thrown about the room. The pieces were all obviously picked up from the side of the road. The desk had signs of severe water damage from rain. The chair looked like it had been eaten in places by rats. The chest of drawers was chipped and useless, with chewed gum on it. Pieces that are broken and dilapidated definitely make one skeptical on overall cleanliness. I understand that it's expensive to bring pieces over from the mainland, but this is just too much. Even without the side-of-the-road furniture, the cleanliness was still an issue. I pulled the bed away from the edge of the wall and discovered a spider's nest. There's lots of wood rot, etc. I wore shoes in the bathroom and on the carpet. A place cannot be clean if it has no attention to detail. Peeling paint and rust aren't necessarily germy, but they're not clean either. If the owners took the time to add "finishes" to the trim and floorboards, perhaps this place would feel less like an abandoned hostel. My suggestions include: 1) Put a fitted sheet over your boxspring to hide the stains. 2) Replace the 20 year old unsanitary mattresses. 3) Get screens for the windows and maybe the sliding glass door, so there can be circulation in the room. OR get a mosquito net (though your maids will end up cleaning up bugs around the room for sure). 3) Remove the trash furniture. No one is going to use the rotted chest of drawers to store anything. It's simply an eyesore. 4) Get new decor. You can buy 12x18 picture frames from Michaels for $5 and put calendar art in them. That's almost as cheap as rifling through the garbage. 5) Put a headboard on the bed. This will block that weird pipe you have sticking out of the wall (where I found the spider's nest) and actually spruce up the look of the whole room in general. You can even build a headboard with plywood, foam, fabric, and a staple gun. Then just screw it to the wall. 6) Put the toilet plunger and toilet brush UNDER the sink. Yes, they actually fit there. It's pretty gross for a guest to walk into the bathroom and see them on the floor next to the toilet. 7) Repaint. There are several questionable areas that need to be repainted. Some nooks and corners (especially by the ceiling) should be "sealed" with caulking before being painted (because the gaps and cracks are noticeable). These are both very simple things to do and will take less than a few hours in the Henry room. Anyway, I do hope the owners will read this review and consider making changes. I realize that it's easy to fill your rooms because there's not much competition and a lot of demand. But doing just a few of these things would help people really feel like they're getting a deal, instead of looking at this disaster and wondering why they paid $100 a night. read more

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What a great find; I'm so glad I found this place! I was on a hunt to find a hotel that would let us stay for just one night on the island. After many failed attempts to book a room at other hotels - most which make you book a two night minimum - I was about ready to give up. Than I stumbled across Buena Vista Hotel. They'll let you book for just one night on non-holiday weekends. Score! When I called, there was only one room left in the whole hotel the weekend I wanted and it happened to be the most expensive room at $173. I didn't care at that point and booked the room. Our room was by far the best in the hotel, we had superb views of the ocean and harbor -- I'd love to wake up to that every morning! Stunning. The view made up for what the room lacked. As for the room, it is a flashback to the 1980's. Floral bed seats. Floral couch. Floral window coverings. A bunny ear antenna TV that barely worked (but, who cares!). Very 80's, which I actually kind of liked. All the employees are friendly and remember you (which is rare these days!). They even have "House rules" that ask you to be quiet from 10pm to 9am. Love this since we avoided the loud and drunk people. For what we got, I really enjoyed it. We did get a clean bed and a clean shower, and that's all we really wanted. The view was an added bonus. All in all, this hotel is great. They're cheap and the employees are friendly. Plus, if you bring your own towels, they'll give you $10 off the total of the room! Sweet! I'd highly recommend this hotel to anyone that wants to stay at Avalon for just one night. They won't disappoint. read more

This place is super cute for the price. It's CHEAP... off-season, brought our own towels... room with a view, 60 bucks! I'm used to paying 100+ on the island. It's in a great location - less than a block into the main part of Avalon. ++ It's cheap! there's a mini fridge for your booze! cute little patio friendly owners who will go out of there way to hook you up. -- we didn't have a door! we had a sliding glass door with a master lock! lol. NBD though. The bathroom wasn't closed. Also NBD cause me and the hubby see each other naked daily.. and it was a single bed so I guess they assume couples don't care if you can watch the other pee. No breakfast and you have to walk by the hotel Avalon's huge spread when you sulk into town to buy a croissant in the morning. You can't get more bang for your buck! Avalon is expensive, so save your money on the place you sleep and spend it on the expensive drinks and food and stupid sweatshirts and chatchis instead! I love this place. It was my first time (but not first time to the island) but it will definitely be where I stay from now on! And yes, free wi-fi... on the whole island! read more

