RSS
Home
Vacation in the sweetest suite on Avalon Bay
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Catalina Island, southern California's offshore paradise, has several European style hotels offering comfortable suite accommodations. We found one that is only a beach ball bounce from the sand and within an easy stroll of Avalon’s many attractions.
The Villa Portofino Hotel
The Villa Portofino is a small boutique hotel in the Mediterranean style. It has thirty-five beautifully appointed rooms and suites.
After a pleasant ride from Long Beach on the Catalina Express, we disembarked in Avalon and checked into the hotel a little after 3pm. Our suite, the Portofino, was on the second floor and just below an expansive sundeck reserved exclusively for guests.
Upon entering the suite, we were immediately drawn to the French doors that overlooked the harbor and an uncrowded section of the town’s beach. What a view!
We opened the doors and a fresh breeze carried soft Italian music from the Ristorante Villa Portofino below. We looked down to see several patrons enjoying mid-afternoon cheese and wine in the restaurant’s cozy little outdoor patio.
The comforts at the Villa Portofino
Our quarters had all the conveniences you would expect in an AAA triple diamond property. All guests are provided cable TV, Wi-Fi internet connection, air conditioning, a refrigerator, coffeemaker, hairdryer, and an iron.
Each suite has an inviting fireplace, a sumptuous marble bath, and an ocean view.
Many of the hotels in Avalon are in the intimate European tradition. Several, like the Villa Portofino, are on or near Crescent Avenue, a busy promenade that hugs a four block sandy shoreline along the bay. See slideshow at the end of this article.
The attractions of Avalon
A leisurely stroll down Crescent Avenue takes you past the Green Pleasure Pier with its casual restaurants and water sports rentals, a sunny uncluttered beach, the venerable Tuna Club of Santa Catalina, and the famous Catalina Island Yacht Club.
A short distance to the north, Crescent Avenue turns into Casino Way. The street and its picturesque seaside walkway continues on to the Grand Casino, and Descanso Beach with its ocean front bar and grill – completely open to the gentle Pacific breeze.
Elegant Italian dining
After an invigorating walk, and as darkness fell on Catalina, we made our way back to our hotel and the Ristorante Villa Portofino. The extensive menu and wine list is most worthy of the Three Star Award the establishment has received from the prestigious California Restaurants Writers’ Association – for three years running.
The food was of exceptional quality, and the service was outstanding. Our dining experience was the perfect ending to a day at our favorite California island getaway.
.JPG)
“The port town of Avalon is a picture perfect destination at the end of a short and pleasant boat ride. It is also a world away from the cares and concerns of the hectic mainland. A few days on Catalina Island will clear your mind and recharge your batteries like few other places on earth.” Happy travels!
For more information about the Villa Portofino Hotel and Ristorante click here – Catalina Express click here.
To read our other Catalina Island articles – select the topic:
© Travels with Wayne and Judy (syndicated)
Photos © Wayne and Judy Bayliff
Click on the “Subscribe” box under the byline photo above and you will receive a free email alert and link when Travels with Wayne and Judy articles are published.
More About:
California ·
National Destinations ·
Romantic Destinations ·
Travel and Food ·
Hotels and Lodging
Related Articles:
Comments
Have you ever wondered how hard it would be to ride one of those strange looking two wheel electric Segway contraptions? It's a peculiar machine that …
Filoli Mansion and Gardens, located in beautiful Woodside, California, is 30 miles south of San Francisco along scenic Interstate 280. Filoli is about …
- Alcatraz - San Francisco
- Ano Nuevo State Park - Elephant Seals
- Cable Cars - San Francisco
- California State Parks
- Chinatown - San Francisco
- Chinese Ghost Town - Locke
- Cliff House - San Francisco
- Coit Tower - San Francisco
- East Brothers Lighthouse - San Francisco
- Ferry Building - San Francisco
- Filoli House and Gardens - Woodside
- Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco
- Fort Mason - San Francisco
- Ghiradelli Square - San Francisco
- Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco
- Golden Gate Park - San Francisco
- Jack London Square - Oakland
- Jeremiah O'Brien Liberty Ship - San Francisco
- Muir Woods - Mill Valley
- Pier 39 - San Francisco
- Ritz Carlton - Coastal Access - Half Moon Bay
- Ryde Hotel - Walnut Grove
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Sausalito - Boathouses
- Solvang - Danish Village
- Sutro Baths - San Francisco
- USS Hornet - Aircraft Carrier Museum - Alameda
- Wichester Mystery House - San Jose
- Alice's Restaurant - Woodside - CA
- Bella Vista - Woodside - CA
- Bucks Restaurant - Woodside - CA
- Cameron's English Pub - Half Moon Bay - CA
- Duarte's Restaurant - Pescadero - CA
- Moss Beach Distillery - Half Moon Bay - CA
- Mountain House Restaurant - Woodside - CA
- North Beach Restaurant - San Francisco - CA
- Peats Bite - Australia
- Pescadero Community Church - Pescadero - CA
- Sam's Grill - San Francisco - CA
- The Vans - Belmont - CA
- Air and Cruise Ship Health
- Air fares and routes - Tracking
- Cyber Cafes
- Convert Anything
- Courier - Global
- Destination Health Tips and Information
- Health
- Insurance - Travel - 65+
- Maps - Global
- Maps - National
- New Passport Rules - June 1, 2009
- Photos
- Traffic - Local
- Translations - Global
- Travel Agency - Online
- Weather
- 360 World Travel Guide - Virtual Tours
