Avalon Hotel Villa Portofino Review Catalina Island Recommended Accommodations
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If it's possible to spend time on Avalon and never leave a hotel, this is the place.
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Catalina Hotel Review
If it's possible to visit Avalon on Catalina Island and never leave the hotel – after all, there's swimming, snorkeling, hiking, suntaning, rum drinks on a beach and even golf and a zip line – then the Hotel Villa Portofino would be the place to do it. That's because Villa Portofino offers a tantalizing temptation: Nice rooms (and sweet suites), a view of the harbor, a private courtyard, an adjacent Italian restaurant that's cozy in size where evenings can be spent eating pasta and drinking wine, even a rooftop deck that has a canopy of sunshine in the daytime and stars in the nightime.
Located at the far end of the tiny town that is Avalon, just before the walkway to the casino and Descanso Beach, the property looks like a villa in some small Italian village (especially when the tall surrounding hills are in view as its backdrop). The exterior view just exclaims "nice!"
Many have fireplaces and for those fortuante enough to be able to get into a suite, well, that's just living. The Portofino Suite, for example, has doors that open up to reveal scenic Avalon harbor, a king bed that can see that view, a couch, fireplace and bar area. Light up that fireplace (it's a simple switch), open up the curtains to the sea and uncork a bottle of wine, and it's easy to fall into a blissful state where being anywhere else in Avalon is suddenly not so pressing as when first arriving. Wake up early enough and see a rariety in California: A sunrise. Because most of California's coastline faces to the west, it's all about sunsets. But Avalon and this side of Catalina has its eyes to the east.
And here's a suggesion for a song to put on the iPod (though iPod players are the one thing not in the rooms, so bring yoru own) to enhance the experience of being at the Portofino, Jimmy Buffett's "I Have Found Me a Home:" "You can have everything else I own, Villa Portofino is not a large property, but it's certainly sizeable enough, especially considering its modest-sized surroundings. For those who actually choose to leave their villa, it's a 10-minute walk to Descanso Beach and all the shops, restaurants and bars of Avalon are right out the door.
The intentionally low-key but accommodating staff provides beach towels and arranges for taxi transportation to and from the ferries. This is only a 10-minute walk at the most, but it's a nice convenience included with the price of the room. Villa Portofino is connected to Ristorante Villa Portofino, which serves Italian cuisine ranging from pastas to seafood and veal, chicken and the appetizing-looking Lasagna Traddizionale ($15-30). High season rates (April-October) range for $125 for a courtyard queen to $550 for the expansive Villa D'Este suite with a full view of Avalon Bay. The Portofino Suite rates are $400-475 (it's peak is July and August) and as low as $285 in the off-season months. Hotel Villa Portofino, 111 Crescent Ave. SurfsideSam.com covers beach cities and towns around the world. © 2011. All rights reserved. |
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But it's the interior that really shines. The rooms are roomy with ample-sized showers, big tubs, plasma TVs, refrigerators and a coffee maker. All have free wireless Internet. 
