On the East Coast, where public mass transit is a way of life, subways, buses, and trains make travel practically painless compared to filling up the tank at the pump. But vacation getaways without a car in California? Let's just pray you enjoy your backyard.
With West Coast gas reaching 4 bucks a gallon (ouch!) we hear you might be conserving the mileage along with the paper, plastic and glass.
So here's some good news for all you freeway folk. While political hype talks about giving us a break with a gas tax free summer, Loews Hotels is doing something about it. Their new "Money for Miles" special guarantees you up to a $50 gas rebate with a stay at the beachfront Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego.
Overnight accommodations in a deluxe room, access to the hotel's three pools, three tennis courts, fitness center, nearby Silver Strand Beach -- and a list of the cheapest gas in the area to get you home. All you gotta do is show the front desk your gas receipt(s) from the day prior to check-in, or fill ups sometime during your stay, and the gas rebate off your bill is yours. Who says you never get a free ride?
The "Money for Miles" offer is available May 1-September 1, 2008, at Loews Coronado Bay Resort only. Rooms range from $289-429 per night, based on availability.
We've written about the famously haunted Hotel Del Coronadoand its creepiness before. Legend has it, a 24-year-old preggers golddigger named Kate Morgan checked into the hotel under the false name Lottie Bernard. A few days later, she was found dead near the hotel's back entrance and her death was ruled a suicide.
This was 1892, by the way, and girlfriend has been hanging around the hotel ever since. She pulls the cliche ghost-y moves like slamming doors and randomly turning on TVs, nothing new, but people have also reported an ultra-freaky indentation on pillows (like a head is resting there) that keeps reappearing despite fluffing or tossing the pillow. Ew.
Typically, when you think of San Diego you think of surfing or beach volleyball and other beach-related activities. Maybe even roller-skating or visiting the zoo. You certainly don't think of beachfront ice-skating but the holiday season makes people do weird things.
For the second year in a row, the Hotel Del Coronado has built a temporary outdoor ice skating rink where you can rent skates for $5 a day and practice your figure eights while others hang ten in the ocean.
Skating is open during the week from 2 to 5pm and at night from 6 to 9pm. On weekends, an additional session is open from 11am to 1pm. The cost is $20 for adults and $15 for children 10 and under.
First off, the hat is terrible. And it doesn't make sense. The Del prides itself on its storied history (Marilyn Monroe and other Hollywood Golden Age figures) but when in history were those derby hats really ever good-looking? The only people who should be wearing those are leprechauns.
Second, the vest with its gold velvet collar and gold buttons is a little ill-fitting and just ill in general. The pleated pants are also not flattering, especially not with those sneakers.
We think this bellhop knows how ridiculous he looks (see forced smile) which is why he has added some sunglasses to a) hide his face and b) attempt to redeem himself, essentially telling us, "I really am cool--deep down and off-duty."
[Publisher's Note: As with all good stories, the story of Hotel Del Coronado changes depending on the storyteller. Our new Beverly Hills based HotelChatter correspondent juliana adds her take below--check out the related links on the next page, for additional Hotel Del stories]
The Hotel Del Coronado, nicknamed "The Del," sits on the water's edge of Coronado Island in San Diego. The hotel is old. Like really old. Like built in 1888 old, which for Southern California is practically pre-historic. However, the huge Victorian hotel has undergone several renovations, including one in 2001 that cost an estimated $55 million. Today, The Del which is owned by KSL Resorts, has practically everything that an "all-ages" beach resort can offer including a spa and fitness center, four different accommodations buildings (the original part of the Victorian hotel, the oceanfront Towers and Cabanas, the beachfront Cottages and the private villa, the Beach House), activities and lots of shops and restaurants. In addition, all rooms have been fully wired to current 21st century standards.
Hotel Del Coronado on Coronado Island, my absolute favorite hotel in the entire world. As I opened the door to our second-floor room, nothing could have prepared me for the room's unexpected splendor. The corner unit was absolutely spectacular and the wrap-around deck with ocean views on two sides exceeded our every expectation!
That is a quote from Nicole Berti, Tony's wife.
Tony Berti played in the NFL, then in the XFL, and now he is a real estate agent. Recently, Nicole, wrote a book about her experiences as an NFL wife. Oh yeah, and she keeps a weblog. Unfortunately, that is where the fun ends. We headed over to her weblog hoping to get salacious details of "life as an NFL wife", and all we got were some very ordinary stories. Maybe she saved the best stories for the book.
However, we did find a Hotel Del Coronado review tucked away in one of her entries. Here are the rest of Mrs. Berti thoughts on the Coranado, followed by our thoughts on Hotel Del:
San Diego's Hotel del Coronado was on the list!
The Coronado is a great old Hotel complete with beach access. According to Forbes, the Coronado also comes complete with its own poltergeist.
“Ghostly tales abound at San Diego's Hotel del Coronado. The most well-known legend is that of Kate Morgan, who checked into the hotel in 1892 to meet her estranged husband. He never showed up, and days later she was found dead on the beach from a gunshot wound. Some believe her spirit still haunts the hotel, and there have been numerous reports of noises, odd breezes and sightings of ghosts. When President Ford visited, one of his Secret Service agents complained of odd noises. He was staying in Morgan's room--a classic tale of one spook meeting another.”
