GRAND DEL MAR RESORT REVIEW/PICS

SCENE
As I pulled up to the entrance in my tiny Kia rental, I noticed the two Ferrari’s parked in the corner and the Bentley in front of me. I thought, “Oh great, just another pompous hotel, with pompous service.” Boy was I wrong. The bellhop who greeted me was polished yet laid back, and as he welcomed me to the hotel, I felt his cool surfer vibe. “Chill” is the right description for this place and the wonderful employees and guests embody this in every way.

The Addison Mizner inspired resort evokes a little bit of Spain and Cannes. The place is so plush, it reminded me of Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Despite it being Labor Day weekend, the hotel is tastefully large (249 rooms and several luxury villas), so it did not feel cramped in any way. Everyone seemed in no rush, and even the abundance of kids were well behaved. It felt like utopia, everyone having left their troubles behind.

Being in such a luxurious place, I felt the need to dress up, but when I surveyed the scene, adults were in flip flops and swim shorts, and kids did the same, but only with larger smiles. Many had just come from the pool area, which boasts a large covered bar, cafe style seating, an adult pool, a common pool, two powerful jacuzzis, and an array of comfortable lounge chairs.

If you are looking for a place to really unwind in the warm California sun, this is the best place to do so.

GOLF
The 7,000 yard plus Tom Fazio golf course is anything but your run of the mill golf experience. Having been rated in the top 100 golf resorts by Conde Nast Traveler, one can quickly see why this course is so pure. Each hole offers a unique view of its own, whether it be mountains, hills, or hill top views of the resort. Hot air balloons flying overhead at dusk and an abundance of wildlife (bunnies, quail, etc) made me feel I was in some sort of fantasy land.

The best part was that the course was easy to get on and play. I played a full round and only encountered a foursome ahead of me on hole #15. They were nice enough to wave me through and I finished my round just as the sun set.

The course condition was a bit spotty here and there. I am not sure if this is due to a drought or heavy play prior to my round. But, the conditions never interfered with my golf and never made the experience negative; I just expected it would be in tip top tournament shape.

The practice facilities are some of the best I have seen thus far at golf resorts, with a crisp, flat driving range, chipping area, two putting greens, and a bunker practice area. It was hard not to hang out here all day and work on my game.

Unfortunately, some sections of the golf club are closed to resort guests, and are only for full-time members of the club.

SERVICE
Each employee, from the gardeners to the concierge to the management, carries a card with the values of the Grand Del Mar and a mission statement. I never got to read the card, but I can testify that every employee takes the time to give you a smile and to greet you, looking you in the eye. It is not the overbearing, disingenuous smothering you can get at other luxury hotels; it genuinely seems like the employees are happy to be there and happy to serve, and why not? They work in one of the most beautiful places on earth.

However, as stated before, the service can be slow. I am not sure if this was due to the heavy holiday crowds, or the genuine laid back feel of the resort? I did notice that other guests were served promptly, and maybe they were more pushy, but my meal at the pool side bar took over an hour, and there was nobody else eating there. A waiter came by and said he would help in a minute, only to disappear and I never saw him again. Finally, I went up to the bar to order.

LOCATION
The Grand Del Mar is located 25 miles north of San Diego International Airport and about 106 miles south of LAX airport. Unfortunately, this means taking one of the crowded California highways; however, the resort is conveniently a mile or so off of interstate 5, nestled in a canyon amongst luxurious new homes. If you have time to spare, driving the Pacific Coast Highway from either direction is definitely something I’d recommend.

Isolation is one of the drawbacks of the resort. You will need a car to get to the local coastal towns of La Jolla and Del Mar. Luckily, they are not far away, but it remains a negative that one is unable to walk to any place other than the golf course. Fortunately though, the resort offers complementary shuttle service to the beach.

The towns of La Jolla and Del Mar are worth a visit. I recommend La Jolla for a better restaurant/night life place, and Del Mar for casual day time exploring.

TIP: If you’re in La Jolla for dinner, give Nine-Ten a try – extensive wine menu and delicious sea food.

TRANSPORTATION
Since the resort is close to many airports, there is an abundance of travel choices to the Grand Del Mar. If you are not tied into a particular airline, I recommend checking out jetBlue from the convenient Long Beach airport, or Southwest from San Diego.

ROOMS
Each room feels cozy and inviting. The bed is very comfortable, and I can attest to this since I have a bad back. The bathrooms are large, equipped with a plasma television and a bathtub perfect for a relaxing bubble bath (they even provide bath milk and salts!). The large walk-in shower and powerful shower head was so soothing after my round of golf and I preferred using the hotel provided shampoo and conditioner than using my own.

There was a small bar area, fully stocked with liqueurs, sodas, beer, and cocktail nuts. Underneath was a small sink and coffee maker, which I ended up using every morning. The iPod dock was a huge plus, but one thing I was found lacking was no DVD player. I thought with a hotel that thinks of every detail, how could this aspect be missing?

WiFi was easy to connect to and available throughout the hotel, and unlike many hotels around the world, it was free of charge.

We had a room overlooking the courtyard (where they’ve set up croquet). Despite there being a common gathering place right outside our room, we never heard a peep inside. I don’t know if the rooms are sound-proof, but it sure seemed like it. One of my favorite things about this room was to sit out on the small patio in the morning and drink my coffee in my hotel provided robe and slippers, watching families play croquet through the gardens.

And speaking of gardens, did I mention just how absolutely beautiful they are??

CLEAN FREAK
The place is spotless. My only complaint was a mild residue of bird dung on the outside patio chair. Other than that, clean as a whistle.

ACTIVITIES
Besides the championship golf course and practice facilities, one can do pretty much anything at this resort. The resort sits on 4,100 acres of beautiful ranch country, and offers 37 miles worth of hiking trails. You can walk it, bike it, or even take a horse!

The concierge has a list of activities that range form surfing lessons at the nearby beach to hiking in the canyons waterfalls with a professional guide. If you feel like doing it solo, that is no problem, Cafe Cent’ Anni will provide you with a picnic basket.

There is so much to do it is mind boggling. But that is fine, because many decided to think it over at one of the resorts four pools.

FOOD
The fact that you have the option to meet the head chefs and spend a few hours cooking with them is a testament that this resort prides itself on its culinary options. On the way to breakfast at Amaya, I stumbled upon a wine cellar, chalk full of every wine possible. Yes, this resort knows its wine to perfection. If wine is not your thing, don’t worry, you have over six dining options, including poolside dining.

The most talked about and well known restaurant is The Addison. Head Chef William Bradley is a master at simple yet, intense entrees. During my stay, I noticed many well dressed locals arriving at the hotel, just to dine at The Addison. I think all of San Diego knows about it.

Are the restaurants pricey? Yes. But with vouchers, it makes it easier on the wallet.

What makes it special
The fact that kids, parents, grandparents, and romantic couples can all enjoy this place is a testament to depth of this resort. When talking to the guests, many were residents of San Diego, who opted not to do the northern California thing or hop to Vegas. They know that the Grand has a great reputation.

The price for what you get can’t be beat either. Considering this hotel has made the preferred hotels group top 50 list, and is rated as a five star resort; $395 with a $65 breakfast voucher, makes the Grand Del Mar a luxurious bargain!