Travel - Ranch & Coast - December 2007

The Westgate Hotel

San Diego Hoteliers Have Heart
Across the county, San Diegans have pulled together to support those who lost their homes during the disastrous October fires. Local hotels and resorts are also helping by offering holiday season discounts and lodging packages — some just for fire victims and others we can all enjoy.

The Rancho Bernardo Inn, known for its golf course and spa, is offering a special rate of $139 with breakfast for those displaced by the fires. Rooms here are beautifully furnished in warm colors and come with flat screen TVs, wireless Internet, and private patios or balconies. Closer to Christmas, each room will have its own decorated tree, too. (www.ranchobernardoinn.com)

Downtown, The Westgate Hotel is offering a special rate of $149 for those who lost their homes. The elegant hotel, with its Persian carpets, crystal chandeliers, and French tapestries, is a perfect base for last-minute shopping at Horton Plaza. (www.westgatehotel.com)

The Hotel del Coronado’s holiday packages are available to all San Diegans. This year’s theme is Winter Garden, in honor of the 150th birthday of Kate Sessions, who designed and planted many of San Diego’s most famous landscapes — including the Del’s Garden Patio. The resort will be decked from head-to-toe with traditional Victorian decorations such as birds, flowers, and velvet ribbons. Over 100,000 glittering lights will add a festive glow to the hotel and its oceanfront ice skating rink.

The Del’s Sea & Skate package includes lodging, daily breakfast buffet, skating lessons, skate rental, and a Del snow globe. Rates start at $348 per night. The Making Memories package includes two night’s accommodations, daily breakfast buffet for two adults and one child, Victorian tea for mom, dad, and offspring, and a bedtime elf tuck-in — yes, by a real elf — for the little ones. Rates for the two-night package start at $910. (www.hoteldel.com/holidays)

The Four Seasons Resort Aviara is promoting our great winter weather with their Never Ending San Diego Summer room and buffet breakfast package. The hotel offers beach butler service, a surf concierge, and panoramic Pacific Ocean views from the Tranquility Pool. In addition, the spa is equipped with 20 treatment rooms, an indoor solarium lounge area, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and dressing areas. The spa also features a couple’s suite with an intimate lounge area with marble fireplace and shower for two, an attached treatment room with side-by-side massage tables, and a private patio with whirlpool. Lodging rates range from $295 to $650, depending on the type of room. (www.fourseasons.com/aviara)

In La Jolla, La Valencia Hotel and The La Jolla Playhouse are offering a package that includes deluxe ocean-facing lodging, two tickets to Cry-Baby, a pre-show supper with wine pairings in the Sky Room, transportation to the theatre, signature Whaler cocktails in The Whaling Bar and Grill, breakfast, and overnight valet parking. The cost for one night is $1070; two nights are $1765. (www.lavalencia.com)

The Grand Del Mar, North County’s newest resort, is home to a full-service spa, an 18-hole golf course, and Addison — the hotel’s esteemed signature restaurant. The introductory rate — in effect through the end of the year — is $395. (www.thegrandelmar.com) — Elizabeth Hansen