I was in dire need of a vacation, but didn't want to fly for too long with my baby daughter sans daddy who decided to spend our spring break working. After exploring my options I chose to do a mini vacay in good ol' San Diego. I really wanted a luxurious experience so I chose the #1 hotel on Trip Advisor and booked three nights in an ocean view room at the Grand Colonial. They staff here is well trained, and they take their customer service seriously. We were always greeted with a smile, and I was assured that they really wanted to make our stay a great one. All interactions with staff were very friendly. I left my computer at home, so I needed to ask for directions a couple times and the front desk and bell staff were very accommodating. The building is historic, but updated with all the modern amenities. Our room was huge, it was the size of an apartment! Traveling with a baby means more time in the hotel room, so having that extra space was great! There was pretty much a whole living room with a and office in the room. The elevator was pretty slow, however if I didn't have the stroller I just walked up the stairs. The absolute best thing about this hotel is the location. It is situated minutes from the coves (La Jolla cove is our fav), shopping, restaurants, and beautiful Scripps Park. It was so convenient and exactly what I wanted. Again, with a 9 month year old it is nice to know that our hotel is a short walk back. I would love to stay here again! Quick tip: The valet parking is $22 a day, but tripadvisor has free parking coupons. Print one out before you go! read more

This hotel is poised to be spectacular but the service is lackluster. The valet in the morning is rude and literally said it was too early to work (at 9am). Very unhelpful and rude. The front desk barely acknowledges you. Smiles are the easiest and minimal way to welcome someone. The property is dated. The beautiful ocean and downtown LaJolla save this hotel. I do not understand the reviews. It is 2 star experience at a 4 star price. If you are looking for luxury, this is not the place. Service at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, Grand Del Mar, Hyatt Regency and even Hilton at Torrey Pines trump this place. read more

Ocean view room is fabulous! The only downfall of this place - which is nicely staffed, very clean and spacious - is that children really aren't welcome or accommodated here. I travelled with my two kids, aged 4 and 7. While we loved the room and enjoyed the small swimming pool, we found no entertainment for kids. The lobby was very nice - too nice for kids really. They had a nice chess set which we were told later was very pricey - after my child threw one of the peices in a tantrum (normal childhood behavior really). I was surprised they didn't offer coloring books or maybe plastic chess pieces for the kids. In fact, the kids were basically ignored by all the staff unless they were up to no good...that's why I took away one star. They definitely need to improve the kid friendly aspect of the place. read more

I have stayed there twice- once in the main hotel and once in the little hotel by the sea. I enjoyed both stays, but the later was the best and included a jacuzzi style bathtub. They have a super friendly staff working at the valet station and front desk. The rooms I stayed in were very nice, spacious, and modern. I enjoyed their super comfortable mattresses and linens, had one of the best nights sleep in a long time. The rooms are also pretty sound proof. The turndown service was a nice extra touch. I would definitely recommend this place. read more

We really enjoyed our stay here. The room was very clean, cozy and comfortable. We slept like babies There is alot to do around here, you can walk to everything * Great location. The staff are very friendly. Great Accomadations. We highly recommend staying at the Grande Colonial. Thank you for a beautiful stay. read more

Grande Colonial - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Stayed here over Easter weekend in one of their deluxe suite rooms. It is in a completely different side building behind the pool. I believe there were only 4-5 of these rooms in that 2 story building. From the moment we pulled up and had someone unload our luggage and do valet, the hotel staff and premise were beyond great. Everyone at the front desk was friendly and professional. They gave us maps and information on all of the eateries close by. The lobby reminds of a nice hotel in Italy. The room itself was spacious, but the best thing about the room was the comfortable beds. Our room had a fridge in it which was nice to keep dinner left overs in. Central location to many shops and restaurants walking distance. Ate breakfast in the hotel one morning at nine-ten and it was delicious. The pool is pretty small and not too many tables/chairs, but it's a historic boutique type hotel so what do you expect. Would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended. read more

