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Avalon, CA

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Hotel Vista Del Mar

4.5 (226 reviews)
PriceyHotels
Open • Open 24 hours

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View from Hotel Lobby Balcony

We stayed at Hotel Vista Del Mar over the Fourth of July weekend, and it blew us away! The location is absolutely unbeatable--right across from the beach and the pier, and in the heart of all the shops, restaurants, and everything Avalon has to offer. We were able to walk everywhere, which made our trip so convenient. The views from the lobby's seating area on their balcony just cannot be beat. Looking out over the ocean and the beautiful surroundings of Catalina (including the famous Catalina Casino) every morning and evening on the lobby balcony was something my family and I loved doing together. Other guests from the hotel also come out to look at the views, and it's a great time to say hi to your neighbors. Our room was beautiful--very clean, tastefully decorated, and felt both elegant and comfortable. The fireplace in our room was a great touch, as well as the ice cold A/C! There was a large flat screen, as well as mini fridge in our room. The room was very well maintained and taken care of. The hotel also offers complimentary amenities that made our stay even more enjoyable. The Wi-Fi was free and reliable, there was coffee, tea, and creamer available each morning in the lobby, refreshing ice water with lemon throughout the day, and warm cookies and milk in the evening--a small touch that made us feel right at home. The highlight of our stay was the outstanding staff. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and genuinely went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Their hospitality made a great stay even better. My family and I highly recommend Hotel Vista Del Mar. Between the exceptional location, stunning views, beautiful rooms, thoughtful amenities, and amazing customer service, there is nowhere better to stay in Avalon!

I had such a great stay at Hotel Vista Del Mar! The location is hard to beat, being just steps from the beach made it so easy to enjoy the ocean whenever we wanted. The room was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for a relaxing vacation. Everyone we interacted with was welcoming and friendly, and the service made us feel right at home. The hotel was well cared for, and the whole place had a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere that made it easy to unwind. We really enjoyed our time here and would absolutely stay again the next time we're in Avalon. If you're looking for a comfortable beachfront hotel in a great location, this is a fantastic choice!

The view from our balcony

We stayed here over the 4th of July weekend and it was amazing. The service is outstanding, the rooms are very large and elegant, and the views are perfect. We watched the 4th of July parade from the private balcony, and even had a visit from the USC band! They serve warm cookies and milk in the lobby. Delicious!

Stewart L.

I visit Catalina (Avalon specifically) fairly often and usually stay above the fray at Zane Grey or Mt Ada. I knew that if I were to ever stay along the "main drag" of Crescent Ave, I would try the Vista. The other lodging choices directly along Crescent Ave are: Edgewater, Mac Rae, Pavilion (closed for renovation), Metropole, Bellanca and Vista's sister property Snug Harbor. Vista is on the 3rd floor of the building that also houses Maggie's Blue Rose, the Brew House and shops on ground level and Steve's Steakhouse on the 2nd floor. There is no elevator. Most of Vista's rooms face a lovely interior courtyard/atrium, but the 2 front suites have terraces that overlook the boardwalk and the bay/harbour. I booked one of these rooms, which can be quite pricey in high season. The suite was fairly large and very well-equipped and maintained. There was a very comfy king bed, a large sitting area with sofa, chair, fireplace and wet bar with fridge, a jacuzzi tub, separate shower and double vanity. The terrace spanned the length of the room with 4 chairs and 2 side tables, separated from the lobby by a curtain. The TV had very limited basic channels plus music; there was a DVD player and library by the front desk. There is A/C if needed. My main concern was noise from the boardwalk. This was a minor issue since I had the windows open for fresh air, and surely it would be more of a concern in high season, on weekends or when cruise ships are docked. I would advise earplugs if you go to bed early. Until recently, the hotel offered a continental breakfast in the lobby. They still offer evening milk and warm (but not homemade) chocolate chip cookies delivered on a tray to your room. There was a coffee machine in the room (no tea). Service was very friendly from Juan and a woman whose name I didn't get. Do note that the desk is not staffed 24 hours, and they share desk duties at Snug Harbor. They contacted me prior to my stay for my ETA and left the 2nd floor door open. They also texted me before and during the stay to follow up. Overall a great stay. I am eager to try their other property in the future.

