Traveling around Christmas time is something we started doing the last few years, and we absolutely love it. It helps us get into the spirit and enjoy time together as a family. This is why we wanted to try the Hotel Del Coronado at Christmas.
One year we visited Leavenworth in Washington and had such a blast. We took the Amtrak from Seattle and made a whole trip out of it. This last year, we wanted to go somewhere we already love: San Diego.
And really, what better place to stay at Christmas than Hotel Del Coronado?
Our kids are still at the age where we need to travel before or after Christmas. We can’t exactly be gone on Christmas Day without someone being sad about not waking up at home. One day they’ll be older and we can do epic Christmas break trips without ruining Christmas morning, but for now, we’re enjoying the season we’re in.
Depending on where you are with your family, Hotel Del Coronado is such a fun place to visit during the Christmas season, and here’s why.
Why Christmas at Hotel Del Coronado Works
There is something about spending Christmas at the beach.
It’s cool but not freezing, there’s no snow, and it feels almost ironic in the best way. You’ve got Christmas trees, lights, decorations, and holiday music, but you’re still right next to the ocean.
I love it.
Usually when you think beach, you think summer, so seeing Christmas lights and decorated palm trees by the water makes it feel extra special.
Hotel Del Coronado is located on Coronado, and the whole area is decorated for Christmas. There are lights everywhere, and the little town is so pretty this time of year. Definitely plenty of opportunities for pictures for the Gram.
The hotel itself takes Christmas very seriously, and each year has its own theme. When we stayed, everything was Wizard of Oz themed.
They had multiple Christmas trees throughout the property, each decorated around different characters. The girls loved walking around and looking at them. They also had little plaques in front of the trees with things to find, which made it more interactive for the kids.
The hotel also had a free Christmas light show in the front trees where the lights were synced to music. It was such an easy little activity with the kids.
They had beach igloos where you could sit and have drinks, and they even had an ice skating rink right by the beach.
I genuinely do not know how they keep the ice from melting, but ice skating with an ocean view is pretty hard to beat.
Where We Stayed
Hotel Del Coronado has several different areas on the property, so booking can get a little confusing if you haven’t stayed there before.
You can stay in the main hotel, the beach villas, or The Views.
We stayed in The Views in an oceanfront room with a fire pit, and we loved it.
We are definitely “the room matters” people, not “we just sleep there” people, so yes, this was a splurge. But for us, it was worth it.
We loved being able to walk straight out of the room without dealing with elevators. The patio was bigger, the fire pit was amazing, and we had the ocean right in front of us.
It was a little farther from the main hotel area where the restaurants and pool are, but we didn’t mind.
The girls loved playing on the little grass area in front of the room, and at night we would sit by the fire, listen to the ocean, and make s’mores.
That room was a huge part of what made the stay feel special.
What We Loved
Hotel Del Coronado is iconic.
It’s one of those hotels that already feels special before you even add Christmas into the mix. The beach is beautiful, the surrounding homes and shops are gorgeous, and there’s plenty to explore without getting in the car.
If you’re new here, we love to park and walk around wherever we stay. That’s how we find cute shops, coffee spots, restaurants, and random little things we never would have planned.
We also went with my sister and her family, and my mom and dad came too, which made the trip even more memorable.
The hotel had a heated pool and hot tub, so we spent time there too. Again: Christmas at the beach. It just works.
The Wizard of Oz Christmas trees were gorgeous, and the girls loved looking for the little details on each one.
They also got to visit Santa at the beach and take pictures with him, which was adorable.
Things to Know Before You Go to Hotel Del Coronado at Christmas
Crowds
Coronado gets busy during the holidays, especially on weekends.
If you’re traveling with a larger group, make reservations in advance whenever you can.
Booking Timing
If there’s a specific room type you want, especially a first-floor fire pit room or an oceanfront fire pit room, book earlier rather than later.
There are only so many of those rooms, and they’re definitely part of what makes the stay special.
Dining Reservations
Make them.
Especially if you have a larger party or you’re staying over the weekend.
When we first arrived during the week, getting reservations was easier. Once the weekend hit, it got much more difficult.
And no, we did not book anything before we arrived. 😂
Learn from us.
What Made It Memorable
Exploring a new area with our family is one of our favorite things to do. We love the beach, playing in the sand, walking around, and finding little places we weren’t necessarily planning to visit.
Add Christmas lights, Santa, and an ice skating rink by the ocean, and it felt even more memorable.
Ice Skating on the Beach
Ice skating on the beach is one of those rare opportunities you just have to take. Ice skating is fun, period. But throw in the ocean views, sounds, and overall vibe? 10/10.
You can book reservations online, and we were able to snag a spot the same day. You’ll select a time slot and can rent ice skates there.
We ended up skating right after breakfast, around late morning or early afternoon, and it was perfect. It was cool when we started, but things warmed up once the sun came out. The rink got a little melty, but we had an absolute blast. It was one of the most memorable moments of our trip.
Exploring Coronado By Bike
Hotel Del had a little bike rental shack on the property, right outside our room in The Views area. We rented a few bikes and a little bike trailer, then spent some time exploring Coronado.
We biked around the island, checked out different areas, and even stopped at a park to let the girls play.
The weather was perfect for a bike ride. Typical San Diego weather: cooler in the mornings and evenings, then warmer during the day once the sun came out. Having rentals right on the property made it so easy to get out and explore without needing to drive anywhere.
Exploring Coronado on Foot (and Finding the Best Hot Chocolate)
We also spent plenty of time walking around Coronado. We explored the shops, found cute matching shirts for the girls, tried new coffee and pastry spots, found the prettiest gingerbread house cookie jar, and randomly stumbled onto a restaurant we had no idea was apparently very popular.
That restaurant was Little Frenchie.
We walked by, Corey wanted steak, so we stopped for brunch.
He had steak and eggs, I ordered the kids steak frites because the portion was perfect for me, and the girls shared the fanciest hot chocolate I have ever seen.
They poured it into a little croissant with whipped cream and strawberries, and when I say that was the best hot chocolate we’ve ever had, I am not exaggerating.
My steak frites was delicious too. The kids portion was around four ounces, which was perfect for me.
The hot chocolate was so good that we tried to go back later with my sister, her family, and my parents.
They were completely booked for the entire weekend.
So Corey worked his magic and somehow got the hot chocolate to go, and we were still able to bring it back and share it with everyone.
Honestly, that kind of random little find is exactly why we love walking around when we travel.
Is Hotel Del Coronado Worth It at Christmas?
For us, yes.
It’s definitely a splurge, especially if you book an oceanfront room with a fire pit, but the location, the holiday atmosphere, the beach, and all the little seasonal touches made it feel worth it.
If your family loves the beach but still wants that Christmas feeling, Hotel Del Coronado is such a fun combination of both.
And if you’re also “the room matters” travelers, I’d absolutely look at The Views.