Grande Colonial - View from the suite building (behind the pool). Happy Easter! - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Can't say enough about this hotel. Friendly and attentive staff, affordable rates, beautiful grounds, and a fantastic room. When we visit, we stay in a junior suite with full ocean view - highly recommended. After much research, the hotel's website offers the best off-season deals. The Bed & Breakfast package is a steal, offering a delicious breakfast at their award-winning restaurant Nine Ten, in addition to significantly discounted prices on rooms. All in all, this hotel is great find. read more

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If you are looking for an amazing place to stay in the downtown Village of La Jolla--it's great. There are many terrible places to say, but this is not one of them. The rooms are beautiful, the employees are very kind and accommodating. Karen S., summed it up perfectly how lovely the building looks. read more

A little on the pricey side but you definitely get what you pay for ! This hotel is super quaint and cute. It's located walking distance from la jolla beach, and also a quick easy walk to many stores!! the hotel staff were friendly and we're kind enough to give us an ocean facing room when we checked in. The room was cute and comfy! The ocean view was spectacular! We were able to see the sunrise & sunset! And the windows open completely so you can get the ocean breeze too! It was walking distance from the local eateries & bars as well as coffee places ! So happy we stayed here during our trip to la jolla! read more

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Breathtaking views in gorgeous La Jolla. Conveniently located around the corner from our venue- SD Wedding Bowl. Our air b and b accommodations fell through at the last minute. The last two rooms available were Junior Suites. Thankfully this room was an end-unit with a pool and ocean view! The window to my shower opened up to a gorgeous view of the ocean. Truly a spiritual moment looking outside at God's Beauty! My photographer was thrilled when he found out we were staying here last minute. I have gorgeous photos taken throughout this amazing hotel. It was a true blessing to have been able to stay here the night before and the night of, our "Special Day"! read more

I can't even seem to get any one on the phone to make a reservation. Have called them 3 times in the past hour and got sent to "voicemail" which isn't even a voicemail box. It tells you to leave a message and then nothing happens. If I didn't have to stay here for a wedding I wouldn't even bother wasting anymore time trying to make the reservation. If this is the service or lack there of just to reserve a room I can hardly imagine what it would be like to stay here. read more

A 5 star experience and reasonable rates in a classic 100 year old landmark Hotel. Fully renovated with world-class service and charm. The only warning to guest over 6 feet tall. The shower head location was just tall enough for 6' tall adult. Highly recommended, especially when compared to the other options in the area. read more

Grande Colonial - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

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Hard to beat location. Stayed in one of the spacious kitchenette rooms, which was convenient since we have a 5 month old. Although the room was very clean and nicely furnished, you could tell you were in a 100 year old building. It was a bit dank, but understandable since location is right by the ocean. Access to these rooms is via the sidewalk, which was unexpected. The staff was great except for one doorman who was derelict as I was trying to exit the hotel pushing a stroller. The restaurant breakfast was horrible, grocery store pastries would have been better. read more

I absolutely loved staying here. It was a nice little get away with the ocean right across the street. It's absolutely beautiful. The sunrise and the sunsets at this location we're incredible. They also have wildlife all over like sea lions and such. Its really neat. There's also plenty of shopping and restaurants right on the hill above the hotel. I can't wait to come back. read more

My first experience here was great. Great location and price. Worth it. My second experience was bad. My room was located near the stairs and the floor above was loud. Didn't get much sleep. So, it depends on which room you get. read more

