Hotel Casa Del Mar
Bring a rope and prepare to climb into THE biggest bed you'll ever see.
Hotel Personality: Mover, Shaker, Money-Maker
-Vibe-
For those of you who have read the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this is clearly the epitome of West Egg. For those who haven’t, this is the urban beach retreat of the nouveau riche. You will see and feel a sophisticated youthfulness to this place that resides in every facet of this hotel.
-Rooms-
There’s only one word to describe the room and that’s “wow.” I found myself saying that over and over again as I walked around the room, admiring everything from the wood floors greeting you upon entry to the massive 4-poster bed that was a struggle to climb into at night. This might be a bold statement, but this room was probably one of the best that I’ve ever stayed in. I truly like when rooms have themes, and the “beach home” theme was pretty evident with various nautical themed books, little knick knacks (e.g. toy Ferris wheels, and rubber ducky), and blue sea paint among other things. The room was like an enigma. Each time I though I had it figured out, there were even more surprises, such as a high-tech Jacuzzi and men’s hygiene products.
-Food-
I decided to take in brunch at the signature restaurant, Catch. I will say that it left a bit to be desired. I can’t write off the restaurant entirely because I bet that dinner at the hotel is a lot better than brunch. One thing that I can write off was the service. After I was promptly seated, I waited almost 12 minutes to be greeted by my waiter. I could understand if the restaurant was extremely busy, but the place was not even half full. This occurred again while having a drink in the lobby lounge, where it took 20 minutes to get a glass of wine. I guess it made me appreciate the wine much more after it arrived.
-Bottom Line-
With rates starting around $350, this is truly a mover, shaker, money-maker kind of hotel. However, that shouldn’t deter you from trying it out, as this hotel does regularly have deals. I stayed in a partial ocean view room, and shelled out $328 per night. I would highly recommend this hotel if you want to experience the city of Los Angeles and the Santa Monica beach scene at the same time. The other thing that I liked about this hotel was that it was unpretentious, even though they cater to a high-end clientele. Overall, a great hotel, in a great location, with even greater rooms.
-Know Before You Go-
- Beware of the steep food prices. There are plenty of other reasonable options just a short walk from the hotel
- Got a car? Valet will set you back $33 per night
- Casa Del Mar has a digital concierge app that gives you hotel information and local information. If you don’t have a smartphone or laptop, the hotel will loan you an iTouch for free!
- The views from the pool deck are amazing, especially at sunset. Bring a camera
Wanna Go?
http://www.hotelcasadelmar.com