View from patio........awesome!
R T.

Close to the dock. So walking from the dock can take 5-10 minutes. The location is perfect. We had to climb three floors with our luggage but once we got to the top, it was worth every step. The patio view from there is amazing, calming , peaceful and makes you feel like you're in Hawaii or any island vacation. The rooms are quaint, comfortable and clean. The hallway is welcoming and warming. The service is amazing, and they serve hot chocolate chip cookies with milk every evening. Delicious and the aroma makes you feel like home. I will definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be back!

Cleaning supplies just left out but some chairs. Never moved for the duration of our stay.

Absolutely not worth the $450+/ night price. We booked this based on the great reviews we read online and also the fact that they had a room with a king bed and a pullout queen for our four year old. When we went to check in we were informed that it was an extra $50/night per person despite our child's age. I did a check online of the rate of the room with an extra person and it charged $40 instead of $50, so they hiked the rate in person for extra occupancy. The room: First, the room was dated, couch with stains, ripped and stained carpeting, had dusty fixtures, coffee splashes on door, and worn in features. There was a big hole in the flooring right outside our room. Juan was nice but Laila was very impersonal. Was hoping for friendlier staff, especially for the price and the mention of celebrating a milestone birthday but didn't receive that kind of customer service here. When my husband went to take a shower, he saw a huge wad of hair on the shower wall from the previous customers. Disgusting. There was also hair in one of the bathroom drawers. Since it was in the evening, I informed Laila and showed her a picture of the hair and she apologized and said someone could come in the next morning to clean it. The next day someone did come in and brought fresh towels and made our bed but didn't touch the hair in the bathroom. That evening Laila mentioned cookies and milk at 8PM right outside our door. My husband told her we'd be asleep by then. If you have young kids, then you know how hard it can be to get a four year old down. That said, at 8PM Laila knocks on our door multiple times, right next to where our kid is sleeping to inform us of the cookies. SMH. Needless to say, we will not be staying here again and would not recommend to anyone else. At this price tag, we expected excellent customer service, cleaner furnishings and flooring without tears and holes to say the least. Do not recommend.

Amazing staff and bed and pillows were so comfortable!! I even called recently to find out what brand they use. They were so kind and emailed me that same day! Can't wait to stay here again.

Living room
M K.

Perfect location and view but no privacy. Only a curtain to separate the room next door and the check in desk. We were hanging out on the balcony when someone below started smoking marijuana. The staff quickly snatched back the curtain and accused us of smoking. We don't smoke marijuana!!!! This room with a balcony cost $820 a night. When the locals asked how much it cost, they gasp and told us about a lot of better options at a way cheaper price with a complementary golf cart. We will be doing that next time.

Our balcony view at the Hotel Vista Del Mar

WOW!! Amazing experience! I'm disabled and my wife and I are seniors so we don't go anywhere anymore. In fact, the last time my wife and I went to Catalina was 42 years ago - and we only stayed the day. Back then the boat ride over to Catalina was horrible (everyone got sea sick), and we were less than impressed with the island. This time we went because of a wedding, and stayed overnight. Well the difference was unbelievable! The Catalina Express boats are pretty smooth sailing. The town of Avalon is very charming and quaint. And EVERONE we met was friendly. When we got to our hotel (the Hotel Vista Del Mar) we were awestruck! The hotel is well appointed and clean, and right on the parade route next to the beach. The hotel staff were warm and welcoming. Our room was perfect! They treated us like Royalty. The hotel is right is near many restaurants and shopping. There is so much to do there - even for old folks like us! I'm not exaggerating when I say our stay there was perfect & I encourage everyone to go there. It's a pretty popular hotel so make your reservations early. Let me sum it up the best way I can: My medical issues make it difficult for me to go anywhere - but after a couple days at the Hotel Vista Del Mar - I told my wife on the boat ride home, "lets go again!"