Thomas Jefferson and I had a most excellent stay here! We checked in on this past Sunday and stayed until this Tuesday. From our arrival we were greeted by Benny, the Bell Captain who along with the rest of his Bell staff took care of us from "go". We were allowed to check in early to a Junior Suite 102 which had a beautiful view of the Ocean located at the end of the street. Our suite was located out in a location seperate from the main building and near the pool area. Just around the corner from the front desk. Our suite was large had a seperate sitting area with a flat screen TV and a small fridge under the counter which had plenty of cabinet space. 2 sinks one in the bathroom and one in the counter where the fridge was. Free Wifi, Complimentary bottled water, Gilchrist & Soames bath products (we are talking FIRST CLASS top of the line -- for those of you who do not know) Luxurious Kashwere Bathrobes that I ABSOLUTELY wanted (will put on my birthday list :) Bellman "Dan" scooted us over to a local restaurant in the hotel golf cart... they will offer to take you just about anywhere AND pick your drunk @$$ back up too! *hiccup :) naw j/k about the drunk part hehehe Service at the Front Desk was exceptional, friendly, courteous and consistently above and beyond helpful! I commend who ever does the hiring here because they have done a Fantastic job of hiring people that either love their job and sincerely want you to enjoy your stay or they do a great job in faking it LOL Hotel is located within walking distance of all the quaint shops, it has it's own restaurant but we were not impressed with the menu... we did however take advantage of the happy hour deal the appetizers were tasty and 1/2 off as was their signature cocktail "Orange Crush". The day before Thomas Jefferson ordered a "Cloud 9" that was the BOMB! and I got my favorite "Lemon Drop" both were flavorful but I must say this was the only place I was not impressed with the Bar Service it took a while for our appetizers to arrive and they were not as attentive as the rest of the hotel staff had been =/ All and all a very nice place to drop in during the week we get the impression that weekends here (like most places) are a zoo. Parking on the street down the hill is free so don't spend the $22.00 on valet just find a spot on the street. Respectfully Reviewed read more

I am in love with this hotel. Very good service, friendly staff and very helpful with recommendations about the area, (esp Jeff at the valet/bell desk). They also have a shuttle that's a London taxi cab (so cool!) so it's easy to get to the Shores where the big beach is. Also walkable to tons of restaurants and shopping, as well as the cove where the sea lions are. (Side note - if you see the sea lions, please don't be that jerk that gets too close and tries to touch them and disturbs them, have a little respect.) But I really love the hotel itself. It's old-fashioned (built in 1910ish) and the rooms have character, doesn't feel like the normal hotel room that could be in any city. Love, love, love this hotel, def planning on coming back. read more

I stayed here for a conference and my overall experience was wonderful! I had the garden suite and the room was very spacious with a full kitchen and fireplace! The bathroom was also large with double sinks and an interesting shower which had faucets from above and the sides. The staff was friendly and they even allowed me to check in early and put my luggage in my room while I waited for it to be cleaned. The only thing I didn't like was the price of valet parking per night ($22). The valet service was very nice and professional but if you want to save money I recommend trying to find street parking but it is very limited. The location is also great! There are tons of shops and nice eateries so you can walk around and the beach is also nearby! read more

Sometimes a girl's gotta get away. I spent a weekend here with two girlfriends and took advantage of their Surf Package. I was not disappointed! The hotel is nice, clean, has an adjoining restaurant and bar that's open fairly late. Fluffy, comfy beds, pretty big bathroom that was good for sharing with 3 people. I did not hear bumps in the night, although people do party out on the street and you can hear it from rooms facing the street. But this didn't bother me a bit. Our room was on the second floor with a beautiful ocean view and if you opened up the windows you got a lovely breeze that added all the more to the beachy atmosphere. The pool was small but it served it's purpose. Would have been nice if the bar served drinks out there though. The breakfast included in the package was hearty and delicious. The hotel is centrally located, so you're pretty much within walking distance of anything you'd want to do while in La Jolla. There's many restaurant options and you're near the beach. We walked to the Surf Diva shop to prep for our two hour lesson. As someone who is pretty much scared to death of ocean sports for fear of sea creatures and riptides, I was hesitant to try surfing for the first time. But I think this was the best possible location to learn. The waves were warm and manageable, the instructor was a cool chick who knew how to teach a beginner with the utmost patience and encouragement. And I was able to stand on my first try out in the water! My girls and I were giddy afterwards. I never thought I'd enjoy it as much as I did! I highly recommend this hotel for a stay on it's own, but if you're looking for a fun weekend with your girlfriends, you must do the surf package! And it was all very affordable, which can be hard to find in the summer. read more

