The Del: A Stunning Escape to Hotel del Coronado
Katherine: The red turret? The white wood? The beach glowing like it’s been professionally lit?
Kelsi: It’s giving iconic. Historic. Possibly haunted. Definitely fabulous.
Located on its own sunny spit of perfection just across the bay from downtown San Diego, the Hotel del Coronado isn’t just a beach resort—it’s a full-blown historical icon, the kind that casually drops “presidents, princes, and Marilyn Monroe slept here” into conversation and then just walks away in heels.
A Queen Since 1888
Built in 1888 (yes, she’s older than sliced bread, the Eiffel Tower, and the concept of brunch—and somehow still wrinkle-free), The Del stands as the second-largest wooden structure in the United States. But let’s be clear: she’s not rustic; she’s regal.
She’s grand staircases and glistening chandeliers. She’s whitewashed Victorian turrets kissing the California sun.
She’s high society in a corseted gown, swirling champagne in one hand and secrets in the other.
From the moment her iconic red roofs crowned Coronado Island, Hotel del Coronado wasn’t just a hotel—it was a declaration. A seaside castle where luxury wasn’t whispered about—it was shouted from the rooftop patios.
A place where debutantes, dashing politicians, Hollywood royalty, and literal royalty came to see and be seen under the glow of gas-lit sconces and Pacific sunsets that looked airbrushed long before Photoshop was even a twinkle in Adobe’s eye.
The guest list reads like a who’s who of history and Hollywood, with enough star power to light up the entire California coastline:
King Edward VIII – Pre-abdication drama, naturally. Probably brooding somewhere near the croquet lawn.
Brad Pitt – In all his 90s heartthrob glory, probably making trench coats and tousled hair a thing at the beach.
Winston Churchill – Almost definitely plotting something world-changing over a brandy snifter.
Oprah – Elevating the entire property’s energy by merely walking through the lobby. Iconic behavior.
Babe Ruth – The Sultan of Swat himself, swinging by when he wasn’t busy rewriting baseball history.
Barack Obama – Because of course he did. Presidential presence just feels right here.
And Hollywood? Hollywood couldn’t resist.
The Del became a silver screen darling, famously starring in the 1959 classic Some Like It Hot—where Marilyn Monroe floated across the beach with a ukulele and a scandalous twinkle in her eye.
Off-screen, the hotel hosted glittering balls, scandalous secret affairs, wartime strategy sessions, and grand banquets where lobster thermidor flowed almost as freely as gossip.
Simply put: The Del wasn’t built to be just another hotel.
She was built to be an icon—and she still is.
Katherine: It’s giving seaside Versailles with a guest list curated by Anna Wintour.
Kelsi: I walked in and immediately regretted not having a signature perfume and a scandal.
The Vibe? Old Hollywood Meets Coastal Heiress
Set the scene: clinking champagne glasses, the soft rustle of silk dresses, and secret rendezvous under parasols on sun-drenched verandas.
The kind of place where a whispered “meet me by the palms at dusk” could be the start of a romance, a scandal, or both. The ocean breeze carries the scent of gardenia and vintage ambition, and the sunlight? Filtered like it’s got its own PR team.
Whether you’re walking the wide, polished mahogany corridors or sipping a rosé spritz on the beachfront terrace with your sunglasses doing more work than your SPF, every square inch of The Del murmurs: You are now part of the legend. Also: Would you like truffle fries with that? (Yes. Yes, you would.)
The boutique shops tucked under arched walkways sell only two things: caftans and confidence. You don’t browse—you glide. You don’t leave with a receipt—you leave with a new personality.
The elevator? It’s not just vintage—it’s movie star vintage. All brass details and velvet-trimmed drama, like it’s been auditioning for a role in a noir thriller since 1929. Step inside and you half expect it to take you to a secret rooftop ballroom where a jazz trio is already playing your entrance music.
And then there’s the beach. Wide, iconic, and impossibly photogenic. The sand sparkles—literally—thanks to the mineral mica, giving the entire shoreline a golden shimmer like it knows it’s constantly being watched. And it probably is.
Between the proposals, the engagement shoots, and the tourists pretending to be influencers (guilty), this beach has better lighting than a Hollywood soundstage.
Our Experience: Just Enough Extra
We arrived and immediately headed for the Sun Deck, because obviously. Ocean views, Aperol spritzes, and an upscale menu that let us pretend we brunch like this every weekend. We split lobster rolls, truffle fries, and possibly one too many passion fruit margaritas.
