My favorite hotel in Avalon so far ( 4 other trips). The views are breathtaking. Sometimes a single feature really makes a difference, and for me that feature was the rooftop lounge (see photo). The views are AMAZING. During our stay, we had the whole place to ourself (January) and it felt like our own special hideaway. We were here celebrating our Wedding Anniversary, and it was a very romantic place to just relax and take in the views. The rooms are on the small side, but this is true of all Avalon hotels. The bed was very comfortable amd we had an ocean view! The TV was a good size and the hotel was very quiet. The continental breakfast is pretty good ( cereal, bagels and cream cheese, hardboiled eggs, muffins, fresh fruit amd and yogurt to name some of the items). Chris at the front desk was quite friendly. The ONLY negative would be the steep hill to get there. If you have a lot of luggage or are disabled, take a taxi (see photo). We had an AMAZING time read more

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Stayed here during a weekend scuba diving trip to Catalina. If you're a scuba diver schlepping gear, it gets little tricky walking uphill to the hotel. Take a cab from the Catalina Landing and to and from Casino Point. We walked to Casino Point and both going downhill to the point and uphill back to the hotel were quite a challenge. We rinsed our gear in the showers between the Yacht Club and Tuna Club. When we arrived back at our hotel, the front desk was very nice and allowed us to store our dive bags/ gear in their first floor storage area. Since our room was on the 3rd floor and there's no elevator, it was a huge relief. Our room (318) was small, but had everything we wanted: a balcony (no views), makeup table, hair dryer, garment steamer, microwave, mini fridge, safe, and Keurig coffeemaker. I always do a cleanliness check, and did find the bed sheets were a little soiled. I called the front desk and they replaced them. What we loved the most about staying here, besides being able to leave our gear in the lobby storage, was the rooftop lounge area. Amazing views of the harbor! read more

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Stayed here a week for our honeymoon! Spent every morning and night on the deck. Staff was nice and hotel was clean. Loved the complimentary breakfast. My husband left an item in the hotel room and the front desk employee was so nice to bring it to the boat dock so we wouldn't leave with out it. Would definitely stay here again ! read more

Aurora Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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This hotel was great! When we arrived we were greeted by friendly staff. They helped me with my luggage. Rooms are very small, But, you won't be spending too much time in them because the island has so much to offer within walking distance of the hotel. Just a few notes- this hotel has a strict no smoking policy and is located in between people's personal residences. When you go outside for a cigarette you need to Make sure you do NOT throw out your butts that you pick them up and take them with you to dispose properly. You really need to walk a little bit to be away from the neighbors to smoke anything. This hotel does a very nice complimentary continental breakfast that consist of muffins, bagels, English muffins, quiche, hard boiled eggs, and more. It was a great continental breakfast. They also were helpful when it came to info about the island, getting vouchers for taxi rides, where to go to eat etc. I would definitely come back to this hotel. Just note- there is no way three people Can fit into these rooms with a king size bed. Two people barely fit so make sure you book appropriately. read more

The front desk receptionist are extremely kind. i enjoyed the top deck. The bathroom is extremely small. I didn't like that I could barely fit in there ha Everything else was great. read more

Do not stay here. My husband and I stayed here for my birthday/10 year wedding anniversary. While we were away on an excursion, our room was broken into and my ring and gift cards were stolen. When we contacted the management, they weren't at all sympathetic and couldn't be reached for hours. As the night went on we filed a police report and realized that our balcony could be accessed from the sun deck. The slider to the balcony could easily be unlocked and opened as well. This Hotel has horrible security and we feared for our safety. We were so excited for this trip and we couldn't believe how the staff reacted or didn't react to the incident. read more

Love this boutique hotel, our temp home. Staff is super friendly. Today Friday 4:30 wine and cheese.... hey take it to your room or rooftop, the staff say. Everyone is so nice. Super clean. Prepare for the hike up from the mini round about by the spa. Get those steps in and it does get easier. Junior suite is very cool spacious with shelving with books and coral decor. A couple of martini glasses. A bottle of wine for$20., they know me already. Jacuzzi tub, I love to soak after showering. Armoire, hand steamer, sofa, fridge, safe and microwave. Comfy bed, pillows and bedding. 2 small cubed foot stands. Tilted flatscreen tv. Well lit room with two huge windows plus one in the bath. Keurig in room. The rooftop is excellent. We spent mornings afternoons and sunsets up there. There's plenty of combined seatings. Round wicker bedding with cushions and pillows. Covered cabana bed seating with cushions and bar high top along with circular modern round wicker. Again staff is primo. Breakfast European style. Did I say great staff. Oh and they all like the owners... says good times good vibes Oh an excellent 20th anniversary pick read more

