Review and Photos by Stryder Bartow

The Avalon hotel is a very quaint, homey hotel located central to everything Catalina has to offer. I arrived to the avalon in the late evening to a friendly receptionist who was incredibly helpful in escorting me to my room. I was led down wood paneled hallways lined with soft azure carpets to room #202. The room was sparse, and cozy. It was furnished with everything you would expect from a normal hotel, coffee maker, mini refrigerator (filled with complimentary beverages!) and a fairly large (32”) flat screen TV. Sixty percent of the floor space in the room was designated to the bed, which I found firm yet squishy, perfect for relaxing in. I was a little disappointed with the size of the room until I stepped out on the enormous balcony which is where I spent most of my time overlooking the city of avalon. Every morning the Avalon hotel serves delicious complementary breakfast of berries, yogurt, and hand prepared baked goods in the expansive outside patio. The patio garden plays host to a beautiful arrangement of over half a dozen varieties of playful koi fish.

As I was about to leave for my day of wandering around the city the receptionist politely informed me that they offer complimentary binoculars, beach chairs, volleyballs, sunglasses, and wine openers. I borrowed a pair of binoculars which I used in my day to observe deer and baby foxes, which can often be found wandering around the island. I returned to my room to find that the the cleaning ladies had done a thorough job of straitening up the room. There is no wifi, so I thought it was going to be hard to find a decent place to eat, however the receptionist was very knowledgeable about local restaurants and bars, and she assisted me in finding exactly what I was looking for. The next morning I hiked to the top of the rooftop patio and looked at the port of catalina before concluding my stay at the Avalon.

The Avalon is a perfect hotel for couples attempting to escape the routine of the work week. Half bed and breakfast, half four-star hotel, the avalon remains in my mind as a unique hide away, a place to relax, share a bottle of wine, and watch the pelicans nose dive for their next meal.

Avalon Hotel 124 Whittley Avenue, Avalon CA 90704 (310) 510-7070