Victorian
The 1888 building, with its turrets, veranda and wooden lobby: you sleep inside the history, in rooms that feel it.
Hotel del Coronado
In 1888 it was the largest resort in the world, and its red turrets still face the Pacific. Marilyn filmed Some Like It Hot here; today the Del is 5 neighbourhoods, and the holiday changes with each.
A week here, month by monthPools and beachfront living suit family holidays, from $438 for one night for 2 adults, the lowest seller Google showed. I would be more cautious if daily sea swimming decides the holiday.
Hotel del Coronado haunted: Kate Morgan’s story and the 2 October tours that enter her room Official website Hotel del Coronado restaurants Hotel del Coronado prices Hotel del Coronado brunch Hotel del Coronado spaWould you go?
Keep it among your hotels and see it on the budget globe, month by month.Like a regular
A balcony towards the Pacific
For the Victorian’s history and a balcony over the beach, I would ask for a Victorian Oceanfront Balcony: a private outdoor space facing the Pacific, with either one king bed or 2 queen beds inside.
A January week to consider
In the calendar read on 13 October 2026, nights from 18 to 24 January 2027 range from $467 to $511. The highest single night shown is 8 June 2027, at $1,880.
Allow for the mandatory charge
Allow $50 per room per night for the mandatory charge, which covers amenities and a contribution to the Historic Preservation Fund; Wi-Fi, the fitness centre and beach yoga are among the inclusions.
Connect rooms before arrival
When booking more than one room, use the “Connecting Rooms” filter when reserving multiple rooms online, or ask the reservations team: the hotel offers guaranteed connecting rooms.
What Hotel del Coronado is
When it opened on 19 February 1888 it was the largest resort in the world; today it is the second-largest wooden structure in the United States and a National Historic Landmark since 1977. In 1958 Billy Wilder filmed Some Like It Hot here, with the hotel playing the “Seminole Ritz” in Florida; L. Frank Baum wrote much of his work here, and some swear the Emerald City was born from these turrets. Then there is the ghost: Kate Morgan, who died here in 1892, and to whom the hotel devotes an evening tour every night.
Today the Del is 5 neighbourhoods: the 1888 Victorian, the Cabanas around the pool, the more modern Views, Beach Village with its cottages and villas and Shore House on the sand, the last 2 with private pools and services. The pools are heated all year to 27–29 °C, Ocean Explorers looks after children from 4 to 12, and at sunset Roast lights fire pits on the sand, marshmallows included.
Guests give it 4.5 out of 5 on Google from more than 21,000 reviews, and 2 things are worth knowing before you book. The sea, first: in 2026 the county closed Coronado’s beaches in March and again in June because of sewage from the Tijuana River, and in September several guests describe lifeguards advising them to stay out of the water. Then the bills: $50 a night mandatory, parking from $59, umbrellas and loungers to rent outside Beach Village, and a $28 hot dog at the pool bar.
We read every one of the Del’s 120 most recent Google reviews, from 12 July to 28 September 2026: a fraction of the more than 21,000 on the listing. Beside them sit 31 YouTube videos searched (30 relevant), 60 Instagram posts, 20 TikToks, 27 articles from 24 publications, 45 official pages, 505 video frames and 4 walks measured on the map. The sea water comes up often in those reviews: it is worth checking its status before you go, on the county’s page.
In the Lumina Guide
Lumina Guide 2027
In 1888 the Hotel del Coronado was the largest resort in the world, and its red turrets still face the Pacific: this is the hotel where Some Like It Hot was filmed.
How we choose the hotelsThose who come back
Among the hotel’s regulars, a family who wrote in June 2025 made the Del their annual holiday after staying the year before, and praises the beach views and the welcome from staff. A returning guest writing in October 2025 describes the preserved stained glass and a newly uncovered mural alongside updated rooms, and advises researching the room options before booking to get the features and view you want.
- 15 of the 1,504 reviews with text explicitly describe earlier hotel stays
- From second stays to dozens of stays
- One guest describes stays over 30 years
Repeat-stay accounts selected from 1,504 reviews with text, written from July 2023 to September 2026.
Our reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
On Coronado’s beach, 17 minutes from San Diego airport; the village centre is 20 minutes’ walk.
Character
The wooden 1888 Victorian, Some Like It Hot, L. Frank Baum and the ghost of Kate Morgan.
Rooms
5 neighbourhoods and 64 kinds of room: choose by neighbourhood, and check that “Views” means the ocean.
Food and social life
Plenty of places on the resort, from a steakhouse to a taco shack, at resort prices: $28 for a hot dog by the pool.
