Mammoth’s slope side budget digs

Posted by Staff in Budget Thursdays, California

What I have always loved about Mammoth is that there are plenty of budget accommodations to be found…from Motel 6 to cheap condos for rent. But when booking this last trip to Mammoth I found that one of the best budget accommodations in town was the least expected…the Mammoth Mountain Inn.  

Located right next to the Main Lodge with ski in/out access, I had always thought that the Mammoth Mountain Inn would be one of the most expensive places to stay in town…but I was wrong. Turns out that rooms at the Inn start at $189 per night, which compared to the Holiday Inn and Quality Inn, which start at $140 per night, you only pay an extra $50 dollars to be on the slopes.

The reason for the great deal is that the hotel is older and not as up-to-date as other accommodations in town.  In the mornings I could hear the avalanche patrol bombing the mountain, and my neighbors yappy dog sounded like it was living in my closet…but being a few steps from a lift at this price is hard to beat.

Info at www.mammothmountain.com

Romancing in Laguna Beach…

Posted by Staff in Budget Thursdays, California

Monday we spoke of two boutique inns on Catalina Island, the Aurora and the Avalon,  but on the other side of the Pacific, on the “mainland” there is another boutique inn worth adding to a So Cal getaway itinerary, Casa Laguna, in Laguna Beach.

Inconspicuously set alongside PCH, a surprise awaits as you enter. Casa Laguna was originally built in the 1920’s as a private residence and latter expanded as an inn.  At one point in time the Inn was left to ruins, until the current owners took it over and made it the oasis it is today.

Located on a hillside, Casa Laguna feels more like a small Spanish village than an inn. The rooms and cottages are in various buildings all intertwined together by lush gardens and tinkling fountains. A heated ocean view pool lies in the middle of property, as does a romantic breakfast garden…where the most delicious gourmet breakfast I have ever had was served.

Every evening the owners host a wine tasting and appetizer hour for guests that includes an array of boutique cheeses and local delicacies.

The Inn has rooms for all budgets, the standard rooms start at $150 and suites start at $260.  Casa Laguna offers a higher level of service than most five star large hotels do, but at a fraction of the price. CasaLaguna.com

On a side note, while you are in Laguna also check out Sapphire restaurant.  Also on PCH just a few minutes drive, the restaurant offers a great mix of global cuisine.  Located in the local landmark The Pottery Shack, the restaurant is an integral part of the complex which also includes an art gallery and an outdoor glassblowing demonstration area. SapphireLaguna.com

The swanky side of Catalina Island

Posted by Staff in California, Luxury Monday, North America

The birth of Catalina as we know it came when William Wrigley Jr. purchased the island in 1919 and two years later made it the spring training camp of his baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.  With the teams arrival came development and with that came Hollywood’s glitterati, who thought it cool at the time to come relax on its beaches and watch the team practice.

Over the years, Catalina lost some of its glamour and became more of a weekend trip for families and romantic couples. Now on the island there is a resurgence of a trend to bring back some of the islands old glamour and luxe style. Fueled by a partnership of two couples, the Lambert’s and Gosselin’s, there are two new luxe Inns on the island, the Avalon and the Aurora.

The Avalon is a Craftsman style, 15-bedroom boutique inn.  The rooms are spacious, most have ocean views, and feature amenities like hand made spa products in the rooms and complimentary snacks.  Room prices range from $195-495.  Theavalonhotel.com

The sister hotel, the Aurora in contrast is very modern and hip. The rooms are smaller than the Avalon but feature Tempurpedic mattresses and a chic décor that makes great use of the petite size.  Rates are lower starting at $150.  Auroracatalina.com (pictured above)

To capture the history of Catalina Island you have to head over to the Country Club for lunch. Originally built as the clubhouse for the Chicago Cubs, it is now the place to find some of the best food on the island. Don’t let the name deter you as it is not a private club anymore, but a gorgeous public restaurant serving up classic California fare with a gourmet twist. Make sure to check out the photos lining the bar walls that depict Hollywood legends lounging at the club in their time off.

Luxury in Mammoth

Posted by Staff in California, Luxury Monday

On December 15th of last year, Mammoth Lakes went from a 5-hour drive from LA to a 65-minute commercial flight (via Horizon Air)…ushering in a new era for this once sleepy ski town. 

If room service and luxury hotels are your thing, then Mammoth used to be a resort to skip over…but now with the new Westin Monache (pronounced “moh-ah-she”), luxe-lovers will feel right at home.

The Resort, which opened at the end of 2007, is located in The Village at Mammoth complex, adjacent to the express village gondola…providing a short ride to the ski resort’s Canyon Lodge.

This four-star condo hotel brings a sense of chic sophistication to this area that was previously unheard of. With a bellman, modern architecture and a breathtaking display of pillar candles…you will think you have entered a Manhattan hotel.  But with a quick glance around at all the guests in ski gear and the relaxed vibe of the staff, the charm of Mammoth is not lost.

Although the hotel is made up of individually owned condos, they are all uniformly decorated and maintained…so that when you book you know what you are getting no matter which unit you stay in.  The modern décor extends into the units that consist of studios, one bedroom and two bedrooms. 

While there I stayed in a studio, which was the perfect combination of a hotel room and condo. It was nice to have hotel amenities like valet parking, room service and turn down service, but at the same time feel at home with a full kitchen and enough room to spread out. Other amenities found in the hotel include a full service restaurant, Whitebark, a shuttle service and the usual pool, Jacuzzi and workout facilities.  

My one qualm with this hotel is that although it is located next to the Gondola, it is up the hill from the loading station and involves walking up/down tons of steps…which in ski boots is quite a challenge.  The hotel does offer a shuttle from the lobby to the gondola loading station, but at times it is frustrating being so close to your hotel and having to wait for the shuttle up the hill.  That said…it was nice coming back after a hard day on the mountain and having the choice to be lazy and order room service…hotel amenities like these and the gorgeous hill top view made up for the monster hike.

Rooms start at $300 and more information can be found at www.westin.com/mammoth