We both enjoyed our stay at the Bellanca. Our reservation was for three nights and four days and…read morethey performed maintenance efficiently. They offer perks for paying guests: free bicycles and private sun deck for hotel lodgers. It's located to the left of the desk front but, feel free to inquire information from the clerk or hostess on shift

Great service, clean rooms and a bike that we could use yo. They took care of us throughout our…read morevisit.

Finally took the time and additional funds to see the inside of the Catalina Casino in Avalon…read moreCalifornia during a shore stop aboard the Quantum of the Sea from Los Angeles. It was a great stop, well worth the money and time. My wife and I have been to Avalon before and the outline of the Catalina Casino dominates the view from the harbor when looking North. I made the obvious mistake of thinking it was a place of gambling and didn't bother going, but later learned that during the 19th and early 20th century, the term 'casino' was used to mean 'a gathering place'. That was the goal of the original owner (William Wrigley, founder of the gum company that bears his name), when he built it in 1929, right during the times when 'talkies' started taking over the movie industry. A massive restoration occurred in 1994. It's walkable from where we got dropped off by the cruise port tender, so I bought two adult tickets online for $21.51 each, for the self-guided tour. There is also a guided tour available that takes a group back behind the stage. We got there right when it opened and the ticket taker already had our names to let us in. The first stop was the main theater on the ground floor, and as we entered it, I couldn't help by saying a long 'Wowwww'. There are 1164 original seats (reupholstered) and we sat in the very back row, admiring the theater and watching a bit of the silent movie that was playing. Cell reception did not work inside, and the free WiFi didn't work well in here either. A little while later, the guided tour came in, and we were able to listen to the guide explain the theater. Some fun facts: -- this was the first theater designed for 'talkies'. However, because it wasn't a sure thing that they would replace the old style silent movies, a Page Theatre Pipe Organ was also installed (which is now one of only three still in its original location...the others being in Indiana). It was broken for a while, but has recently been fixed. -- entire ceiling was covered in silver leaf. -- the acoustics are incredible. As the guided group talked in normal loudness near the orchestral pit in front, I could hear each conversation from the back, just as if the person was right next to me. -- the wall murals was designed by the same artist who did the mural at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. -- architects responsible for the building of Radio City Music Hall in NYC, came for a visit to examine the acoustics, as it was that good. The guided tour ended up going backstage. We then took a winding ramp (there is no public elevator) up to the 2nd floor. Here there was one room where a TV show was on, explaining the history of the island. Another ramp took us to the top floor where the 20,000 square foot grand ballroom is. (The ramps reminded me of a ballparks, and later I learned that it was intentional: Wrigley had requested it based on something similar that he liked from his namesake ballpark). The ballroom has been beautifully restored, with wooden floors and a rotating chandelier. One can roller skate on the floor with rented skates, though nobody was doing it when we were there, thus the floor was empty. There is also a concession stand selling snacks. The height of the casino is equal to a 12-story building, and provides some really great views of Avalon, specifically the bay, from the Romance Promenade that surrounds the ballroom. My wife and I slowly circled it, admiring the views. We did notice the small cove where many snorkelers were admiring the plentiful orange-colored garibaldi. The entire stay lasted about 75 minutes which we felt was about the right amount of time. Would highly recommend if not been there before.

One of the coolest parts about visiting is learning the history-most people assume it used to be a…read moregambling casino because of the name, but it actually never was! It was built as a community gathering space, and the word "casino" just meant "social gathering place" in Italian back then. Getting to explore the building at your own pace is fantastic. The inside is beautiful, and I loved seeing the massive, classic ballroom and the old roller skating area. The absolute highlight, though, is stepping out onto the terrace. The views of Avalon Harbor and the ocean from up there are stunning, and it's easily one of the best photo ops on the entire island.

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!

