Tag Archives: San Diego

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Hotel Del Coronado Status Update: 1 Month After Joining the Hilton Family

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Have you been wondering how the Hotel Del Coronado is doing now that rooms can be booked using Hilton Honors Points? Here’s the latest update! I’ve been curious about The Del as it’s been just over a month since rooms were bookable using Hilton Honors Points. So I stopped in yesterday to talk with the front office / guest services folks who I spoke with earlier in the summer.

I appreciated their time and honesty. They said the first couple of weeks were rough. Procedures were confusing and the lines at check-in were really long. They put out a small Hilton Honors sign on the side of the check-in desk, but Hilton members weren’t sure if they were supposed to go to a separate line, or cut in line to the front, or what. Of course, no one likes to be the one to cut in line when others in line don’t know what’s going on.

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Hotel del Coronado view from the beach.
Image source: http://curiocollection3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hotel-del-coronado-curio-collection-by-hilton-SANQQQQ/index.html

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Coronado / San Diego Week: San Diego’s Best Beaches

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When you live or visit San Diego, life’s a beach! And even though it’s obviously all one coastline, each beach is really different. Some are great for walking, some for swimming, and some for surfing. So let’s take a ride up the coast heading north and talk about the different beaches to check out. Even if you live in San Diego, I find that local people tend to have their favorite spots and forget about how many great beaches the county has.

Let’s start with Point Loma and the Cabrillo Monument. It’s San Diego’s only National Monument. The drive out to the park is beautiful, with the ocean on one side and the bay on the other. After you enter the park, take the road to your right and go down to the tide pools first. It’s usually pretty easy to get a parking spot down there so you can enjoy the tide pools. If the surfers are active, it’s fun to sit on the rocks and watch them. Next, head up to the visitor center parking lot. It’s easy to spend an hour or more here. There’s a wonderful hiking trail and lighthouse to visit. The visitor’s center and gift shop have interesting exhibits. The whole area is a fun place to bring kids, too.

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Point Loma Lighthouse in San Diego. Image: http://coastalsandiegorentals.com/about-san-diego/

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Coronado / San Diego Week: Top Picks for Eating in San Diego

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Sure, being a travel blogger can be fun, especially when you get to go the airport and give away United Airlines Club Passes, but it also means that people who don’t even know you get to have all kinds of opinions about you! A while ago, one person left this comment, “Shelli does not know a darn thing about West Coast foods.” And a second person agreed! At least they spelled my name right :) I’m not offended by these comments. They amuse me! The people who do know me, however, would say that I DO KNOW a thing or two about West Coast foods, and I’m going to prove it to you. I’ve got a few of my favorite places to eat right here in San Diego to share with you. You be the judge!

A few years ago, a place called Underbelly opened up. They have two locations, one in Little Italy and one in North Park. I’m partial to the North Park one, though if you’re a visitor to San Diego, it’s likely the Little Italy location would work better. The local brew pub scene is crazy intense in San Diego and for a long while, I thought this place was all about drinking beer. And in a sense it is, with its huge bar and lots of beer offerings. However, Underbelly is really about the ramen! I was suspicious at first because unless ramen is really fresh and homemade, I don’t eat it. I’ve had ramen in Japan and Hawaii, so my standards are pretty high. Not only is their ramen great, but their menu is super creative and I eat here on a regular basis. I’m stuck on the Belly of the Beast Ramen. Recently, a friend had the Chicken Confit Ramen and raved about it. I think I’ll have to try it! I’ve seen their appetizers go by, and they look tempting. I like to sit at the bar because it’s a good spot from which to people watch. If you go with a bigger crowd, there are plenty of tables. The lines can get long, but I’ve always gotten a seat. Everyone I’ve taken there has raved about Underbelly. If you like ramen, or even if you’ve never had it, this is the place… ENJOY!

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Belly of the Beast Ramen at Underbelly. Image source: https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/underbelly-san-diego-12?select=3BS9x5KF5bMpiyDAfUHTIA

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Coronado / San Diego Week: Part 2 of What to Eat, See & Do in Beautiful Coronado

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Coronado is a gem, and one that I’ve been enjoying for many years now. Whether you stay at Hotel Del Coronado or use other lodging on Coronado, or just come for a day from San Diego, there’s a lot to explore. If you like to walk or bike, or just want to know more about what to see/do in Coronado, you’ll like Shelli’s Coronado Loop! The whole loop takes you by the ocean, through town, to the bay side, along the Coronado Golf Course and back to the ocean. The whole loop is just under 7 miles, but of course it can be done in parts, too. It can be enjoyed both riding a bike and walking. It works in either direction.  If you haven’t done already, please check out Part 1.

Part 2 takes you through the bay side of Coronado, under the Coronado Bridge, along the golf course through beautiful residential areas, and circles back to the ocean. Doesn’t get better than this!

Starting from the bay park and what’s called Ferry Landing, you’ll see a few restaurants and shops. On weekends, especially during the summer, there’s often live entertainment, and some of the bands can be very good. The area is not just called Ferry Landing. There’s actually a ferry that’s been in business since 1915. The Coronado Ferry takes 15 minutes to cross the bay and goes to two different stops in downtown San Diego. It’s a great way to get into San Diego from Coronado and vice versa.

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Coronado Ferry Landing

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Is Breakfast Included for Hilton Honors Diamond Elite Members at Hotel Del Coronado?

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Attention Hilton members, especially you Diamonds in the rough! It has been ROUGH sorting through all the information on the Hotel Del Coronado and the benefits elites will receive. It’s been especially confusing knowing whether or not the hotel will have an executive lounge and how the breakfast benefit will be handled. After all, a day of fun in the sun requires a hearty breakfast.

Tomorrow (August 9) is the big day, so earlier today, I stopped in to The Del and asked the questions we all want answered! The usual Hilton Honors Diamond elite benefits will be available, and the staff has all received training on the different Hilton Honors elite levels.

There will NOT be an executive lounge.  Breakfast is at the Sheerwater Restaurant and for breakfast, it’s a buffet. The price is $38, and as of right now, they still do not know what will happen for Hilton Honors Diamond elites and how breakfast will be handled.

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Breakfast at the Sheerwater Restaurant at Hotel Del Coronado. Image source: https://hoteldel.com/about/photo-videos/hotel-del-coronado/

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