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    Hotel Vista Del Mar

    4.5 (225 reviews)
    PriceyHotels
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    Tiffany T.

    This hotel deserves 10 stars. The front desk staff were helpful and friendly. When you walk in your in this peaceful beautiful space. Our room was fantastic with a the most comfy king bed, coffee maker, refrigerator. tv and a very clean shower. They left us milk and cookies at night and they had coffee and tea out in the morning. The fish tank is beautiful in the lobby. My favorite part was sitting in the lobby watching all the people below. The hotels location is right in the middle of everything which made it easy to come and go. If we ever end up in Catalina again we will stay here! Room 104 (I think) the first room to your right was just perfect!

    I had such a great stay at Hotel Vista Del Mar! The location is hard to beat, being just steps from the beach made it so easy to enjoy the ocean whenever we wanted. The room was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed for a relaxing vacation. Everyone we interacted with was welcoming and friendly, and the service made us feel right at home. The hotel was well cared for, and the whole place had a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere that made it easy to unwind. We really enjoyed our time here and would absolutely stay again the next time we're in Avalon. If you're looking for a comfortable beachfront hotel in a great location, this is a fantastic choice!

    Stewart L.

    I visit Catalina (Avalon specifically) fairly often and usually stay above the fray at Zane Grey or Mt Ada. I knew that if I were to ever stay along the "main drag" of Crescent Ave, I would try the Vista. The other lodging choices directly along Crescent Ave are: Edgewater, Mac Rae, Pavilion (closed for renovation), Metropole, Bellanca and Vista's sister property Snug Harbor. Vista is on the 3rd floor of the building that also houses Maggie's Blue Rose, the Brew House and shops on ground level and Steve's Steakhouse on the 2nd floor. There is no elevator. Most of Vista's rooms face a lovely interior courtyard/atrium, but the 2 front suites have terraces that overlook the boardwalk and the bay/harbour. I booked one of these rooms, which can be quite pricey in high season. The suite was fairly large and very well-equipped and maintained. There was a very comfy king bed, a large sitting area with sofa, chair, fireplace and wet bar with fridge, a jacuzzi tub, separate shower and double vanity. The terrace spanned the length of the room with 4 chairs and 2 side tables, separated from the lobby by a curtain. The TV had very limited basic channels plus music; there was a DVD player and library by the front desk. There is A/C if needed. My main concern was noise from the boardwalk. This was a minor issue since I had the windows open for fresh air, and surely it would be more of a concern in high season, on weekends or when cruise ships are docked. I would advise earplugs if you go to bed early. Until recently, the hotel offered a continental breakfast in the lobby. They still offer evening milk and warm (but not homemade) chocolate chip cookies delivered on a tray to your room. There was a coffee machine in the room (no tea). Service was very friendly from Juan and a woman whose name I didn't get. Do note that the desk is not staffed 24 hours, and they share desk duties at Snug Harbor. They contacted me prior to my stay for my ETA and left the 2nd floor door open. They also texted me before and during the stay to follow up. Overall a great stay. I am eager to try their other property in the future.

    View from patio........awesome!
    R T.

    Close to the dock. So walking from the dock can take 5-10 minutes. The location is perfect. We had to climb three floors with our luggage but once we got to the top, it was worth every step. The patio view from there is amazing, calming , peaceful and makes you feel like you're in Hawaii or any island vacation. The rooms are quaint, comfortable and clean. The hallway is welcoming and warming. The service is amazing, and they serve hot chocolate chip cookies with milk every evening. Delicious and the aroma makes you feel like home. I will definitely recommend this place and I will definitely be back!

    Cleaning supplies just left out but some chairs. Never moved for the duration of our stay.