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Had a wonderful stay here with my wife over the long weekend. The property has a unique charm to it that I've not really experienced anywhere else. First impressions were very good and the check in process was a breeze. Our room was absolutely gorgeous, although the linens were a little musty, most likely from being so close to the beach and not being changed within the last day or two. That said, one call to housekeeping and everything was taken care of. We had great experiences at both the bar and restaurant, stopping in for drinks one night and brunch on Sunday. The Swordfish was particularly delicious, and I absolutely recommend it if it is being offered. I will knock one star off though for one of the front desk representative's lack of professionalism. I had asked for any local shops where I could purchase a new pair of sunglasses and the first representative (not sure what his name was) told me to go to CVS. Thankfully, the other rep picked up where he left off and pulled up a few places within walking distance that might be what I'm looking for. Overall it really felt like the first rep did not want to help us, I definitely felt like he was being intentionally condescending and rude. It was a very disappointing experience to an otherwise amazing trip, If i were his supervisor I would absolutely consider finding a new rep to be the face of the hotel as he is clearly not suited for the job. Overall we will definitely come back should we return to the area. read more

My fond memories of my stay include waking from my super comfortable bed and going to the restuarant in the hotel lobby for breakfast. To walk off my meal I would walk about a block to the shore where all the seals are bathing.. Spending all afternoon at the small, private pool relaxing and drinking a coctail.. Very well maintained and the hotel staff is very accomodating..Lovely read more

nice staff, nice rooms, all around great place to stay except we had several crickets come in from under the front door and perform various jumping exercises!! I'm not a critter lover so dancing around these puppies has been challenging! bring a can of Raid with you just in case! read more

Great experience here this weekend. I stayed here for 3 nights with my fiancée and our 1-year-old daughter. We wanted to escape the extreme Las Vegas summer heat so we booked a room here for 3 nights. My main reason for booking this hotel was its location to pretty much everything - especially the beach. The hotel is literally a two-minute walk down to the beach. You have Shell Beach, and a Children's Beach and it is just beautiful scenery. We went down there and watched the seals, the birds and enjoyed the ocean spray - something we do not get in Las Vegas. The hotel is in a prime spot and is centered around many shops, restaurants, and other things to see. You can walk outside of the hotel and do plenty of window shopping or get a bite to eat. All well within a short walking distance of the hotel entrance/exit. The room itself was very nice and cozy. I enjoyed the fact that we had a full kitchen (fridge, stove, microwave, dishwasher). The fridge was great. It allowed us to go to the store and buy some drinks, snacks and other things that we wanted to keep cold. The microwave was very helpful because we needed to heat up our daughter's milk and it was a relief to be able to do it in our own room and not walk to the lobby and ask them to do it for us. The dishwasher was a nice touch although we did not need or use it. But as the saying goes - it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. When we first got to our room we were surprised to see there were complimentary drinks (water bottles and soda) in the fridge as well as complimentary chocolate bars and other things to snack on (peanuts, trail mix, popcorn, chips). This was a very nice touch and it seems most hotels don't do this anymore. It was even nicer to see that every time we had room service these items were restocked for us. Room service was great, we always came back to a clean room and restocked snacks. They even put our dirty dishes in the dishwasher for us. My only gripe is the Valet Parking. The valet parkers did a great job. Every time I needed my car they would take off running (literally) and fetch my car for me. My gripe is just a personal preference. I happen to hate valet parking my car. I prefer parking it myself so if I ever need anything I can simply go out to my car and get it. It becomes a hassle for me to have to go to the front lobby, talk to a valet person and have them retrieve my car just so I can get something out of it. With that being said every time I did need my car the guys working the valet were very quick to get it to me. All in all it was a very good stay. My fiancée enjoyed it and our daughter slept very well in the room. We had a lot of fun and would definitely stay at this hotel again. read more