I"m still traumatized from stepping foot in this place! only stayed 7 minutes! read more

Buena Vista Hotel - wholes in ceiling located in closet that doesnt have a door. windows non locking. this isnt the worst of it! - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

This place is our little secret so shhh! If you've done your research, you'll notice that rooms in Catalina are beyond expensive and most people aren't happy with what they get for the price they pay. I was so lucky to stumble upon this little hotel! Not only was it inexpensive, Jim is always super helpful, friendly, and accommodating. Don't extra much here... Bring your own shampoo/lotion, leave your cell phones off, don't rely on TV to keep you company, be prepared to walk, and just enjoy the peace. I feel like this is one giant beach house so come with you towels, snacks, water, personal items... You are here to relax and enjoy the view, the island life. Time seems to move slower and the view you get from this quaint older hotel is beautiful. It's close to the main drag and right across from a patch of "beach" and Big Olaf's ice cream. We've stayed in Lyle, but after Jim showed us Mayra, we have to stay in that room each time we come back. The view and size of Mayra is amazing. Again, don't expect cookie-cutter suite style rooms. read more

My girlfriend and I have have stayed here before and we are going to be back next week. During Valentines Day weekend 2010, we decided to have an adventure and we ended up at the Buena Vista. It was amazing! It was romantic and quaint and we were privileged to experience the sunrise and sunset from the beautiful view that this hotel afforded (Ask for the Henry Room). We planned on staying overnight, but wound up extending our stay. I can't say enough about this hotel, it was cozy and warm, with all the amenities that we needed. The Buena Vista is a bit older, but they had very clean rooms as well as a warm shower, mini fridge,TV (of the antenna kind :), and a great view. The price was right, as we saved $10- by bringing our own towels. It was very quiet, peaceful and private, plus the hotel staff accommodated us at the very last second. We had an incredible weekend and are returning again next week. On the boat ride back we engaged in conversations with many others about their romantic getaways and discovered that we enjoyed our cheaper priced hotel more than they did, and they payed 3 times as much. My girlfriend had never been to Catalina before, but we've agreed that the Buena Vista is going to have our business every time we return. Thanks for the wonderful memories. read more

Stayed for two nights and it was great the view was STUNNING. Definitely not a luxury hotel and it does need a little remodeling, BUT it definitely has a home feel. Make sure you bring your own shampoo and conditioner though. read more

What a great find! It's definitely a no-frills joint (don't mistake the 5 stars for a "ritz carlton 5 stars") but covers all the necessities. The girl I made my reservation with warned me about how basic it was and I was pleasantly surprised with the size of our room (Lyle), and how comfy the bed was! It was a great place to stay, great location and the patio was perfect for relaxing in between adventures. It's a great deal too - $55 for a Saturday night since we brought our own towels. Word to the wise: Check their FAQ section about what is provided. I figured they'd have shampoo/conditioner/lotion, but alas, they did not. Luckily I was able to score some at the swanky hotel down the street. I'll definitely stay here again next time I'm on Catalina. keywords (this was kinda hard to find on google so lets get a little SEO going here...): catalina island hotel, cheap hotel on catalina, avalon cheap hotel, affordable hotel avalon, avalon motel read more

If you are on the island to scuba dive, you should definitely stay here. The place allows a one night stay for $60 and for $50 if you bring your own bath towels. Most hotels on Catalina require a minimum two-night stay. The place lets you hose down your scuba stuff and hang it outside on the fence so that everything can dry by the next morning. I stayed in the Henry (or was it Harry?) room, which had the best view of the ocean and sailboats. It was beautiful. All for $60! The room was pretty small and minimal - a small TV with an antenna, mini-fridge and a hard bed. There was a small portable heater which heated the room up very nicely and helped dry my wetsuit. I highly suggest staying here if you need a cheap, nice place to stay! read more