Jenn M.

Currently day dreaming of Catalina Island and my visit here in late August. After much research I opted to stay one night in Hotel Vista Del Mar when visiting the island for a short 24 hour trip. The location of the hotel is central, making it accessible to countless restaurants and nearby shops. The aesthetic of the hotel is lovely and the rooms are comfortable and clean despite the size. While the hotel is on the smaller side and on a main tourist heavy street there was no issue with noise or privacy. The hotel felt safe and was overall easily accessible despite the lack of an elevator. Staff were friendly and check in and check out was smooth. I found no fault in our stay here and I'll be returning soon!

Hotel Vista Del Mar is the best hotel on the island! If you are looking for a nice room, beautiful hotel, amazing view, and great staff, definitely stay at Vista Del Mar. It is in the perfect location - right on the main boardwalk where all the shops are. The hotel is beautifully designed with plants and flowers and a beautiful fish tank. Super convenient location to all local must have restaurants and shops, not to mention the beach is RIGHT THERE! One of my favorite things I look forward to when staying at Vista Del Mar is their warm cookies and milk they service each night! So yummy!!

This was the view from our room.

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Went over for a wedding and the staff at the hotel made everything so wonderful. They are so accommodating and kind. We love this place.

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An amazing island even more amazing hotel highly recommend!! Amazing location and amenities!!

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I didn't stay here, but when I tried to book they told me it would be an extra $50 for my 8 month old. No thanks.

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Page 1 of 6

Ask the Community - Hotel Vista Del Mar

Review Highlights - Hotel Vista Del Mar

“We checked out a few complimentary DVD's for the night and we snuggled with our complimentary cookies and milk.”

Mentioned in 70 reviews

Read more highlights

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Snug Harbor Inn - Continental Breakfast Served to your Room

Snug Harbor Inn

(115 reviews)

$$$

I am in awe of how misleading the description of this inn is. Especially the San Nicolas room!…read moreFrom the website re: the inn: "From the moment you arrive, the pace of the mainland slips away, replaced by sea air, harbor light and the quiet thrill of being somewhere truly special." What we experienced from the MOMENT we arrived - absolute CHAOS. We were greeted with a horrible rotten egg stench as soon as we opened the door, steep stairs with no one elevator (yes that's on their q&a but just another annoyance), violence and screaming in the streets after dark until 3 am, bass from surrounding bars shaking the building until 2 am, overpowering chemical smell in rooms, single pane glass that sounds like people on the street are in the room with you, gaslighting owners and managers (Melissa - not Jackie), unreliable communication, absolute ripoff for what you have to put up with. Melissa ultimately minimized my concerns by saying "nobody else complained". Okay, and? People have different tolerance levels, different health issues, even if it was someone's first time at the snug harbor inn maybe it wasn't their first time to the island. Maybe they didn't care. Maybe they didn't have the energy to complain. That shouldn't invalidate my experience and the lack of transparency. Can you honestly say you laid the framework for guests to make an informed decision? Did you provide transparency around potential barriers guests may experience during your busy season? No. This went beyond just a fun foam party during the daytime hours, there were literal violent fights and screaming in the streets BOTH nights until 3-4 AM. See videos below from Saturday night around 1:30 AM. I do acknowledge they can't control this behavior but they can and SHOULD add transparency for folks who are expecting a soft experience based on their own misleading advertising. The unprofessional manager, Melissa, also loves to blame-shift. She told us we could press 0 or call a number provided if we experienced issues again on the second night. I called 2-3 times throughout the night and it rang endlessly. By this point I was exhausted and didn't even think to get the physical number from the end of the hall and just assumed they weren't answering. When Melissa told me she never received a call the next day I was shocked but instead of being apologetic she said "if it was me, I would have walked down the hallway and got the number". I'm so sorry, in hindsight, if I wasn't running off of 4 hours of sleep collectively over 48 hours I would have gotten dressed at 3 am and gone to the end of the hall after pressing 0 didn't "work". Not sure how I was supposed to discern between it not "working" vs someone not answering. Funny how pressing 0 during business hours worked just fine. Either way, what a ridiculous process to shoulder the burden of breaking up riff raff to the guest and then blameshift when the thing you said would work didn't... While I would love a full refund, I firmly believe we are entitled to at least one night of a refund because of the misleading description on the website and we couldn't make a truly informed decision. I was told they would consider updating the website in the future but that benefits my husband and I in no way. The right thing to do is provide a refund for tainting our visit to Catalina with 0 reprieve from street violence and drunken debauchery.

