Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Pavilion Hotel, Catalina Island

Long time visitors to Catalina may remember the Pavilion Lodge, a 71-room inn that has been a harbor front staple since the 1950’s. But return visitors would hardly recognize the newly renovated Pavilion Hotel which opened in May of 2010. This sunny, yellow hotel has been beautifully transformed and now has the breezy casual atmosphere of a classic beach resort.

The heart of the inn is a quaint interior garden, where guests can relax on cushioned lounge chairs, tucked away from the foot traffic on Crescent Avenue. On my visit to the Pavilion Hotel, I was amazed at the meticulous care of the staff, which was always present, keeping the gardens and lounge areas in sparkling condition.

The rooms are still in the configuration of the original hotel and are a bit small in size. But the interiors have been fully redone in cheery seaside décor. I was pleased to find brand new fixtures in the bathroom and a flat screen TV on the wall. Also, I enjoyed special comforts such as a mini fridge, coffee service, and an Ipod dock so that I could hear my own music. The best guest rooms surround the interior courtyard and are worth a special request.

Service is the key at the Pavilion Hotel. Tropical fruit, pastries, and freshly brewed coffee greeted me every morning and a wine and cheese service welcomed me home after a day of fun on the island.

I must admit, my favorite part of the Pavilion Hotel experience was relaxing in the outdoor guest lounge with a glass of Cabernet while envious tourists walked by. I found it very easy to set my internal clock to what the locals call “Island Time.”

Ipads and Blue Ray players are available as well as a full selection of movies to check out for free.

The Pavilion Hotel offers several all-inclusive packages that cater to your specific vacation needs. Families may be interested in the “Unlimited” Package, which offers access to a wide range of tours and activities as well as discounts on the popular Zip-Line Eco-Tour.

For more information on the Pavilion Hotel on Catalina Island, check out their website at www.visitcatalinaisland.com  or call (800) 322.3434.




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