- Southern California’s historic Hotel del Coronado has undergone a renovation worth $550 million. It took 6 years to finish and involved all 938 rooms in five neighborhoods.
- Hilton’s LXR portfolio includes the posh Shore House, which is part of its upscale LXR collection. It offers a private swimming pool, an exclusive Beach Club for members, as well as a living area and patio on the beach.
- The Victorian’s guests can enjoy renovated rooms, three new dining options, a private beach and cabanas on the pool deck.
Hotel del Coronado The resort has been a Southern Californian dream since 1888 when it was an all-inclusive that offered a three-meal daily menu for only $3.50.
The resort completed its $550 million renovation this week. The 6 year project involved each of the 938 bedrooms in five different neighborhoods. Suffice it to say, a stay no longer costs $3.50 a night, but what guests now get—redone rooms, three new restaurants, including a Nobu, and exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel stays—is well worth the price increase.
The hotel has many parts that I am most interested in. Shore House at The Del (standard rooms from $868 per night)—a brand-new build—and the Beach Village (standard rooms from $940 per night). The two neighborhoods are designed to feel like boutiques hotels within the 28 acre resort on Coronado Island. Hilton manages the entire Hotel del Coronado ecosystem, but these two stays are under their own management. became part of the higher-end LXR portfolio In October 2024,
Feisal Jaffer is Hilton’s global director of LXR. He says, “You will find a private check-in area and bungalows that have been recently renovated, as well as a higher standard of service in Beach Village.”
Marco Tabet said that the newly built Shore House as well as the revamped Beach Village were done in a “modern Victorian” style. The guests of these two hotels can enjoy a private swimming pool, the members-only Beach Club and Ocean Club. This is a living room with a beachside patio and a luxurious outdoor dining area. One morning, we enjoyed a leisurely brunch of pancakes, an omelet with wild mushrooms and eggs Benedict.
Hotel del Coronado
The Beach Club was also available to us. It is open for members (mostly San Diego natives) as well as LXR guests. The private beach was dotted with lounge chairs and white-fringed, navy blue beach umbrellas. It was busy, but not crowded. We posted up here on both days of our stay, ordering from the private bar—a converted Volkswagen wagon—and grazing on fish tacos.
Tabet said they have seen an increase in multigenerational family visits, “especially since we have so many apartments with multiple bedrooms.” Beach Village and Shore House both have villas and cottages with one, two, or three bedrooms. My 11-month-old child made a friend at The Beach Club. He was there with his parents, two sets of grandparents, and a toddler.
The newly-completed bedrooms are the final touch to the six-year renovation. The Victorian building. The resort’s original building—with its signature bright red crown most Southern Californians have seen in pictures or spotted from the I-5—has a 137-year legacy that shines brighter now that it has been scrubbed and buffed to the tune of $550 million. It’s home to a picturesque courtyard, dolled up for the reopening with Jeff Leatham florals, the original, dark wood–paneled Victorian lobby with a crystal chandelier, rocking chairs on the wraparound porch, and one of the first elevators in America.
Tabet states, “We also have 90 employees who have worked at the hotel for more than 30 year.”
The Victorian renovated rooms were my family’s and mine first stay. The room was small, but perfectly serviceable. It had two queen-size bed, a crib, a small balcony with ocean views and a bathroom. The Victorian along with The Cabanas The following are some examples of how to get started: The Views The Curio Collection of Hilton hotels includes the neighborhoods. They are more affordable than LXR.
This will always be The Del Coronado. Jaffer says that for us it was all about ensuring that the brands brought in worked harmoniously with that. “The Curio brand represents hotels that have their own unique personality and story, while LXR is a similar concept, but with an elevated product, experience, and service. We’re able here to offer different experiences, at different price levels.
The Victorian offers guests a $399 nightly rate that includes access to three new restaurants, including Nobu Del Coronado, Serea and a Michelin-recommended Veranda offers a more traditional all-American experience. There is, of course, a buzzy main pool area lined with cabanas and topped with Sun Deck Bar & Grill.
Hotel del Coronado
My family preferred the more casual fare: A taco shack is located on the beach, where you can have a lunch of tasty tacos. al pastor Charge it to your room and go to an ice-cream shop where my son, along with me, split a sundae of cookies and cream icecream, hot fudge and sprinkles.