I am in awe of how misleading the description of this inn is. Especially the San Nicolas room!…read moreFrom the website re: the inn: "From the moment you arrive, the pace of the mainland slips away, replaced by sea air, harbor light and the quiet thrill of being somewhere truly special." What we experienced from the MOMENT we arrived - absolute CHAOS. We were greeted with a horrible rotten egg stench as soon as we opened the door, steep stairs with no one elevator (yes that's on their q&a but just another annoyance), violence and screaming in the streets after dark until 3 am, bass from surrounding bars shaking the building until 2 am, overpowering chemical smell in rooms, single pane glass that sounds like people on the street are in the room with you, gaslighting owners and managers (Melissa - not Jackie), unreliable communication, absolute ripoff for what you have to put up with. Melissa ultimately minimized my concerns by saying "nobody else complained". Okay, and? People have different tolerance levels, different health issues, even if it was someone's first time at the snug harbor inn maybe it wasn't their first time to the island. Maybe they didn't care. Maybe they didn't have the energy to complain. That shouldn't invalidate my experience and the lack of transparency. Can you honestly say you laid the framework for guests to make an informed decision? Did you provide transparency around potential barriers guests may experience during your busy season? No. This went beyond just a fun foam party during the daytime hours, there were literal violent fights and screaming in the streets BOTH nights until 3-4 AM. See videos below from Saturday night around 1:30 AM. I do acknowledge they can't control this behavior but they can and SHOULD add transparency for folks who are expecting a soft experience based on their own misleading advertising. The unprofessional manager, Melissa, also loves to blame-shift. She told us we could press 0 or call a number provided if we experienced issues again on the second night. I called 2-3 times throughout the night and it rang endlessly. By this point I was exhausted and didn't even think to get the physical number from the end of the hall and just assumed they weren't answering. When Melissa told me she never received a call the next day I was shocked but instead of being apologetic she said "if it was me, I would have walked down the hallway and got the number". I'm so sorry, in hindsight, if I wasn't running off of 4 hours of sleep collectively over 48 hours I would have gotten dressed at 3 am and gone to the end of the hall after pressing 0 didn't "work". Not sure how I was supposed to discern between it not "working" vs someone not answering. Funny how pressing 0 during business hours worked just fine. Either way, what a ridiculous process to shoulder the burden of breaking up riff raff to the guest and then blameshift when the thing you said would work didn't... While I would love a full refund, I firmly believe we are entitled to at least one night of a refund because of the misleading description on the website and we couldn't make a truly informed decision. I was told they would consider updating the website in the future but that benefits my husband and I in no way. The right thing to do is provide a refund for tainting our visit to Catalina with 0 reprieve from street violence and drunken debauchery.

We had an incredible experience at the new El Encanto Spa on Catalina Island! From the moment we…read morewalked in, the atmosphere was peaceful, beautiful, and the perfect place to unwind. Our massage therapists, Alison and Ramona, were absolutely outstanding. They were professional, attentive, and truly skilled at what they do. They took the time to make sure we were comfortable and customized the experience to our needs, leaving us feeling completely relaxed and refreshed. The spa itself is gorgeous, and it's such a wonderful addition to Catalina Island. If you're visiting Avalon and looking for a relaxing spa day, I can't recommend El Encanto Spa enough. Be sure to request Alison or Ramona--you'll be in amazing hands! Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our trip!

I had such an incredible experience at the Spa at El Encanto. The property is absolutely beautiful…read moreand I especially want to recognize my massage therapist, Ali (Allison) for making such a meaningful difference in how I felt. I booked a 60 minute massage, but this was definitely not your typical massage. From the moment the session began, Ali truly listened to my body and paid attention to what I needed. She went above and beyond to make sure I was comfortable. I had been experiencing horrible lower back and knee pain 2 months prior to my appointment. About a month before my appointment, my back had gone out on me, and it took more than 3 weeks before I was able to move around comfortably again. Ali was very attentive to my limitations and needs and worked with me carefully and thoughtfully. When my 60 minute session was over, I was amazed that I could walk better and that so much of my back and knee discomfort had eased. I honestly felt like a completely different person walking out of the treatment room. Ali also worked on my abdomen area, which was something I had never experienced during a massage before. She explained that some of the discomfort I was experiencing in my back could be connected to my stomach, and she was right! Since my session, I have noticed that my digestion has been much better as well. I also feel mentally clearer and more relaxed. The benefits weren't just physical....I genuinely felt better emotionally as well. For reference I am a 52 year old female, and this experience made such a difference for me that I am already planning another trip out to the island and have already booked my appointment with Ali for a 90 minute session this time. In my opinion, Ali isn't just a wonderful massage therapist, she is truly a healer. I am incredibly grateful for the care and attention she gave me. After my massage, I decided to enjoy the spa a little longer and treated myself to lunch at the cafe. The food was delicious, healthy, and Mediterranean inspired. The staff at the cafe was also wonderful, the service was superb. It was the perfect way to end the day. I also want to mention how kind and welcoming everyone was. When I booked my service, Tina greeted me and was very accommodating and friendly. When I arrived the day of my service, I was greeted by Denise who showed me around the spa and answered any questions I had. Everyone including the employees at the gift shop on the property were all incredibly sweet, friendly, and helpful as well. The entire experience felt warm and special from beginning to end. I highly recommend the Spa at El Encanto, and if you have the opportunity to book with Ali, I absolutely recommend her. If not, I am pretty certain that all the therapists give 5 star treatments. I walked in feeling like my body needed help and walked out feeling lighter, more comfortable, and more clear minded. I am so grateful I found her.