If you take a look at the prices of all other hotels on Avalon, you will notice that they are all above $200/night, unless maybe your vacation is in the middle of the week. Buena Vista Hotel on the other hand is the perfect deal for people who enjoy taking nice trips without spending their entire life savings. Yes, maybe the furniture wasn't purchased from Ikea last night and freshly assembled in the morning, but it gets the job done. My girlfriend and I stayed in the Henry room in September 2015. The amenities were sufficient and there was a great view! We also got $10 off for bringing our own towels. Look no further. We will be returning in the next couple of months. read more

This old style hotel is the cheapest you can find in this island with the great ocean view. The interior of this hotel is does not feel or look luxurious but for the price compare with other hotels around is definitely a slickdeal plus the is more then 500 square feet. In the room everything looks really clean.What else you can ask for. Overall the price is good plus all if you bring your own towel it can save $10 per night. And the 360 ocean view. I would highly recommend it with you not picky. read more

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This hotel was a great find. It's located right next to Avalon Hotel which is pretty pricey but for the same view, you can pay a lot less. It was quiet and the staff was very friendly. We were lucky to get a room with an ocean view too for our honeymoon. I'd say the only reason it's not a 5 star is because I thought the room decorations were a little outdated and I had hoped they would have a blow dryer I could borrow, but seriously it was reasonably priced and I would return again. Another plus: If you bring your own bath towel, they knock $10 off the price of the room. read more

Ok, most of the time I am a 5-star traveler and I was a bit worried when I was booked here on a Scuba Dive trip, BUT honestly it was great. It is a "vintage" hotel with many "vintage" furnishings, but it the views are amazing, my room was cute (see pics of both) and it had what I needed. I was on the top floor (lots of stairs), but it was big. It is a basic place to stay. You can't beat it for the money - I think my room was around $160 (summer rates). I would definitely stay again. read more

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Great hotel! Great Room! super clean! and I loveeeee the view! I hardly recommend this place, the housekeeper its super clean and the owner is really friendly and helpful! read more

Buena Vista Hotel - the view from my hotel room (mayran) - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

For $67.00 a night it was great. It is an old mom and pop establishment that when we walked up to check in smelled like cat urine but we found out that smell was only outside. The room seemed clean but it was fairly run down which was what I expected when I booked so it was fine! We had the room with the twin beds and it had a great view! I would recommend this place if you are looking to save a lot money and are just looking for a place to sleep. read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Our morning view from the room - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

I will definitely stay at the Buena Vista next time! I was apprehensive at first because it looked a little outdated, but it worked out great! It's a very basic hotel, but the views from my room (Henry room) were amazing! I simply woke up in bed with breathtaking views of the harbor and boats (check out the photos I uploaded). I didn't even have to hurt my neck trying to look for the ocean or hang my head out to find it. It was also close enough to all the shops, but still far away from the hustle and bustle of the main street & where most of the expensive hotels were. Hummingbirds were flying right at my window too. The people who stayed in the Avalon Hotel next to BV probably had a much nicer room and complimentary breakfast, but some of them didn't have an ocean view like I did and paid more! Also, the Avalon Hotel was so close to you that you could probably look over the guys shoulder and read his newspaper. The room has a small frig, standing shower w/ a small sink, old furniture, bed was comfortable enough, and a small tv (I didn't even turn it on, so I don't know if it works or not, but I'm assuming it does). They provide you with 2 small hand soaps, no shampoo, no iron, no blow dryer, an old desk and chair, a mirror. The rooms also have pretty thin walls...heard a kid yell, "Mom! I'm done...can you wipe me?" haha. Overall, very quiet area and relaxing. This room is good for a single person or a couple. Cost was $95 if you provide your own towel - $105 if they provide you with a towel. They also knock $10 off your room rate Sunday - Thursday all summer when you mention their blog. Check out their website at http://buenavistacatalina.com/welcome/ for more photos. You must try zip lining when you are in Catalina. It's so fun & what a thrill! Make reservations first though. Anyway, here's a rundown of some of the other hotels (spelling of hotels may be off & these prices are for peak season & ALL HAVE OCEAN VIEWS or otherwise noted) : 1. La Paloma - $189-$209 (ocean view & balcony) 2. Historic Hermosa - Allowed dogs there, so I didn't even ask for the price or if they had ocean views. Yep, allergic to dogs. 3. Catherine Hotel - $140 (ocean view w/ common balcony) 4. Inn on Mt. Ada - $500 plus 5. The Edgewater - $200 plus 6. Seaport Village - $130 standard room w/ no ocean view 7. Atwater Hotel - $200-$240/night or $560 for 2 night stay for 2 ppl including boat trip & taxi. 8. Avalon Hotel - $300 plus 9. Catalina Canyon Resort & Spa - $179 for 1 bed Queen w/ no ocean views. Place does have a pool. 10. Hotel Metropole - $200 no ocean view, $500 ocean view mini suite 11. Portofino -$450 (Thurs) or $504 (Friday) 12. Hotel Del Mar - $500 13. Casa Mariquita - $259 (Sun-Thurs), $339 (Fri-Sat) - full ocean view suite w/ king bed & private balcony w/ chairs. 14. Zane Grey - $195 15. Snug Inn Hotel - $275-$385 (this is right on main street...hotel gives you ear plugs according to the reviews I read.) 16. Hotel Mac Rae - $209-$259 read more

