Kona Kai Resort & Spa

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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.

Big thank you to management for a beautiful stay

May 12, 2025 Jessica G

I had an incredible stay at Kona Kai Resort, and a huge part of what made it so special was the exceptional location and wonderful service from Manager Joseph. From the moment I arrived, Joseph was incredibly welcoming, attentive, and went out of his way to ensure our stay was perfect. We were traveling with our children and our son has some severe special needs. Everything was easy from ramps to first floor room for our son’s stroller wheel chair access. The resort itself is beautiful, with stunning views and top-notch amenities. The brunch was amazing and had so many options. Very calm environment for a family that does not get to vacation to much. The room was comfortable, and everything from the pool to the dining options exceeded my expectations. Thanks to Joseph and the entire team for making my visit so memorable well definitely be back! Read less

A big let down

May 10, 2025 Eileen R

I had high hopes for this hotel as this was part of the Amex THC. The location was great. Upon check-in, the front desk staff told us that our room was upgraded from standard to Marina view (it was pretty much the same room except for the view). We were impressed and got more excited. However, we were let down when we got to our room. Room- it was pretty small. There were 2 queen size beds (mattress is okay, nothing special), there was the usual TV, mini fridge and coffee maker. The TV and fridge were old and could use upgrading. We didn't even bother using the coffee maker as it was just meh. No complimentary water, there were 2 bottled water on the side table but they were $7 each. The wall AC unit was old and definitely needed replacing. Even though we had set it to the lowest temperature possible, it still got hot at night and we slept uncomfortably. Breakfast buffet - We were given $60 credit as part of the benefits of booking through amex. My daughter and I checked out the breakfast the next morning, selection was very limited. Oatmeal, muesli, yogurt, scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, bacon, some pastries and bagels. Drinks were not included and you would need to pay extra for coffee or juice Our total came up to about $73 and my daughter barely ate (she is 3 and the charge for kids was $16!) We came back the following morning and the spread was literally the same, no waffles or pancakes even. Parking - parking was $46 a night. On our 2nd and 3rd nights, the gate was up the whole time and we didn't even need to scan our card. Anyone could have gone in and out, and use the parking! Amenities - there was another $46 charge for resort fees and you would have access to the gym, pool, the beach, etc. We were only able to check out and use the swimming pool. It was heated at least and my kids enjoyed it. Customer service - we had very few interactions with the staff but they were nice and accommodating. Overall, I think Kona Kai was just an average hotel, you would expect more for the price you pay. Read less

One of the best resorts…

May 10, 2025 Brandi W

Joseph Taumua, Myles C., Ray, and Angie were amazing! Came to San Diego for my birthday on a different week than originally planned and Joseph and his team wasted no time rearranging our accommodations and even upgrading my room, honestly just so great, and I really appreciate their responsiveness, honesty, and kindness. We throughly enjoyed our… Read more

Super Experience

May 8, 2025 Oscar C Broomfield, Colorado

First and foremost the staff is so polite, professional and quick to help make our stay as comfortable as possible. There was construction as we checked and and the staff was apologetic about the whole situation, the only time I heard the comparison was when I was right next to the project. This place is well kept up, the pool was so refreshing and clean. The fire pits were fabulous and again well kept. The management team should be so proud of how they have trained their staff as it is one of the best I have ever experienced and I have traveled to over 45 states. 10 stars easily on this trip. Thank you Read less

Give Kona Kai a try

May 5, 2025 Steve B Joshua Tree, California

The annual CCPRO conference was held at Kona Kai in 2025 and it was an excellent choice for a moderately sized conference. The hotel was not without its challenges - we almost missed our opening night's cruise of San Diego Bay when we found out our key card that let us in and out of the parking lot wasn't working. Trapped in the parking lot, I had to run over to the front desk to get them to make it work. We barely made the cruise and were quite stressed out from that malfunction. There were other minor things - a handle on the closet door that was falling off (I screwed it back on right with my Swiss Army knife), and that kind of thing, but the excellent housekeeping staff and the fun grounds with the fire pits made up for it. The osprey nest across the street on the island was the major attraction for us, however, as the parents tended to their young and would drop by to feed them fish from time to time. The dining situation at the resort is a little odd. We're vegan, but with no other breakfast options than the breakfast buffet, we essentially paid around $75 for coffee, a bowl of cereal, and a couple of pieces of fruit. If we weren't vegan, it would have been a feast, but we have our limitations. Being vegan turned out to be a blessing for the conference catering as the few of us that were in attendance had our meals individually prepared. The restaurant isn't open for lunch, which was odd, and it forces you to leave the grounds of the resort, which isn't a bad thing, just not always convenient. Dinner and drinks at the restaurant were excellent, and the service was always very good. If I wasn't in a conference it would have been good to take advantage of other amenities at the resort, but even with my brief amounts of free time, walks along the island shore were delightful, and everything was in bloom and beautiful. All in all, Kona Kai is a solidly good base for a great time in San Diego. It's pretty easy to get downtown, as well as to Cabrillo Point National Monument nearby, and other attractions. There's a tiki bar not far away, and the s'mores kits for the fire pits are a great way to unwind after dark. I'd love to stay here again. Read less

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