Great location right by the freeway and easy to find with plenty of parking. The very smart and ‘perky’ staff booked us in with a smile to a spotless and very large room with a nice bathroom, wardrobe and fridge/microwave/coffee/hot water machine, two large and very comfortable beds. But the best of all was the view. I had requested a room with some sort of interesting outlook ..and we got it! Overlooking three USN aircraft carriers, the commercial port, the Coronado Bridge and the city itself. There was lots to look at with huge trains, massive car transporters, container ships and other craft, aeroplanes landing and sparkly lights at night. The well maintained heated pool was in a small landscaped courtyard which protected it from the onshore breeze. We weren’t very impressed with the neighbouring restaurant which serves the hotels guests needing meals but it was convenient. We slept with the window open (and air con off) and were woken in the morning to the strains of ‘reveille’ and ‘the stars and stripes’ being played on the flight decks of the aircraft carriers. Great.
The hotel was convenient for the city centre and Cabrillo National Monument, across on the north end of the bay, which afforded impressive views over Coronado and the whole city. We also drove through Coronado itself (where scenes from ‘Some like it hot’ were filmed - lots of shops , eateries and the famous hotel), across the arching and slightly scary (if you are sitting on the ‘outside’ side of the car!) Coronado Bridge. The hotel was a great base also for visiting the wonderful and illuminating ‘Flying Leathernecks’ Museum at Miramar (yes, that Miramar – if you know your ‘Top Gun’) and La Jolla (of Beach Boys fame). Jewel in the crown was the discovery of the charming and unspoiled Imperial Beach – friendly locals, super original pier with views to Mexico and overlooking the breaking surf, stunning beach and an authentic old school California atmosphere which visitors seek. less