Wellness
Pools heated all year, the spa with its own pool; Beach Village and Shore House have private pools.
The stay as a whole
From $520 a night on the dates we read, plus $50 mandatory and 11.80% tax; and the sea is not always safe to swim.
What makes it rare
A badge is an experience travellers look for, that is really here and that few hotels in the guide have.
A story inside
Here: the wooden 1888 Victorian, Some Like It Hot, L. Frank Baum and the ghost of Kate Morgan.
A history that goes back to at least 1888. 31 hotels of 335 hold it.
Every hotel with this badge
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do Hotel del Coronado’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Guests write about the wide beach in front of the hotel, the sunset over the Pacific and Coronado’s shops and restaurants, within walking distance.
Room
5 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. The balcony, and the sunset watched from it, is what guests remember of the rooms.
Staff and service
6 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. The Victorian building’s history charms, and so does skating by the sea at Christmas; guests also write about the evening ghost tour and the spa.
Breakfast
Breakfast is a $52 buffet taken on the veranda, facing the ocean.
Price
On the bill, guests list what is paid on top of the room: parking, loungers on the beach, a sandwich.
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 8.1 | 216 | 80% |
| Room | 5.5 | 100 | 49% |
| Staff and service | 6.0 | 262 | 55% |
| Breakfast | 5.7 | 18 | 39% |
| Price | – | 132 | 14% |
The scores come from 500 Google reviews with text, left from 15 September 2025 to 28 September 2026. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay on the San Diego coast: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 1 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against on the San Diego coast:
- Loews Coronado Bay Resort
- Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa
- Paradise Point Resort & Spa
- La Valencia Hotel
- L'Auberge Del Mar
Price: for two on the night of 3 January 2027, from $438 (seen on Google Hotels on 13 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
From 5 March to 31 May 2027, single nights for 2 range from $530 to $894 in the calendar read on 13 October 2026. I would also compare 10 June to 1 July, when the range returns to $533–$849.
| Period | Dollars a night |
|---|---|
| 14 October 2026 to 4 March 2027 | 438–790 |
| 5 March to 31 May 2027 | 530–894 |
| 1 June to 9 June 2027 | 656–1,284 |
| 10 June to 1 July 2027 | 533–849 |
Lowest seller on Google Hotels for each night searched separately for 2 adults, read on 13 October 2026. The calendar stops at 1 July 2027. Separate high nights: 17 October 2026 at $1,222; the night of 5 November 2026 at $1,641; and the night of 8 June 2027 at $1,880. Booked as 7 nights from 16 to 23 November 2026, the lowest seller Google listed that day asked $503 a night; the hotel’s own listing, $565.
The Del, from the red turrets to the shoreline
The white façade and red turrets from the beach, sunset on the shoreline, a Victorian room with its balcony, the Beach Village cottages, a Shore House room and pool, the ice rink and the Crown Room.
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5 ways to stay at the Del
The Victorian of the history books, the Cabanas by the pool, The Views, the Beach Village cottages and the Shore House villas: the same sea, 5 different holidays.
Cabanas
Contemporary, around the Cabana Pool and the life of the resort: the choice for having the pool close by.
The Views
Modern rooms towards the beach, some with a terrace and fire pit; check the view category, because not all of them face the sea.
Beach Village
Cottages and villas in an enclave with private pools; chairs and umbrellas on the sand are included.
Shore House
Villas and apartments on the sand, with their own concierge, pool and bistro: the most private Del.
Good to know before you book
Every room carries a mandatory $50 a night, $35 resort charge and $15 for the Historic Preservation Fund, plus 11.80% tax. Source: hoteldel.com
Parking costs $59 a night, $79 with valet, and the hotel has no airport shuttle. Source: hoteldel.com
In 2026 the county closed Coronado’s beaches in March and again in June; in July the closure was eased to an advisory. Source: coronadotimes.com
The sea depends on sewage from the Tijuana River: before you go and every morning, check the county’s sdbeachinfo.com.
$50 mandatory per room per night ($35 resort charge and $15 for the Historic Preservation Fund), plus 11.80% tax.
Breakfast is not included; Club Access and some packages add it. Between July 2024 and January 2026, 4 Google reviews describe a wait of 30 minutes to more than an hour for a table at breakfast.
Chairs and umbrellas are included only at Beach Village; elsewhere you rent them, from $25.75.
Up to 2 pets of up to 18 kg; a $150 or $200 cleaning fee depending on the neighbourhood. Dogs are not allowed on the beach in front of the resort.
