Kona Kai San Diego Resort

The property itself is beautiful. The grounds are gorgeous, the location is picturesque, and every breakfast we had at Vessel was a highlight. Several staff members stood out for their warmth and professionalism, especially Avila and Ray, along with the restaurant team. That said, there are issues that are hard to ignore. We saw three different rooms during our stay, and none were in the condition we expected at this price point. The wear and tear was noticeable. The hotel’s position in the flight path means aircraft noise is unavoidable, but at times it became so loud that it disrupted rest and made it hard to enjoy the space. The added fees were another concern. Resort fees, paid parking, and even coffee not being included with breakfast felt out of step with the experience advertised. Outdoor fabric furniture was left out overnight and was consistently dirty. Overall, the setting and staff have real strengths, but these issues created a mixed stay.

We had a wonderful stay at Kona Kai! The rooms were spotless, spacious, and beautifully designed, we stayed in both the bay and marina view rooms, and both had incredible views. The beds were super comfortable, and everything felt clean and fresh. The staff went above and beyond to make our stay relaxing and enjoyable. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, helpful, and professional. A special thank you to Scott, the General Manager, who went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect for us, truly exceptional service. The resort itself is stunning, the private beach, nightly bonfires, and pool make it feel like a peaceful getaway right in San Diego. We also tried the spa, and the massage was fantastic, one of the best we’ve had. Overall, it was a perfect and peaceful weekend. Highly recommend Kona Kai for anyone looking for a beautiful, comfortable, and relaxing stay!

I booked a stay at Kona Kai San Diego Resort through my Amex Platinum card for my mom and her longtime friend — two women who have been friends for six decades. I wanted to give them something truly special, a place where they could reminisce about their many visits to San Diego over the years while creating new memories together. I’ll admit I was a little hesitant at first since I wasn’t familiar with Shelter Island or the property. But from the moment I booked, every interaction with the resort put me at ease. I reached out to let them know I was sending my mom and her friend, and every question was answered immediately and with such warmth and professionalism. They arranged an early check-in, gave them a beautiful suite upgrade, and surprised them with a stunning charcuterie board waiting in the room — such a thoughtful and memorable welcome. The property itself is absolutely gorgeous, with sweeping views of both the bay and the marina. The rooms were tastefully decorated, spotless, and the beds were incredibly comfortable. There were so many things for them to enjoy: peaceful walking paths, cozy fire pits, and bikes available to borrow — all made even more special with the festive holiday decorations. And truly, the staff is what makes Kona Kai exceptional. Every person we interacted with, whether through text or in person, was outstanding. It’s rare to find a property where everyone seems to genuinely love their job and care deeply about their guests. Nootzy in the bar created the most amazing martinis and made my mom and her friend feel like they were chatting with an old friend. Her stories, warmth, and personality were unforgettable. And TJ, who served them during a few of their meals, went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect — attentive, kind, and genuinely invested in their experience. Kudos to the management of this resort for building such a stellar team. My mom and her friend left with full hearts and beautiful memories, and I couldn’t be more grateful. I was so impressed with everything that the next time I plan a trip to San Diego, I will definitely be staying at Kona Kai.

Our family had a wonderful time at Kona Kai! The beachside bonfire was our highlight! Couldn’t get over the boat and ocean views. We enjoyed the hot tub at night and the pool looked amazing- just ran out of time to use it! Very impressed with the service as well! Oh and the fruit infused water in the lobby was soooooo good!

With a wedding related hotel reservation, we were expecting a fun weekend at a family resort near all of the events nearby. Since we were involved in the wedding preparation, we inquired about an early check in to help with the night before. They told us it was only "if available," which is reasonable, but then they would charge us $50 to get to the room (that we did pay for) earlier, even if it was cleaned and available. I guess that was the good news since the actual check in time is 4 pm. That being said, both our and several other attendees of the wedding couldn't get access to the room until after 4 pm. We were told that the rooms, after being cleaned, needed to then be inspected to be proven "clean." We were attempting to check in, get ready after a day of travel, and then make it to help set up for a dinner at 5 pm noting that the wedding/event was associated with the property. We realize that weekends are busy, but hotels should anticipate staffing on a Friday to accommodate weekend occupancy. Especially when there is high anticipated usage. Once we got to the room, we ended up with a view of the parking lot in a clean room that needs significant updating. The remainder of the stay was unremarkable and stale despite a beautiful location for the actual property. ||Inquiries about our bill after the leaving the property were met with additional long holds, delays, and disconnections. And, even when I expressed my frustration with the multiple phone calls and lack of response to an employee Isabel in the reservations department (I needed to find a way to get to someone) she then abruptly hung up on me. ||Would not recommend, as the customer service was poor or disinterested in all aspects of the resort. I'm not sure if this is because they are understaffed or they just don't care since it is a bit of a legacy/location resort in San Diego. But if you are in the hospitality industry, you should make at least an attempt to be accomodating, properly staffed and hospitable.

