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Catamaran Resort Hotel
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Hotels, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
3999 Mission Blvd(between Pacific Beach Dr & Wavecrest Ct)
San Diego, CA 92109
Neighbourhood: Pacific Beach
(858) 488-1081
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Touristy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
124 reviews for Catamaran Resort Hotel
Review Highlights
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"the parking structure is exactly across the tower." In 18 reviews -
"Fun environment with the Hawaiian theme and Luau." In 8 reviews -
"It is located within walking distance of both." In 3 reviews
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124 reviews in English
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Review from Courtney M.
Santa Clara, CA
4/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wow its been a while since i've written a review... woops! Life just gets crazy I guess!
I stayed here for two nights when surprising the boy, and it was fantastic. We had a great room, bay view with a big balcony. Trust me, my eyes widened a LOT when walking into the room and seeing what was in front of me! I would suggest paying that little bit extra to have such a gorgeous view in the mornings. I didn't eat brunch there at all but I hear its amazing... And I love breakfast so I wish I tried it. Walking around the resort is just stunning as well... you feel like you're in a jungle, but yet the bay is right there! Best of both worlds! The hot tub is huge so its nice to feel like you don't have to eavesdrop on everyones conversation... Did i say eavesdrop? I meant "try to ignore"...
We also had bathrobes in the closet which I didn't notice until our last morning, so check in there when you get in! I dont know about you but I feel way classier with a hotel bathrobe on. Just something about it I guess..!!
I will definitely come back to this gorgeous resort and make sure to try that breakfast. Check it out! -
Review from Tia T.
Tucson, AZ
3/30/2012 3 photos
We are a family of 3, the hubster, myself and a "do it myself" 4 year old.
We stayed here for 3 nights beginning on a Monday and leaving on Thursday.
We checked in and I graciously asked if there was anyway I could get an upgrade to a bay view and they quickly complied and gave us a room in the tower! I was truly grateful. We checked in quickly and parked next to the tower.
Our room was comfy, a little dated and needed some TLC like, the toaster was broken (but we didn't even have a toaster in the other room so beggars can't be choosers) and the balcony door looked like it was duct taped along the edge and then removed. It wasn't unsafe just unsightly.
Our room was much bigger than I had thought in the videos online.
We could hear the people open their windows up and downstairs but not enough to bother us much. We slept soundly on the 5th floor all 3 nights.
The room had a fridge and stove! That was nice since we were able to make breakfast in the morning. There was the usual amenities, safe, robes, coffee maker and flat screen TV.
We would just roll out of bed, take the elevator down and walk about 200 feet to the bay! It was great.
We wanted to ride the Bahia Belle boat but they don't run daily in March, only on Thursdays.
The heater and AC worked fine in our room.
Room Service was quick and friendly. We ordered pizza (a large is really large! About a 12 inches. The wings were tasty and hot.) and breakfast (banana pancakes, fruit loops and american breakfast, all good tasting).
For the number of days we were there, we didn't interact with tons of staff but the ones we did meet were nice and friendly.
I would stay again. -
Review from Karen W.
Tempe, AZ
We were deciding on a few different hotels to stay at for a weekend work conference and thought the Catamaran would provide good rooms and a very convenient location. The resort itself is beautiful, lush, and tropic. The rooms, another story. We booked a hotel+airline rate on Travelocity which apparently means you get stuck with the cheap @ss room none of the staff care about. Upon using the shower, the water would constantly and noisily drip from the shower head, despite many repeated attempts from me and my husband to fix it. We called maintenance, who seemed to fix the problem and the drip, only to find out that the loud dripping noise was back the next time we used the shower.
Our room came with a mini fridge, which was nice. What wasn't so nice was coming into our room to find that the cabinet the fridge was housed in was so old that the hinges separated from the door (see photo). We also noticed that the toilet lever was not completely attached, and just hanging out at an odd angle from the toilet (photo also included).
I've stayed at quite a few hotels in different price ranges, and sadly, although the hotel itself might be nice, the room they gave us was one of the worst maintained I've ever been in. We were hoping to find a nice room to get some rest after a long day of meetings, but instead we found the hotel room equivalent of The Money Pit. If we stay at a hotel in San Diego again, I'm taking my money elsewhere.Comment from Andy T. of Catamaran Resort Hotel 3/8/2012
I would first like to apologize for the condition of the… More » -
Review from Steve B.
Pleasant Hill, CA
5/20/2012
If you want to be central to the action in Pacific Beach this is the place. Waking distance to the beach and the bay, all of the restaurants, bars, and shops as well. The views from the tower are great, parking is easy, on site restaurants are good, lots of activities to choose from. The rooms are simple and clean, plenty of space. You don't spend much more time in the room other than to sleep. The beds are good. I would come back!
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Review from Dan H.
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Almost a 5 star because of my $129 rate (+$13 self park) but a definite 4 starer regardless.