We had a wonderful overnight trip with the help of the Aurora Hotel. Avalon is a tiny town, and as such nothing will ever be very far away, with the exception of the Hermit Gulch campgrounds, botanic gardens, etc. The Aurora hotel is slightly out of the way compared to other hotels like Hotel Mac Rae, but on Avalon that just means an extra two-minute walk, albeit up a hill. It's kind of nice that it's away from the hustle and bustle of the Avalon nightlife. We chose this hotel for its complimentary breakfast, and it was great! It wasn't the usual cheap continental breakfast, it has toast/English muffins, cearal, boiled eggs with salt/pepper and tapatio, fresh orange juice, tea/coffee... There's also a rooftop observation deck that is fully open from morning until evening. The view of the bay and city is awesome, and it was a peaceful place to just hang out. read more

Mr.Q surprised me with a week vacation to Catalina Island. This hotel is hidden behind the most noisy street. We have a great sea view room and the hotel is located in a quiet alley. The service is amazing. Coffee/ hot chocolate is 24hr. The roof looks awesome with a lot contemporary outdoor sitting. So we love this place at the first day. The room is small, like really really small, like Parisian hotel room kinda small. The bathroom is tiny. There are bath towels hanging right above the toilet bowl where the tooth brush glasses were. We had to lift up the towel very carefully each time. When you use the toilet, your knees will be against the glass door. It felt weird. And the toilet wasn't sound proof, so you will hear everything. This is not the hotel you want to choose if this is the first vacation for you and your BF. The breakfast was limited. I don't know what other breakfast at this Island are like, but there is really nothing much to choose from. There was cereal, hard boiled eggs, scones, cake, bread, milk, orange juice, coffee and hot chocolate. Hard boiled egg are naked. There are no shells around the egg, I appreciate the service, but that feels unhygienic. The scones are nice, but the bread is sticky. They peel off the banana from yesterday's breakfast and put on the fruits basket to reuse. Some of the fruits is overripe. And because the hotel is located in a quiet place, it does have this 45 degree hill to walk/hike. It was a short walk, so you don't need a taxi/golf car to get there, but every time when we get back from our day hike and we still need to"climb" to our hotel room? That was very exhausting. It's still tiring to think about that. When we pick up our luggage at the last day, the service weren't as friendly as the first day anymore. And the guy that was so friendly to greet us on the first day, never said goodbye. Would I ever want to use their service again? Maybe. This hotel is still close to the main street and it's still quiet. Do you want to try the other hotels for the next time? Yes! read more

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I feel as if I have to come to the defense of this little hotel after pre-reading some of these reviews! First of all, Catalina Island's Avalon is a very small place, super European in size. 80% of the vehicles are some sort of golf cart and the streets are tiny, and mostly steep. Also, we came in the off-season, which I highly recommend. We should have called when we arrived, because we made the long journey (.7 miles) to the tiny side door opening (yes, up the 350 feet of steep hill) because they will give you a voucher to pay for your taxi ride in and back to the ferry when you leave. It's a way smaller entrance than you'd expect for sure, but the inside is nice and the staff will make you think you're in a b&b. They're so kind, generous with local information and generally made my stay. I did a lot of research on rooms before we booked it. We had to use a Groupon for the Flyer and with 2 weeks to go before the expiration, so a Thanksgiving getaway it was. We decided a fun tub, good-sized room and comfy bed were a must and we liked the modern, boutique feel of this place. We bypassed the standard room for the junior suite with the jetted tub, we wanted to enjoy our room. If I was coming for the touristy stuff, the standard room/small bathroom would work, but it's really small, because the space here is a commodity! The shampoo/conditioner/body wash were Rusk, so I didn't even have to unpack my own. They also had a steamer in each room if things get wrinkly on the way here. The room was updated, but like everything else here, has some age, which is fine, it adds character. We had a king temperpedic with a giant tub (for one, just sorta big for two, hehe) and a sectional sofa with large flatscreen, dvd player, cocktail bar set, fridge, microwave and a Kuerig. Harbor view was okay, I could stand on the bed and see the ocean (I'm short). It did say partial-view, so that's fair. Just up the stairs was a fantastic rooftop area overlooking the harbor that was completely vacant. Hubs and I enjoyed the 65 degree day with a couple of bottles of their dry procecco (only $20) and some sun soaked naps. And since the hotel doesn't encourage children, they seem very interested in you enjoying yourself (responsibly and not to the detriment of others) with some booze. I cannot say enough good things about the people at this hotel. Everyone we encountered was as helpful as anyone could ever be, it felt like they were actually hosting us, rather than we were paying to be there. We'd be happy to stay there again. read more