Where do I even begin? Stephanie is, without question, the most incredible event coordinator anyone could ask for. Over the 2.5 years we worked together, she became so much more than a planner—she truly felt like a best friend who cared about every detail as much as I did. From day one, she went above and beyond to make sure our planning experience was smooth, joyful, and completely stress-free. Every suggestion, every tiny comment we made—she listened, understood, and somehow always managed to make things even better than I imagined. Her ability to improve and elevate every idea was nothing short of magic. She guided us through every stage of the process with such grace and professionalism, all while keeping everything lighthearted and fun. Additionally, she was extremely flexible, working with us on budget concerns, she was responsive, and always reliable. She worked with all of my vendors seamlessly, and without her I don’t think the day would have been as perfect as it was. And the thoughtfulness! Stephanie and Peter (our hotel block coordinator) have such beautiful hearts—they even surprised us with the most meaningful little gifts along the way during our weekend. Those gestures meant the world to me and reminded me just how lucky we were to have them by our side. If you’re looking for someone who will not only plan your wedding flawlessly but also care about you, your story, and your happiness, look no further than Stephanie. She’s pure magic. 💕 As far as the property goes, they were going through pretty significant changes during our wedding weekend so our guests experienced some plumbing and AC issues that were frustrating for some of the pricing. However, the staff was incredibly helpful and kind and I believe all issues were resolved. We can’t wait to return to the property in the future.

Kona Kai Hotel/Resort – San Diego, CA; Why You Should Avoid Staying Here|I am writing to share my disappointing experience at the Kona Kai Hotel/Resort, which I booked through Costco for my wife’s birthday. Despite its advertised four-star rating, my stay was closer to one star. Here are the reasons:|1- The property resembles a budget motel rather than a resort. and operates like one|2- Rooms are too small and the ones in the main budling where the lobby is smell like raw sewage, the smell gets worst at night |• Our Bay view room smelled so bad we could not sleep the 1st night at all|• Room’s central Air was disabled or not working, so they installed a window mount A/C, which wasn’t working properly and was very loud during the night (just like any Motel)|• The Balcony door does not have a screen door, so if you open the door, brides fly in (as it did in our room) and so as bugs and misquotes |• There are water bottles in the room, but for sale ($7.00 each), the room has small old cabinet/TV stand which has coffee and water, asking the front desk he said use it and you have to pay for it, why this cheap “motel” is charging a resort fee?|• Shower’s water pressure was so bad it felt like someone pouring water on you with a bottle |• Rooms and the balcony were poorly maintained, look at the pictures to get a better idea|3- Most staff members were unwelcoming and unhelpful. not smiling, with exception of 2 (Roy and Ray) great guys, helpful and accommodating |4- Resort fees are $50/night (waved for Costco members) with not much to offer, not even a complimentary coffee /Tea in the lobby|5- Parking Fees are $46. / Night ($23.00 for Costco members)|6- they have small gift shop at the lobby and another one at the spa prices were outrageous, they charged us $26 for small metal water bottle which is good for cold only and not hot, same ones are sold, elsewhere for $7.00|7- they have a small coffee/tea stand at the lobby but you have to pay for everything (see the photo) |For my wife’s birthday we booked this miserable “motel” through Costco, with 4(*) rating, I will give them one (*). we were greeted by a grumpy staff at check in. With little or no explanation of the facilities on Oct-31-25, and had another couple with us for the 2nd room|Once we entered the room the heavy raw sewage smell was overwhelming, I retuned to the lobby and complained to the same person, and he assured me he will send housing staffs to our rooms immediately, no one ever showed up|Next morning I complained and requested to see the manager, I was told they were not available. Then I asked to be moved to another room, Ray (very nice and accommodating) tried and show us 4 other rooms in the main (same) bulling but they all had the same strong raw sewage smell. And finally, a room on the 3rd floor of another building, with far less smell, but had issues to be fixed by maintenance crew before we could move. We packed our stuff, left them at the lobby with the assurance that they would be delivered to our new room as soon as it was fixed|After wasting ½ day looking for another room, we left the “motel” and came back around 6pm to the new room but no languages, so I called the housing 4 time to get them and each time they said they will bring them right over, but it took them over an hour and 4 calls, to bring them, making us late for our dinner reservation.|During our 3 nights stay, no manager ever talked to us and or apologized for the incomitance, only Roy did (a night shift person at the front desk.)|The front desk was consistently understaffed, with only one person handling check-ins, check-outs, and guest inquiries. I waited over 20 minutes just to ask a simple question.|Conclusion What was supposed to be a special birthday celebration turned into a frustrating and unpleasant experience. The Kona Kai Hotel/Resort fails to deliver on its advertised rating and operates more like a low-end motel than a resort. I would strongly caution others against wasting their money here.

stayed here for a few nights recently, and probably won’t stay here again, it wasn’t the worst but also wasn’t the best. why: the pools were not heated, and the one paloma hot tub we tried was nice but only warm, not very hot and some of the jets didn’t work. also seagulls and ducks kept coming up and landing in the pool, so i opted out of swimming in bird poo. also there was never anybody staffed at the paloma pool bar. the room itself was nothing impressive, very basic and kind of dated for the price. no bedbugs, and pretty quiet, and there was one weird stain on the curtains. water pressure in the shower was lacking. overall meh but very overpriced. the rooms do not have microwaves, so i called and requested one two weeks before our arrival date. when we got there, no microwave in the room so i had to ask again and they brought it up to the room. all the staff are very nice, but their pillows are trash and have next to no stuffing in them, so i requested twice for extra pillows, which never came. didn’t bother again after that. the restaurant onsite was on the pricey side, and the food was outstanding, although it did take an hour and a half to get our food on a night that wasn’t super busy. the breakfast buffet was a different story - first of all you are not only charged for it (even when staying in a room), but you are also charged a 30% fee as well as a 10% buffet fee on top of it. the buffet foods were terrible. the pastries seemed like they were a week old, and the waiter was very rude and rushing us, even though we got down there 20 mins after it opened. made no sense. i’ve stayed in worse (for much cheaper) but i was also disappointed. will not be staying here again. and before the owner or manager replies, the room was not booked under my name and no i will not be emailing you because i noticed that other older reviews have mentioned some of the same issues so yall just need to do better. 🤡