The Grande Colonial was perfect for our recent trip to La Jolla! We chose a room with no view (the cheapest) but you could see the ocean anyways and you could smell the ocean breezes all throughout the hotel. The service was great, especially the front desk service when we arrived around midnight and the valet. The bedroom was beautiful - very well decorated, extremely clean, classy details, comfy bed, etc. The bathroom was pretty small, but I have no complaints other than the size. I would totally recommend this hotel for people that want to be near the beach and in Downtown La Jolla! read more

The location was perfect! The room itself was roomy. The front desk people were nice. I didn't eat at the restaurant. I do get that the place is historical. But if I'm paying more than $200 a night, I expect that at the very least I will have a coffee maker. No coffee maker, no fridge, no microwave. And the bathroom is very small. Cute...but small. I am giving the place four stars only because the location was perfect and the beds are super comfy and our room was clean. But honestly, I would rather try some of the other hotels in the neighborhood. I am happy to say that because there was no coffee pot, I found a little local coffee place within walking distance to the hotel (called The Living Room). Forget Starbucks!Go to the living room for coffee if you're ever in La Jolla. I had breakfast there too...I do recommend! read more

Perfect spot to stay in La Jolla. We went on a mini family get away and loved the pool, breakfast and walked to the beach and shops. Building was lovely, room cozy plus a kitchenette, super helpful with a kid-o. Exceptional service and I will be back in the fall! read more

Grande Colonial - Pool time was so much fun! Cool towel too :-) - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

Great service from 4 star plus hotel. We received a call a week before the stay informing us of remodeling happening at the property. So they kindly upgraded us to the Little Hotel By The Sea and gave us a suite not the standard room we had booked. Not only did we have a ocean view but were closer to the ocean and could see the sunset on our bed. The room was recently remodeled and very impressive. We had breakfast at the hotel twice which was very good but arguably not worth the cost. We enjoyed the swimming pool and cool fresh cucumber water left out. The staff were always attentive and easy to talk to. Helped plan our day trips perfectly. We were sad to leave and enjoyed the entire experience thoroughly. We will be back! read more

Very nice hotel in the La Jolla area. We were supposed to stay three nights, but missed our flight and had to cancel one night about 5 hours before we were supposed to arrive. They were very cool about it and did not charge us, even though it was a part of a package and we had to cancel so late. Valet and bellhops were very nice, recommending a good, non-touristy place to get fish tacos. Room was great, very breezy and open. Lots of space and comfortable bed. Great view (we had ocean view suite). Wish they had a mini bar and coffee maker, but it's so easy to get to the bar and restaurant downstairs and just hang out by the pool that it wasn't a huge deal. 5 min (but beautiful) walk to the nearest good beach-beach (seals and rocky coves are close, but not a sandy beach). Not sure why hotels are so adamant about using language like "steps from the beach," when not really. Just say "short and beautiful walk to the beach." Food was OK. Nine Ten is good, but not 5 stars or anything. Probably better than the touristy spots near the cove. Cocktails are good and bartenders are very friendly / knowledgeable. Room service was always fast and entire staff was very nice. Definitely recommend if staying in La Jolla. read more

I stayed here the weekend of 9/18 to 9/21, 2015. I wanted a nice boutique hotel for a relaxing stay with my mother. I had an amazing view on the 5th floor. The Pacific ocean and the three shades of blue were amazing to both wake up to and to go to sleep. Comfortable beds and great location. Elevators were a bit slow and housekeeping did miss my Sunday cleaning but once I called downstairs it was rectified fairly quickly. The location and view were paramount. The hotel is very nice, quaint and elegant although rooms are small. read more

This was our second stay and they gave us the same room so it felt just like home. Quiet room at the end of the hall with a pretty ocean view. The room is very comfortable and the hotel staff superb-really. From the valets, to reception, to the sweet housekeepers. They are all amazingly warm, thoughtful and helpful. You have a question, need ice, a ride or recommendation- they are on it! They deliver the ice and extra waters to your room, they drove us to dinner in their golf cart, made the best recommendation for breakfast our last morning and just really made sure we were taken care of. Probably our most favorite get-always. read more

