Resort at Pelican Hill

We had booked to stay for a couple of nights as part of our California road trip. After reading some reviews I was a little concerned- how wrong I was. We had an amazing stay, my favourite of everywhere we’ve stayed in So Cal. Cannot fault anything- service, cleanliness, food etc I believe they are going though a transition and being taken over by Marriott which is affecting phone lines etc ( we did struggle to call hotel from outside before we arrived) but calling reception etc from the room was no problem and super easy. Pool is incredible too Would Love to stay again Read less

Called to inquire about the bungalow rooms (amenities, pet policy, etc.) because we have a reservation coming up in a few weeks for our anniversary. I pressed option #6 (other questions and the operator). Was on hold for almost 10 minutes before I hung up. Then I read other reviews reflecting the poor service and other patrons being on hold forever, YIKES! I think I will be cancelling our reservation. We used to come here all the time after it opened so this is really a shame. Read less

Poor Experience. Great accommodations and facility. Customer service is appalling. Long waits for room service to even answer phone. On line app does not work. Long waits for any type of service. Amenities are far below what you expect for a 5 star resort. No stocked mini fridge in room- had to order drinks at an inflated price. Tried to get service on the phone long delays little to no help. Very frustrating. Read less

We stayed at Pelican Hill for a long weekend in the middle of a trip down the coast as we wanted to relax and enjoy the slower pace for a few days. Friends who live in the US, who have frequented Pelican Hill many times, recommended this to us as the premium place to unwind and enjoy luxurious surrounds. Loving the area as we do, we really looked forward to the experience. The positives were the staff - all very conversational, brilliant and personal service as you’d expect. The room was nice, some say dated, but to be honest we found it sizeable and comfortable. A few of the nights it was a bit cold so we put the fire on which was lovely. The toiletries were on point and we generally slept very well. The negatives for us were as follows: Food - really poor for this standard of resort. 3/5 maximum. I agree with other reviews who are simply baffled by the quality and finesse. It’s fine that it’s expensive, but it can’t be expensive and mediocre. The breakfast at the Colosseum in particular was just so dire that we went to Target and bought our own room supplies to avoid having it again. The tables were often all dirty and poorly attended, too. For dinner we drove out of the resort to avoid the food. Pool area - the pool itself is a wonderful shape and size, you’re not packed in with others when in the water, HOWEVER the loungers are all so close together, there is zero sense of privacy or luxury here, it’s like a spring break pool party with people all on top of each other. If you want a sunny spot for the day, you best get out there early, too. This is not premium. Beach - wow this was a waste of time. We were flabbergasted that the hotel would endorse use of the beach down the hill, it was honestly one of the worst beaches I’ve ever been to. The transport to go down and bags with towels and water is a lovely touch, but on arrival there are no loungers, nothing Pelican Hill… it’s just a public beach with a burger place. Admittedly the burger place looked good but we were so keen to get away, we caught the next trolley back. Others from hotel were similarly confused. Other guests - a lot of people use Pelican Hill as a day long party destination - I assume there are packages of some sort. These groups are disruptive and unpleasant in an environment of relaxation. To summarise, we are glad we had the experience but we wouldn’t return. It doesn’t feel like a good use of money to be honest. As European travellers we have access to amazing genuine five star luxury resorts which are set up for relaxation and a premium experience. As others from the UK have noted, this is missing here. Read less

My family and I rented a villa at Pelican Hill for the weekend to celebrate my mother's birthday. It was absolutely spectacular in every way- resort and views were beautiful, service was impeccable- we couldn't have asked for anything more. The 3 bedroom, 3 bath villa was spacious and luxurious and the ocean views unforgettable. I have stayed at 5 star resorts all over the world, and I was very impressed with their attention to detail and thoughtfulness. We spent time at Crystal Cove beach and shuttle service was readily available. The villas have a private entrance, clubhouse and pool which make for an exclusive experience. My family had a wonderful time and said it ranks as one of the best vacations they have ever taken. Thank you Pelican Hill for making my mom feel like a V.I.P. on her special day!! Read less