Stayed for the views, and the amenities come with 2 pools, a gym, a nice restaurant. We were rained in during our stay, but made it work. The concierge recommended us the New Kids Museum since it was indoor downtown SD, it was enjoyable. My kids and I hit the family pool twice that weekend and we were there so glad it was heated, the other was 21 and over so I didn't bother. To rent the cabana was $75, the short walk on the "beach" is nice, but I wish I could have touched the water. The restaurant next tot the pool was top notched, refreshing and delicious. We had the bay view and asked for top floor, the rooms were nice with wooden floors. We didn't drink the water or take any shampoo since everything would be extra charges. I would stay here again.

Stayed here for a last minute getaway. There are lot of amenities but to be honest we did not take advantage of them. Maybe had it been a bit warmer or if our baby was a little bit older, we would have. Staff is very friendly. Private beach is not really a beach that you can swim in. There is some sand with fire pits and a few games. There are 2 pools to swim in (1 is adult only as there is a bar there, the other is kid friendly). Our room had a comfy bed and good shower. We also enjoyed the view we had from it. Minus 2 stars because it is quite a pricey place and I expected it to be cleaner. Shower had hair in it. I also later realized that it was quite dusty when my baby and I woke up with some congestion.

Location and service are great. Pics online are deceiving. Too pricey for how outdated the property is. This is an older property with slight upgrades but overall outdated. Hallways with carpet have terrible smell and cleaning crew sprays too much fragrance to cover it up. It's overwhelming. My room smelled like mold coming from window unit air conditioner. Room was clean but balcony was not. Amenities are nice but overall too pricey for outdated property

Stayed here last month to attend a wedding down the road. For how much this hotel costs, our room was not up to par, mostly with cleanliness. We only stayed two nights but this didn't not feel luxurious at all. Parts of the property felt outdated and neglected. It felt very overpriced so the entire experience we had. The bar had overpriced food that was also subpar. We had a salad and there was still a sticker on the apple that was chopped in the salad. The location is very convenient and the views are beautiful, I just think it's not really worth the price for a resort type of experience. I did enjoy that they have an adults only pool. Overall, I would probably try another hotel in the area, there are many to choose from.

I've always wanted to try this place out. Stayed here recently and Checked in on a Thursday around 3 and didn't have to wait at all. Room was ready and the lobby was absolutely beautiful. It looked like a ski lounge lobby complete with a fireplace. Extremely cozy. I got checked in right away. The employees were very friendly and gave me a map to my room. This place is huge! My room was a little ways away but had a nice view of the ocean. That was a plus. Room Review. It was a very nice and quaint room. It's not huge butt just enough to move around in and was very clean. It has a fridge and a wonderful AC unit that keeps things the way you like it. The bed pillow and sheets were very comfortable. I like that this place looks like a little cottage village. For someone that likes a good night sleep be rest assured that the room walls are amazing thick or at least soundproofed. When I was walking back to my room the room next to me was having a huge party. People on the patio, music etc... When I got to my room it was like a library inside. I didn't hear a peep!! The bar is nice and stocked and the restaurant is very good as well. The drinks were great and good portions was excellent and the quality was great. We also had buffets for our event and the food was amazing!! They had a bunch of private bars for us during our event and I must say Javier was the best!! What a great bartender that knows his drinks! At one point during the night on the beach the lights went out above his little bar hut and he continued to make great drinks with no light!! They give free coffee in the early AM but it does stop a bit early. Luckily I am an early riser and got my coffee around 530 AM but they were done with coffee service at 7 The location could not be more perfect, I walked up and down the ocean strip early in the morning. In the back they have their own private beach with fire pits. I Ubered here instead of parking as it was cheaper for me. They do charge for parking. I did see plenty of street parking as well if you want to park on the street. Overall I would say this is a great hotel and even a better resort especially with the location. The employees were friendly and I had an amazing time here.

My recent stay at this hotel left me with conflicting feelings, largely due to the discovery of hidden fees that marred an otherwise pleasant experience. To start, the views from this hotel are nice--walkable distance to notable restaurants along Shelter Island and you can see the Japanese friendship bell from here. However, upon closer inspection of the amenities, I found price tags on seemingly standard items in the room. The shampoo, for instance, displayed a price of $20, and there was only one water bottle on the bedside table despite two labels, each priced at $7. This suggested that guests could potentially be charged for missing items, and the absence of a visible price tag on a stuffed animal on the bed only added to the ambiguity. On top of that, the refrigerator wasn't plugged in when we got there, and it makes a huge "humming" sound which was annoying when we were sleeping. It's crucial for the hotel to communicate these potential charges more transparently to guests during check-in. I recommend that the hotel takes steps to ensure guests are aware of these potential fees upfront, perhaps by providing a detailed explanation at the time of check-in. Despite these charges, I still think this hotel provides really nice views and photo opportunities. We were close by to go on a boat rental, the gym was nice, and I took a Deep Stretch yoga class! Because it's a Hawaiian-themed hotel, there were tiki tents around the swimming tool which was a beautiful ambiance at night, along with different games such as table tennis and bean bag throw. Regardless, I don't think I would go back to stay here again as the price we paid didn't really add up for our stay.