Great smiling staff: check
Nicely manicured grounds: check
Recent remodel (central tower): check
3 species of exotic ducks roaming about: check
Accessible via bicycle w/o going through the lobby: check
So effing quiet (room 161, end of hall, ground floor): check
Frikken flock of talking parrots complete with name tags: check
For $129 with bay frontage, and 1 block from the ocean? Cmon! Steal. -
Review from Chris S.
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here with family to visit some family and I didn't think that this place was bad at all. The lobby was nicely designed with tropical plants and a big waterfall emptying into a koi pond. The hotel grounds are very pretty with water fowl bumping along the sideways and parrots out on display. The room itself was nice and clean and I couldn't point out any faults with it. The pool area was also nicely set up. I only ordered up room service one time (a breakfast quesadilla), this was a pretty awesome breakfast then what I was expecting. I never really partook in any beach activities but you can tell they had a nice set up. All in all I would recommend this resort for anyone staying in this area.
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Review from Daphney B.
San Diego, CA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
My girlfriends and I attended the Vavi NYE party and decided to be responsible by staying the night.
Whether it was a "Can I get you a bellboy?" to a passing "Hello, enjoy your visit." the staff was amazingly friendly and acknowledged us throughout the visit. I saw them around all the time too-definitely a very active resort/hotel.
There were two full beds and a sofa pullout bed, plus plenty of floor space to fit more friends. Everything was clean and arranged well. We were in the tower-close to the parking garage & close to the lobby. I would recommend taking the stairs down and the elevator up because there was a longer wait with only one elevator on the side we were on. So they may need to upgrade the stove, but the fact that there was a fridge & sink (aka mini kitchen) is a win! No going back-n-forth for ice or filling the tub with ice. (C'mon, we've all done it!) Cold drinks, in the room, easy.
The location is great-easy access to lots of PB. We had post-NYE brunch in the hotel, so look for my review on Atoll Restaurant.
Next time, I am trying the spa... -
Review from Christopher O.
El Dorado Hills, CA
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
A little pissed that they "attempted" to put us in the highest traffic room...
Directly above the entrance to the tower...
Across from the elevators....
Next to the stair case...
On the 2nd floor...
With single pain windows...
AH HELL NO! We kindly requested another room and the first girl was like... It's going to cost you at least $75 per night to upgrade... Really... so that's how it's going to be!?!? Girl number 2 trumped #1 and gave us a free upgrade to the room across the hall.
Okay, fair enough, that knocked out 3 of the 4 issues I had previously.
Overall the place was REASONABLE. That is why I gave them 1 extra star.
OH SNAP!!!
Let me not forget that the shower was TOTALLY LAME! Scortching hot one second and ice cold the next!!! It was an emotional disaster and I wanted nothing more than to curl up like the Crying Game in the shower.
O -
Review from Angela T.
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
This review is primarily for the grounds and conference center as I did not stay here overnight. Came for the UCSD brain tumor conference, I absolutely loved the location, one block from the beach, several coffee shops and restaurants within walking distance. The grounds were well manicured, Hawaiian themed, with pretty plants everywhere (sorry in a girl) and a nice stream going through the walkway, there were all kinds of birds taking advantage of this great setup. If I were a bird I totally set up shop here, this is the life. Anyways onto the conference room, it kinda reminded me of a hunting lodge with the steepled ceilings and large chandeliers, but it was large enough so you don't feel cramped, a little too warm, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Fantastic view from here, so when you need to stretch your legs you can walk out, check out the ocean and come back in.
Next time I will give the rooms a try, for $129 a night and $13 for parking, this is a good deal for San Diego area, especially this close to the beach. Ok onto mimosas. -
Review from Casey S.
Reno, NV
4/30/2012
Not sure about the bad reviews on Yelp but we had an awesome time here in April 2012. Flew in Friday afternoon for a getaway with the girlfriend and stayed until Sunday. Hotel grounds were immaculate and many ornate and beautiful birds hanging around the common areas. We had a 10th floor studio facing the bay and it was amazing. Open the oversized sliding glass door and listen to the nearby waves crashing! Nice room and kitchenette including oven, stove, fridge, freezer, dishes, bowls, etc. Do yourself a favor and take a cab to the resort (saves the $13 per pay parking charge) and rent a couple of beach cruiser bikes. There are plenty of bike paths littered with restaurants, bars, shops, whatever you could need. The hotel bar was small but service was good and drinks were great. We rode the complimentary stern-wheeler to the Bahia and spent an hour over there checking out the sea lions and singing karaoke (badly). I can't comment on the food as we never ate at the Catamaran but it certainly looked good. There were no silly charges on my bill at checkout, just taxes. All the staff were very polite and we never waited for anything. I would have given it 5 stars but, like most San Diego properties, the buildings do have that warmed-over 70's look.
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Review from B. N.
Sacramento, CA
10/2/2011
I had high hopes coming to this hotel as it was recommended to me by a friend.
Let's start with the good things:
1) It's across the street from Mission Beach and has it's own private bay in the back.
2) There are a lot of small eateries in walking distance.
