Kona Kai Resort & Spa

San Diego, California

Virgin rating

Deluxe King Room
Vessel Restaurant
Terrace
Deluxe Queen Room
Marina Terrace
Marina View Junior Suite
Deluxe King Room
Vessel Restaurant
Terrace
Deluxe Queen Room
Marina Terrace
Marina View Junior Suite

The hotel

This iconic California hotel is on Shelter Island, overlooking the famed Kona Kai Marina. With ocean views from every room type, you can laze the days away on your balcony if you fancy - complete with stunning views of San Diego bay. Although with a private beach two waterfront pools, you'll probably want to leave the room to enjoy a leisurely day by the water either way. Embrace true holiday life and head to the poolside bar for a refreshing drink – and take in the views of the marina, or pamper yourself at the spa. If you fancy something a bit more active, explore the island on one of the complimentary beach cruisers or enjoy one of the many water sports activities on offer!

Amenities

  • Bicycle Rental
  • Kayaking
  • Sailing
  • Bar
  • Evening Entertainment
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Internet Access
  • Restaurant
  • Room Service
  • Spa
  • Swimming Pool
  • Beachfront location

Where is it

Located on Shelter Island on Kona Kai Marina, minutes from Downtown San Diego and San Diego’s International Airport.

Hotel information

170 rooms, including 41 luxury suites, all with spectacular water viewsfrom the private patio or balcony, as well as flatscreen TV with premium entertainment channels, complimentary coffee, mini-fridge, safe, hairdryer, bathrobes, iron and board. 

Deluxe Guestrooms have 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

Premium Rooms offer 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

Suites are also available, featuring sophisticated coastal design, spa-inspired bathrooms with bath and rainfall shower, and bay or marina views from an oversized balcony. 

  • Booking Bonus:  Book before 10 Feb '25 to receive up to 30% off stays between 19 Dec '25 and 24 Dec '25. Terms & conditions apply. Any applicable offers have been calculated into the prices shown. Offers may not be combinable. Black out dates may apply.

Vessel restaurant (local coastal cuisine, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner). Tiki Bar and adults-only pool bar. Resort pool and adults-only pool. Pool and beach cabanas*. Spa*. Fitness centre. Complimentary fitness classes. Private beach and firepits. Water activity centre* including kayaks and paddle boards. Volleyball. Badminton. Complimentary bikes. Fishing*. Beach parties. Kona Kai Marina with bay cruises* and dinner cruises*. Gift shop. Room service*. WiFi*. Self-parking $34, plus tax per night (payable locally, subject to change)

This hotel has resort fees that are included in the room rate (subject to change)

Resort fee includes: - Daily Newspaper in Lobby - WiFi - Fitness centre and steam room - Towel Service at pool and spa. Resort fee, tax and inclusions are subject to change - please see hotel check-in for current inclusions available to you upon arrival.

*Denotes local charge. 

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (1628)
  • Very good (454)
  • Average (300)
  • Poor (192)
  • Terrible (174)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Highly recommend this resort for couples and families. It’s quiet, comfortable, and thoughtfully appointed. Excellent!

Dec 25, 2024 Stephanie W

We have stayed at this resort several times and it is always been an absolute pleasure! It’s very peaceful, yet there’s lots to do. There’s a quiet adult pool and wonderful bar plus a family pool and hot tub. They have paddle boards, kayaks and jet skis to rent, a well equipped gym, a ping-pong table, and free bikes. We have stayed in different… Read more
We have stayed at this resort several times and it is always been an absolute pleasure! It’s very peaceful, yet there’s lots to do. There’s a quiet adult pool and wonderful bar plus a family pool and hot tub. They have paddle boards, kayaks and jet skis to rent, a well equipped gym, a ping-pong table, and free bikes. We have stayed in different parts of the resort and they’ve all been beautifully appointed with soft sheets, very comfortable beds, and fluffy towels. There are many spaces to sit and lounge such as the lobby with a piano and fireplace, marina side beach fire pits and two pools. We enjoy eating at the Vessel restaurant and bar and highly recommend it! The service is excellent at the restaurant and throughout the resort. The resort is centrally located, yet also peaceful and away from all the airplane noise, which can be loud in San Diego. Whether you choose the Bayside or a marina side room you will have a great view and lots to see. We appreciate the thoughtful touches too - such as s’mores kits for the outdoor fire pits and coupons for local restaurants. We received a free appetizer at Ketch restaurant and recommend it for a meal or drinks with a very cool view of the nighttime San Diego skyline. Highly recommend this beautiful resort for both couples and families. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Such a beautiful Resort!