We had a lovely stay for my birthday at the Kona Kai. The location is magnificent. I loved the bon fire pits they provide at night for their guests and the pool/bar was fun. The customer service was amazing from the guest service check-in to the waiter at the restaurant. My only dissatisfaction was our bathroom in our hotel room. It's in dire need of a remodel. We would come back to Kona Kai again.

My stay at Kona Kai was very unpleasant, the quality of service was very bad, I requested a top room because my prior experience of having to deal with the people upstairs making too much noise, I asked to be please be far out from other guess with pets , two my neighbor rooms had a coupe dogs and a cat that were very disturbing barking ,been unleashed, the air conditioning was making a noice all night like it was about to breakdown, I couldn't rest the full three days , the ice machine was broke for two days in total I'm very unpleasant for a hotel were I payed $500 per night I asked for the sauna service and not even that was working ,, wow An amenity of $50 per day that you cannot use ??? In conclusion we are not going back to Kona Kai and I wont recommend it .

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here and hopefully plan to return next year as well. I think what also made this visit special was the timing. We booked for early October, when the resort (or the city itself) was not busy. This made way for early, quiet breakfasts at the Vessel Restaurant, non-crowded workouts at the fitness center, quiet walks around the resort, and along the private beach. The staff were a pleasure to work with as well. On my morning walks, I was assisted by a young man who walked the grounds and assisted guests. He suggested amenities and locations of places. By the way, the resort is small enough for a good walk but large enough to give you space between guests and parties. As for the rooms, other than a low pressure shower and a loud AC unit, both understandable, given the age of this resort, the room was clean, and the bed was comfortable. We requested that our room not be cleaned during our stay (we are already tidy and can clean after ourselves) but exchanged towels daily when housekeeping was around. The TV was actually one of the first televisions we encountered during our stays that easily allowed us to see the channels, name of the movie/show, and we could easily navigate. And, the TV stayed on without suspiciously turning off or lowering its volume like other places we stayed at. The resort, and it seems most of San Diego, goes cashless, so you may need to charge any items to your room or a separate card. For budgeting purposes, I charged to my card. Parking was about $45, unlimited exits and returns, but the key might be finicky so I discovered you will need to take about 3-5 breaths as you patiently wave your key at the parking entrance and exit. By the way, we were warned that the key demagnitizes easily, so be careful. The bonfire pits are amazing, and be sure to clean-up after yourself when you go there. Everything from the fireplace, the open cabanas, saltwater pools, and fitness center are shared among resort guests. We stayed from Sunday to Thursday to avoid the hustle and bustle of the weekend visitors and it seemed that the resort was planning for a wedding rehearsal and a teacher retreat that weekend, so we were leaving at a good time. I felt safe, I enjoyed my stay, and I look forward to my return.

What an amazing hotel! Kona Kia San Diego Resort made me feel like I was in Hawaii. Everyone who works here was really nice and helpful. We were able to upgrade our room but it was to a two bed but they said that it had an amazing view. They were right about the view and in the end we were both really happy. My partner and I took the train and it was a perfect way to get into Old Town then a quick Uber to the resort. We also rented bikes from the resort (2 hours free) and it was the perfect way to look around. The food was amazing as well as the drinks. This was the perfect spot to have a small vacation. I would love to come back soon for a longer stay!

Beautiful Resort with paved walking path along the water. Highly recommend watching the gorgeous sunrise and sunset. We traveled right after new years. Service was friendly, the cleaning crew was hard at work trying to clean up the remnants of a big New Years event. This hotel is also pet friendly.

We were excited for our 2 day stay after booking the resort through American Express travel (yay! for travel points). The room wasn't up to expectations. The AC didn't work, and it seemed more like a motel than a resort.

An amazing resort! So many lovely amenities,, great gym, fitness classes. 2 pools, a great restaurant and bar enjoy the great food, nice staff, beautiful rooms with a view of the harbor or the marina... A wonderful experience! Truly. Can't say enough. Oh the fire pits at night are the final great touch!

Kona Kai is serving good food! Great service and the best views! The cosmos aren't bad either! The appetizer of burrata prosciutto arugula and hot honey is the best!

Too many rules staff didn't know how to direct us. Pool bar was closed most of the time we were there but great location

pretty nice place! This review is not for a stay but just an overall vibe of the venue. this last time around we were volunteering for the food and wine festival. there is on premises parking for a fee .... And there is also free street parking. What caught my attention was the "beach" newly added with fire pits and all. additionally the venue had set up a smores station... And 3 different mac n cheese for the guests.