3) The staff is polite.
The bad:
1) The rooms are outdated. I mean, the AC/heating unit is really pathetic. If you are going to charge your guests $200 nights or more, it's really time to get that ungraded. Also, the room decor needs a face lift.
2) The room had a bad musky smell that was hard to ignore.
3) It's loud! I mean, I understand that other guests can be loud but the pipes made a loud belch throughout the night and the walls are thin.
4) The area surrounding the hotel (not the hotel itself) is kind of trashy.
You are paying for the wonderful location, not a luxury hotel. If you are interested in being a beach bum, this place is perfect for you. -
Review from Stephanie M.
11/14/2011
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place! We found it when looking for travel deals to San Diego and decided to give it a shot, and we are so glad we did.
The rooms are slightly outdated but everything seemed to be functioning fine and I think that part of the charm is the 1960s tiki resort atmosphere. The hotel overall feels just like a Mexican resort with the pool, hot tub, parrot habitat (yes, you can stop by for a conversation with the parrots on your way to the lobby) and general resort vibe. Great gym with very modern equipment, too. It is also right on the beach, so in addition to having somewhere else to sun yourself other than the pool and being able to eat breakfast outside overlooking the water, you can easily walk a few steps to rent a boat or surfboard and play in the ocean. The downside to being in Pacific Beach is it is a $30 cab ride or easy 20 minute drive downtown, but the tradeoff is worth it to feel like you're staying in a true beach/resort town. Plus, there is more than enough to see and do within walking distance.
The hotel also offered some neat perks, for example happy hour with cheap drinks and half price appies in the lounge from 4-7pm. We also got a $40/day breakfast credit with our hotel booking and so were able to enjoy mimosas with breakfast every day without splurging too much. (The breakfasts were amazing and always nicely presented, too - there was no skimping on quality or quantity.) Finally, they offer a boat cruise around the bay which leaves hourly every night from 7pm to midnight and gave each of us one free pass for that.
The best part of the resort was definitely the helpful and friendly staff. They had great recommendations as to where to eat, drink and explore, and provided perfect directions to wherever we needed to go. Based on location, atmosphere and the super friendly and helpful staff, we would definitely return. -
Review from Georgeann G.
Phoenix, AZ
8/1/2011
I would have probably given this place 3 stars if it wasn't for the baby ducks. They have baby ducks swimming around! How can you give anything less than 4 stars to baby ducks!?
Yes, the rooms are a bit outdated and they definitely up charge for the great location, but the grounds are gorgeous, the staff is friendly, and there are freaking baby ducks. Also, once you get past the $400/night room charge, which is just obnoxious, everything else is pretty reasonably priced. I don't think you're going to get much cheaper than $400/night for a hotel on the beach in San Diego anyway, so you might as well stay where they have baby ducks.
One thing I'd suggest that I wish we would have done is call ahead to get a more detailed description of the rooms. We booked a "Studio Suite with Bay View" thinking it would be large with a nice view. It was definitely large. Our room ended up having a full kitchen (complete with a full size refrigerator, stove, and sink) which I guess is nice, but we didn't really need it. I barely need a full kitchen in my apartment. It also only came with two queen beds, which we didn't realize until we checked in and they were already full. So yeah, unless you need a full size kitchen on your vacation, you could probably save some money and get a more appropriate room by not selecting the "Studio Suite". Definitely get the view though, because that was totally worth it.
I'll admit I was a little worried after reading some reviews that we would regret staying here, but it ended up being a great time. I'd stay here again, just maybe in a different room and maybe just for the baby ducks. -
Review from Tara N.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here for a conference, and had a nice experience. Food was excellent, staff was nice, rooms were spacious though outdated. The grounds were nice and the beach is absolutely beautiful. Worth a trip!
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Review from Robin C.
Dana Point, CA
3/5/2012
The hotel was nice enough but we had a room that was directly next to the birds. I have 2 small children who still take naps during the day and it was IMPOSSIBLE for them to sleep with all the noise and chatter from the birds. We asked to be moved but the only other room they had was in the tower and we had specifically asked to be in a room facing the bay with the grass so the kids could play outside. The birds noise truly ruined our weekend. They did buy us dinner and gave us a discount on the room but I wish they would have mentioned how loud the birds are. No amount of money made up for dealing with 2 small kids without naps.
The shower was also a nightmare, the water went from boiling hot to cold in a instant. I would not stay here again but the staff seemed friendly enough and food was just okay and overpriced. Bar staff seemed stressed and overwhelmed all the time. -
Review from christy k.
Los Angeles, CA
11/25/2011
The Hotel was o.k. But the gym could have been open later for people that really want to work out. They close it at 9:00 pm.
The room service for dinner was terrible. I get better tasting food at Denny's, and the veggies and bread and coffee was not worth 41.95 + tip $6, I know I must be cheap, but I want quality if I'm paying $48 for that. I started going to places like Ralph's 2 blocks away to get better food. No room service after 10 or 11 pm depending on how they feel that day. The hotel was fine enough to sleep in, but for the lack of luxury it was too pricey at 150+ a day and no good food available or open gym, etc.