my boyfriend and i stayed at this hotel during our first visit to catalina island and overall i enjoyed my stay. the hotel staff was very pleasant and accommodating. we arrived very early with 4 hours til check-in. we were soaked since it had rained that morning on the way in and they were able to get us a room before check-in so we can dry off and settle in until the rain passed. the hotel has a modern feel. the rooms were clean and looked great. our room smelled fine and the ac unit worked w/o issues. b'coz the standard rooms are indeed small, there is minimal furniture and decor. fortunately for us, we packed light for a 2 night stay and did not have big bulky luggage bags, only 2 backpacks. the hotel is on the opposite end of Avalon Harbor and considered the farthest when you compare it to hotels that are right on Crescent Ave. bluntly speaking, IT'S NOT THAT FAR OF A WALK! It's HALF of a mile from the harbor! If you complain walking half a mile and uphill for ~400ft, then don't travel... just sit at home and enjoy the destination from the Travel Channel. LIKES: - in-room perks: microwave, keurig, mini fridge, beach bag w/2 towels, security box, dvd player - complimentary breakfast each morning in the lobby which included a great variety of food such as hard boiled eggs, fruit, yogurt, fruit cups, pastries, instant oatmeal, cereal, keurig coffee, tea, milk, orange juice - friday night wine & cheese available. unfortunately for us, it rained friday evening so wine & cheese was not available on the rooftop patio like expected, but they still had 3 bottles of whites avail in the lobby. - robes available in our room. they were soft and comfy and perfect to throw on during those cold evenings. - Off the main street (Crescent Ave) and away from all the noise from restaurants and bars DISLIKES: - paper thin walls. i could hear conversations clearly in the hallway and when people opened/closed their bathroom door in the neighboring rooms - small bathroom. very similar to cruise ship cabin bathrooms. - little bathroom privacy... no fans to drown out unattractive toilet noise, not even a bathroom door to help w/that, instead its a frosted glass sliding door. ***hope you're very comfortable with your traveling partner,*** - firm tempurpedic bed. to some, this may be a pro, but i'm not a fan of firm mattresses. - small, soft pillows. these pillows were way to soft and provided no support for this side sleeper. - no bike racks aurora probably won't be my first choice, but i wouldn't disregard it either. it's a nice hotel with a friendly staff. the amenities are more than what i expected and wouldn't mind returning again. read more

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Stayed here for 2 and a half days with my daughter. I do not know where to begin. So I will start with the Pros.. Pros: Delicious Continental breakfast Beautiful Sun deck with full view of the island Close to Descanso beach and downtown strip with shops and restaurants. Friendly service Luggage storage Wine/bottle service for the room Towels for use at the beach Close to the Casino Clean modern rooms and very quite Great working AC... And other normal room accommodations Happy hour daily at 5pm Great WiFi connection and Free Cons: Have to walk up a steep hill to hotel (Honestly not that big of a deal, unless you are out of shape or disabled) The rooms are small (Again not that big of a deal, since we spent most of our time outside of the room at the beach) I highly recommend... will be staying here again read more

First time staying here. It is on a hill & im not complaining because I have legs and I like to workout! Quiet neighborhood. Cozy and quaint rooms. Stand up shower in the room we had. Bed was comfy. Walls are thin & you can hear the next room. Especially if they have a colic baby... But it wasn't too bad. Friendly service. They provide continental breakfast. Cereal, bagels, juice, milk, fruit, hard boiled eggs. Coffee. Keurig in our room as well. In the evenings there were delicious treats. I would definitely stay again! read more

Aurora Hotel - Lobby & where breakfast is served - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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Repeat patronage is how you grade a Hotel. I can go on and on about how enjoyable my stay was there and how they took immediate full responsibility of a advertisement agency who booked us a room they didn't have. So for the ad's price, the Aurora's reservation's desk gave us one of their best suites instead. Now that ladies and gentlemen is how I call respecting your customers. The place was terrific, the view, the layout, everything. So just go there. However, take my advice. If you see an ad for any hotel that seems enticing, call the Hotel's reservation desk and see if they will beat the advertised price. Hotels makes more money with direct reservations.... read more