Had a recent 5 day stay here. Had an awesome experience overall. The room was very clean, very cute and the hotel staff was great! The location was perfect! Can't wait to stay here again! read more

There's something so comfortable about this hotel. With its superb location in La Jolla, I'm pretty certain that this is a hotel that I want to keep coming back again and again in the future. This was my second time to visit the hotel, and once again, I had a great stay. I opted for a ocean view room, and it was very soothing to be able to see the blue ocean from my bed upon waking up. The bed is incredibly comfortable. I had great nights sleep after lots of exploring in/around La Jolla. Valet service is good, high-speed internet, and best of all, it's quiet. I treasure that serenity. I think it would add a personal touch if they could recognize the returning client. read more

Beautiful hotel in a fantastic location! Located steps from shops and the beach in beautiful La Jolla. Staff was always very friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant attached to the hotel (Nine-Ten) is great for breakfast - eggs benedict was amazing! :) Rooms are a bit dated, but it is an older building and has character. Would definitely stay again :) read more

Great hotel!! Had a conference here and the staff was fabulous. Food at Nine Ten was great!! Great location. Near everything! Room was great! Old school charm. read more

Fantastic! From the time we arrived to the time we left we we're treated like gold. The staff is wonderful. Rooms have an amazing view and a colonial feel to them with some modern upgrades. We can't wait to come back. read more

The Grande Colonial is like putting on your favorite slippers and wrapping yourself in a warm blanket. It feels right and the stress of your regular life melts away. There is a sort of burnished comfort there that can only be found in historic properties and the Grande Colonial has it in spades. It is probably too large to be considered a boutique property, but the feeling is definitely intimate. It reminded me, in many ways, of the Sherry Netherland in Manhattan. Public spaces are not dwarfing, but proportioned in such a way that you feel you have found your own special corner of the world. I loved the sitting area just off the lobby and the terrace where you can take breakfast. From the valet, to the bellman and on to the front desk, all staff were friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Nothing bothers me more than to go to stay somewhere, close the drapes and not be able to tell if you are in Los Angeles, Bangkok or Sao Paulo. My room, # 324, was spacious, well-furnished and reflective of its surroundings. The rooms at the Grande Colonial echo both La Jolla and the surrounding environs. The views out over La Jolla Cove and Children's Pool are beautiful, and the décor in the rooms draws that feeling of Southern California beach inside. Located at the epicenter of La Jolla, at the intersection of Prospect and Girard over looking the Pacific, you are steps from outstanding restaurants, shopping, the Museum of Contemporary Art and, of course, the beach. I am so glad that I had the good fortune to stay at this hotel. read more

This hotel is amazing because the customer service is absolutely superb. We have stayed at this hotel a couple of times now. The first time there were some mishaps so the management went ahead and offered us a comped upgraded room to make up for it. Our second stay was perfect, we had the corner ocean view room and really enjoyed ourselves. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this hotel to everyone. read more

Great customer service, Cesar at the front desk was very helpfull and offered great La Jolla tips, he made the stay a 5 star experience. The room was excellent with old world charm. read more

We love getting away from LA and driving to La jolla. This is the only hotel we stay at. I would give them 5 stars but their bathrooms need updating. The beds are comfortable, nice view, great food and friendly staff. read more

Grande Colonial - Hotels Near Me - La Jolla, California

We haven't even stayed here yet, but wanted to reach out and compliment you on your most gracious "Stephanie" in the reservations dept. We booked for New Year's Eve and based on our conversation, she tour-guided us to the separate Garden Terrace building which seems just perfect. She even went the extra mile to email us a pic of the room replete with a fireplace. Also, in reading the different reviews, I must tell you how impressed I am with how you respond to practically every review. Looking forward to meeting you! read more