When you have found luxury hotels in Europe that give you your own private pool in your own yard at $135 a night, you begin to compare these things.
I would go back at a better rate because it is on a bayside beach (not on the ocean) photo is misleading, although it is still very quaint.
Cleaning staff is friendly if you can speak more than english, and know how to ask for towels or soap, etc... Good thing I do.
Front desk is friendly.
The bar needs a make-over. Very little could change so much.
I would return if I found a better rate than $150 a night. -
Review from Carole G.
7/13/2011
This is a 2-star place pretending to be a 5-star place but would really only get 3-4 stars if it was good.
My experience here was less than great. We arrived to find the valets in heavy, private conversation with one another and received no welcome greeting other than a, "You can't leave your car parked there; I'm going to have it towed!," shouted at our backs as we walked in the front door. Nice reception!
Then, we were put in the wrong room in a crappy place for all of the money it cost and it was plenty. And when I say wrong, I mean we got two double beds instead of the king I reserved and so when I called to ask for a room change, I got an argument about what you do and don't get when you make a reservation. They did change our room and the new one was much nicer but still never worth the prices here, IMHO.
Staff was not very friendly; most would look down to the ground and avoid eye contact if they passed you on the grounds. Our room was not cleaned in the morning the next day until very late in the day. I had to call the housekeeping staff who really never understood what I was trying to say.
Had several meals in the restaurant which were just good, not great, but priced 3 times more than they should be for what they were.
In order to really be of the caliber that this place pretends to be they need to up their game A LOT. They need to upgrade their carpets and rooms, provide robes for their clients and nicer products to use, train the staff in proper customer relations and drop the elitist attitude. I still wouldn't be back however; there are plenty of nice places to stay in Mission Beach.
Written in my travelogue: Thumbs down for a horrible, overpriced experience. Nicest thing here was the duck pond to be honest and I can see that everyday at home. -
Review from Rudy C.
Camarillo, CA
7/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The room price was a fiasco. The room smelled disgusting because it was close the the pond pumps and filter room. They have the nerve to charge extra for parking each day. I had a security guard greet me as "What's up, man." I expect much more from a so-called resort.
The animals around the resort were cute and well cared for, though. Oh and it was a nice, heated pool.
I honestly feel cheated and regret going there. -
Review from Rachel R.
San Diego, CA
8/6/2011
I used them as the venue for my wedding. It was beautiful, the weather was perfect and the staff was friendly. However here were some problems I ran into.
1. There was no mirror in my bridal 'get ready' room. When i asked for one from the front desk I was given the run-around and saying they can't do anything, i would have to talk to banquet...etc. C'mon guys, this should be common sense to put a mirror in a room where people are getting ready for a wedding. Not to mention, when I ask for one, just find one, dont make me talk to 5 different people on my wedding day.
2. I asked to speak with the Planner who was working on my wedding at least 3-4 times through the course of the morning just to answer a few questions I had. I said whenever she was free to come down (I knew she was probably busy) for a moment, or give me a call. Needless to say, I didn't see her till HOURS later. Sort of frustrating when I'm already frazzled.
3. They didn't decorate the honeymoon suite. No flowers, no champagne. This was sort of a bummer.
4. We had to stop our music/ stop our wedding because of this hawaiian show they were having. I didn't get notice about this until the day of. They included us in the show, which was fun but frustrating when Im paying for a DJ that I don't get to use for all the time I paid for.
5. One of the main dishes I wanted to include in the buffet dinner was MIA, and it was one of my favorite ones too :(
6. The front desk was always CLUELESS with anything going on. They didn't know I had my rehearsal going on, so people who were lost on where to go were wondering around aimlessly with no help.
BUT all things aside, it was a great time. The whole process working with Amber was enjoyable. I think they just need to fix these few things to make the wedding run a bit more smoothly and make the couple feel a bit more special. -
Review from Liz G.
Long Beach, CA
8/3/2011
I love this place! I got a deal on Travel Ticker to stay here for $99. per night, and it made the trip even better! I got to stay in one of their towers which over looked the bay and the ocean! It was rad! Our room had a balcony and it was so romantic. If you are a hotel guest you get a complimentary ticket to their evening cruise on the bay- that was fun. I got to rent kayaks on the bay and beach cruisers on the hotel property. Everything about my trip was fantastic! Oh! I can't forget about the employee at the front desk who checked me in, and helped with all of the accomodations- Nicole. She was super cool! Thank you Nicole!
I plan to come back here again even if I don't have a discounted rate. -
Review from Sarah S.
San Jose, CA
6/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Recently stayed at the Catamaran Resort with my husband and three kids.
From the moment we arrived the staff was very helpful and friendly. The grounds of the hotel are very green and lush. Nice restaurant for breakfast. Nice pool. Lovely beach access both on the bay side and the ocean side. Just a block from the hotel entrance is a beautiful strand filled with tons of restaurants and shops. Behind the hotel is a lovely beach with lots of activities and snack shack. Great walking and bike riding paths around the bay.