My husband & I decided to spend our shared birthday in Catalina. After exploring the many hotel options, we found a great deal with the Aurora Hotel. WOW - We lucked out! Our package included the ferry arrangements (from Newport Beach - which cost a little extra), taxi service to/from the dock to the hotel and our room. The views from the rooftop deck are amazing. Instead of going out to dinner on our birthday, my husband & I opted to get a bottle of wine, crackers & cheese from the local grocery store. It was a perfect, quiet celebration. We also enjoyed the rooftop deck for some morning reading and postcard writing. There's a perfect blend of options for catching some sun as well as hiding in the shade. The continental breakfast is a nice touch. It has the typical offerings (bagels, English muffins, yogurt, a bit of fruit, packaged oatmeal). What is REALLY NICE is the Keurig machine - in the lobby as well as a personal-sized one in your room. The hotel staff offers a HUGE selection of coffee options - which is fun to explore. As far as our room went... It is small (which is common on the island). But the hotel does an excellent job of utilizing space. I was amazed at how they found the space to load so many extras - like a microwave, mini-fridge, dvd player, 32-inch LCD, and steamer (vs. an iron). The alarm clock/mp3 player was great. I especially liked the soothing nature noises. The custom robes are a nice touch as well. For toiletries, they offer their own custom-line of shampoo, conditioner, body scrub, body wash & lotion. They smell incredible - however it is a bit challenging to use the items because quality is so good (the consistency is ultra-thick). The staff is friendly. Kristen offered us great suggestions of popular places the locals go. (And we met her sister at the local bakery.) Some postings complained about the hotel being located on a hill. The hill isn't that bad. I expected a mountain - based on what folks wrote. It's mild compared to other places I've been (especially San Francisco). My only concern about the hill would be if you are traveling with an elderly person or young children. Otherwise, it's not too bad. We truly enjoyed our experience at the Aurora Hotel and highly recommend it to friends. read more

The hotel is cute, updated, and clean. It is on the small side and the room will only fit 2 people, if your more than 2 people you will need to get an extra room. The staff is really nice they allowed us to check in early since our room was ready. They don't charge you any resort fees or extra fees at check out. They have free breakfast, they will hold your bags, and will provide you with beach towels. They are up a hill so its a bit of a walk to get to your hotel, its easier on the way down. Make sure you and the people with you can make that uphill walk. They have a rooftop lounge with sitting chairs/couches with an amazing view. They have free wine a cheese one day a week on Saturday evenings. read more

I stayed here for one night and was very pleased! I am a hotel snob and prefer to only stay Marriott. But of course that's not an option on Catalina. I was so pleasantly surprised with it all. It was very clean, cozy, and quiet! I was in room 317 and it was a great room. It's def not a huge room but everything has to be small on an island. I thought they made the best use of all the space. The bed was also comfy and had clean, plain, white linens; no flowery patterns that hide stains and germs. The hotel staff were very polite and accommodating. They locked our bike up, luggage, etc. after we checked out for the day and even let me keep leftovers in their fridge while we went out for the day. They had a continental breakfast, which I don't really care much for in general but they had hot tea and not just Lipton black tea bags!! They had good flavors of herbal and caffeine free tea! They also had citrus infused water and cookies in the evening. It was just very nice. They also had a nice patio on the 3rd floor you could relax at. Overall it was just so great and I would recommend to anyone looking to stay on the island! read more

Just spent two amazing days with my boyfriend here. We were here 4/2-4/4/2015. The room was pricier than I had wanted but my boyfriend made the plans and I was more than thrilled with this hotel. All the staff was friendly and personable. The hotel was clean, cozy and quiet. We took advantage of the free breakfast at seven am and we also enjoyed the Keruig machine available in the room. They also had wine, cheese and crackers around the late afternoon so we drank wine and spent hours talking on the rooftop until the sun went down. The hotel is located on the other end from where the boat drops you off, and is also a small walk up the hill, all of this was no problem. I am convinced the price we payed was worth it and I throughly enjoyed my stay. My boyfriend also left his wall adaptor and they are going to ship it to him, which was very nice of them. read more

