I write this review as I'm sadly returning home to Los Angeles. I had the most spectacular weekend at The Grand Del Mar in San Diego. I really could have stayed another 5 days, without stepping a foot out of the resort, or experiencing an ounce of boredom. I felt like a member of the Royal family-having tasted some of the best cuisine, indulged in cathartic spa treatments, and waited upon by excellent hotel staff who wore their Grand Del Mar titles with the utmost pride. The resort is not near the ocean, and doesn't purport itself to be. It's situated alongside a canyon of preserved land on approximately 400+ acres. The grounds are pristine and expansive. The landscaping is a smorgasbord of color with varietal plants and flowers that are so inviting to the touch and smell. I adored the interior design. Grand Del Mar spared not a penny, but the resort did not feel ostentatious or too precious for its guests. The color schemes were right on. Such details as the hand painted, stenciled ceilings in the rooms and private villas, and framed vintage Hermes scarfs all contributed to the coziness and warmth of the resort. It was not hard to befriend the hotel staff-Kirk and Bryan, the bell boys were hardworking college students who took their jobs seriously. Mr. Thomas Voss, President of the resort is a friendly family man--he welcomed me with open arms and a hearty fun laugh. He asked my opinion about the resort and seemed truly open to suggestions. I learned croquet from a nice lady named Lynn. Took a golf lesson from a very encouraging and patient teacher Wyatt (he had me hitting balls over 180 yds 10 minutes into my very first try at the sport!). Jason McLeod, an Executive Chef was just adorable. He prepared my friends and I the most delicious bbq dinner of lobster, red shrimp from the Gulf coast, swordfish, and the most tender, flavorful steak I have ever had. Then there's Jesse, the Sommelier. He's a wunderkind in the wine industry and is so exuberantly passionate about his profession. His love of wine and beer was so apparent in his beaming smile-how could one not want to drink like a fish with Jesse minding the pour? I started my mornings with a hike through Los Penasquitos canyon, only a short 2 minute drive from the resort. The meadows were "Sound of Music" gorgeous. I saw toads the size of rabbits. The hiking guide Dylan was an encyclopedia of knowledge, providing another level of appreciation for our surroundings by sharing historical facts about the area we were trekking on. I ate at Addison Restaurant, which lived up to its 5-star rating. Chef Michael Wetherly can do no wrong in my eyes. I can honestly say I inhaled the most delicious potato gnocchi of my life. Dare I say even better than the gnocchi dishes I lived off of during my 8 months of residency in Italy. The salmon was slow roasted in a black truffle butter, cooked until medium rare. No chewing necessary...it simply melted in my mouth. For dessert I ordered the panna cotta with white chocolate shavings nestled in a coconut tapioca soup. It took me a mere 5 minutes to lick my bowl clean. The spa was dreamy. I indulged in a 90-min facial, followed by a signature clay rub which does in fact activate circulation. My reflexes were in overdrive that I almost kicked my masseuse in the face as she was massaging my feet! All of their products are organic. I especially loved the Ginger Lime body wash and green tea cookies. There's a cafe in the resort that serves delicious gelato, a perfect treat for the long day worth of activities. I was showered with love and attention and dismiss anyone's criticism that the resort may be "too much." The Grand Del Mar is a special place, staffed with special people. I was hesitant to go in the beginning, wondering how one could go to San Diego for a weekend retreat and not stay at the beach. Not once did I long for a grain of sand during my vacation. The Grand Del Mar delivered in spades.

I don't know what some of the complaints on this site were about. We had a fantastic experience at the Grand Del Mar. Facilities are top notch, better than any domestic resort I've stayed at. The attention to detail in the construction is quite striking. The resort was built like a custom home and not like a hotel in the details (moldings, door handles, carpet, furniture). Much higher quality workmanship than Four Seasons or Ritz.

We found the service absolutely terrific and the staff went above and beyond for us. We went to the bakery at 5pm in the afternoon, obviously after the morning peak time for muffins and croissants. My wife had a craving for a chocolate croissant and they had run out of them by late morning that day. They were really apologetic. Later that evening we found the attendant had left two chocolate croissants, a glass of milk and a personal note hoping we enjoyed our stay. They had the room service kitchen specially bake us the croissants that evening for us.

The gym was great, the spa is amazing, and the swimming pools were perfectly heated. Overall a fantastic resort. It is landlocked and not near the beach, but other than that, no complaints and only accolades. We will go back in the future.

I just came back from a stay at the new Grand Del Mar in San Diego. I have never stayed at a property with so many amazing amenities. (Check out the hike in the preserve with a Naturalist on staff! WOW) The pools were great and there is even a quiet pool when we needed get away from the kids.
The rooms were great and we upgraded to a golf fairway view room, worth the price.
Free wireless internet in the room was another plus. This resort has set the benchmark for my family and we are already planning our next trip back.

I have to stay upfront I didn't stay here... just came for a nice resort lunch. I left very disappointed... and about $45 poorer. All for some subpar sandwiches from the deli. Long story.
The hotel is located in a suburb of San Diego. A very nice suburb, but nothing special. It's profoundly landlocked, which for a resort hotel is not great. There's nothing to look at, no focal point for the resort.
The hotel's not close to the ocean and there's no view of anything except the golf course. The hotel is laid-out in a very ungrand (oddly enough, considering its name) fashion. Inside, it has very dark, Moorish-styled interiors. Which aren't what you really want in sunny California. At least I don't. Overall, the architecture and landscaping is fine, if uninspiring. There is just no wow factor at all. I will say this, however, all the hotel staff I encountered were exceedingly friendly and extremely well-trained and courteous.
I just don't get the point of staying at this place. Unless you're part of a low-rent convention, which is exactly who was staying here during my visit.
Oh. About the nice resort lunch I wanted. The restaurant with the outdoor patio was not all that attractive and the best tables were taken over by some loud family for a kid's birthday party, so I got a lunch to go from the deli. Not great. And very, very expensive. I'm never going back.
Good alternatives in San Diego include the Four Seasons Aviara (again not on the water, but at least it has a view), the Lodge at Torrey Pines (again, not on the water but closer to it) and the Hotel Del Coronado, of which they've just finished a nice remodel of (at least the public areas).