The room was really spacious with kitchen. It was really a great spot for our vacation. Would definitely return next time in SD. -
Review from Clarissa C.
Los Angeles County, CA
5/15/2011
I stayed here with my hubby for my b-day weekend. Totally forgot we had stayed at Catamaran years ago for a friend's wedding! I gotta say, it wasn't all that. There were nice things about the grounds. As far as the room goes, it was...uh, well, read on.
ROOM: 7th Floor by elevator in Tower. Bed cover looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a few years. Same with drapes. Floor had burn holes and something that looked like blood or chocolate. Balcony was nice. The view was kinda nice. We could catch a glimpse of the beach and we had a perfect view of the parking lot.
BATHROOM: Leaky shower, wouldn't ever completely turn off. Someone had not flushed well. There was still tp in the toilet. Also bowl looked like there were turd stains. I think it was just an over-used old toilet bowl with a chipped finish. No fan in bathroom. Hair dryer did not work.
HIGHLIGHT: Cool looking ducks in in Koi pond.
BAR: Actually that was pretty decent. Since we got to hotel 20 minutes before check-in and our room wasn't ready, so we headed to the bar. I had a Nutty Irishman and hubby had Rum and Coke. Drinks were good. Waitstaff friendly and attentive.
SPA: If you want to get a treatment, be sure to book ahead of time. I wanted to get something, anything for my birthday, and the lady at the front desk said they were booked until Tuesday.
PARKING: Valet $17/day; self-parking $14/day. Attendants very nice.
LOCATION: Good, near lots of shops and walking distance to different restaurants.
I've had so many better hotel experiences. For the price, I think I'll be checking out other hotels the next time I stay in San Diego... -
Review from Marlon O.
Van Nuys, CA
5/12/2011
On a summer vacation many years ago, I stayed at this place. I was sold just from reading and looking at the website. It looked like paradise!
In the pictures on their website they had a room looking out through a sliding door where it opened to the Koi pond/garden. I booked a room with the Koi pond/garden view and was looking forward to a relaxing stay.
Imagine my surprise when I checked-in and went to my room. Since the room was located on the second floor, I was treated with the wonderful view of the tree trunks of two palm trees! Where was the koi pond view??? Also, it was quite noisy since the room was located near the swimming pool.
Went back to the front desk and complained and they switched me to another room. It was still a second floor room but much quieter and the balcony overlooked the koi pond/garden. Not exactly what I had envisioned but it was better than the first room.
I also wanted a king-sized bed but the best they could offer was a room with two queen-sized beds. Not going very well. And for some reason the beddings made me itch and I was uncomfortable having the blankets over me. Wool blankets? really? For a luxury-type hotel?
The grounds are kept clean and well-groomed and the hotel is right next to the bay. They have a very nice and pleasing lobby that gives you impression of a luxury hotel.
For the price I paid, I expected more from this place and sad to say I've had better stays at Courtyard/Fairfield/Marriott. -
Review from Christiane D.
San Diego, CA
5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review is based soley on the main bar attached to the lobby, near the fountain.
The Catamaran Hotel provides it's patrons a great little bar that not only has strong, decently priced drinks, but a fun atmosphere to enjoy with family and friends. Not only can you hang out with friends in the main bar area, but you have the whole outside sit down area as well as a few casual seating areas located inside by the fountain/koi pond. We joined some friends and their son there on Saturday and it was nice because, as parents, they have a place to enjoy beverages and snacks but also their son has a spot where he can run around or relax that doesn't affect anyone else.
The staff was really friendly and the prices were too over the top for a hotel. What's more, is the Bahia Belle boat leaves from out back, so you have time to have a few drinks before you board the ship and enjoy live entertainment, a wonderful view of the bay & (if late enough) a nice fireworks show. -
Review from L P.
Berkeley, CA
8/25/2011
Excellent location. Can't beat it. Fabulous beach. Beautiful setting. Kids loved it.
However, we were disappointed with the room. Our "studio overlooking the garden" was on the second floor of a tower overlooking the parking garage. There were some palm trees in between (thank goodness). The website is quite deceptive in this regard. BEWARE.
The staff was nice enough. Not super nice. -
Review from Kristen M.
Hillsboro, OR
12/24/2010 5 Check-ins Here
Came here for a family vaycay and was hoping for at least a decent hotel.
Why is it 2 stars? Here are the DIRTS:
Room #1 - 400 building
-Lighting was dim
-Bathroom door DID NOT LOCK at all
-Sliding door to patio was UNLOCKED when entering the room (someone can just break in or walk in for this matter)
-A light switch that did not turn anything on/off (it's still a mystery)
-Woke up the next morning and found ANTS trailing along the nook area (and there was no food around!)
-Bathroom shower had a buildup of mildew
Because of that we changed rooms for the next night..... and I thought it would be better..........................