Pros: Angie at the front desk was amazing! Bar/Restaurant staff was amazing as well as the quality of the food and option of available drinks. Adult-only heated salt pool. Nice "hang out" area with lawn games near the main pool. The suite we stayed in on the 2nd & 3rd night was terrific. We didn't take advantage of the beach fire pits, but they seemed like a lot of fun. Close to SD Airport. Cons: A bit pricey for a resort. Bar at Adult-only pool closes earlier than expected. Staff seemed to be mainly focused on the wedding that was happening throughout my stay. 1st night room had a foul smell that nauseated my wife and I, BUT Angie was able to get us into another room and upgrade us. I have a feeling that staffing may be an issue, or perhaps the main focus for all staff is on whatever big event is happening for the day and less on areas that won't have a guaranteed amount of people in attendance. This didn't affect my overall satisfaction, but I was frustrated that I had to chase down towels at the fitness center for my group when we visited the salt pool in the evening. I would also suggest making sure the front desk staff is updated on current "going ons." There is a local boat charter company named Triton that appeared to be partnered with the resort, but when we talked to the front desk lady during our check in she seemed confused/annoyed about any questions we had about the charter we booked. We thought we had made a mistake until I realized that both Kona Kai and Triton charters had literally just posted on Instagram about a Summer Giveaway contest they were both sponsoring. Not a good look if the front desk isn't informed on things the resort is actively promoting. It was a great 40th Birthday Party weekend!

We had previously had a less than favorable experience and left a review. Kona staff reached out and wanted to fix it for us. I could have just updated that review but I wanted to write a completely new one. The GM, Scott, wanted to help make it right and he went above and beyond. I won't go in to details of what was done because I don't want it to be expected by others but we were more than happy this visit. Our view, our room, everything righted the wrong. Kona Kai is a treat for us. Not the norm that we can visit but when we can splurge and treat ourselves it's safe that we will aim for Kona Kai. Thank you for not going over the top and utilizing gimmicks to try and win us over. We fully appreciate you.

Very nice event venue. Plenty of electric vehicle charging. I've been to San Diego countless times, and for some reason I've never made it to this location. I attended a conference here and was very pleased with the location and the services.

This resort was worth every bit! My family and I loved our stay. We were greeted with the friendly front desk service. Check in was easy. There is a resort fee of $47.50 daily and $45/day for parking if you wish to park on-site. We had full access to the private beach lined with cabanas and fire pits, the restaurant, two pools (one for adults only), there are bars inside the pool area and staff were very welcoming and attentive. They also have bike rentals for free. It was simple to rent. You download the bike rental app, use the resorts promotional code and enter your CC for a bike deposit. Right next to the bike rentals was the fitness center. Very well equipped. My experience was superb. My son swam like a fish all day while I sipped on a few cocktails poolside. When we got hungry we went to the restaurant located next to the pool. Towels were fully stacked, pool area was clean, the courtyard had patio seating for more dining, it also had a few games to include bean bag toss and a ping pong table. Oh yes! And the restrooms were clean. Now I must say when booking you will have to budget for additional fees to include the resort and parking fee. Overall, I would definitely stay here again when in San Diego. I hope you tell me about your experience and I hope it was as pleasant as mine!

I do not recommend this place. This is not a resort, but a glorified motel. The staff is good, and attentive. The place is overall not great, but the rooms are worse. It's overpriced, for what it is. Parking is 45$ per day, self park. When checking in it took forever, front desk not friendly. We where looking for a place close to the beach, and good for our kids, since we wanted to escape the heat. But, this place is not at all worth it, for the price we payed, it's pretty dilapidated.

I decided to do a short stay at Kona to relax before I had to teach summer school. The resort is decent. I wouldn't say it's luxury or anything like that but if you can't get to Hawaii or Cabo, it will do. It had the appearance of luxe but when you looked closely, looks like this place has been around a while. Having said that, the views along the resort area is nice. The check in was fine. Staff friendly enough. They do charge for parking which I dislike. I probably won't come back here but if I do, I will find street parking. $45 a night is ridiculous when the parking lots are half empty. My room was big enough for 1-2 persons. The bathroom had a giant tub which I love, but my room was at the very end of the resort and throughout my stay something was making the most obnoxious noise; I woke up twice during the night as a result. I had a small sitting area overlooking the marina which was a plus though it borders the footpath so it wasn't private. Also, not sure if this is normal but the mattress was so soft that I literally sunk. I prefer a firmer mattress. Maybe it is time for a new mattress. Overall, it is a nice stay. There are pools, bars, a restaurant and spa. The resort has their own sand area with chairs and fire pits but you can't get in the water-not that kind of waterfront really. Also, there is small fitness room but all these are expected in a resort that charges $45 a night for parking. There is trail that runs along the marina that is nice for walking in the morning which I did. I love to workout when I travel so these were amenities I appreciate. I would probably not return here. It was a nice stay but nothing I want to repeat. I don't live far from this resort so the next time I want this type of experience, I will head to Hawaii or somewhere further. I could see folks coming here to stay from far away though.

This is a review for the poolside adult (Paloma) cabana only. Came here with some girlfriends to celebrate a birthday. All in all had a good time not a great time. I'll break it down below. Cleanliness: very clean! Everything had been cleaned and managed well prior to us arriving (you get the cabana from 10am-6pm and go through ResortPass) which was great. Amenities: appreciated the water and the snacks. The space comes with a couch, two chairs, a fan, and television. The television was broken though and although they have some chargers half of them didn't work. Service: our cabana manager (who works at the gym) Amanda was fantastic as was the IT man who tried to help us with the television. With that said the service at the bar was pretty bad. The man taking our food and drinks seemed terribly inconvenienced at everything. Thankfully everyone else Drinks: highly recommend their margarita and their mojito spritz. All of the drinks were tasty though! Food: the French fries were yummy and all the food was good! Parking: they allow for two cars to park in their lot and street parking is also available.