    Absolutely not worth the $450+/ night price. We booked this based on the great reviews we read online and also the fact that they had a room with a king bed and a pullout queen for our four year old. When we went to check in we were informed that it was an extra $50/night per person despite our child's age. I did a check online of the rate of the room with an extra person and it charged $40 instead of $50, so they hiked the rate in person for extra occupancy. The room: First, the room was dated, couch with stains, ripped and stained carpeting, had dusty fixtures, coffee splashes on door, and worn in features. There was a big hole in the flooring right outside our room. Juan was nice but Laila was very impersonal. Was hoping for friendlier staff, especially for the price and the mention of celebrating a milestone birthday but didn't receive that kind of customer service here. When my husband went to take a shower, he saw a huge wad of hair on the shower wall from the previous customers. Disgusting. There was also hair in one of the bathroom drawers. Since it was in the evening, I informed Laila and showed her a picture of the hair and she apologized and said someone could come in the next morning to clean it. The next day someone did come in and brought fresh towels and made our bed but didn't touch the hair in the bathroom. That evening Laila mentioned cookies and milk at 8PM right outside our door. My husband told her we'd be asleep by then. If you have young kids, then you know how hard it can be to get a four year old down. That said, at 8PM Laila knocks on our door multiple times, right next to where our kid is sleeping to inform us of the cookies. SMH. Needless to say, we will not be staying here again and would not recommend to anyone else. At this price tag, we expected excellent customer service, cleaner furnishings and flooring without tears and holes to say the least. Do not recommend.

    Our balcony view at the Hotel Vista Del Mar

    WOW!! Amazing experience! I'm disabled and my wife and I are seniors so we don't go anywhere anymore. In fact, the last time my wife and I went to Catalina was 42 years ago - and we only stayed the day. Back then the boat ride over to Catalina was horrible (everyone got sea sick), and we were less than impressed with the island. This time we went because of a wedding, and stayed overnight. Well the difference was unbelievable! The Catalina Express boats are pretty smooth sailing. The town of Avalon is very charming and quaint. And EVERONE we met was friendly. When we got to our hotel (the Hotel Vista Del Mar) we were awestruck! The hotel is well appointed and clean, and right on the parade route next to the beach. The hotel staff were warm and welcoming. Our room was perfect! They treated us like Royalty. The hotel is right is near many restaurants and shopping. There is so much to do there - even for old folks like us! I'm not exaggerating when I say our stay there was perfect & I encourage everyone to go there. It's a pretty popular hotel so make your reservations early. Let me sum it up the best way I can: My medical issues make it difficult for me to go anywhere - but after a couple days at the Hotel Vista Del Mar - I told my wife on the boat ride home, "lets go again!"

    Amazing staff and bed and pillows were so comfortable!! I even called recently to find out what brand they use. They were so kind and emailed me that same day! Can't wait to stay here again.

    Living room
    M K.

    Perfect location and view but no privacy. Only a curtain to separate the room next door and the check in desk. We were hanging out on the balcony when someone below started smoking marijuana. The staff quickly snatched back the curtain and accused us of smoking. We don't smoke marijuana!!!! This room with a balcony cost $820 a night. When the locals asked how much it cost, they gasp and told us about a lot of better options at a way cheaper price with a complementary golf cart. We will be doing that next time.

    Hotel Vista Del Mar is the best hotel on the island! If you are looking for a nice room, beautiful hotel, amazing view, and great staff, definitely stay at Vista Del Mar. It is in the perfect location - right on the main boardwalk where all the shops are. The hotel is beautifully designed with plants and flowers and a beautiful fish tank. Super convenient location to all local must have restaurants and shops, not to mention the beach is RIGHT THERE! One of my favorite things I look forward to when staying at Vista Del Mar is their warm cookies and milk they service each night! So yummy!!

    Jenn M.

    Currently day dreaming of Catalina Island and my visit here in late August. After much research I opted to stay one night in Hotel Vista Del Mar when visiting the island for a short 24 hour trip. The location of the hotel is central, making it accessible to countless restaurants and nearby shops. The aesthetic of the hotel is lovely and the rooms are comfortable and clean despite the size. While the hotel is on the smaller side and on a main tourist heavy street there was no issue with noise or privacy. The hotel felt safe and was overall easily accessible despite the lack of an elevator. Staff were friendly and check in and check out was smooth. I found no fault in our stay here and I'll be returning soon!