Aurora Hotel - Roof top patio - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Great hotel escape. My daughter and I visited the Island for a night via Jet Skiis. Room was booked 2 nights prior to our departure Friday morning. The hotel was cute. Located just off the Beach area. Three stories with views and a upper story deck with amazing views of Avalon Harbor. Great sun deck lounging for an afternoon of reading or quiet time. Our room was small and perfect. We were offered a continental breakfast which offered a large selection of morning food choices including a nice selection of coffee, pastries, fruits, eggs, cereals, orange juice and milk. Clean and quiet. read more

Aurora Hotel - Reception area and coffee bar. - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

First time heading to Catalina Island for my anniversary and booked a standard room at the hotel for Friday night to Sunday morning. Cute sign and entrance leading to the checkin desk. Front desk was very welcoming and friendly. Got a 3rd floor room with a balcony. The room had two complimentary water bottles already in the fridge which was my favorite because it came clutch during the weekend. It also had two robes hanging, complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and a vase of flowers. Staff was very good at communicating calling hours before our checkin to see what time I would be arriving and also after I checked out of the room the hotel called right away to let me know I left my tickets for the boat back home in the room and they would hold them until I came back to get them. Very comfortable and peaceful location we would definitely go back!(: read more

This is a brand new hotel, designed in a contemporary design. The rooms are very well equipped with memory foam beds, LCD tvs and just clean and modern looking. The bathroom is good as well. There is a roof top deck looking towards the beach. And a nice continental breakfast is served in the morning. The hotel staff are polite and helpful. There no smoking anywhere in the hotel. There is only one reason why this place didn't get the 5 star review is the 2 downsides to it. There's NO elevator so climbing to the third floor with the suitcases is a bummer... Also the hotel is off the boardwalk and requires a small climb up the hill... read more

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Hotel is a bit away and up a hill from central Avalon. Hotel is clean. Bed is comfortable. But, be advised of the following: pillows are extremely firm/uncomfortable; bring your own; management said that's all they have. Bathroom is tiny with an even tinier sink. No housekeeping available during your stay; late checkout is 11:30; otherwise your charged an additional $50 late checkout fee. read more

Very cute hotel and I loved their rooftop lounge. The employees were very friendly. Got their best of winter package which includes Catalina Express tickets and a mid week, two night stay, great deal. Breakfast left much to be desired (hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cereal, bagels) but still a cute touch. I loved how the lobby and all the room had their own Keurigs, I actually used that a lot. The hill everyone keeps complaining about it not that bad at all. Workout your legs, it's good for you. Staff held our luggage for us for a few hours before our boat docked. Short walk from all the shops and restaurants but fyi it's not on the main strip. Rooms are small, but I'm sure all the hotels are! read more

Aurora Hotel - View from lounge - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

Our Family First time in Catalina Island/ Avalon and my Birthday Celebrations and we loved the Our jr Sweet Room with a Ocean View breakfast was delicious we were on roof top enjoyed this place very much and I want to thank Especially Chris for welcoming me and my Family she was very sweet kind woman thank you Again Chris till next time read more

Overall, we were pleased with the hotel. It was very conveniently located, just a short walk down the hill to the main street and beach. The supporting staff were very nice and considerate. The rooms were clean. Our only complaints are that on the first night, there was a guest across the hall who was apparently intoxicated and laughing and screaming from 1 to 2 o'clock in the morning. There is no one at the front desk at that time in the morning. I was later told that I could've called the emergency number. The second issue was that our room on the third floor had very poor Wi-Fi reception. That was really annoying. If we went down to the lobby at breakfast, we had decent Wi-Fi reception but it's very annoying not to have it in our room. We were told that Wi-Fi on the island is an island problem because the internet signal comes from a satellite and not by cable from the mainland. Actually, I didn't buy that argument since it was possible to get decent Wi-Fi in the lobby. They simply need better or more routers throughout the hotel. Because of this issue, we overran our data allotment from our carrier and had to pay more for additional data. We really didn't appreciate this. read more

Stayed here for a night and was well worth. If you enjoy a cozy and smaller stay then this is it for you. Staff is friendly and Fabian from the front desk was more than accommodating. Small breakfast items are included with your stay which is nice, and the hotel has a beautiful rooftop view of the island. Will definitely be back! read more

Aurora Hotel - Rooftop view from Aurora Hotel - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

We stayed here for a weekend in January during off season and I must say it was quiet, clean and a great place to get away. Be prepared to hike up the block to get to hotel and they have no elevators so not good for the handicap. Our room was clean, roomy for my husband and I and they left a box of chocolates on our bed along with ready to use bath robes. We were on the 3rd floor that also has the adjacent rooftop seating and lounging area, perfect for cuddling with your loved one as you watch the sunset. Continental breakfast every morning, but nothing to write home about. Simple pasties, fruit and 2 kinds of cereals with a wide arrange of coffee and teas. read more