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This place is a great find. The most important things I look for in a hotel are the price, how quiet it is for sleeping, and the shower, and this place wins on all accounts. They have HOUSE RULES! Why don't all hotels have house rules? Quiet time is 10pm, so shut up so I can sleep and be quiet till 9am so I can sleep in, if I want. You can't help what happens in the street, and of course some drunk girl yelled out an obnoxious 'WHOO HOO' at 3am and I was just very glad she wasn't staying at the Buena Vista and I fell right back asleep. Some of the rooms have cute little patios with dorm fridges on them, so it's perfect for drinking a few beers while you watch the water before you head out. Some of the patios are interconnected, so it's a perfect place for a bunch of friends to meet up and still have their own personal space. The rooms are so cheap you can rent out a whole block... like the Henry Room, Hayward Room, and Roll Room... and then use the middle Hayward room as the 'party patio' cuz it has a big fridge and a big patio which is also connected to the Roll Room patio. And then the friends can excuse themselves for a private sleep whenever they want. Just party till 10pm tho and then shut it down! If you like to kayak, this place is a short walk (and a long walk back if you are freezing!) to Descanso Beach where you can rent a kayak for $40 half day. A bald eagle flew 30 feet above our heads and then we got to watch it for 20 minutes perched on the hill. The shower experience at the Buena Vista was amazing for me, as I spent too much time in the 62 degree water and got superchilled and then still had to walk back to the hotel, so that shower was one of the top 5 in my life, personally. But it was a nice hot shower with a great shower head, big points from me. Don't you hate hotels where the shower head is mounted at like 5'5" and you have to squat to get your head under it? This one was perfect. It's a small hike up the hill to this place which is perfect to get you away from the drunken sounds like 'whoo-ing' people and loud bands. You can save 10 bucks by bringing your own bath towel. They have storage for luggage so even though check out is 11am, you can just stash your stuff and go hit the town, water, or trails for the day and come back to get your stuff for the boat home. I'm not sure if the place had wi-fi... I didn't care... I didn't want to go online the whole weekend. In fact, they could get rid of the TV for all I care. This is a place for people that are active and like to get out to explore Catalina, and then return to a non-partying quiet hotel for a good night's sleep, knowing that no one is going to come stumbling in at 2am when the bars close. It was a satisfying feeling. I can't wait to return to Catalina to stay here again. read more