Kelsi: I’m not saying we peaked, but I’m not not saying it.
Katherine: The wind was blowing through my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial narrated by Diane Keaton.
After lunch, we wandered through the hotel’s lobby, stopping at the history exhibit (because we’re classy like that) and admiring the OG photos of women in corseted bathing suits who somehow still looked more glamorous than us.
There were vintage postcards, artifacts from its grand opening, and nods to the many celebrities who graced its halls long before Instagram made things aesthetic.
The Rooms: Worth the Splurge? Absolutely.
There are multiple ways to stay at The Del, each with its own unique vibe and energy—like different leading ladies in the same award-winning film.
Whether you want old-world charm, coastal glam, or modern luxury, The Del says: why not all three?
Victorian Rooms: For the Glamorous Time Traveler
Original to 1888, these rooms are dripping with charm, rich mahogany details, and just the right amount of haunted glam.
Think vintage elegance: ornate furnishings, romantic wallpaper, and chandeliers that have definitely eavesdropped on a few scandalous liaisons and maybe a royal secret or two. The kind of room where you unpack your suitcase and immediately start speaking in soft mid-Atlantic vowels.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like the heroine of a sepia-toned love letter, this is your moment.
The Cabanas: For the Poolside Main Character Energy
Set just steps from the pool and sun deck, The Cabanas bring that laid-back luxury vibe with a splash of “don’t mind me, I just live here now.”
These rooms are ideal if you’re planning to spend your days in a wide-brimmed hat, sipping something citrusy, and casually reading a paperback you picked up purely for aesthetic.
Expect beachy textures, modern comforts, and instant Netflix rom-com energy. Think: “accidentally fell in love with a stranger while reaching for the last mojito” type vibes.
The Views: For the Ocean-Obsessed Aesthetic Queen
Modern, sleek, and designed for those who measure their serotonin levels in sunlight and sea breeze, The Views are beachfront stunners with private balconies and panoramic ocean scenes that look like they were styled by the editorial team at Condé Nast Traveler.
Natural light pours in like it’s on a mission. These are the rooms where you throw open the curtains and say things like, “Let’s just cancel our flight and stay another week.”
No matter which wing you’re in, one thing is guaranteed: you’re staying at The Del. Which means the linens are plush, the lighting is flattering, and the vibes? Immaculate.
Bonus Drama: Is It Haunted? You Bet.
You can’t be this fabulous for this long without collecting a few spirits—and The Del has a ghost story that’s as iconic as its red roof. The most famous?
Kate Morgan, a 24-year-old woman who checked in alone under the name “Lottie A. Bernard” in 1892… and never checked out.
Kate arrived at the hotel looking pale, elegant, and visibly distressed. According to reports, she told staff she was waiting for her husband—a mysterious man who never appeared.
Five days later, on a gloomy November morning, she was found dead on the steps leading to the beach, a gunshot wound to her head and a small revolver nearby.
Her death was ruled a suicide, but over the years, many have questioned that story. The details? Murky. The timeline? Suspicious. The vibes? Very Dateline meets Victorian noir.
Room 3327, where Kate stayed, has since become the room for ghost hunters, brave romantics, and anyone who thinks a flickering light is just part of the experience.
Guests have reported all the greatest hits of classic hauntings: flickering lights, TVs turning on and off, cold spots, mysterious breezes, and even the feeling of someone gently brushing past them when the room was otherwise empty.
Katherine: It’s giving “ghost with impeccable taste in wallpaper.”
Kelsi: If I’m going to be haunted, let it be by a woman who wore corsets and had unresolved romantic trauma.
And while skeptics love to roll their eyes, hotel staff have many stories. Housekeepers have claimed they avoid the room after dark. Guests have woken to find drawers mysteriously open or discovered that items they placed on one table were inexplicably moved to another.
Kate’s story has been featured in paranormal documentaries, local lore tours, and probably at least one cocktail-fueled late-night TikTok. And yes—you can still book her room. If you dare.
Katherine and Kelsi simultaneously: Nope.
Final Thoughts: The Del is Always in Style
Whether you’re there for brunch, a weekend getaway, or just to wander around pretending you’re in a period drama—Hotel del Coronado delivers.
The glamour? Timeless.
The history? Juicy.
The experience? Unapologetically fabulous.