Great accommodations at a very reasonable price! Aurora is close enough to the beach front for a walk out, and away enough to experience more peace and quiet while enjoying a scenic view! The hotel has complimentary Wifi, breakfast, a deck with a million dollar view, and a tasteful interior design where you'll feel right at home! The walk up to the hotel is uphill, so hope you're traveling light! This wasn't too much of a problem for my wife and I since we appreciated the exercise. The breakfast is also very simple and was actually vegetarian, which was perfect for me. If you're looking for meat, you may wish to go check some of the restaurants on the boardwalk. Hope you enjoy your vacation at Catalina Island and consider Aurora as your hotel destination! The ratings don't lie, you'll love it! read more

I took my family for a day trip on 1/26 - 1/27 and we stayed at Aurora Hotel in Catalina Island. My sister and mom came from Korea and we stayed in Room 217 and Room 210 for five of us. When my sister went to take a shower a baby cockroach came out of the tub, my sister trapped it in a cup but then it ended up getting away the cup is a little foggy because it was in the bathroom and it was right after a shower. The same day earlier I tried to turn on the heater, first of all the heater had so many buttons. It was the Fujitsu Air Conditioning/ Heater wall mount unit it had at least 16 buttons on it. I asked for help three times I came down twice and tried to explain to the lady in the front desk and I called for help on the phone as well. I didn't end up getting any help so I had to search up on YouTube myself how to turn on the heater.After watching three videos I figured on my own how to turn on the heater. The next morning I went down and tried to explain what happened to Kris. I had her cc'd the management about what happened and nobody followed up with an apology or anything. I wanted to have a great time with my family from out of state but this experience did not go well for my family and I. I really do not recommend this hotel. I booked this hotel from Booking.com. I will also leave a review on booking.com as well about my horrible experience. read more

Aurora Hotel - Picture of the baby cockroach trapped in the cup - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

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I must say the city if Avalon is beautiful, the people are amazing and really nice. The junior sweet we stayed in was small considering the price but still adequate because the island itself is so small. The receptionist was very respectable and hospitable I believe Cris was her name. Even after we showed her that our water would only get luke warm she sincerely apologized but there was not much she could do about it which we understood. The handicap jacuzzi tub was broken only the right side jets worked. There was BLACK MOLD in the grouting. In addition the paint on the walls was bubbling and screws covered in rust. After turning on the air conditioning unit and seeing several moth balls falling out of it. That was our limit on staying in that room. Cris kindly switched us to a smaller room with a nice view and a clean a.c unit. Although this room was a third the size of our junior sweet it was much more accommodating. After speaking to Cindi in regards to our room change discount, she accused my girlfriend of planting these items so we would not have to pay for the room. Not only was she very unprofessional in the way she handled the situation, it was also very disrespectful and I will be reporting her to the BBB. Here are a few pictures of our room experience. I feel bad Cris has to be associated with such an unprofessional business manager. The ocean view room with balcony is the only one I would recommend granted your party is not bigger than two people. read more

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Could not have asked for a better experience. Perched on a hill with amazing harbour views. Modern, comfortable, clean. Friendly and informative staff. Thank you, Aurora for giving us such a pleasant vacation respite. read more

Husband & I stayed here for a weekend to celebrate my birthday. Like many things on the island, the Aurora hotel is overpriced for what you are getting. Pros The deck is very lovely and offers a nice view. They have happy hour in the lobby on week nights and have free wine, cheese & crackers, fresh baked cinnamon raisin cookies. They have a keurig coffee maker in the lobby and in your room plus a water machine to get free water. The free breakfast includes yogurt, cereal, muffins, bagels, fruit. Walking distance from the ferry, beach, restaurants. Cons Our room was very small. We didn't bring a ton of stuff because it was just a short weekend trip but the room felt very crowded with two adults and some luggage. Ugh, the bathroom! The sink is SO tiny. You have to turn to the side in order to avoid splashing water all over the place. You could hear the ac and fridge running 24/7. We ended up unplugging the fridge. The ac didn't totally work, the room didn't reach the temp we set and it never turned off and just kept running, very loudly. There isn't always someone at the front desk and they seem to never answer the phone when calling from outside the hotel. read more

