The Catamaran Resort Hotel offers casual elegance in a tropical paradise with acres of lush foliage and sun-drenched beaches. Mission Bay, the world's largest aquatic park, is at your doorstep and the enticing waves of the Pacific Ocean are just 100 yards away. The Catamaran's 312 rooms and suites are spacious and tastefully appointed with their own balcony or patio. Each has a king or two double beds, refrigerators, hair dryers, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards. The Atoll Restaurant and Patio offers an award winning dining experience for every taste. Moray's offers cocktails and piano music. Heated outdoor pool, spa and workout facilities add to the resort experience. The Catamaran Resort Spa - A World ClassHealth & Wellness Facility "Opening Spring 2005 Featuring: private treatment rooms, ritual room,Steam and dry saunas, Outdoor whirlpool, Vichy shower, full service salon, and fitness facility."Self Parking $12.00 per day - Valet $16.00 pr day
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During your San Diego vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
San Diego Wild Animal Park
Located 35 miles north of San Diego, outside of Escondido, this terrific "zoo of the future" will transport you to the African plains and other faraway landscapes. Originally established as a breeding facility for the San Diego Zoo (the Zoological Society oversees both operations), the 1,800-acre Wild Animal Park now holds around 3,500 animals representing 429 different species -- many of them endangered. Approximately 650 animals are born every year in the park. What makes the Wild Animal Park unique is that many of the animals roam freely in vast enclosures, allowing giraffes to interact with antelopes, much as they would in Africa. You'll find the largest crash of rhinos at any zoological facility in the world; an exhibit for the critically endangered California condor; and a mature landscape of exotic vegetation from many corners of the globe. You can stroll through an epiphyllum house, a bonsai pavilion and protea garden, and then purchase the unusual species to take home from the Plant Trader shop. Although the San Diego Zoo may be world famous, it is the Wild Animal Park that many visitors celebrate as their favorite. To me, they are both essential components of the San Diego experience; to maximize your enjoyment see the zoo first, then make the trek to the Wild Animal Park a few days later. If you have a good zoo at home and have only 1 day for animals in San Diego, go for the Wild Animal Park, an experience which is all but unduplicated anywhere else.The central focus of the park is the 5-mile Wgasa Bush Line Railway, a 60-minute monorail ride that's included in the price of admission. Trains leave every 10 minutes or so from the station, and lines build up by late morning -- make this your first or last attraction of the day (the animals are more active anyway), and for the best views, sit on the right-hand side. The monorail passes through areas designated as East Africa, South Africa, Asian Plains, and the Asian Waterhole, through swaying grasses and along rocky outcrops. A pair of binoculars is handy to have along since many of the animals can be hundreds of feet away, but the monorail is meant to give you an experience of the open plains and wildlife diversity, not the up-close experience of a traditional zoo.The monorail is the signature attraction of the park, but you'll find other rewarding exhibits. There are several excellent, self-guided walking tours: the 1 3/4-mile Kilimanjaro Safari Walk, which visits the Australian rainforest and the fringe of East Africa; the 1/4-mile round-trip hike to Condor Ridge, which ascends past 13 rare or endangered North American species, including the fabulously ugly California condor; and the Heart of Africa, a 3/4-mile trail that winds through a 32-acre wilderness with varied habitats (dense forest, flourishing wetlands, sprawling savannas, and open plains) to a cheetah overlook and a giraffe-feeding station. A new, 1-acre habitat for lions will debut here in 2005, with glass windows that bring you nose-to-nose with the massive felines.Nairobi Village is the commercial hub of the park, but even here are interesting animal exhibits, including the nursery area, where irresistible young 'uns can be seen frolicking, being bottle-fed, and sleeping; a petting station; the lowland gorillas; and the South American Aviary. There are amphitheaters for a bird show and another featuring elephants, scheduled two or three times daily. Within Nairobi Village are souvenir stores, and several spots for mediocre dining. Visitors should be prepared for sunny, often downright hot, weather. It's not unusual for temperatures to be 5 to 10 degrees warmer here than in San Diego -- sunscreen, a hat, and light clothing are usually a good idea.If you really want to get up close and personal with the animals, take one of the park's Photo Caravans, which shuttles groups of eight in flatbed trucks out into the open areas that are not accessible to the general public. In my experience, the photos are secondary to the sheer enjoyment of crossing the fence to meet the rhinos, ostriches, zebras, and deer on their home turf, even getting nose-to-nose with giraffes along the way -- it's not quite as dramatic as a real African safari, but it ranks pretty high. There are two different itineraries available, each 1 3/4 hours long, or you can take both trips -- you'll want to make reservations in advance by calling tel. 619/718-3050. The price is $90 per person for one caravan, or $130 for both (not including park admission); children must be at least 8 years old, and ages 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum
One of the country's few multisport museums, the slick Hall of Champions has been a destination for sports fans since 1961. The museum highlights more than 40 professional and amateur sports. More than 25 exhibits surround a centerpiece statue, the Discus Thrower. One particularly interesting exhibit is devoted to athletes with disabilities. You can see it all in under an hour.
Marston House
Noted San Diego architect Irving Gill designed this craftsman house in 1905 for George Marston, a local businessman and philanthropist. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and now managed by the San Diego Historical Society, the house is a classic example of prairie-style architecture, reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Some of its interesting features are wide hallways, brick fireplaces, and redwood paneling. Opened to the public in 1991, it is now fully furnished with Roycroft, Stickley, and Limbert pieces, as well as art pottery. Tours take about 45 minutes.
