If you’re looking for a beach bungalow, look no further than Del Mar,
California.
After a multimillion-dollar redesign, the Del Mar Beach Hotel reopened
in June 2022. And while you can stay in the 46 guest rooms and suites,
there are a couple of new residences to check out — if you’re traveling
with a group. The new residences are called “The Beach House” which is
1,600 square feet, three bedrooms and fits eight people. And there’s
“The Bungalow,” where I stayed in with my group for a girls trip.
The Bungalow starts at a rate of $899 a night in low season. What you get for that price is
an ideal setting for a small group due to its size and accommodations.
The Bungalow is a one-bedroom that can fit up to six people. Inside,
there’s a full-kitchen, 40-bottle wine fridge, a washer and dryer, two
bathrooms, a couch with a pull-out bed and a nook to sleep on as well.
The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling glass windows that open to the outside,
where you can enjoy a jacuzzi hot tub, outdoor shower, a huge
state-of-the art grill, patio furniture and a smart TV.
For our girls trip, we took advantage of the smart TVs to play music and
the jacuzzi hot tub at night. The lamps outside are heated so you won’t
feel a night chill here.
Beyond the accommodations, The Bungalow felt like its own separate home
away from the hustle of city life, but it’s conveniently located to
restaurants and bars. Next door, you’ll find Poseidon, a seafood
restaurant, and Jake’s, which has American food options. And many other
food options are within a walking distance of a few blocks. My group
particularly enjoyed Stratford Court Cafe’s acai bowls for breakfast and
Tamarindo Del Mar’s tacos and margaritas for dinner.
If you’re a beach lover or like my friends who only see mountains where
they live in Colorado, you will also be skipping to the beach — which is
just a couple of minutes away by foot. Pass the lobby, enjoy the
complimentary coffee and then the beach is right there. The hotel
provides beach chairs, umbrellas, towels, boogie boards and all of the
essentials. We were even offered snow cones (note that his treat varies
by day of the week and time).
The beach itself is public and so it’s a relief that you don’t have to
worry about renting essential beach gear. We happily took our beach
chairs directly to the sand, claimed our spot and jumped right in the
water. With big waves, those boogie boards come in handy.
And here’s a tip. For the tourists who may not know, alcohol is
prohibited on San Diego’s beaches. When we first entered Del Mar Beach
Hotel’s lobby, we were greeted with rosé so make sure to drink
responsibly back at the hotel instead. If you’re looking for a drink or
snack to eat on the beach, later this year, the hotel will have an
Airstream Café with coffees, juices, pastries and sandwiches.
As The Del Mar Beach Hotel continues to bounce back post-pandemic, it is
expected to have more for guests to look forward to. There’s a second
phase of the hotel’s transformation planned for 2023. More details to
come so stay tuned to www.petergreenberg.com for all the latest in travel and hotel
news.