5 stars for the location. 3 stars for a decent clean room. Zero stars for service. At check in, Jesse said he would put us in a King room but put us in 2 Queens. First full day, didn't get housekeeping. We want to the front desk and asked for coffee pods. They said they would send them to our room. They did not. That night while we were in bed, someone used a key card and opened our door. My husband went to the door and there was a lady who had been given our room. In the morning, our key card no longer worked. We went to the desk and they told us that we were supposed to be in a different room . Just a hot mess overall, and we are still being charged "resort fees" and $45/night parking.

Unfortunately my stay wasn't great. First off, Zachary, the assistant front office manager and front office staff get 5 stars!!! Their helpfulness + professionalism + attitude were exemplary. The beach fire pits were beautiful. BUT my Fire Pit Junior Suite was a HUGE disappointment. The photo's on their website are completely deceptive. It shows it has a marina view. My photos below show the actual view. My view was of a building that blocked any marina view. The loud humming of electrical equipment inside that building made sitting outside on the patio a very unpleasant experience. The beds were elevated abnormally high. I literally had to climb up into the bed. A short person would have needed a stool or chair to get into bed. I'm not sure what that is all about. The room + location were not comfortable at all. The price tag didn't justify the accommodation's.

I never rate any Yelp reviews about hotels, but this one really impressed me. Loved our Junior suit, very nice Marina view and amazing service. Only thing I hated about this hotel was super rude front desk. She was horrible. On my next stay hope I shouldn't deal with her. Overall super nice stay. We loved the food in the restaurant as well. Super relaxing and cozy pool area.

Clean rooms, attentive, huge pool area, private parking. Restaurant is great and food is great. Pool server, Jacob was great! Thank you.

I had the pleasure of staying at this resort this passed Monday thru a Wednesday it was a nice place clean the only issues I had was with my dry cleaning products....two trousers and it was $50 bucks never asked for express. The front desk lady confirmed no express and I still got hit for a total of $50 bucks, the other problem was with the shower water press was very awful. I was in the first building and they did say it was and old building. Besides that everyone the staff is a 10 except this girl Bianca I believe that's her name, she doesn't deserve to work the front desk no customer service at all....she's like please leave me alone. She caused you guys the 5th star.....besides that everything was beautiful.

My daughter and I stayed here for our Holiday Mother/ daughter celebration It is in a very nice location by the Beach We checked in, had our car valet. Unfortunately we were in the main building and there was no elevator, the bell boy had to take several trips to bring our luggage up. The food At their restaurant was great we sat at the bar and had dinner, Bartender was awesome! The view was amazing! They had fire pits by the beach but to cold to sit outside. They had an adult pool and bar , unfortunately we were not told the adult pools bar was closed , we had to go to the main pool to get drinks. The hotel was a " No Cash" establishment !! from the front desk to the restaurant we could not change $$ for tips, this was sad Since we wanted to tip all of our servers , bell boys , valet etc. we had a nice brunch before our massage in the Spa , first it was hard to find Once we found it ( by the restaurant entrance ) we got a tour , it was small and quaint, had a steam room, no jacuzzi The resting area was small and more of a waiting area. Massage were good. Wish it had been more of a spa for relaxation. Our room had a great view !! Loved it! I definitely would stay here again is like being in Hawaii away from Hawaii.

Just got back from our babymoon, where we stayed at Kona Kai. Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would happily stay there again (in a different area of the resort- see below). Cons: We were in 208- one of the rooms that overlooks the main pool area. We were surprised to find that on Saturday evening, the resort hosted a wedding reception there- right outside of our window. It was LOUD. We talked to the front desk and they comped our parking and resort fee for the night- but we were surprised that they would host a reception so close to guest rooms. Additionally, parking is really expensive- at $45/night. This wasn't surprising as we'd read the reviews, but it's a steep price. Pros: The resort is gorgeous. We loved the adults-only pool. And loved the view from our room. I got a facial at the spa which was wonderful. They do nightly bonfires and you can purchase s'mores packs. We were booked in a deluxe king which was a pretty standard king room, but was nice. The resort is full of amenities and is overall a great place to stay. Good location- ~ 15 minutes from most of the "main" areas in SD.

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend I Kona Kai resort we started the weekend off at the pool with a cocktail over in the corner so we could have privacy. The property is rather large so we walked around. There is actually so much to do there's water activities there's a gym there's a beautiful spa they offer bicycles to ride up and down the peninsula. The coffee was not to our liking in the morning so we went to a place just down the street called "coffee" and had a delicious cappuccino made with oat milk. We were not sure if the Uber driver would be able to pick us up in front of the hotel because there's no sign that says Kona Kai resort... however, we were told by the valet that yes in fact they pick you up literally in front of the door of the resort... there are several buildings we were in building four overlooking the harbor and yes there is an elevator. The rooms are spacious, The bathrooms seem like they have been newly remodeled, double sink. This is a very quiet property as it sits on the peninsula and overlooks the harbor. so if you like you can keep your door to your balcony open . we were on the third floor and it was fabulous with the breeze... we did not eat at the restaurant but I heard great things about it we chose to go down to Little Italy. Monellos was our destination. As well as Herb and Wood