Between October 2025 and August 2026, 6 Google reviews describe wear in the rooms and furnishings, from carpets to curtains, shower tiles and stains on sofas; 3 others, in the same period, write of renovated rooms.
Rooms, cottages and villas by neighbourhood
Getting there
The resort is at 1500 Orange Avenue, on Coronado’s beach, across the bay from San Diego.
| San Diego International Airport | 17 minutes by car, 14 km; the hotel has no shuttle. |
|---|---|
| Private car | The hotel recommends AMA Transportation. |
| Overnight parking | $59 a night, valet $79. |
| From downtown San Diego | The ferry lands at Coronado Ferry Landing, 30 minutes’ walk from the hotel. |
Journeys are measured on OpenStreetMap’s roads; parking and partner from the official pages, read on 28 September 2026.
Beyond the hotel
The beach out front, Orange Avenue with the village shops and the ferry to San Diego: Coronado is for walking or cycling.
Coronado Beach
The sand starts in front of the hotel; before you swim, check sdbeachinfo.com.
Orange Avenue
Shops, cafés and Spreckels Park: 16 to 20 minutes’ walk, 1.4 km.
Coronado Ferry Landing
The ferry to downtown San Diego and the view of the bridge: 30 minutes’ walk, 2.4 km, or a few minutes by bike.
From the Del to the village and the San Diego ferry
The hotel on the beach, Orange Avenue, the dog beach, the ferry and the airport. Tap a place to see the walking route.
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Recommended for you
A day at the Del
Morning
Breakfast facing the ocean
Take breakfast at Veranda, with an ocean view from the open-air dining space.
11am
Tacos on the sand
At Beach & Taco Shack, settle into the sand for fish tacos and a tropical drink as service begins.
The afternoon
A treatment then the pool
Book a massage, facial or body treatment at the Spa & Salon at The Del, then use the relaxation lounges, terrace and ocean-view spa pool included with it.
5pm
Dinner begins at Serẽa
At Serẽa, the dinner service opens with a menu built around seafood and seasonal ingredients.
After dinner
A cocktail at Babcock
Continue to Babcock & Story Bar for a cocktail in its old-world setting.
Hotel del Coronado reviews
Platform scores and what guests say: the history, the beach, the closed sea and the bills.
Scores read on 29 September 2026
Google21,059 reviews4.5/5
Expedia1,078 reviews8.8/10
Booking.com347 reviews8.3/10
TripadvisorPlatform rating4.1/5Guest voices
From the resort’s Google listing, August and September 2026: the wonder, the sea, a well-travelled guest’s favourite, the prices and the rooms at The Views.
GoogleRegal, but a beach hotel
Built in 1888 and still regal: live music, patios for a cocktail and, for all the grandeur, the soul of a beach hotel.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleThe sea and the lifeguards
Nobody tells you beforehand, one family writes: you cannot go in the sea because of the Tijuana River sewage, and the lifeguards say so. Explaining it to a 3 and a 5-year-old was hard.
Google · September 2026Read the review
GoogleThe favourite
After Waldorfs, Ritzes and many luxury hotels around the world, the Del is now this guest’s favourite: from a steakhouse to a taco shack, and kind staff.
Google · August 2026Read the review
GoogleA $28 hot dog
The pool café charges $28 for a hot dog, steps from Nobu where sushi costs half: the rest of the stay, for this guest, went the same way.
Google · August 2026Read the review
GoogleA room at The Views
A room booked at The Views looked onto the wall of another building; check-in was slow and luggage took over an hour to arrive.
Google · August 2026Read the review
Questions before you go
Sources checked on 28 September 2026.
Can you swim in the sea at the Del?
It depends on the day. In 2026 San Diego County closed Coronado’s beaches in March and in June because of sewage from the Tijuana River, then in July the closure became an advisory; in September several guests describe lifeguards advising against going in. The status of each stretch of beach is on sdbeachinfo.com.
Which of the 5 neighbourhoods should you choose?
The Victorian for the history; the Cabanas for the pool on the doorstep; The Views for modern rooms towards the beach, checking the view; Beach Village for cottages and villas with private pools and beach chairs included; Shore House for villas on the sand with their own concierge and bistro.
How many kinds of room are there?
The 5 official lists held 109 offers on 28 September 2026; setting aside the accessible and Club Access versions of the same room leaves 64 types: 7 in the Victorian, 5 at the Cabanas, 8 at The Views, 21 at Beach Village and 23 at Shore House.
Is breakfast included?
No: it depends on the package. Club Access adds a daily buffet; breakfast packages give a credit per adult, excluding tax, tips and alcohol.
What is Club Access?
