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San Diego is known for the quintessential SoCal atmosphere we’ve all seen in the movies.
While ‘America’s Finest City’ is just that – a beautiful city – there are plenty of quaint beach towns along the seemingly endless coastline filled with quintessential surfers and skateboarders.
But don’t worry! You can easily escape the ‘bruh’ this and ‘bruh’ that and hand gestures with extended pinky and thumb.
There are more ways to do that hang loose then catch waves and sand railings.
Most tourists have their sights set on San Diego’s prime beachfront real estate, but those who do are doing themselves a disservice by missing out on a slice of Mediterranean paradise away from the virtually guaranteed, packed beaches. (Although the crowds tend to decrease in the fall)
You may have heard of Del Mar, a swanky little beach town about 20 minutes from San Diego itself, where celebrity sightings are common and the average house costs $2.725 million – Yeah, that’s not a typo.
The average traveler’s beach house dreams may come to a halt here, but splurging on a well-deserved vacation should never be out of the question.
Located inland between rolling hills and vast canyons Fairmont Grand Del Mara lavish five-star hotel that exudes a Mediterranean atmosphere, where adults can recharge and enjoy during the day The only three-star Michelin restaurant in Southern California at night.
As a recent guest, I can’t recommend staying here enough. And if you must hit the beach, the pristine beaches of Del Mar are less than 15 minutes away.
No passport needed: let the Mediterranean come to you
Upon arrival, you are glued to the sheer elegance of Fairmont Grand, as if every throw pillow, cocktail glass and glittering chandelier has been carefully placed to exude class and luxury at every turn.
Fairmont Grand describes itself on their website as a “Mediterranean estate,” which is certainly an understatement more reminiscent of San Diego’s version of the Alhambra.
I’ve walked the entire property several times, and while it’s not classified as a “resort” per se, many aspects feel like one.
Home to multiple swimming pools, a world renowned golf course, and World class 5 star spa Honored by Forbes, this is the ultimate place to completely unwind without even feeling like you’re in San Diego; at least, how it is often depicted.
I booked an Adult Pool View King Room (more on that!) and was happy to see how spacious it was. Even five star hotels can cut corners on breathing space every now and then, but not here!
The bathroom alone felt bigger than my entire apartment and the European bathtub with gold accents was the icing on the cake.
Not to mention, the mattress was truly heavenly, the free coffee better than Starbucks, and the secluded balcony was surprisingly quiet for a poolside room.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the day than enjoying the cool evening breeze on the patio while reading and writing articles for you on their fast WiFi (you’re welcome!).
A family-friendly hotel with a private retreat for adults
Remember inside Stupid and stupider when Lloyd tried to make the “most annoying sound in the world”?
Well, for some of us it’s what Jim Carrey’s dissonant vocal chords blurted out, and for others, like me, it’s the sound of children screaming… or my ex’s weird TikToks, but that’s another story …
Kids can be a lot of fun and deserve a vacation like anyone else, but adult pools are a whole different level of tranquility, amirite?
Fairmont Grand Del Mar features 4 heated swimming poolsbut the only adult pool is free of kids running around and miserable parents who realize they need another vacation while on holiday.
Plus the service was top notch, from setting up my plush lounge chair, offering free sunscreen to serving me an ice cold Mexican cerveza swimming pool.
Accompanied by an equally blissful, secluded hot tub, the adults-only pool lived up to its name. I’ve been to other hotels where the staff turn a blind eye to obviously obnoxious teenagers invading my quiet zone, but this was truly an adults-only haven.
Although what was most impressive was how spotlessly clean the entire hotel was – a rarity for a child-friendly and pet-friendly stay.
If the adults need a safe place for the kids, go to the Discovery Club.
Whether you rest your head here or not, you must eat here!
San Diego is one of the top foodie destinations in America, but dining at Fairmount Grand will stimulate your taste buds.
Home to Addisonthe only three-star Michelin restaurant in Southern California, along with Amaya, a fantastic restaurant where Paris meets SoCal, you can’t go wrong.
Though Addison’s dim views may be just as grand as their menus. But be warned: Addison is so sought after that you should make a reservation well in advance, which is possible here on OpenTable.
The closest open availability I could find is a month away, for example for a dinner late at 9pm.
However, Amaya is not a bad alternative at all, where I had an incredible dinner to remember, from savory snacks like the Burgundian Escargot Vol Au Vent to locally produced wine for dessert – yes, you read that right.
The star of the show was the ‘Chef’s Special’, which wasn’t even on the already impressive menu. So impressive in fact that the waiter had to make 4 trips before we decided what we wanted to order.
The imported Dover sole was divine and cooked to perfection, so special thanks to our friendly, knowledgeable waiter, Ignacio, for the recommendation!
My girlfriend and I continued to rave about how wonderful our meal was as we strolled through the beautiful grounds with a post-meal glass of wine in hand.
Their wine selection was extensive and so well integrated into their impeccable cuisine that we opted for another round for dessert, as Amaya allows guests to bring wine to go.
To see? ‘Adulting’ is really another level here!
Tip: if you order the Steak Tartare, ask for the ‘parmesan espuma’ on the side for the perfect bite combined with perhaps the best bread I have ever had!
Running Around: Fairmont‘s Fun activities
Fairmont Grand is a popular golf resort, but there is much more to do than just click the links. However, are you not a fanatic golfer and would you like to learn? clinics are offered for just $50 on Fridays and Saturdays.
After sleeping in at Amaya, a Monday morning yoga session was out of the question for me, so I opted for a pool day.
However, on Tuesday I visited the hotel’s own riding center, which should come as no surprise if you know anything about Del Mar.
Del Mar is the ‘Kentucky Derby’ of San Diego, home to the very popular Del Mar Racetrack.
Fairmont Grand Offers Horse riding tours, Pony ridingalong with the chance to ‘Feed the horses‘on Tuesday; some of which are retired racehorses. Needless to say, they are absolutely beautiful animals!
Behind the riding center there is a golf course walking path, which winds through open gorges for fantastic views of the surrounding landscape – the perfect way to start your day with a free cup of coffee from your room, and best of all, walking is free !
For a full calendar of events, visit Fairmont Grand’s Event calendar.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
