San Diego is one of the most beautiful cities in California. And in that city lies Coronado Island, a charming and unique neighborhood consisting of well-to-do San Diegans, navy personnel and tourists. But outside of the famous Del lies an offbeat property known as El Cordova, where you can experience a much more intimate side of the island that most tourists aren’t privy to.
Prior to my trip to San Diego, I was asked to speak at Social Media Marketing World. I was SO STOKED.
Social Media Marketing World is the world’s largest social media conference hosting big names like Guy Kawasaki, Jay Baer, Ann Handley and Zach King. 3 days, 3,000 attendees, and lots of energy! It was incredible, to say the least.
To prepare for an epic 3-day adventure with some of the best social media marketers in the world, I had to stay at an equally epic property. Insert El Cordova Hotel.
The Property
El Cordova Hotel is a charming, hacienda-style property located a couple of blocks from the famous beach of Coronado Island. The hotel was originally built as a retirement mansion house for Elisha Babcock, founder of the Hotel Del Coronado, in 1902. In 1922, Babcock passed away and in 1930, the home was converted to a Spanish Village hotel with multiple buildings and rooms on site.
El Cordova offers “an informal Spanish garden and courtyard environment”, where spacious rooms and suites overlook several business within the courtyard. The vibe expresses more of a community than just a hotel.
But aside from its beautiful decor, it’s the location that will make you feel like you’re in heaven. The hotel is located in the heart of the Village of Coronado, where you’ll find everything from shopping to dining to art.
A 10 minute walk in either direction will take you to the famous Del, the beautiful beach or the quaint neighborhoods nearby. And San Diego’s famous Gaslamp District is only ten minutes away by car! Simply drive along the majestic Coronado Bridge to downtown or take Silver Strand for a quick, Mexican getaway! There is nothing too far from Coronado Island and El Cordova Hotel.
The Amenities
El Cordova was much more like home than your average hotel. The rooms are incredibly unique with a Spanish flair and most offer kitchen facilities should you decide to stay quite a while!
I was lucky enough to stay in one of their one-bedroom suites (their most abundant style of rooms). The suite consisted of 600 square feet of pure comfort and workspace! I had a comfortable queen bed in a separate bedroom to feel like I was really at home. Down the hall (yes, my very own hallway!) was a complete living room with sleeper sofa, full kitchenette, a small dining area with a view of the Village and a beautiful balcony with a seating area. To top it all off, there was a small study area with writing desk so I could even prepare for my panel discussion!
The property ranges from single rooms to deluxe, multi-bedroom suites! But every guest should be able to enjoy:
-
Complimentary Wifi throughout the property
-
Guest laundry facilities
-
Flat screen TVs with complimentary HBO
-
In room air conditioning
-
In room iron & board
-
Kitchenette with stove top, coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator
-
China, glass, flatware
-
In room hair dryer
-
Complimentary toiletry products
Things to Do
El Cordova’s sprawling property means it’s not just a place to stay for hotel guests. It’s also a community for small businesses and local flavor!
From my balcony, I could see the shady courtyard that was home to a variety of shops and merchants, all of which were within the confines of the hotel but not actually associated with El Cordova. It almost felt like a mini, California mission!
These businesses included everything from island rentals to souvenir shops to restaurants! Outside of its hospitality, the hotel is known for Miguel’s Cocina, a family-owned, Mexican restaurant onsite that opened in 1982. Unfortunately I didn’t have the chance to hit up any of these spots with such a busy schedule, but Yelp only confirms how amazing this place is!
In addition to shopping and dining on the property, there’s also a small pool and spa located in the heart of the hotel. Though if you’re looking for a tan, you might want to hit the beach as this spot is a tad shady.
The Staff
Staying at El Cordova felt like visiting a tiny town; the property was calm and relaxing but still bustling with activity and people!
Since I was at my conference from morning until night, I didn’t have quite the experience to mingle with the staff like I had hoped. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t get a chance to experience their amazing hospitality!
From the moment I checked in to simply walking out of the hotel for the day, I experienced warm smiles and friendly hellos at every turn! I received space and privacy but was still greeted consistently like a community member rather than your average hotel guest. It was very refreshing!
I was unaware that parking was a bit far away in a parking structure shared with the local Bank of America 1 block away. It normally would have been a bit confusing to find, but with the help of the receptionist and map provided, I took what easily could have been a major downfall and simply enjoyed the adventure!
thx for the good info *