    This was the view from our room.

    We come to Avalon often and love staying at Hotel Vista Del Mar. It's close to everything and the views from the front rooms are spectacular. It's above our favorite restaurant, Steve's Steakhouse!

    Covered hallway.

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    Went over for a wedding and the staff at the hotel made everything so wonderful. They are so accommodating and kind. We love this place.

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    An amazing island even more amazing hotel highly recommend!! Amazing location and amenities!!

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    I didn't stay here, but when I tried to book they told me it would be an extra $50 for my 8 month old. No thanks.

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    Ask the Community - Hotel Vista Del Mar

    Review Highlights - Hotel Vista Del Mar

    We checked out a few complimentary DVD's for the night and we snuggled with our complimentary cookies and milk.

    Mentioned in 71 reviews

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    Snug Harbor Inn - Continental Breakfast Served to your Room

    Snug Harbor Inn

    (114 reviews)

    $$$

    This was my first stay at Snug Harbor. I visit Catalina/Avalon annually and of course had seen the…read moreInn right on the corner of Crescent and Sumner above Leo's Drug Store, but it was not until my stay last year at nearby Hotel Vista Del Mar that my interest in Snug was piqued. Last year, Vista and Snug were under the same ownership, which is no longer the case. Snug now has closer affiliation with Hotel Aurora a bit up the hill. Snug is a cozy and charming 6-room inn. There is staff on duty during the day; welcome in-room wine and snacks are provided as well as daily continental breakfast. There is no staff on the premises at night, although someone is on-call. My stay was lovely and somewhat surreal. I visited during the February rains which caused the cancellation of all Catalina Express boats on 2 days during my Avalon visit. This forced guests here for the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend to leave early or relocate. I ended up being the sole guest for my 2-night visit! And with minimal visitors on the island, evenings were also pretty quiet, despite being right above the main drag (Crescent). Snug does provide earplugs and eye masks if needed. I moved up my arrival date due to the weather and Snug was able to accommodate me, even offering the same room, which was the Santa Catalina room, the inn's "crown jewel" situated on the corner with two large bay windows, one facing Avalon Bay with Casino, Bay and pier views, the other with a built-in window seat facing Sumner and the hills above. All rooms have a fireplace and deep soaking jetted tub. The rooms are not particularly large but are full of charm, coziness and warmth. No robes or slippers, but there were 2 clock/music/alarm machines. Complimentary reusable water bottles are provided; there's a water/ice machine in the hall. The welcome snacks offered were olives, pretzels and high-end nuts (i.e., no peanuts). The continental breakfast was quite ample and includes a small loaf of warm banana bread, yogurt, fresh berries, granola, milk, juice and coffee or tea. You fill out an order slip as to what you want exactly and what time you want it delivered. There are 6 delivery times for the 6 rooms, which of course was not an issue for my stay. There is a common room with a sofa, fireplace and machine for coffee and tea. There is a closet for luggage storage, a public restroom and umbrellas. The front door is open 8-5, key access is needed in the off-hours. Shout-outs to the great staff I met--Jackie, Destiny and especially Johnny at the front desk and housekeeper/breakfast preparer Alicia. Overall a fabulous stay. I usually split my time on the island between Mt Ada and a property "downtown". Snug Harbor has moved to the top of my downtown list!

    We stayed here with a group of friends over the Christmas break, and they really took care of us…read more They bring breakfast in the morning, and the welcome platter is such a thoughtful touch. We loved hanging out in the common area, and the hot beverage bar was especially welcome in December. We usually avoid hotels because they tend to feel generic, but this place is the opposite -- a true boutique experience with only six rooms. The location is perfect, close to diving spots and great food, and the attention to detail is exceptional.