I have no complaints about this place at all. I chose to stay here based off of their website, the rooms looked modern and noting from another review someone saying that the rooms weren't that big (standard rooms) they're not too bad. But don't be expecting a giant bathroom, the way the rooms are designed is almost like a studio apartment things are made to fit the size of the room. The bathroom in room 310, standard room with ocean view, from what looked like a sliding door to a closet was actually a doorway to your bathroom. Small space your toilet, sink, and shower, no bath. Cool thing about this room is there are no rooms right next to it and it is next to the roof top patio. Speaking of which is exactly as the photos show. Nice spot never really busy up there during the weekend I was there. Service I had here was awesome, from making calls having questions about the place, booking, and during my stay. We brought out bikes as our own mode of transportation, they allowed us to keep our bikes in the back which was cool even if crime rate on the island is very low. They also have a free continental breakfast served in the morning in the lobby which is great but I hope you're not expecting a crazy breakfast buffet. It's a little more simple than all that, boiled eggs, pasties that you can toast up, fruit, cereal, and coffee, tea, and juices. Might I also note that you can grab some coffee or tea in the lobby throughout your stay any time of the day. One last night that topped things off to great service was on our last day we had to check out BUT our boat did not leave till later that night which left us to wondering and exploring the island but that can only go for so long. They allowed us to keep our bags there despite us being check out. We got back to pick up our bags since we had nothing else to do on the island and it was starting to get cold out. Cool part was, they let us hang out in the lobby till our boat came. Probably only con about this place for majority of people is this hotel is on a hill not super crazy incline but it is still a hill. On a random note majority of businesses close at 10pm besides the bars so get our there and grab what you need in time. read more

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This place is great. The BF and I booked a weekend package here, round trip ferry ride, shuttle, and two nights stay for around $500. The place was strikingly modernistic and was somehow lovely and charming at the same time. The service was great, and they have an awesome sun deck that is perfect for lounging around, reading books, drinking beers, etc. The hotel is about a block from the boardwalk, near a bunch of cool stuff, up a steep little hill that may be tough on someone who's not much of a walker. Didn't get a chance to try the spa, maybe next time. read more

I went to Catalina for a weekend for a friend's wedding. I brought my girlfriend who I recently started dating, it was our first "trip" together, so the logistics of everything were really important to me. I have to say my experience at The Aurora Hotel met and exceeded all my expectations. The staff (Melissa and Richard in particular) were quite accommodating and SO nice. My girlfriend LOVED the place and the views from the roof deck were breathtaking. I've traveled the world, so I have a good sense of what to look for in a hotel. Below I'll address some issues people have raised here on Yelp: 1) The Hill: yes, it's up a hill a bit, so if you're overweight and REALLY out of shape or pregnant, this will probably be an issue for you. Otherwise, it's not that big of a deal. And I like that it's off the beaten path a bit, rather than in the middle of everything on the strip. 2) The continental breakfast: it's what you would expect - fruit (fresh, good assortment), coffee, tea, bagels, cereals, etc. It's not a full on breakfast meal, nor does it ever claim to be, so if you want a big meal, go to a restaurant on the strip. 3) The rooms: Yes, they are a bit small, but it's Catalina, a small island, so everything is a bit smaller. We didn't need much more room, it was cozy and perfect and the beds were SUPER comfortable. Everything was modern and clean. Would've been nice to have an iPhone dock on the radios, but that's just a personal preference. The balcony was comfortable and had a beautiful view of the Marina. 4) The bathrooms: Ok, so this is the only issue that I concur with the general consensus about - Although the facilities are quite nice, there really isn't much privacy, so whoever you're staying in the room with better be comfortable with bodily noises and smells and such. There is a sliding door, but it's glass, and doesn't leave a whole lot to imagination as to what's going on inside there. This would be my only issue with the hotel. Since my girlfriend and I are still getting to know one another and would've been awkward to deal with that, I circumvented this issue by going "#2" in the lobby bathroom, lol. Overall we had an amazing experience, Friday afternoon wine hour on the roof deck was divine, and everyone was sooooo nice, can't emphasize that enough. If and when I do go back to Catalina, I will be looking to stay at The Aurora Hotel again. read more