Room #2 - Big building, 11th floor
-Sliding door to balcony was already broken and didn't really close well.
-Since it rained that night, the carpet by the balcony sliding door was WET
-Television remote had no batteries
So what was great about the place?
-Bigger building had a nice view of the ocean and surrounding areas
-Cute ducks and koi fish in the lake to give a resort feel
-Pretty macaws and parrots by the lobby
-LOCATION
I think that's pretty much it.
Would I stay here again? Sorry probably not. -
Review from Hazel Q.
11/2/2010
I was really hovering between two and three stars here, but it comes down to this simple statement:
The only goddamn accessible power outlet in the entire hotel room was in the bathroom. (I didn't want to hurt your eyes, but imagine that all in caps and in an angry Lewis Black voice.)
Sure, there were upsides... like... Oh! I think the hotel grounds were pretty nicely kept up. And parking is a breeze.
But the downsides, oh the downsides. One of my main peeves in a hotel room: old scratchy bedding. Blarg. The WORST. Shower only, no tub - and it's kinda grimy.
And the worst - they have free wifi. Normally that'd be a huge plus, but it's a big giant cocktease when there are no accessible freaking plugins near the desk, or the bed, or anywhere other than the bathroom.Listed in: San Diego Hotels
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Review from Gabi M.
11/2/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Great location. Not so great overall experience. I recently stayed two nights at this hotel and was completely underwhelmed. The place needs a major face lift. The carpet, comforters, bathrooms, etc.. are old and seem grungy. There are no screen doors on the balcony and we accidentally let some killer mosquitos into the room. It's now almost a full week later and my nasty bites are still noticeable.
The staff was friendly enough but nothing about this hotel blew me away other than its central location in Mission Beach. Oh, and it has a decent fitness room / spa but with the water so close, we ended up going for a long walk outside... (the weather was a huge perk when we were there!)
I'll gladly spend a few more dollars to stay somewhere nicer next time.Listed in: Gabi Does Mission Beach
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Review from Andrew S.
Pasadena, CA
6/7/2011
I had a so-so experience staying at the Catamaran resort recently. They were nice enough to upgrade the room for us to some sort of very large suite, but the organization of the room was quite odd--the bedroom was next to a very thin door which allowed a lot of noise into the room and the floor plan was just kind of odd. Still it was really nice to have a kitchen stocked with wine glasses and flatware. I was somewhat horrified that there were pee pee stains on our toilet though. Also, they tried to charge us for a dining charge that we did not incur. So all these little oddities prevented me from giving more than 3 stars.
One redeeming feature is the spa, which was really nice.
The macaws located near the check-in area say a bunch of funny stuff, so don't miss out on them when they do a feeding in the AM! -
Review from Ashley B.
San Jose, CA
11/22/2010
I stayed at this resort for a music conference. I was instantly intrigued by the lobby... they really play into the 'resort' feel. Lots of rocks and water... beautiful fish, ducks, even Macaws! All taken very good care of, of course. The pool is lovely, but the HUGE hot tub was the kicker for me. Right next to the hot tub, there is a pool room with a pool table and various arcade games. This would have been fun, but even though this was a private resort, they charged for both the pool table (per GAME) and the arcade, I decided my time was better spent at the beach totally off of the resort grounds.
The location is great. You get both views of Mission Bay and Pacific Beach. Loved that.
The kitchens were small, but useful. I made a delicious breakfast one morning- thanks to the stove/oven/toaster/fridge in our room! The bathroom was small, but I saw really lovely bathrooms in other rooms. The elevator in the tower takes a LONG time when there's an event at the resort and everyone needs to get to the same place at the same time. This didn't bother me- I was on the 2nd floor and would rather take the stairs anyhow- but my friends on the 12th floor were, understandably, a bit peeved.
Aside from little things here and there, I really had a lovely time. They keep their grounds impeccable, their location is fantastic, and the staff isn't eager, but certainly amenable. -
Review from Dave N.
Hicksville, NY
1/5/2011
Great hotel overall..fairly priced.
Stayed here NYE and the 1/1 and was satisfied overall with my stay. Rooms were nice and clean and it cost me $200 for NYE and $150 for New Year's Day.
View from my room was great and the view from the restaurant was even better (overlooking the pacific). Staff was all extremely friendly and accommodating (we're not difficult by any means, but they had no problem following any request that we had).
No complaints really...everything was what I expected and I enjoyed my stay. Given your many options in the PB area, you could do a lot worse than the Catamaran. -
Review from Jessica T.
San Diego, CA
11/1/2011
Rock 105.3 was hosting Boo Ball this year at the Catamaran...so, I get a room...why not? It's Halloween (!!!)...this will be awesome! The room works out to about 240 total...kinda high because I know that part of town well...grew up there...it's a beach town and sort of grimey...so 240 is a bit insane. Ah well... We arrive and I'm totally (told you I'm from there) disappointed. From the outside, you can kind of tell they're going for the exotic look but it just looks dated...way dated. There are two full size beds...who does full size anymore?!!! Resort??? Again, the room is way dated...nothing about that room justified the price of 240. I have had premium rooms in downtown for that price. On top of that...we were told to keep it down at 7PM....yes, that's right...7PM. NEVER getting a room there again.