This was my first stay at Snug Harbor. I visit Catalina/Avalon annually and of course had seen the…read moreInn right on the corner of Crescent and Sumner above Leo's Drug Store, but it was not until my stay last year at nearby Hotel Vista Del Mar that my interest in Snug was piqued. Last year, Vista and Snug were under the same ownership, which is no longer the case. Snug now has closer affiliation with Hotel Aurora a bit up the hill. Snug is a cozy and charming 6-room inn. There is staff on duty during the day; welcome in-room wine and snacks are provided as well as daily continental breakfast. There is no staff on the premises at night, although someone is on-call. My stay was lovely and somewhat surreal. I visited during the February rains which caused the cancellation of all Catalina Express boats on 2 days during my Avalon visit. This forced guests here for the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend to leave early or relocate. I ended up being the sole guest for my 2-night visit! And with minimal visitors on the island, evenings were also pretty quiet, despite being right above the main drag (Crescent). Snug does provide earplugs and eye masks if needed. I moved up my arrival date due to the weather and Snug was able to accommodate me, even offering the same room, which was the Santa Catalina room, the inn's "crown jewel" situated on the corner with two large bay windows, one facing Avalon Bay with Casino, Bay and pier views, the other with a built-in window seat facing Sumner and the hills above. All rooms have a fireplace and deep soaking jetted tub. The rooms are not particularly large but are full of charm, coziness and warmth. No robes or slippers, but there were 2 clock/music/alarm machines. Complimentary reusable water bottles are provided; there's a water/ice machine in the hall. The welcome snacks offered were olives, pretzels and high-end nuts (i.e., no peanuts). The continental breakfast was quite ample and includes a small loaf of warm banana bread, yogurt, fresh berries, granola, milk, juice and coffee or tea. You fill out an order slip as to what you want exactly and what time you want it delivered. There are 6 delivery times for the 6 rooms, which of course was not an issue for my stay. There is a common room with a sofa, fireplace and machine for coffee and tea. There is a closet for luggage storage, a public restroom and umbrellas. The front door is open 8-5, key access is needed in the off-hours. Shout-outs to the great staff I met--Jackie, Destiny and especially Johnny at the front desk and housekeeper/breakfast preparer Alicia. Overall a fabulous stay. I usually split my time on the island between Mt Ada and a property "downtown". Snug Harbor has moved to the top of my downtown list!

The Edgewater - View from pier/dock

The Edgewater

(92 reviews)

$$

We paid approx $2000 for two nights, this hotel was not worth even half that. The room was okay…read more They refuse to hold your bags before or after check in/check out. The worst part came when we wanted coffee in the morning, they advertise the rooms having a Keurig and K cups... nobody is going to want to use that when the water compartment is full of mold. Don't recommend staying here.

Back to Edgewater again for another vacation in the tiny tiny town of Avalon. We booked the…read morestandard room with queen size bed. We always love the entrance: private door entrance walking up the stairway to the hotel. Hotel is on second floor. In this vintage and quaint 1930s building with no elevator. In fact many buildings on Catalina Island have no elevators. So be prepared to take the stairs. We always enjoyed staying here as it is small, modest, quiet, clean, and convenient. It has very comfortable bed with TV, ceiling fan, AC, and clean bathroom and towels. Simple and low key amenities for book lovers, introverts, and quiet ones. No loud party and drunken customers. No romantic thrill seekers- if you look for romance- please go to Dubai or Vegas or other hotels - as this one is perfect for us. Staff are always friendly. Management is always cordial and responsive. Summer is high season: high end hotels at Avalon range from $400 and up. We booked for about $260 -$300 a night as listed in Expedia. Downstairs are stores and restaurants. There is a coffee shop very close by plus other spots for breakfast. We would get coffee from local cafes in the morning, brisk walk, get some fresh air. Great way to start the day within walking distance to the beach, pier... Very relaxing air and place to be.

