India, Jan. 5 -- The pleasure of a stay at Hotel Del Coronado started even before I arrived, as the two-mile Coronado Bay Bridge delivered beautiful scenes of downtown San Diego's skyline and the palm-lined streets of Coronado Island. Then, the hotel's iconic red-shingled conical roof came into view.

The Del's 28 oceanfront acres buzzed with summer activity. From my room, I could see the umbrella-dotted white sand beach, children splashing in the waves along the shore, guests relaxing in shaded lounge chairs, and visitors filling the walkways that meandered throughout the property.

I've stayed at Hotel Del Coronado three times, most recently when the resort debuted an impressive new look in spring 2025. More than $550 million was spent ...