La Jolla! The Grande Colonial Hotel

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

We arrived at our hotel much later than I'd hoped but delays are to be expected.

Some think the name La Jolla (la hoya) means 'the jewel.' Although it's part of San Diego, it feels removed. It has its own zip code, and mail is addressed to La Jolla rather than San Diego. According to Coldwell Banker, it is the nation's most expensive housing market for the 2nd straight year.

The Grande Colonial hotel

The Grande Colonial is where we'll be staying for four nights.

Cute pot plantings. We noticed that much of San Diego's pavement was in disrepair. Maybe it's because they often don't charge for parking. Parking is free even at the zoo.

I like the room. We have three windows! I'd asked for a quiet room and got one at the end of the hall, top floor.

There was a walk-in closet with bathrobes (yay), a safe and iron & ironing board. The bathroom walls were actually a soft green with huge white mouldings up near the ceiling. Everything was spotless.

The hotel faces Prospect St. We spent a fair bit of time on Girard. My first stop would be a stationery/book store called Warwick's a couple of blocks up Girard. Go the other way and you'd be at the beach.

Looking to the right, the small side street off Prospect is probably Drury Lane.

But never mind that. Not only are we on the top floor, we have an ocean view! The hotel must have been not very busy for this upgrade. Or maybe it helped to book with someone who had my first name. We were paying for a room with just a street view, so this was a delightful surprise.

We got chocolates too. And a newspaper at the door each morning, which I never had time to read.

I'd worried that this hotel might feel too European instead of Spanish/ Californian, but the colonial feel and the view out this hallway door reminded us of Lahaina (Maui). Palm trees and hisbiscus flowers added to the effect. I half expected to hear mynah birds. There were historic photos in the hallways too.

A couple of shots out back.

I would definitely stay at this hotel again.