We stayed at Hotel Vista Del Mar over the Fourth of July weekend, and it blew us away!…read more The location is absolutely unbeatable--right across from the beach and the pier, and in the heart of all the shops, restaurants, and everything Avalon has to offer. We were able to walk everywhere, which made our trip so convenient. The views from the lobby's seating area on their balcony just cannot be beat. Looking out over the ocean and the beautiful surroundings of Catalina (including the famous Catalina Casino) every morning and evening on the lobby balcony was something my family and I loved doing together. Other guests from the hotel also come out to look at the views, and it's a great time to say hi to your neighbors. Our room was beautiful--very clean, tastefully decorated, and felt both elegant and comfortable. The fireplace in our room was a great touch, as well as the ice cold A/C! There was a large flat screen, as well as mini fridge in our room. The room was very well maintained and taken care of. The hotel also offers complimentary amenities that made our stay even more enjoyable. The Wi-Fi was free and reliable, there was coffee, tea, and creamer available each morning in the lobby, refreshing ice water with lemon throughout the day, and warm cookies and milk in the evening--a small touch that made us feel right at home. The highlight of our stay was the outstanding staff. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and genuinely went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Their hospitality made a great stay even better. My family and I highly recommend Hotel Vista Del Mar. Between the exceptional location, stunning views, beautiful rooms, thoughtful amenities, and amazing customer service, there is nowhere better to stay in Avalon!

We stayed here over the 4th of July weekend and it was amazing. The service is outstanding, the…read morerooms are very large and elegant, and the views are perfect. We watched the 4th of July parade from the private balcony, and even had a visit from the USC band! They serve warm cookies and milk in the lobby. Delicious!

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.

First time at Avalon and our stay was pretty decent. So it's a small walk to the hotel from the…read moredock. And you're rolling your suitcase along the textured walkway in town. There's a slight hill walking up to the hotel and then we asked for the ocean view room which was on the 3rd floor so stairs cuz there's no elevator. The room is small and ok. It's an older hotel so the bathroom was small too. The view was nice from our room but it had frequent traffic on the street. We got there in time for happy hour and found average cheese, crackers, grapes, pepperoni, red and white wine. We took our food and drinks to the balcony and enjoyed the warm sun and view of the ocean. The free breakfast was fine, it's nothing fancy. But there is warm egg patties, sausage links, potatoes, bagels and English muffins to toast, cold cereal, coffee, hot tea, and a water & ice dispenser. We used the ice and water a lot to hydrate and skipped buying bottled water. The room had a refrigerator, coffee maker, microwave but no hair dryer. Overall nice stay and would return.

We had such a wonderful stay at the Aurora Hotel while celebrating my partner's 40th birthday, and…read moreI can't say enough good things about the experience. Before we even arrived, Parker went above and beyond to arrange a champagne setup in our room to kick off the birthday weekend. Walking in to find that waiting for us -- along with lovely chocolates on the bed -- immediately made the stay feel special and thoughtful. The room itself was beautiful, clean, and scenic, with a charming partial ocean view. It felt cozy and adorable, but elevated enough that it didn't feel old-school at all. We also really appreciated having a refrigerator and microwave -- such a nice, practical touch. The Friday night happy hour wine and cheese was delicious and perfect to bring up to the rooftop deck. The views up there are spectacular and made for great photo opportunities. Breakfast was exactly what you want before a day of exploring the island -- eggs, pancakes, fresh coffee, mimosas, bagels with cream cheese, and cereal. Everything was yummy and hit the spot. We enjoyed it on Saturday morning, and it was the perfect start to the day. On departure day, Parker kindly held our bags so we could continue exploring and grab a meal at The Lobster Trap before heading out. That level of hospitality, flexibility, and kindness really stood out. From start to finish, the service, warmth, and helpful suggestions for exploring the island were truly above and beyond. With so many options on Catalina Island, I'm incredibly grateful we chose the Aurora Hotel. Huge thanks to Parker and the entire team for making this stay so memorable -- we would absolutely return.

What a beautiful gem in Avalon! Booked two Courtyard View, King-Ensuite-Superior Rooms. Our trip to…read moreCatalina was to celebrate my daughter's 35th birthday. After booking online on their website, I received a call from Jackie to confirm my requests. A day before we were to arrive at the hotel, Daniel called me to confirm and asked if I had any questions or needed anything just to give them a call. This was the first time I have ever been called directly when I booked a hotel room. It made this experience alone such a wonderful thing, even before getting to the hotel! Jackie checked us in and gave us all of the information we needed about the hotel and our stay. Both rooms were very clean and just the right size. The rooms were equipped with air conditioning, television, coffee maker, plenty of clean towels, hotel toiletries, and hair dryer. They also have beach towels and irons available at the office. This hotel is located at the center of it all. Right as you exit the hotel downstairs, you see the gorgeous view of the beachfront, and then all of the shops and restaurants right along the hotel. You are close to everything! This hotel is family/kid friendly! My 4 year old grandson came on this trip with us and everyone at Hotel Mac Rae was very accommodating. Because of the location, it was wonderful to be able to come back to the hotel to reset after going on our excursions and doing activities. Jackie, Daniel, and staff helped make this a memorable experience for all of us! For future trips to Catalina, we already know where we will be staying! Thank you Hotel Mac Rae!!

I like this hotel because it's right in the center of everything. The rooms require some…read morerenovations but honestly, I wasn't in the room enough for it to be an issue. Two issues that I had was that there was dried feces on the rim of the toilet, which was absolutely disgusting. The other is that they didn't have body wash. Two stars because the toilet thing was just two much, it deserved to have two stars removed.