My fiancée and I stayed at Kona Kai for 3 days/2 nights in a Bayview King room in building 1 and wow, we were impressed. We were in town to finalize some wedding plans (separate venue) and Kona Kai looked like a nice little getaway spot. At check-in, we were greeted by Angie and her picture should be in the employee of the year frame! She was awesome, so welcoming and friendly. Definitely a great start to our stay. Our room was outstanding. Absolutely no issues to report. If I had to nitpick, the air conditioning unit was a bit loud but again, nothing to really complain about. The property seemed very well kept, I mean this place is right on the water! There is salt in the air so of course there will be some deterioration in some areas but not enough to sway my opinion of this property. We loved all of the amenities too- lawn games, fire pits, pools (family & adult only), bike rentals and it's dog friendly. We didn't get a chance to use all amenities but we made sure to snag a fire pit both nights that we were there to make smores, perfect night! The only ding I would give pertained to the parking. Not that there was none but everytime we wanted to go into the secure lot or leave our card never worked and we were forced to buzz the front desk. We notified the front desk, had new keys coded and still the issue remained at the gate. In reading previous reviews, it looks like we were not alone in experiencing this. Not a huge deal but a bit of convenience was lost. Final thoughts- we can't wait to stay again and maybe next time we will bring our pup. She should enjoy it too.

Excellent place to stay on Shelter Island. Self parking is great, and location is nice. Can walk to local shops and restaurants and not a far drive from any sights, stops, or attractions. Easy drive to NASNI and great place to book for govt travel if you can get it in per diem.

I recently stayed at Kona Kai with my family and while the resort itself is visually appealing, my overall experience was a mix of highs and lows. Firstly, there was confusion regarding the parking fee. Despite having paid for parking during check-in, my husband was charged an additional $10 to exit the parking area. This discrepancy led to an unpleasant interaction with the front desk when I called to them they rudely raised their voice when I told him That he was confusing me Because he did not even look the charges that I originally paid for. He was just being rude overall and sort of got me Really frustrated and upset because it was literally an hour that we had checked in. Absolutely no customer service. When I asked to talk to someone else he rudely said he was the only one and I had to deal with it. On a separate note, as a parent with a one-year-old, I requested a room change from the first floor to the second floor due to safety concerns. I was apprehensive about my child potentially wandering out on the first floor. The staff did not accommodate this for me and said they had nothing else available. Another issue was that when I I originally booked I booked throug expedia for and the room $340 something and they charged me $392 when I got to the resort. This is just false advertising and a whole lot of money to have to be treated with no respect from The front desk. I appreciate the efforts made to address my concerns, but these issues have somewhat tainted what could have been a more enjoyable stay. I hope the management takes this feedback into consideration for the improvement of future guests' experiences. It's unfortunate that hospitality and customer service lacks at this resort.

If you have never stayed at a nice hotel, this place is ok. Food was meh at best, the room was ok, very loud wall mounted air conditioner. I had to turn it off to sleep. No refrigerator or kitchenette. They say it was recently renovated...I believe the contractor who completed the work must have said, "good enough" often. Missing grout in the "new" shower, paint chipping, strange design features; such as a half a door to the shower, making the bathroom floor wet regardless of the door being " half-open "or "half-closed". I could also hear the people above me, more like a motel than a hotel. I wouldn't stay here again.

Room was ok. Location was supposed to be nice and quiet. But we were woken up each morning by the sh*t truck right outside our room pumping foul smells for hours.

The worst hotel ever!! In the confirmation email they didn't include parking fee in the total amount and none of the words in the email mentioned that we would have to pay for parking at $45/night. When we checked in we were informed that we needed to pay for parking but the guy helping us told us that the manager would be able to work something with us on the check out day. However the lady at the reception was like "yea the parking is not free. Before you took off you didn't think of the parking situation??" Wtf why are you questioning me like this?? You guys are the one being dishonest to the consumers and you still stand to question consumers? This hotel is a bullshit just don't waste your money and time here unless you want your trip ruined.

My partner posted a review a few weeks ago but I wanted to as well. Everyone who works there was very nice and helpful. When we got there we were able to upgrade our room but it was to a two bedroom but the view was amazing! I had an amazing time and they gave us bikes for two hours which were free. I had an amazing time and I would love to come back! The food and drinks were amazing as well!

My husband and I wanted a hotel with a scenic view, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but close enough to the San Diego Zoo (20 min). We didn't have enough time to utilize many of the hotel amenities or grounds (restaurant, pool, fitness center, fire pits, bikes), therefore my review will not reflect my experience with those particular features. I chose the Marina View Junior Suite because the description stated it was newly renovated and photos showed a beautiful view of the Marina. We were given Room #172 in Building 7, an end unit on the bottom level. Being that it was on the first floor, our view was slightly obstructed by the 21+ pool and fencing directly in front of us. Overall the room location was great. Our building and Building 8 are the newest on the property. The buildings on the other side of the property (presuming buildings 1-6) are practically right on the sand, with better views of the Marina and the "beach" in front, but I'm not sure how updated those rooms are. One thing that was immediately noticeable about the grounds was the liveliness and busyness on a weekend, as they are very popular for weddings. If you're wanting tranquility you'd be better off staying during weekdays. Unfortunately, on our first night there was a highly energetic guest staying above us. It sounded like a kid was running back and forth and jumping around for over an hour between 11pm - 12am. We are usually very forgiving and are not guests that like to complain much but the non-stop thumping was a little much for us, so we called the front desk. They stated they would send security there, but I highly doubt that happened since the noise continued. On top of that we were having issues with our thermostat which made it even harder to fall asleep. There was a heatwave that weekend and our room did not want to go lower than 72 even though it shows we set the temperature to much lower. We tried all we could to trigger the thermostat to work to no avail. Having the noisy neighbors on top of that just added onto the frustration and we almost decided to check out a day early. For a $600 per night room (in October 2021), those two experiences combined felt like we got gypped. Our second night, there was a wedding and music well past 10:30 p.m., but we were exhausted from our full day at the Zoo so it really didn't bother us much. I'm sharing this as a heads up to those that are sensitive to evening noise. The property itself does feel like a resort, and I appreciated the unique setting we were in, but depending on what room you get, it can totally make or break your experience. I personally did not feel what I paid for the weekend was worth the cost. P.S. A Marina View faces West/Sunset and your view is the harbor/boats with hills in the background - very scenic. The Bayview faces East/Sunrise with a view of San Diego's city lights in the distance, but it also faces the hotel parking lot and the street.

