By Chrissy Iley
A weekend at Hotel del Coronado feels like a trip to a parallel universe where time stops and everything is calm. Time elongates and the weekend felt like two weeks’ worth of relaxation. For a start, Hotel Del Coronado has a rich and wonderful history it’s like stepping into a fairytale palace. Yes its turrets DO look like Cinderella’s castle and inside you definitely WILL go to the ball.
I love hotels that pay attention to detail so from the second you enter, and the elevator yes – elevator lady – swoops you into the 1988 golden basket of an elevator you’re in a land where everything is done for you. The rooms themselves are modern meets traditional, comfortable yet luxurious. The bedside table has a little plug for your phone. How do they know I always sleep with my phone next to me?
The hotel itself has been visited by celebrities, Presidents, the lot over the years. It’s most famous perhaps for being used as the location for Some Like It Hot in 1958 and this place is very Marilyn. If it were a hair colour it would be glamorous blonde.
Hotel Del Coronado is not one of those old fashioned luxury resort hotels, although it is a classic. What’s beautiful and amazing about it is that it’s moved with the times, in fact not with them, ahead of them. The days where people came, sat on the beach and drank cocktails all day – although that is entirely possible – are not what most people want. They want to know that not only can they take a long hike on the beautiful beach on Del Coronado island, they want more, they want quirk, they want fitness, they want fun and what could be more fun than putting on a beautiful mermaid tail in sparkling lycra and doing the mermaid class fitness regime. Pilates in a pool with a tail. I started my Saturday morning with a spin class – by the beach. The bikes were brought outside at dawn, the music on headsets and it was a thorough and inclusive class. There’s something quite incredible. You’re spinning to Katy Perry’s Firework and you’re looking over the ocean. As a class we all saw a dancing dolphin and super surfers. The ocean was so blue, the sand so creamy and unspoilt. That view can get you through any class.
On an endorphin high we powered into breakfast. The breakfast buffet was stuffed with gorgeous bakery, gorgeous fruit, traditional eggs with sausages and an omelette station. I chose the jalapeno and shrimp omelette with a side of avocado. Heaven. I had beetroot and ginger juice. My friend had the oatmeal zapped with blueberries. There were mini apple strudels, mini peach pecan cobbler and miniature bran, cherry and seeded buns which were crisp and light. There was every imaginable food that everyone could eat for breakfast, or lunch or dinner for that matter and it was all exquisite.
After breakfast we took a walk to the ferry which goes to San Diego. We thought about crossing but we were so happy on Coronado island we decided to stay. Coronado is a small traditional town with lots of twists. There’s an old fashioned cinema which was showing the latest Meryl Streep movie and Bridge Over the River Kwai, carrying on the theme of classic meets modern.
We wandered back to the hotel which had a magnetic draw and there was so much going on in it. You can shop for mermaid tails or limited edition sunglasses or items inspired by the year of the hotels conception in 1888. A true test of a resort is a frozen margarita so we sat beach front with our juicy alcoholic gorgeousness. It was so zestful. It felt euphoric.
There’s a beautiful spa and gym and I decided to try out the manicure. The manicurist was lovely. Attentive, inclusive but not over the top. She intuited my needs very well and my nails ended up off white with disco ball glitter on most nails but cupcake sprinkles on another. Edgy but not excessive. The manicure lasted two weeks.
For dinner we stayed in the hotel at one of the many restaurants ENO Pizzeria where they served artisan pizza. They fired them up right in front of you. This and a bottle of pink wine was heavenly and as we were doing another class in the morning we opted to share a small cheesecake with a burnt meringue crust. Can I just say those words again? Cheesecake with a burnt meringue crust. Think about it. Sensational right? The burnt meringue was so nostalgic and comforting, it reminded me of toasting marshmallows as a kid. So gooey but so lovely. Offset with this slightly sharp cheesecake. A whole mouthful of it, amazing.
Back in my room I was so comforted, so relaxed. We intended sitting out on the balcony under the stars but I got into my giant bed and fell asleep into a true restful slumber. And now I see that the Hotel Del Coronado has a special pet package including Yappy Hour, cocktails for the humans, gourmet goodies for the pets. I can’t wait to go back with my cat.
For details on prices and packages see the website http://hoteldel.com/