Dec 22, 2024 Jesse J Los Angeles, California

Hotel is beautiful. Lobby had a pianist playing lovely music. The view from the room was amazing and the fire places in the patio are amazinly warm! Def would go back and recommend Kona Kai. Staff was very friendly and they recommend us one of the best restaurants we ever been!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nice looking place, but some things fall short.

Dec 21, 2024 Rocio G

First floor room, Nice hotel, loved the warm pools, and fire pits. Hotel looks really nice overall. Unsure if there's an elevator as we had a first floor room but noticed 2 sets on stairs in our general area in building 1. What i liked about my room was the ease of access to things like multiple entries / exits to get to areas of the hotel. I wish… Read more
First floor room, Nice hotel, loved the warm pools, and fire pits. Hotel looks really nice overall. Unsure if there's an elevator as we had a first floor room but noticed 2 sets on stairs in our general area in building 1. What i liked about my room was the ease of access to things like multiple entries / exits to get to areas of the hotel. I wish that you couldve adjust the shower head. It was pointing straight down and felt very close to the shower shelf. The restaurant only had 1 server each time I went. My first visit my lemonade had a tiny bug. The second visit, my lemonade was served in a cracked glass. Both times food was barely warm to cold. Didn't mention it to the servers since it it seemed like they were understaffed and food took a while to get. You can hear everyone talking in the hallway of your room and if you have people in the floor upstairs, you can hear every step they take. Luckily we were tired and we're heavy sleepers during our vacation. The outlets on the lamps are really close to the bottom of the lamp so if you have a charger cube it does not fit. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Bad service that significantly impacted the experience.

Dec 19, 2024 Peggy L

I recently booked a package through Costco that included tickets, a hotel stay, and a car rental. While I was initially excited about this trip, I encountered a frustrating issue that significantly impacted my experience. Upon checking out, I was informed by the front desk that parking fees were being charged, despite there being no prior notice… Read more
I recently booked a package through Costco that included tickets, a hotel stay, and a car rental. While I was initially excited about this trip, I encountered a frustrating issue that significantly impacted my experience. Upon checking out, I was informed by the front desk that parking fees were being charged, despite there being no prior notice about this additional cost. The lack of transparency regarding these fees is disappointing. Furthermore, we did not use the hotel’s parking facilities, as parking in the surrounding area was more convenient and accessible for us. Despite this, I was charged $25 per day. The fact that these charges were applied without prior notice and without us utilizing the parking service is unacceptable. It created unnecessary inconvenience and frustration. In addition, the service provided by the front desk staff was unprofessional and insufficient. The representative I interacted with seemed dismissive and unhelpful, leaving me with the impression that the situation was handled in a tricky and dishonest manner. This level of service is not what I expect from a hotel partnered with Costco. Because of this experience, I cannot recommend this hotel to others. I kindly request a review of these parking charges and a resolution to this issue. I look forward to hearing back from you soon. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Holiday Tradition

Dec 16, 2024 Nora M San Diego, California

We stay at the Kona Kai every year when the parade of lights is going on. It is an absolute favorite tradition. The resort is so fun and welcoming and beautiful. They also have a ton of stuff going on around the holidays like an elf hunt and nightly hot cocoa bar.