    Hotel Metropole - 4th floor balcony

    Hotel Metropole

    (394 reviews)

    $$

    First, we would love to give a huge shout out to Venessa at the front desk. Family and I, arrived…read moreon the island and we had 4 night reservation for another hotel. Long story short, after first one night we had to leave! I showed up at Venessa's desk telling her the story and in no time (hotel close to fully booked-summer break!), She found us a 2 queen room, got us an early complimentary check in (we've stayed at Metropole numberous time), but offered us a champagne in the room. What a hospitality! We did not expect this type of compation and problem solving, a true representative of Hotel Metropole. Now the pros: Location is amazing, navigation around the hotel or around it is perfect, close to everything, especially the breakfast shop on presmises and of course customer service. The room was exceptionally clean, I saw the service ladies actually mopping the floors after vacancy of other rooms. cons: second floor rooms overlooking the courtyard, get loud because of the shops. If you want to sleep in passed 9am, it's not happening. For some reason, shop people like to roll their garbage out either 6am or 11pm...at least when we stayed there which was June 9-12, 2026.

    I booked a Deluxe Sleeper for four people, expecting two queens as described on their site…read more Instead, they put our family in a single king room with one bed. After complaining, they moved us to a cramped king + twin sofa that was completely inadequate. They had already given away the room we reserved. They then stuck us in a depressing basement-level room with a terrible view of nothing but a wall, poles, and mechanical equipment. No operable windows -- just stale air. This is false advertising. Their "Deluxe" rooms do not deliver the views or comfort promised. We lasted one night and fled to the Atwater, where we immediately got a proper family room. The contrast was shocking. Management's response was a polished non-apology that called it a simple "mix-up" while offering to waive fees as a favor after ruining our trip. This was repeated incompetence. Do not book here. Hotel Metropole overpromises and delivers frustration; and you'll be stuck in a dark room underground with no operable windows. Stay elsewhere in Catalina.

    The Edgewater - View from pier/dock

    The Edgewater

    (92 reviews)

    $$

    Back to Edgewater again for another vacation in the tiny tiny town of Avalon. We booked the…read morestandard room with queen size bed. We always love the entrance: private door entrance walking up the stairway to the hotel. Hotel is on second floor. In this vintage and quaint 1930s building with no elevator. In fact many buildings on Catalina Island have no elevators. So be prepared to take the stairs. We always enjoyed staying here as it is small, modest, quiet, clean, and convenient. It has very comfortable bed with TV, ceiling fan, AC, and clean bathroom and towels. Simple and low key amenities for book lovers, introverts, and quiet ones. No loud party and drunken customers. No romantic thrill seekers- if you look for romance- please go to Dubai or Vegas or other hotels - as this one is perfect for us. Staff are always friendly. Management is always cordial and responsive. Summer is high season: high end hotels at Avalon range from $400 and up. We booked for about $260 -$300 a night as listed in Expedia. Downstairs are stores and restaurants. There is a coffee shop very close by plus other spots for breakfast. We would get coffee from local cafes in the morning, brisk walk, get some fresh air. Great way to start the day within walking distance to the beach, pier... Very relaxing air and place to be.

    We paid approx $2000 for two nights, this hotel was not worth even half that. The room was okay…read more They refuse to hold your bags before or after check in/check out. The worst part came when we wanted coffee in the morning, they advertise the rooms having a Keurig and K cups... nobody is going to want to use that when the water compartment is full of mold. Don't recommend staying here.

    The Avalon Hotel - Sunrise view from balcony room 101

    The Avalon Hotel

    (222 reviews)

