I told my husband, Gareth, not too long ago that I wanted to vacation by the water, and I wanted it to be a true vacation. Not one where we had to cover an event while staying at a nice hotel. I wanted a place where I could just simply enjoy being by the water. At the time we were driving down I-5 on the way to San Diego from Buena Park, to cover a Halloween event at SeaWorld after spending the previous evening covering an event at Knott’s Berry Farm. As someone who liked to be on the go, while I was happy to be the homebody, I really didn’t expect my husband to agree so quickly, but thankfully he did.
We had a Disney Cruise scheduled for October of 2020 that of course had to be rescheduled, and honestly, as this October approached, I believed it would b canceled by the cruise line again, but we started getting instructions on how to prepare for the cruise. It had been 2.5 years since our last cruise but we remembered that it was always smarter to be near the port the day before rather than chance any delays by traveling to San Diego the day of sailing. We have a favorite hotel in downtown San Diego that we frequent for our business travels, but I suggested we try something different, “Maybe closer to the water?” I asked hopefully, and Gareth remembered what he agreed to not even a month ago.
When he told me that he was able to book a room at Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa, and excitedly showed me pictures, I was impressed to say the least. The pictures promised sun-kissed beaches and bright sparkly views of blue water. In my experience, reality sometimes didn’t live up to website photographs, but the exact opposite was true when we walked into the Hibiscus Suite.
With friendly staff greeting us, my first glimpse of the paradise that is the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa was in the lobby, where we were welcomed by a gorgeous waterfall where beautiful koi fish swam lazily. Check-in was smooth and efficient and soon we were on our way to our suite. To get to the Hibiscus Suite, we walked a meandering path that took us around lush, tropical landscaping and a pond filled with more beautiful koi fish and stunningly pretty wood ducks. Every time we walked this path during our short stay, I had to stop to take pictures of the large hibiscus flowers, the colorful Western Redbud trees, and striking birds of paradise plants.
The resort is also home to actual birds. Guests can visit with several species of birds including vibrant macaws, beautiful cockatoos, and a lilac-crowned amazon. Non-guests can meet the birds, too, with the resort’s bird cam at https://www.catamaranresort.com/bird-cam.
The Hibiscus Suite is part of what are called “Bay Front” rooms and suites which are located in the 2-story buildings right alongside Mission Bay. If you book a “Bay View” room, you’ll be set up in a room, suite or studio located in the tower from the 5th to 14th floors. South-facing accommodations have views of Mission Bay while north-facing rooms have views of Pacific Beach and the coastline.
My wish for a vacation by the water came true with the Hibiscus Suite. The spacious but welcoming coastal suite sits directly on the shores of Mission Bay. The suite has a bedroom with a comfortable king-sized bed and a separate living area with a pull-out sofa, a large dining area and a second bathroom. Both areas opened up to a patio with chaise lounges and an incredible view of the bay. The Hibiscus Suite has an attached private lanai with chaise lounges, chairs, a picnic table, and a hammock, with a plexiglass partition that separates guests from the public. As a people-watcher, sitting in the enclosed lanai watching people stroll, jog and bike past was a fun pastime as I enjoyed a book and wine on a comfortable rattan chaise lounge0
.
While we noted more than 20 places to dine within a mile of the resort, the Catamaran itself offers three options to its guests. Lava Java is a grab-n-go cafe located in the lobby, for when you need a caffeine boost or a quick bite to eat. Moray’s is a bar with a stunning saltwater aquarium and an outdoor lounge that features relaxing seating areas lined with tiki torches, fire pit tables, and surrounded by verdant flora.
If you want the ultimate San Diego experience of dining with a view, Oceana Coastal Kitchen is the perfect place to experience a delicious meal with a magnificent view of Mission Bay. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and breakfast at Oceana and highly recommend it, even if just for the view alone.
The room amenities include a high-definition TV with DirectTV in both the bedroom and living and an in-mirror TV in the master bathroom. The large, deep bathtub was definitely used for a nice hot soak before turning in for the night, while the separate shower with a waterfall shower head provided a refreshing wash before we checked out to report to the Port of San Diego for our cruise.
I would have happily spent my whole vacation at the Catamaran if our cruise had been canceled. It’s definitely on my list of places to visit again in San Diego because our stay wasn’t nearly long enough to enjoy everything the resort has to offer from morning yoga on the beach, bike and kayak rentals, the spa, and fitness center, and bonfires on the beach, just to name a few. Whether you need a vacation, a staycation, or work-cation, Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa is a must-stay. When you need to treat yourself to a beautiful paradise by the water, I can’t recommend Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa enough.
For more information; please check their link below.
