The main Hotel del Coronado is indeed a beautiful historic old hotel but you may also end up at a modern tower next door as I did. To make matters worse, my unit had a leaky, moldy air conditioner! I called up right away to see if I could change rooms and all they did was send over a maintenance man with a wet vac! He told me that he had reported the problem with the air conditioner several weeks earlier and was surprised they were still renting the room out. I complained every day for five days and all the desk did was to send someone out with a wet vac! Finally on the fifth day they did offer to move us but by then we decided it wasn't worth the trouble.

The beach and pool are very nice but my nine year old daughter thought the streets were too busy to go for a bicycle ride. The advertised kayaking is actually at a state park a car's ride down the street.

I also wasn't impressed with the hotel's restaurants. The setting is beautiful but I thought the food was over cooked and over priced.

This was our third visit to the hotel and we will definitely be going back again!!! It is always crowded, sevice is sometimes slow, you'll be in line for checking-in and checking-out BUT if you know that before you go and are prepared to put up with it, then you'll love it. There is so much history in the hotel and everything is so beautifully done. Food is excellent, everywhere is spotlessly clean and staff have always been very friendly. We have been twice when the hotel was full to maximum occupancy but had no problems with getting sun-bed by the pool or table for breakfast. Getting table for lunch on the terrace area wasn't quite so easy!! We went once when the hotel was quiet and it really was lovely, so if you are not restricted with dates, avoid school holidays at all costs!!!

We expected the amenities at the hotel to be over-priced and they were. $12.93 to rent an umbrella? Eek. Anyways, we stayed in the Ocean Tower in a garden view room. Our room was clean and perfectly accomodating. Our first meal was lunch, 2 hot dogs and a Caesar Salad = $40. Not surprised by the price but very surprised at the AWFUL quality. We immediately decided to take advantage of the many other great dining choices on the island. (Miguel's is fabulous!)

I just think that the food could have been so much more. It is really unfortunate that everything could not have been at a high standard.

We got a 3 for 2 night deal, but the third night wasn't really free, as they boost the price of the other nights - so you really get the third night at half price. The nickel and dime show continues, as there is a $25 a day resort fee for pool and internet use, and $21 valet parking fees. At the prices they charge, you would think internet is included. The phones were down throughout the resort on our second day, anyhow, and we couldn't get internet or call for our car. The many restaurants are outrageously overpriced for the mediocre food, though the Sunday brunch is fantastic (still overpriced, though). Very overcrowded on the weekend, and the beaches are swarmed. There is an adult only pool but they were very bad at actually keeping screaming children out (despite the fact that there is no lifeguard and they face huge liability for not policing their own policy). We stayed in the Victorian building, which is quite charming even if maze-like and slanted at all odd angles. The original beauty is lost due to all the horribly placed new buildings attached like tumors to the old lady, and the Ballroom (a main attraction here) was closed for renovation. Concierge was very nice, as were the elevator operators and valets; the management is just behind the times, probably because there is no competition on the West coast. It was charming, but I wouldn't really stay there again.