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Review from Anton T.
San Diego, CA
6/24/2010 4 photos
Champagne brunch:
Fairly average buffet-style champagne brunch for the type of location (relatively higher-end, water-front, tourist resort) and, thus, the price range.
Of course there was plenty of appetizing food; however, little of it was extraordinary.
Highlights:
Strawberries with Grand Marnier sauce on top of bread pudding. This dessert was the most delicious dish during the entire brunch. Despite being quite pleasant, the sauce was cooked with green peppercorns, which although some recipes call for this, I found it slightly unappetizing and had to dig out all of the little peppercorns.
Another plus about the location is the fact that it is on the shore of the bay. This presents one with the option to take a dip in the bay to cool down from the heat and take a slight break from the brunch before going back for more. I gladly obliged to take advantage of the proximity of the bay and went in for a quick swim.
The rest:
As mentioned, the rest of the food was fine, however, missing anything special.
Common for such brunch establishments, there was a plethora of seafood including, shrimp, oysters, crab, and various nigiri.
Slight gripe with the oysters: too big. Bit of an issue with the crab: too small.
Overall, dessert and proximity to water were delightful, albeit the non-dessert food was just somewhat average. -
Review from Narinka A.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2011
I liked this hotel. We had an amazing view from our room and the staff was amazing. Sure, it's a bit on the pricey side, but when you come during the summer when they have fireworks every night, it's pretty awesome! Clean rooms and no issues with the bathroom (thank God!)
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Review from Danny W.
1/4/2010
I bounced around to a few parties on NYE, but ended up spending the majority of the big night at the Catamaran for the Vavi party. I didn't go to this shindig last year, but after reading the reviews it was obvious that the organizers felt they needed to step up they're game. I got to hand it to them they put together a pretty spectacular event this go around. It seemed all of the problems that I read about the previous year were not only solved, but one-upped.
The Catamarans staff was ultra friendly and poured drinks not only with an Irish elbow, but with an Irish elbow that had been dislocated in a downward angle. Thanks to their heavy pours I'm making an addition to the urban dictionary todescribe how I've felt the past few days. I had a thrangover (three day hangover)
Aside from the friendly staff the rooms were cozy and comfortable. I didn't actually sleep in the bed just had a few after-party cocktails in a buddies room.
The location of this property is one of the main selling points. It's right on Mission Bay and during the day is a spectacular place to go for a jog/ bike ride and enjoy San Diego for one of it's greatest perks--the weather!
I'm going to have to come back for a little stay-cation to give a full analysis, but from what I experienced I'm a fan!Listed in: PB, Right near da beach! Boyee!, Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn--Say…
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Review from Matthew S.
Los Angeles, CA
5/10/2009
Sometimes you just want to get away for the weekend, and then suddenly in the middle of the night, unsuspectingly, you are sucked into Satan's asshole and reverse digested, so that at the end of experience you are being gnashed by the demon's razor teeth on your way out.
That is what my few hours at the Catamaran was like.
Came down for a weekend getaway from LA. Saw this place online, booked it through http://hotels.com (which was another mistake) for what seemed like a great rate. Was coming down with my fiance for two days, they put us in the tower, 11th floor, great view of Mission Bay... but with two "queen" beds. I put queen in quotes because the beds are more like full beds. Umpa Lumpa beds. Beds that shorter people from earlier centuries slept in, or died in because there were no antibiotics.
I did not want to squeeze into a bed that was smaller than mine and also pay for it, nor did I want to wave to fiance in the middle of the night from our respective beds. I called the front desk and said the view was great, but that I wanted the king bed (which I had specified in my reservation). Apparently the reservation is only a room guarantee and bed size / number is only available upon request. Granted, I checked in at 11 at night, but that's because I have a job, and also because we had to wait for LA traffic out of town to die down, and also because we had to wait for my CD of Willie Nelson's Honeysuckle Rose to be done burning in the computer.
Furthermore, I found out they'd been holding this room since 2pm. WHY did they hold a room with two full beds instead of what I ASKED FOR?
I came down to the lobby, and they told me that the ONLY other room with a king bed available in the entire "resort" was one on the second floor with a "garden view." The garden view was a view of the fucking parking garage. My apartment has a better view than this, and my apartment is a cell in San Quentin penitentiary.
My fiance and I had come down on special circumstances to celebrate her finishing her first year of a phD program and the service we got was essentially a shrug and "who cares?"
I even tried to upgrade the room to a more expensive one, to do ANYTHING to prevent me from either paying to look at a parking garage, or share a tiny bed.
