Ensenada's
Hotel Coral & Marina an All-Encompassing Escape
A
mere 80 miles from San Diego lies the port city of
Ensenada, a charming Mexican enclave that runs along 700 miles
of Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortéz coastline. The city,
which is Mexico's largest municipality in the area, offers endless
possibilities for vacationers since the region is replete with
culture, adventure, inspired cuisine, fine wine and gracious
hospitality that's all tempered with a relaxed beach and marine
mindset. This certainly holds true for the Hotel Coral &
Marina-a luxury Mexican resort that truly has it all for families,
couples, groups or any well-heeled traveler seeking an easily
accessible, all-encompassing escape South of the Border.
Well-Appointed
Accommodations
A glistening getaway on the shores of Todos Santos Bay, Hotel
Coral & Marina boasts the area's only world-class marina
with 353 slips that offer shared access to the property's impressive
array of amenities. But, for those seeking accommodations on
land, the property offers a comprehensive set of conveniences
and creature comforts that start with the 147 rooms and suites
with each featuring flat-screen TVs, included high-speed Wi-Fi
and a coffee maker. Upgrade to a specialty suite for an added
refrigerator, dining area, double bathtub, Jacuzzi, wine cooler
or fully equipped kitchen.
While
standard rooms start at 635 square feet, the luxury suites start
at 721 square feet and top out at over three times that with
the Presidential Triple Suite, which provides a whopping 2,034
square feet of vacation space. In speaking with Lizette Sanchez,
Director of Public Relations at Hotel Coral & Marina, she
cited many elevated amenities available with the opulent top-tier
suites, such as a wraparound ocean-view balcony, chic bar, modern
living area, Jacuzzi, hydro-massage shower, dining table and
wine fridge.
With
thoughts of the grand room options in mind, I asked Sanchez
if any celebrity guests have stayed at the property. She enthused,
"We've hosted a variety of celebrities, including Matthew
McConaughey, Olivia Wilde, Nicolas Cage, Harrison Ford, Esteban
Loaiza, Vinicio Castilla and the late Paul Walker, in our ultra-luxurious
Presidential Suites." Nice to know Hollywood A-Listers
are privy to this delightful property.
Amenities-a-Plenty
However fabulous your room may be, don't stay in it too long
as there's so much more to do and see at Hotel Coral & Marina.
Whether your idea of a good time includes indulging in "Baja-Med"
style cuisine at the on-site Bistro & Cava indoor/outdoor
restaurant or more casual fare at the Marina Grill indoor/outdoor
restaurant; cocktailing at the patio bar; taking a dip in the
indoor or outdoor pool or in the large outdoor Jacuzzi; pampering
with a service at the fully-equipped "C Spa"; sweating
out the stress in the state-of-the-art fitness center; or playing
an exhilarating game of tennis, the property offers all of this
and more to keep you and your companions duly engaged and entertained.
Guests
can also enjoy various water activities like water bikes, paddle
boarding and kayaking all throughout the the marina. With these
enjoyable exploits as well as an on-site playground and professionally
staffed Kid's Club, the Hotel Coral & Marina is decidedly
family friendly.
What's more, all of this is located just minutes from downtown
Ensenada, San Miguel beach and the Las Cañadas campground
where you can purchase a day pass allowing you to partake in
an incredible assortment of ground, water and air activities
like ATV rental, horseback riding, mountain biking, zip lining,
canopy tours, water slide and swimming. It's also advisable
to spend some time in Baja's burgeoning wine country. I did
mention the Hotel Coral & Marina has a Kid's Club, right?
For locations closer to the property like restaurants and shops,
the hotel will even provide complimentary ground transportation.
Speaking
of complimentary ground transport, I would be remiss if I didn't
mention that the hotel can also provide free pick up and drop
off service from, and back to, the U.S. Border, which is only
about a 90-minute drive each way on the scenic toll road.
A
Magnanimous Marina
For those who prefer to travel by sea, one of the hotel's unique
qualities of having its own marina is how effortless it is for
oceangoing guests to arrive and settle in. Sanchez explains,
"Our marina offers a high-quality experience that is convenient
to those who choose to dock in Ensenada for a short vacation
or a long-term stay. Ensenada is the very first port of entry
into Mexico, and our property makes the immigration and vessel
import process seamless for marina guests."
"Guests
docked at our marina also have access to the hotel's world-class
amenities, specialized yacht maintenance services, a fuel dock
and special discounts at the spa and restaurants," she
continues. "Those guests who fish particularly love to
have their own catch-of-the-day grilled up at our Marina Grill
restaurant!"
Eat,
Drink and Decompress
Speaking of restaurants, Bistro & Cava is the hotel's award-winning
signature gourmet restaurant featuring a blend of traditional
Mexican entrees and locally-sourced Mediterranean cuisine. But
the food isn't the only notable aspect of the bistro, as it
also happens to house the largest local wine cellar in Baja
California. From this locale, patrons can enjoy more than 150
labels.
Those
seeking a more casual atmosphere will enjoy eating at the waterfront
Marina Grill restaurant or at the Pool Bar, where I highly recommend
ordering the ceviche and a margarita. If this doesn't put you
in a vacation state-of-mind, probably nothing will. The Arrecife
Lobby Bar is another communal space offering sports on the flat-screen
and a two-for-one drink Happy Hour.
Spa
Satisfaction
In my book, no luxury escape is complete without a trip to the
spa. Hotel Coral & Marina's own newly designed C Spa is
full service, offering a wide array of beauty salon services
along with a number of luxurious and locally-sourced treatments.
Among these is a service called "VinoTherapy"-a treatment
I myself have experienced that uses organic wine byproducts
like grape leaves, stems, skin and seeds to exfoliate, moisturize
and replenish skin all over the body. It's a highly relaxing
50-minute service that will leave your skin feeling soft and
supple.
A
Look Ahead
Short-term, Sanchez indicated that the hotel's C Spa plans to
launch a more comprehensive wellness program later this year
that will give guests another way to unwind and revitalize through
a guided program of yoga, spa treatments and health discussions
covering a range of topics-from nutrition to meditation and
exercise.
In discussing the overall longer-term future of Hotel Coral
& Marina, Sanchez indicated the property's efforts to continually
improve all facets of the hospitality it proffers, with a concerted
focus on delivering "top-notch customer service."
This I experienced first-hand with an affable, mostly English-speaking
staff willing to facilitate nearly any need or request. Continuous
attention to cosmetic upgrades, employee training and innovative
new guest programs will further enhance the guest experience.
Whether
you're planning a family vacation, a romantic respite or a group
getaway, Ensenada's Hotel Coral & Marina enchants as a one-stop
oasis where leisure, recreation and gastronomic pursuits await.
By Merilee Kern, 'The Luxe List' Executive Editor
"The
Luxe List" Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury
marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary
events, and notable products and services. Submissions are accepted
at www.LuxeListReviews.com.
Follow her on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/LuxeListEditor
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***Some
or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or
service(s) detailed above were provided at no cost to accommodate
this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of
Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***