A stay option that adds daily breakfast and the club’s spaces and services. You choose it with the room: it is in the rate’s name.
What goes on top of the rate?
$50 mandatory per room per night, a $35 resort charge and $15 for the Historic Preservation Fund, plus 11.80% room tax.
How much is a night?
Google Hotels for 2 adults showed $520 for many nights in October and November (read on 28 and 29 September 2026), $578 for 10 November, $646 for Saturday 17 October and $498 for 29 November. Some October and November nights go far higher. The calendar does not say for which neighbourhood; the $50 mandatory charge and tax go on top.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 4pm, check-out by 11am, Pacific time; early arrivals can leave their luggage.
How late can you cancel?
Usually up to 72 hours ahead in the Victorian, the Cabanas and The Views, and 21 days ahead at Shore House and Beach Village; on some dates this becomes 7 and 30 days. The rate you book is what counts.
How much is held on the card?
At booking, one night’s deposit in the Victorian, the Cabanas and The Views, 2 nights at Shore House and Beach Village. At check-in the total and an incidentals hold are authorised: $150 a day in the first 3 neighbourhoods, $300 in the other 2.
Are the pools open to non-guests?
The Cabana Pool and the gym are for hotel guests, the Beach Village and Shore House pools for their own guests. For non-guests, ResortPass sells a day pass for «a heated pool» it does not name, and the hotel’s site does not say which one either.
Are the pools heated?
Yes, all year, at 27–29 °C (80–85 °F).
Is the spa included?
No. The spa lounge, terrace and pool come with a massage, facial or body treatment; salon-only bookings pay a facility fee.
Are beach chairs and umbrellas included?
Only at Beach Village. For other guests rentals started at $25.75 for chairs and umbrellas and $309 for a daybed on 28 September 2026.
Is there a kids’ club?
Yes, Ocean Explorers, for ages 4 to 12, by the half or full day. Cots are free; an extra bed, in some rooms, is $50 a night.
Can you bring a dog?
Yes, up to 2 pets of up to 40 lb (18 kg), with some breeds excluded. Cleaning is $150 in the 3 standard neighbourhoods and $200 at Beach Village and Shore House, plus tax; dogs are not allowed on the beach in front of the resort, while the Dog Beach is half an hour’s walk away.
Is there an airport shuttle?
No. San Diego airport is 14 km away, about 20 minutes by car; the hotel recommends AMA Transportation for private cars.
Wi-Fi and meeting rooms?
Internet is included in the resort charge; the hotel has rooms for meetings and events.
Where do you eat at the Del?
There is plenty of choice: Veranda for breakfast and dinner, Serẽa for chef JoJo Ruiz’s Ocean Friendly-certified seafood, Nobu Del Coronado for lunch and dinner, the Sun Deck, the Beach + Taco Shack, ENO Market & Pizzeria and the Babcock & Story Bar, with its restored mahogany bar and live music Thursday to Saturday, 6 to 10pm (dining). Breakfast is not in the rate.
What is the spa like?
The Spa & Salon at The Del, rebuilt in 2020, opens daily from 9am to 6pm (spa). It has men’s and women’s lounge areas with lockers, a co-ed outdoor terrace and a vanishing-edge pool facing the ocean, all reserved for guests booking a massage, facial or body treatment; the salon does hair and nails. The spa page read on 11 October 2026 gives no floor area; the hotel’s FAQ lists a steam room, a jacuzzi and showers in the men’s and women’s relaxation areas, and neither page mentions a sauna. Menu prices include a 20% service charge, and spa guests park free in the self-parking.
Can you get married at the Del?
Yes, on the beach or indoors: the Southpointe Ballroom, the largest, seats 800 for a banquet and 1,500 theatre-style; the Cabanas take up to 380 (spaces). Prices come with the events team’s proposal.
Is it open all year?
Yes, and the pools stay heated in winter too; from 20 November to 3 January there is the Skating by the Sea ice rink by the ocean.
What does the Del do for New Year?
On 31 December there is the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party at The Laundry, with a live band and open bar (holidays).
What are the rooms like?
They change with the neighbourhood. In the Victorian they are historic rooms facing the ocean, the courtyard or the resort, some with a balcony or veranda; at the Cabanas and The Views they are modern, with a terrace and fire pit in some categories; at Beach Village and Shore House there are cottages, villas and apartments with one or more bedrooms, oceanfront or ocean view. The hotel does not publish every category’s floor area: the view is in the room’s name.
Where do you park when arriving by car?
The underground self-parking entrance is via R. H. Dana Place; for valet and drop-off, use Avenida del Sol. There is no airport shuttle.
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