    $$$

    We loved the hotel. Located on a side street and away from the busy Front Street shops and…read morerestaurants. We stayed two nights, and it was great. Our room offered a nice balcony with views of the bay. The bed was comfortable and cozy. The bathroom was large. We had cups and a coffee maker along with a mini fridge, so it was everything we needed for our two night stay. They offer a continental breakfast each morning out on the patio, which is a peaceful spot to just sit, enjoy the firepit, and koi pond. Or the roof deck is awesome with a BBQ, tables and chairs and stunning views. They also offer trays so you can take your breakfast back to your room and have breakfast in bed. Spoiled! The staff couldn't have been more helpful, friendly and accommodating. Evelyn was awesome, thank you for the smiles and truly wonderful service throughout our stay. Off the boat, we went to drop our luggage to store until check-in. Fortunately we were there during the week, and our room was ready earlier, so we chilled a bit before heading out to explore and have lunch. They also held our bags upon check out. After we returned from an adventure, they allowed us to sit on the patio and enjoy the sun before we had to be at our boat. We couldn't have asked for a better stay, and we will absolutely go back. Just a note for anyone who has mobility issues. The hotel is awesome, but note that you have to walk part way up a little hill to reach the stairs to the small lobby. There are stairs to the lobby and depending on which floor your room is located, there is no elevator, just stairs. For someone in a wheelchair or needing a walker and unable to climb stairs, it is not doable.

    My husband and I stayed at the Avalon hotel for 2 nights and had a great experience. The staff was…read moreso friendly and helpful! They held our luggage for us after we checked out while we waited for our ferry time to arrive. The reason one star was docked down was due to the fact it is located slightly up the hill & after cutting my foot on the rocks at the beach, was super hard to get up that hill, and their "breakfast" was only bagels and some other random pastry items. We've stayed at many hotels that offer free breakfast that have WAY more items to choose from, including a pancake/waffle bar, eggs, sausage & hash browns. For the price of the rooms, you'd think the hotel would offer more like a simple Best Western does. The room itself was clean and had a pretty view of the docks. Absolutely loved the staff though!!

    Hotel Atwater - Bistro at the hotel

    Hotel Atwater

    (518 reviews)

    $$$

    We really loved staying at the Atwater. The lobby is…read moreabsolutely stunning, great space if you have to meet your group, because there's plenty of places to sit. They offer water, both regular and cucumber. They also have a great luggage holding service so if you needs to check out before your boat leaves, you can have them hold your bags or if you arrive before check in. The rooms are very nice and feel very clean! The bed was big and comfortable, what I didn't like was have no chair in the room, I like to be able to sit not on my bed, but the bed, king size, was so big, there's no room for a chair. The sink is also separate from the toilet and shower, which has benefits, like I can get ready while my husband showers, but it made the bathroom feel very empty, also there were no counters in the bathroom area, so you couldn't set down tampons or your phone or clothes anywhere in the room except on the closed toilet lid, which isn't my favorite thing to do. May finding a small side table or something to put here would be really helpful. In general it is beautiful and very comfortable. I will definitely be back!

    My first time on Catalina Island was truly beautiful. The island was filled with charming…read morehole-in-the-wall restaurants, retail shops, and boutiques. The hotel we stayed at was nice, but it did have some drawbacks. There was only one elevator, so we had to rely on the steep stairs to get in and around the building. We booked a Classic King room, which was cute but quite limited in space. At 180 square feet, my husband and I had to be cautious about giving each other enough room to move around. To make matters worse, when we checked in, the linens on the bed had bloodstains, which was really off-putting. I had to call the front desk to request clean sheets, and it was a hassle for both of us, especially since we were exhausted. The housekeeping staff arrived close to 9 PM, and it took them some time to replace all the linens with clean ones. The room amenities were also limited. We had a mini fridge, a flat-screen TV, a hair dryer, and a small vanity chair, along with two complimentary splits of Prosecco on the first day, which my husband enjoyed. However, the last night raised concerns about the hotel's safety and security. Someone played a prank on us by knocking on our door but not answering. We called the front desk twice to report the incident, but security was unavailable to check the CCTV footage. My husband and I felt unsafe because we had no idea who was knocking. Brian, the front desk staff member on duty, was prompt in keeping us updated on his communication with security and the hotel manager. David, the hotel manager, later reached out to my husband, recognized the incident, and invited us to try their sister property, The Pavilion. In the end, our stay was pleasant overall. The seafood, drinks, and the Avalon vacation experience were very enjoyable.

    Mt Ada - The sitting room! (Ooops!  I forgot to clean up my knitting first!)