Hotel Solamar - a Kimpton Hotel
Located 3 miles from San Diego's Lindberg Field Airport, Hotel Solamar sits among the Gaslamp Quarter's historical architecture, eclectic shopping and premier dining establishments. Hotel Solamar is also within walking distance of the San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park and the trolley system, which provides easy access to the Civic Center and Old Town. The San Diego Zoo is 3 miles and Sea World is 8 miles away. -Surrounded by "East Village" and its multitude of artisans. -2 ...
Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites
Nestled in lush tropical gardens on Shelter Island, overlooking San Diego Bay and a private marina, this quaint hotel offers all the amenities of a luxury resort with a gourmet restaurant, nightly entertainment and happy hour, massage therapy and exercise facilities. The spacious 182 rooms and suites welcome you with muted Mediterranean decor, and display a large array of ...
Staybridge Suites SAN DIEGO-SORRENTO MESA
The Staybridge Suites Sorrento Mesa, located immediately off of Mira Mesa Boulevard, is an all suite hotel with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. All 131 suites have full kitchens, living areas, free high speed Internet access, free local phone calls and a direct phone number to your suite with audix voice-mail that can be personalized. Our complimentary hot breakfast buffet, free on site laundry facilities, evening receptions, fitness center, and heated outdoor pool offer guests a ...
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Most recent user reviews
Very Friendly Efficient Staff
Laura
1) Nice breakfaast cafe 2) Fun and noisy sports bar & grill with excellent food and great service (our parents were oldest there, we were next to oldest) and we had a blast 3) Excellent pizza/pasta joint All within a short drive or long walk
Catamaran first upgraded us (at a cost, of course) to two rooms on ground floor (elder parents in one room) from the 4th floor tower, each room only one away from the other and both rooms facing lawn, beach walk, and bay. When heater in one room didn't work, the manager personally brought a heater to the room, after giving a choice to change rooms or have portable heater. Rooms had separate bedroom, bath, and nice living room with pull-out couch, round table and comfy chairs, tv, wetbar, lovely bay view. Everything was very clean, sheets and towels of good quality and in abundance. When we asked for more blankets, they appeared within two minutes!!! Doesn't get much better!
Review
Anonymous
It was a short drive to the zoo, and to the harbor. The driving was not to difficult. There were good restaurants close to the hotel.
My review of Catamaran Resort & Spa
Dawn, Philadelphia, PA
The hotel was beautiful with a wonderful duck pond and grouds. It even has a beautiful fountain in the lobby. They also offer a great Sunday buffet for brunch, but expect to pay $38 a person.
Awesome Experience
Ingrid, Sacramento, CA
There are beautiful Island Apparel shops along the beach walkways.
When we had arrived that day we checked out the room and then took a stroll down to the entry, the spa and outside in the back. I was overpowered by the beauty everywhere. It was so captivating to see exotic birds in the trees and colorfull fish in the ponds that surrounded the complex. Everything was so tranquill. I was inthralled by the magnificent views from the back patio of our hotel room. You don't get views like that in many hotels around the USA unless you go to Hawaii.
Review
Anonymous, 2007-03-06
bay right behind hotel
Beautiful Surprise!
Anonymous, 2007-03-02
Mission Beach boardwalk is walking distance and so beautiful! You can walk, run, rent a bike, or even take a surf lesson. Fun for people of all ages!
A friend and I decided very last minute (a few hours before) to head to Tijuana and San Diego for an overnight getaway. After a couple hours in TJ, we were ready to get back to the states, check-in to our last min. choice hotel and get some seafood someplace nice. Were we pleasantly surprised to find out that we had booked our night at a beautiful bird sanctuary Resort and Spa. The Catamaran Resort & Spa was amazing, with lush landscaping, exoctic birds, a large pool with jacuzzi! In the morning you wake up to mallards and ducks at your door. My personal fave was Chadwick the parrot. We had a romantic evening and would definitly recommend it to anyone wanting a little escape from LA! :) Oh, and don't forget to simply cross the street for a delicious meal at World Famous, which is practically on Mission Beach. With a name like that we were expecting alot and were not dissapointed. We ate there for breakfast too!
Great location
Anonymous, 2007-02-28
The hotel was very nice and clean with great tropical landscaping and walk ways. Room was very clean, large and pool/spa area was very nice. Location is excellent. Resort is located on the Mission Bay side so access to the walking/biking path around the bay and the area is very convenient. Pacific Ocean and the boardwalk strolling is only 2 blocks away. Be aware they charge $12.00 a day for parking.
Great place to stay
Larry, Long Beach, CA, 2007-02-22
This is a wonderfull place . I have taken my family there. Great service, Great room and the grounds are very maintaned.
Great location for all ages
Anonymous, 2007-02-21
Fun restaurants with music, pool tables. Also a sports bar a few blocks away.
I loved the gym over looking the bay as well as the friendly staff. The bar was beautiful and the bartender (female) was very friendly. They had a guest appreciation night with wine, cheese and fruit which was really thoughful. They also provided umbrelllas for one day when it rained which was also unexpected. Everything you could possibly want was within walking distance. I will definately stay there on my next trip.
Relaxing Vacation Destination
Donavon, Wichita, KS, 2007-02-12
A great breakfast place is only a short walk away. You must eat at the "The Eggery". Also evening dining at "World Famous" with a view of the Pacific Ocean at sunset is a must. This restaurant is also only a couple of blocks from the Catamaran.
Very comfortable room with a great view of the bay area. Well landscaped walking paths with a wonderful array of birds including colorful ducks and a pair of rare black African swans. Many goods restaurants within easy walking distance. Public transportation is just across the street. The Pacific Ocean with wonderful surf is only one block walking distance away. This was a great place to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. I definately want to go back!
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