The Avalon Hotel - Our room

The Avalon Hotel

(224 reviews)

$$$

We loved the hotel. Located on a side street and away from the busy Front Street shops and…read morerestaurants. We stayed two nights, and it was great. Our room offered a nice balcony with views of the bay. The bed was comfortable and cozy. The bathroom was large. We had cups and a coffee maker along with a mini fridge, so it was everything we needed for our two night stay. They offer a continental breakfast each morning out on the patio, which is a peaceful spot to just sit, enjoy the firepit, and koi pond. Or the roof deck is awesome with a BBQ, tables and chairs and stunning views. They also offer trays so you can take your breakfast back to your room and have breakfast in bed. Spoiled! The staff couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and accommodating. Evelyn was awesome, thank you for the smiles and truly wonderful service throughout our stay. Off the boat, we went to drop our luggage to store until check-in. Fortunately we were there during the week, and our room was ready earlier, so we chilled a bit before heading out to explore and have lunch. They also held our bags upon check out. After we returned from an adventure, they allowed us to sit on the patio and enjoy the sun before we had to be at our boat. We couldn't have asked for a better stay, and we will absolutely go back. Just a note for anyone who has mobility issues. The hotel is awesome, but note that you have to walk part way up a little hill to reach the stairs to the small lobby. There are stairs to the lobby and depending on which floor your room is located, there is no elevator, just stairs. For someone in a wheelchair or needing a walker and unable to climb stairs, it is not doable.

My husband and I stayed at the Avalon hotel for 2 nights and had a great experience. The staff was…read moreso friendly and helpful! They held our luggage for us after we checked out while we waited for our ferry time to arrive. The reason one star was docked down was due to the fact it is located slightly up the hill & after cutting my foot on the rocks at the beach, was super hard to get up that hill, and their "breakfast" was only bagels and some other random pastry items. We've stayed at many hotels that offer free breakfast that have WAY more items to choose from, including a pancake/waffle bar, eggs, sausage & hash browns. For the price of the rooms, you'd think the hotel would offer more like a simple Best Western does. The room itself was clean and had a pretty view of the docks. Absolutely loved the staff though!!

Hotel Atwater - Bistro at the hotel

Hotel Atwater

(527 reviews)

$$$

Called and spoke to Bay in concierge's services. My daughter in law has a nursing orientation to…read moreattend the morning they port for their cruise. I asked the question if she arrived to cafe as paying customer is it pretty quiet for her to complete her orientation. Bay assured us it's usually pretty quiet and proceeded to give very helpful inside to an alternate solution. Bay not only answered the question but understood what we were directly needing and helped guide us to the public library next door. Bay then also stated it was further from cruise port and to not be late, for my daughter in law to take a taxi to their location and walk back to where her reservations where at Descanso Beach Club to join their group after she finished! Customer service review 5/5!!!! Thank you for listening, understanding, and providing above and beyond info to solve a small problem!