    Mt Ada

    (144 reviews)

    $$$$

    We love Mt Ada and have been visiting for many years since Suzie and Marlene were the attentive,…read morepersonal and most professional owners and concierge. The management has changed since and is now run by concierge who treated us like criminals, not guests. We were punished publically our first morning in the entryway by Liz demanding the keys to our golf cart with her hand outstretched. We broke their 4 persons to a golf cart rule when they observed via their spy cam late the cold night before that my son, after running up the hill to keep up with us, jumped aboard at the last minute and sat on the spacious bench seat with our two other kids. Liz continued to interrupt our breakfast defending her actions. We called the local police who said there is no law against 5 to a golf cart. The Inn feels more rule oriented now versus customer service oriented. Sadly much of the place is falling apart with plumbing issues, mold, rotting wood, stained carpet and peeling paint etc. We hope to return when new staff is hired and when they focus on the restoring this most precious historical Inn.

    I'm a bit of a Mt Ada regular; this was my 6th stay and, due to the rainy/windy weather, the most…read moresurreal. I stayed just after the long Valentines/Presidents Day weekend. All boats to and from Catalina Island were cancelled on 2 days of my visit, forcing other guests to change their travel plans. I ended up being the sole guest for all 3 nights of my stay here! With some whispers of Mt Ada being haunted (but not as many as Banning House Lodge in Two Harbors), I was a bit concerned, but fortunately had no paranormal experiences. To briefly review Mt Ada's history, it was once the Catalina home of William Wrigley Jr. and family, of chewing gum and Chicago Cubs fame. He was instrumental in putting Catalina "on the map", and his descendants still own the Catalina Island Company, which runs Mt Ada, Hotel Atwater, Pavilion Hotel and Banning House Lodge, as well as other businesses. All my stays at Mt Ada have been with the Company, although it was previously run as a private B&B. Mt Ada still runs as a B&B, as opposed to a hotel. It's a pricey stay but has many many perks that justify the expense. These include transportation to and from the boat or helicopter terminals, use of a golf cart throughout your stay, daily made-to-order breakfast and lunch, pre-breakfast continental breakfast, afternoon wine/cheese/charcuterie, 24-hour butler's pantry with snacks like gelato, chips, cookies and popcorn plus alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, discounts on Island Company tours and activities. Currently there are about 4 main people interacting with guests at Mt Ada, plus "behind the scenes" kitchen and housekeeping staff. My past reviews have mentioned a stay here is more like a visit to a home, as opposed to a hotel. There will be times when you may not see any staff (especially at night). But Pierre, Liz, Tim and Yoli (Yollie?) work their hardest to accommodate guest needs--they are the chauffeurs, front desk, waiters, luggage handlers, concierges, etc. I applaud them all. One of Mt Ada's pluses is its location on the hill (Mt Ada) above Avalon Bay, even above the main Bay viewpoint that all the rental golfcarts stop at (traffic jams are common here). It's quite peaceful, although in busy times the noise from "downtown" does carry uphill. Mt Ada has 6 rooms. The room I booked was the Grand Suite, Mr. Wrigley's former bedroom. It's the largest room, with a separate living and bedroom, a bathroom with a separate shower and tub, and a large terrace above the first floor terrace. It has a fireplace, as do 3 other rooms, and a raised bed that requires stairs to access, as does one other room. The living room has an antique "radio" that is seen in photos with Mr. Wrigley. There are radio stations hand-written on it; I was appalled to see "graffiti" defacing this historic relic. The terrace is fabulous, but alas the weather prohibited much use; I feared the high winds would blow the cushions on the chaise lounges over the railing. Even the dining tables on the first floor terrace were stored; in more temperate weather it's the loveliest place to enjoy breakfast or lunch. The breakfast and lunch menus have some new items and some old faves. Once again a fabulous and peaceful stay. Thanks again to all the staff. With the Pavilion Hotel reopening soon, Mt Ada may be the next property to undergo renovations. I hope it does not lose its charm or homey character.

    Hotel Vista Del Mar - hotels - Updated August 2026

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