Ligaya Malones

The Westgate Hotel in Downtown San Diego is unapologetically maximalist, but you’d never know it judging by its plain exterior. Built in 1970 as one of San Diego’s first skyscraper hotels, its opulent aesthetic took inspiration from France’s Palace of Versailles, and upon entering the aptly named Grand Lobby, overstimulation will hit you immediately.  A sweeping staircase loomed next to a Steinway piano in one corner (it was the fifth one ever manufactured), the place is adorned with 300 glittery crystal chandeliers, and intricate crown molding blanketed every inch: the elevators, rooms, and restaurant and bar.  But decor aside, its comfortable rooms, oversized fitness center and prime location make the 19-floor hotel a convenient launch pad for exploring San Diego’s azure waterfront, surrounding theaters and pulsing nightlife. Here’s what I thought of it.  Why stay at The Westgate Hotel? If ornate, 17th-century inspired design is your thing, The Westgate Hotel’s got it in buckets. There are geometric parquet floors and large, painted scenes of what appear to be European countryside once upon a time throughout the place.  However, don’t let its old-fashioned style completely fool you. Even the fitness-averse will take to its modern wellness offerings: there are multiple indoor and outdoor exercise spaces, a spa and a rooftop pool and jacuzzi area that got a refresh in late 2024. Most recently, film buffs may know that the lavishly decorated hotel played a supporting role in O

After passing through a security gate and following a long tree-lined path, the Fairmont Grand Del Mar emerges with a large, tiered Romanesque fountain, a stone-laid driveway and stately, pink terracotta washed walls like a palace. It’s so expansive that I was handed a map of its meticulously manicured grounds at check in.  Originally opened in 2007 as The Grand Del Mar, the resort became a part of the Fairmont portfolio in 2025. Set within San Diego’s inland Carmel Valley, its numerous recreational options, anticipatory service and excellent spa and restaurants set travelers up for an array of escapes. Why stay at Fairmont Grand Del Mar? Whether you call it a palace or an estate, this resort is indeed grand from the inside out. Marble-traced archways, elegant colonnades, copper accents and embellished wrought-iron beams are all a nod to 20th-century architect Addison Mizner. He was known for marrying Iberian, North African and Venetian styles in what design circles refer to as Mediterranean Revival design, and Addison by William Bradley, its heavily awarded fine dining restaurant, is named after Mizner. When my partner and I took a warm morning stroll around the property after procuring coffees from Cent’Anni, its grab-and-go cafe, we lost count of the number of lush courtyards peppered with water features and slender Italian cypress, palm, and olive trees. What are the rooms like at Fairmont Grand Del Mar? Our Deluxe Fireside King Room came with all of the essentials and th