My fiance and I visited the Aurora for a weekend getaway and scuba dive trip. We had been told about this hotel from a friend who stayed here for the comfy beds. After a previous bad experience with another hotel on the island last year, we decided to look into the Aurora and we absolutely LOVED it. First of all, everything - and I mean EVERYTHING - in this hotel is extremely well thought out. The in-room fridge, Keurig coffee maker, microwave, DVD + flatscreen, and safe were great amenities. The air conditioner was silent, effective, and very easy to use. The bed was awesome. Never slept on a Tempurpedic before. The bathroom was small but extremely clean and the shower felt great. All the rooms are furnished quite nicely and there's as much form as there is function to the design. Downstairs, the desk staff was very nice and helpful. They assisted us with dive gear storage and DVD movie rentals. The morning breakfast was just right for a continental breakfast: coffee, cocoa, juice, baked goods, cereal, oatmeal, fruit, and yogurt. We ate breakfast on the rooftop deck and even brought a pizza and beers back to have dinner up on it. We came here in the middle of January so the rates were lower than high season, but all in all, we look forward to coming back to the Aurora very soon. read more

Stayed at the aurora for my wife's birthday in may. The accommodations are great. Staff was very friendly. Friday night we enjoyed some wine tasting in the lobby. The rooftop balcony was really nice. Great view of the water with a wonderful private feel. Best hotel we've stayed at in avalon. Will definitely be staying here for our future visits to the island. We had a great weekend. read more

Aurora Hotel - Picture from the rooftop balcony that was incredible - Hotels Near Me - Avalon, California

For our one year wedding anniversary, we decided to escape to Catalina Island since neither of us has ever been and we didn't have time to travel anywhere further than to this little island that makes you feel like you're a world's away. We booked our room through Expedia and got a decent deal. When we arrived on the island, we made the mistake of taking a cab to this hotel. After paying our $11.30 in cab fare for less than a five minute drive that's probably a third of a mile away from the boating docks, we could have hoofed it with our one overnight bag on wheels and explored the main drag, lol. The hotel is tucked away from the main street, but close enough for you to not have to use transportation other than your feet to get around. We arrived before Noon and fortunately, our room was ready for us. I did read the reviews that the bathrooms were small, they weren't kidding! This is a boutique hotel, so I did prepare myself in setting low expectations. Kudos for the corner room, comfy bed and complimentary bottled water in our room fridge. The hotel lists spa in their name, but I noticed that the spa consists of a regular sized room on the second floor a few spaces down from our room that was converted into a room with a massage table. I wish we had more time on the island to pamper ourselves with some spa treatments, but maybe another time. I'd recommend this hotel to other travelers, they have a self-serve Keurig machine in the lobby with a water/ice dispenser on the same counter, but the fruit laid out on the counter for the complimentary, continental breakfast didn't look so appetizing (it looked a few days old and very ripe). Five stars for the awesome rooftop deck on the third floor. We bought a bottle of vino at the nearby Vons and enjoyed the view before heading out to dinner. The hotel also sells bottles for less than $20 each, so if you're too lazy to pick up a bottle yourself, just call the front desk and have one delivered to you. read more

Had a great experience last year, this year not so much... My wife and I were trying to enjoy the great 'private' rooftop patio, but some locals were just 'hanging out' making noise, generally annoying. When I asked the front desk guy, he said that they were just a couple a people waiting around for the next boat back to the mainland. Nice. I pay good money to stay at this hotel, and I have to listen to these annoying dipsh**ts bantering and playing loud games on there cell phone...great customer service Aurora. Also, no wash clothes, no explanation, they might have them tomorrow. Paper thin walls, spent the day listening to the guy down the hall with the 24 hour hiccups. Don't think I'll be back, will try elsewhere. read more

To start with this hotel is very modern and up to date! Rooms are small but just enough room to be comfortable! Rooms are also clean and offer fridge with other iminities to keep you happy when in your room. They also offer a pretty awesome breakfast in the morning that is included in the hotel stay. Cereal, bagels, muffins, fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs and other goodies were available. The toddy is also a dinning area as well. Very well kept. All that aside I think the BEST thing about this place is the staff! The staff are VERY friendly and helpful! They always greeted my wife and I when we came down stairs or came back to the hotel. I can not say enough good about them. And their manager Paul... what can I say?! ABOVE AND BEYOND is the best way I can describe him! For being our first trip to Catalina he really helped us out with not only booking transportation on the Catalina Express but answered every one of my dumb questions before, during and after our trip. We now LOVE Catalina and knowing what we get when staying at the Aurora we don't feel the need to stay anyplace else. THANK YOU PAUL AND AURORA HOTEL STAFF!!!! Pat, Danielle and Ethan! read more