Pros: I very much enjoyed my stay at the Buena Vista Hotel. As I knew before booking it, the hotel is a mom-and-pop kind of place. The proprietor is a kind man who is more than willing to help you find a nice place to eat. We arrived way before our check-in time, but the room was ready for us. Awesome! We stayed in the Marya Room, a single queen ocean view room. Definitely worth the couple extra bucks...although the price was still way, way cheaper than neighboring hotels. Our view was panoramic of the entire harbor, most of Avalon, the old casino, the hills as well as other hotels, which allowed us to conclude that our significantly cheaper stay on the island provided us with a much better view than most of the high-end hotels in town. Clean bathroom, nice shower. Also, bring your own towels and you save $11 off your stay! Cons: If you plan to watch TV, the set is old school with rabbit ears and tends to fade in and out. Also, the bed was quite uncomfortable. Overall, a great hotel and a cheaper way to enjoy Avalon, CA. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed this hotel. Great location and not far up the hill at all! If you're like us where you're seeking just a simple, inexpensive room then this is it. It's not a high end place. Yes, some of their furniture is chipped and old, but when you're on this beautiful island, who needs to stay in their room?! Bathroom and bed with great customer service is all we need. Jim and Christy are awesome! Friendly, fun and always smiling. What you hear is what you get. The site and their voicemail clearly states it's not a luxury hotel. We stayed in the Henry room with a phenomenal view! So many hotels on this island require a two night minimum. Or if they do allow a one night stay they average about $160 a night. For $67, you can't go wrong. The room came with a mini fridge. BYOT. Bring your own towel to get an extra $10 off your room. Also bring your own shampoo and conditioner. They will, however, provide you with two bars of organic soap. They'll store your bags before and after check out. They let us check at 10:45a, just be sure to call a couple hours before to ask for an early check in or ETA. We'll definitely be back! read more

Buena Vista Hotel - Henry room view was awesome for their price! - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

My husband and I stayed here a year ago and we absolutely loved it. We go to Catalina yearly and finally found a very affordable place to stay!!! We stayed in the small basic room upstairs and we had a good view. It's very small and provides the basics so if you expecting a high class hotel I would keep looking. We plan to stay here in the future trips to Catalina. My only complaint would be the bed, it's leg was broken and made the bed tilt sideways which was kind of annoying. The mirrors were difficult to use but honestly I really enjoyed my stay here and would recommend this hotel for anyone who just needs a place to stay on the island!!! read more

We just stayed here this passed weekend. Not a fancy place to stay but really who needs a fancy place when you can be out exploring all the island has to offer. We got a great rate of $134 for the weekend, when most places are about $200/night. (plus they give you a discount for bringing your own towels, which we definitely took advantage of). We stayed iin the ROLL room. The room has a bed, a dresser, TV and a night stand. Outside of the room is your own mim fridge with a small patio with a table and chairs.The bathroom was a toilet, sink, mirror and a very tiny shower, but I'm 6'1 230 lbs., so it was a tight squeeze for me. The owner, Jim, is very laid back and accommodating. The hotel is located about half a block north of the shoreline and if you have an upstairs room you can view the harbor from your room. We will definitely be back and definitely aim to stay here again. read more

My girlfriends and I stayed here for the night over the weekend. Our room was ready by 11 am. Our view was super nice. We had a private porch with a full size refrigerator. We actually loved it. The interior adds much character to the whole ambiance of the place. Sorta like an old 1970 beach house! $10 discount for bring our own towels was key. We were out and about most of the day. Buena Vista is in the perfect location. The staff, Jim was great. He spent a lot of time with us giving us the history of Avalon and the hotel itself. We will definitely be back to stay at the Buena Vista. read more

This hotel is such a gem. It is hidden behind a larger hotel and is so quiet and peaceful. We had the "Roll" room which had a great view of the water and it had its own little patio. It was very minimal with just your basic needs but we spent a ton of time outside so it was perfect for us. We also chose to bring our own towels which knocked ten bucks off of the price.The word to describe this place is quaint. Loved it can't wait to go back. read more

By no means does this compare to the Ritz Carlton, but for the price we paid, the value was great. The room was pretty small and simple, but it had everything we needed for our overnight stay: a working bathroom and a comfortable bed. They even had a mini fridge to store drinks or snacks. The owner was great and answered any questions that we had about the island. We were expecting to leave our things in their storage room since check-in wasn't until 3, but when we got there at 11:30, the room was already ready for use! The only thing I didn't like about this hotel was the early checkout time. I would definitely come back here when I come back to Avalon. read more