My first time on Catalina Island was truly beautiful. The island was filled with charming…read morehole-in-the-wall restaurants, retail shops, and boutiques. The hotel we stayed at was nice, but it did have some drawbacks. There was only one elevator, so we had to rely on the steep stairs to get in and around the building. We booked a Classic King room, which was cute but quite limited in space. At 180 square feet, my husband and I had to be cautious about giving each other enough room to move around. To make matters worse, when we checked in, the linens on the bed had bloodstains, which was really off-putting. I had to call the front desk to request clean sheets, and it was a hassle for both of us, especially since we were exhausted. The housekeeping staff arrived close to 9 PM, and it took them some time to replace all the linens with clean ones. The room amenities were also limited. We had a mini fridge, a flat-screen TV, a hair dryer, and a small vanity chair, along with two complimentary splits of Prosecco on the first day, which my husband enjoyed. However, the last night raised concerns about the hotel's safety and security. Someone played a prank on us by knocking on our door but not answering. We called the front desk twice to report the incident, but security was unavailable to check the CCTV footage. My husband and I felt unsafe because we had no idea who was knocking. Brian, the front desk staff member on duty, was prompt in keeping us updated on his communication with security and the hotel manager. David, the hotel manager, later reached out to my husband, recognized the incident, and invited us to try their sister property, The Pavilion. In the end, our stay was pleasant overall. The seafood, drinks, and the Avalon vacation experience were very enjoyable.

Mt Ada - The sitting room! (Ooops!  I forgot to clean up my knitting first!)

Mt Ada

(144 reviews)

$$$$

Absolutely the best accommodation on the island. Spectacular views, the house is gorgeous, the…read morestaff is impressive and attentive. Highly recommend!!! There are only six rooms so book early!

I'm a bit of a Mt Ada regular; this was my 6th stay and, due to the rainy/windy weather, the most…read moresurreal. I stayed just after the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend. All boats to and from Catalina Island were cancelled on 2 days of my visit, forcing other guests to change their travel plans. I ended up being the sole guest for all 3 nights of my stay here! With some whispers of Mt Ada being haunted (but not as many as Banning House Lodge in Two Harbors), I was a bit concerned, but fortunately had no paranormal experiences. To briefly review Mt Ada's history, it was once the Catalina home of William Wrigley Jr. and family, of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame. He was instrumental in putting Catalina "on the map", and his descendants still own the Catalina Island Company, which runs Mt Ada, Hotel Atwater, Pavilion Hotel and Banning House Lodge, as well as other businesses. All my stays at Mt Ada have been with the Company, although it was previously run as a private B&B. Mt Ada still runs as a B&B, as opposed to a hotel. It's a pricey stay but has many many perks that justify the expense. These include transportation to and from the boat or helicopter terminals, use of a golf cart throughout your stay, daily made-to-order breakfast and lunch, pre-breakfast continental breakfast, afternoon wine/cheese/charcuterie, 24-hour butler's pantry with snacks like gelato, chips, cookies and popcorn plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, discounts on Island Company tours and activities. Currently there are about 4 main people interacting with guests at Mt Ada, plus "behind the scenes" kitchen and housekeeping staff. My past reviews have mentioned a stay here is more like a visit to a home, as opposed to a hotel. There will be times when you may not see any staff (especially at night). But Pierre, Liz, Tim and Yoli (Yollie?) work their hardest to accommodate guest needs--they are the chauffeurs, front desk, waiters, luggage handlers, concierges, etc. I applaud them all. One of Mt Ada's pluses is its location on the hill (Mt Ada) above Avalon Bay, even above the main Bay viewpoint that all the rental golfcarts stop at (traffic jams are common here). It's quite peaceful, although in busy times the noise from "downtown" does carry uphill. Mt Ada has 6 rooms. The room I booked was the Grand Suite, Mr. Wrigley's former bedroom. It's the largest room, with a separate living and bedroom, a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and a large terrace above the first floor terrace. It has a fireplace, as do 3 other rooms, and a raised bed that requires stairs to access, as does one other room. The living room has an antique "radio" that is seen in photos with Mr. Wrigley. There are radio stations hand-written on it; I was appalled to see "graffiti" defacing this historic relic. The terrace is fabulous, but alas the weather prohibited much use; I feared the high winds would blow the cushions on the chaise lounges over the railing. Even the dining tables on the first floor terrace were stored; in more temperate weather it's the loveliest place to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus have some new items and some old faves. Once again a fabulous and peaceful stay. Thanks again to all the staff. With the Pavilion Hotel reopening soon, Mt Ada may be the next property to undergo renovations. I hope it does not lose its charm or homey character.

Hotel Vista Del Mar - hotels - Updated October 2026

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