Verbatim quote from woman behind the front desk: "We ain't got nothin.'" It was kind of like the guy in Spaceballs with the little comb, when he says "We ain't found shit!" Oh, and the other woman at the front desk didn't have any front teeth. Seriously. This is the David Lynch eleven o' clock shift at the Catamaran Kill House. But to be fair, the latter woman was nice, once I had been completely fucked in the ass by the company she worked for.
Since I had booked through http://hotels.com / expedia, the Catamaran refused to lift a finger to help me change the reservation, or allow me to cancel it. They had ME call the vendor service line (which the hotel is supposed to do) for expedia. The woman from expedia even admitted that this was terrible service to have me do this. She was transfered to a supervisor at the Catamaran, Darlene, who I think was somewhere on the premise, but probably somewhere up in a smoked glass room with several TV's like Dick Jones from Robocop. Together they reached the conclusion that since I had checked in, I was 100% of my rate, and there could be no moving, upgrading, or canceling. They had my money, and it was over for me.
By now it was 2am. 2AM! This had gone on for two hours! And no one gave a shit, really. They were just doing what they were scripted to do.
It was an amazing "gotcha" / fucking con. It was like an earlier, shittier draft of "Rounders."
Even though they still charged me for two nights, I still refused to stay there because at that point the whole experience had been sullied, and it had been such a miserable experience.
We went to the Hotel Del Coronado, dropped a LOT more than I had planned, but had a blast. The Coronado is where Jesus Christ stays when he's on vacation in Southern California. -
Review from Bicek Photography M.
Modesto, CA
6/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I would have to say this was one of the better, more relaxing places I've stayed at in the 25yrs I've been traveling. Nice clean rooms, great staff. The view of the bay from my room was outstanding. The only complaint was the section I was staying in did not have an elevator so we had to carry all our bags up the stairs. It wasn't to bad. The staff stopped and helped with getting them up to my room. Love the place and look forward to going back.
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Review from Jen K.
3/19/2009 5 photos
Location, location, location.
Just returned from three nights in one of their bayfront rooms. We were just steps from the sand and scenic Mission Bay. Even better, the resort is only two blocks from the ocean, bars and restaurants along Pacific Beach, five minutes from Sea World and ten minutes from downtown San Diego.
So you have the choice of jogging, biking or kayaking in the relative calm of the bay, or kicking it up a notch and taking in the vibrant beach scene. Last year we stayed in Laguna Beach on the ocean and while I loved hearing the sounds of the ocean waves, I preferred the Mission Bay location and proximity to San Diego fun while getting a dose of the tropics. We didn't do a bed & breakfast package so we walked to breakfast every morning (The Mission and The Eggery were good choices).
The resort grounds have a Polynesian theme and it is mature landscaping that is well maintained. Tiki before it became tacky. There are lots of birds and ponds and a waterfall in the lobby.
The rooms and pool show their age since this resort has been around for a long time. Which means the layout of the buildings, rooms and pool are nice and were probably considered fancy back in the day, but don't expect a plush 5-star resort experience. The rooms are comfortable and I was happy that they seem well constructed and insulated (no noise from the neighbors), but the décor isn't sexy.
The concierge, front desk and maintenance staff were all very quick to respond to our requests and employees would give you a warm greeting as you walked around the property. We didn't eat on site, but we did rent a kayak and also took the Mission Bay boat cruise (booze cruise) that is complimentary for guests. The kayak rental was easy and I thought the rate was reasonable. The cruise is thoroughly blah unless you go with a group of friends and entertain yourselves, but hey, it's free.
I would highly recommend this place for the outstanding location and friendly staff. As long as you aren't expecting The Ritz, it is a great place. -
Review from Anita B.
Collingswood, NJ
4/21/2011
We stayed on the 10th fl in a suite in the tower and had an amazing view of the pacific. Our room was in good shape, plenty of outlets, and comfy beds. We have been to many fancier hotels but for the price and location Catamaran was great! we walked to some breakfast spots and ate on the boards at World Famous and had drinks at La Haina. Easy drive up to La Jolla which is amazing! Drinks from the inside bar were strong ; o the kids liked the pool and hot tub. Drove 15 mins downtown for some fancier meals. You can walk to Ralphs for groceries
The grounds as mentioned are truly beautiful! -
Review from Tina C.
5/6/2008
For the last 3 years I have planned our company holiday party at the Catamaran. I highly recommend having a party here because the price per person was more reasonable than many hotels around town. The service was not only wonderful but if anything was needed the staff was right there to help out.
I won't lie to you the rooms are outdated. However, the hotel itself is pleasant. There is a nice quaint bar to the right of the lobby and the Sunday brunch is excellent. Big plump shrimp and I had to do a double take when I saw the crab legs. Yummy! I love crab legs and these were big crab legs.
Directly in back of the hotel resembles a Luau. You can walk in the sand among the tiki torches. If you walk out on the pier you can also catch the Bahia Belle for a small fee that takes you around the bay.
I didn't have any bad experiences with checking in, parking, or hotel staff. Everyone was quite nice. I hope I can get back here one day so I can eat some of those crab legs.
