Your cart is currently empty!
(stay) Kona Kai Resort, San Diego
Kona Kai Resort and Spa Review
San Diego hotel review for cruise visitors
One of the best parts of a cruise vacation is spending extra time in port.
San Diego is a perfect example of a port city that has so much to offer that cruise visitors will no doubt be disappointed if they don’t stay for an extend time. California’s second-largest city is undergoing a major transformation and keeping up with the urban renaissance in San Diego is the newly transformed Kona Kai Resort and Spa located on Shelter Island.
The Kona Kai Resort and Spa is located very close to the San Diego International Airport, in fact, it is just 3.7 miles away. The resort if a great option for cruise visitors sailing from The Port of San Diego, which is within 5 miles of the airport. Besides convenience, the newly renovated Kona Kai Resort, which features 129 guestrooms is a tropical oasis on Shelter Island that has a private yacht-club feel.
Gathering Spot
The improvements to the Kona Kai Resort and Spa include upgrades to the hotel’s guest rooms, lobby, and restaurant. The hotel’s Tiki Bar has been rebuilt, with a revamped pool and meeting spaces. Plans are underway now to expand the property by adding new rooms and another pool.
A room with a view
All rooms at the historic Shelter Island hotel feature beautiful bay or marina views.
Lounge by the pool or at the private beach
The private sandy beach, San Diego’s only non-membership private beach, swimming pool, marina, sports activities kiosk offering kayak, paddleboard, and bicycle rentals, and restaurant and Tiki bar invite guests to relax.
Kona Kai Resort & Spa on Shelter Island features a thatch-covered Tiki Bar and poolside cabanas to soak in the sun and sweeping views of picturesque Point Loma peninsula, the resort’s marina and private beach. The fresh new look takes classic beach charm to the next level.
Good eats at Vessel Restaurant
The Vessel restaurant and bar at Kona Kai Resort & Spa has New American cuisine expertly prepared by Executive Chef Roy Hendrickson. The 360° bar at its center and video wall showcase local landscapes. The coastal fare created by Chef Roy incorporates local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, taking traditional delicacies and giving them a flavorful twist. Some of the menu options include: the Noble Garden salad with bulgur wheat, quinoa, arugula, celery, beets, avocado, tomato, mint, Marcona almonds, and lime dressing, spicy tuna tacos, lobster mac n cheese, butternut squash ravioli, and an assortment of grilled items like salmon, steak, and free-range chicken.
Key Lime Pie with cashew graham crust, raspberry, chantilly cream.
Menus:
Kona Kai Resort: chock full of activities, adventures, and amenities
SpaTerre at Kona Kai
Kona Kai Marina
The hotel is located adjacent to the Kona Kai Marina, which provides a great backdrop. Watching the boats come and go at San Diego’s closest marina to the open ocean in San Diego Bay provides great ambiance. There are over 500 slips to accommodate 30′ vessels and up to 250′ Mega Yachts. The Kona Kai Marina is now excited to share amenities with our recently acquired Kona Kai Resort.
Modern San Diego meets the Past
Make sure to ask about the story behind the Tiki Bar and the Kona Kai Club, which offers members private access to luxury amenities, exclusive pricing discounts, and other benefits.
About Kona Kai Resort
The property is located at 1551 Shelter Island Drive. It is owned by Westgroup Kona Kai LLC, a unit of Noble House Hotels & Resorts, which acquired the hotel in 2013.