8 building resort on the water, lofts of open space and well - lit . Hotel has modern designs, nice but not fancy. The hotel features two swimming pools, one private beach, a vessel restaurant and bar and event spaces. Plenty of water activities to do on the water. Each room offers either bay or marina view. Rooms with marina view charge higher rate. One velate and one self-parking slot which change $47 and $45 per night respectively. Membership is offered at the resort. Restaurant food is decent with many craft cocktail options.

Jet noise, wafting weird smells, wind exposure, fish smell, management seems more concerned about image than staff. Housekeeper were great and did great job, rest of the staff reflect indifference or pressure from management. Will pass next time.

With the word "Resort" in the name you expect it should be great....The Kona Kai does not disappoint. We met here with friends for brunch, on a beautiful SD morning We ate on the outdoor patio, overlooking the pool. The menu offered many delicious options. I went for the pecan summer squash eggs Benedict...a seasonal specialty. Very delicious and a pleasant change from a traditional Benedict. My companions all enjoyed their menu selections as well. Service was excellent. Definitely a great place for a meal when in the Shelter Island area.

The positive is that the staff were amazing and the food at Vessel was really good. The negative is that the air conditioner in our room was broken, balcony hadn't been cleaned in ages, and the bed was horribly uncomfortable. I haven't slept in 2 nights...so ready to go home.

I would give them 0 stars if I could. This is truly one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a "resort." I booked a junior suite with a bay view and was given a room with a parking lot in front of this view. On top of that I realized that my AC was not working in my room to only find out later the front desk was fully aware of the issue but still chose to give me the room without notice. I was extremely upset because it was so hot and sticky in my room...They proceeded to offer me a $200 comp for the inconvenience which was absolutely nothing considering I was paying almost $600 a night.. the manager then understood my concerns and comped the full night and moved me into another room that had AC but no balcony and was facing 2 brick walls... the next morning I woke up only to realize that there was blood stains on the curtains and seats of this room which was absolutely horrid. I proceeded to go the front to ask if I can be moved rooms because I'm not comfortable and I kept being told that there was no rooms available so I had to wait until the manager came in at 9. So I went back up stairs and waited until 9:30 and still no update from the staff... when I proceeded to the front desk and asked where the manager was at they told me well she doesn't come in until 10 now... at this point I was so tired of waiting and felt like the staff were acting like they were doing my favor. I decided to check out early and go to a resort that would give me what I needed not one that was no better than a motel 6. Will never be staying here again and would not recommend. **Some pictures of the second room I was put in.

Booked a Deluxe King room, that has realistic clear specifications on their website but surprisingly $400 a night puts you in a dungeon I'll let the picture talk for themselves, be aware when you book! Not recommending without making sure what's the room you get!!

This place to me had a small selection on their lunch menu, pricey for the portion size. The location and views were great! Not sure if I'd go back.

Nice and quiet! Not a tourist area. Beautiful private beach resort! This girl trip was a success What a relaxing trip! No room service was a bit sad

This place is the worst, extremely rude staff, they act like they are doing you a favor interacting with you. Food at the restaurant is overpriced even for luxury standards, yet extremely awful in taste. Mediterranean platter is 24 bucks and tastes like unflavored toothpaste. And you will find hair in your food. The individual that makes the menu, has short. Thick black hair ( multiple times found in the food) It's currently 1.55 am on sat morning and I had to drive all the way to nearest gas station to find bottled water. There is no bottled water on the entire property.. LOL. Front desk gave me a cup and told me to go get fab. What a shit hole. On top of all that, the bathroom floods when you take a shower. Just an awful experience... Beware...

Very clean space and beautiful scenery. For last day of my birthday trip I wanted to stay somewhere close to a spa ... But as this was our last night in San Diego this stay was quite annoying. Our fire alarm went off twice. Once in the middle of the night while I was sleeping and the other the next day. I would have Rather staying somewhere else to acheive full night's rest with no Disruptions.

Great stay at Kona Kai for an anniversary weekend/staycation, but not sure that it would be worth the full price. We used credit card reward points to book our stay, so it felt like a great deal. The resort was decorated in a cozy, elegant way and as close to the marina as you can get. Two pools, medium sized, one adult pool and one family pool. There's bonfires on the beach, but if you want to get one be prepared to claim your seat 30min before they light them. We loved the turf clearing in the middle of the resort with a ping pong table and other interactive games. There are also bikes that you can rent out in front of the fitness center, first two hours free! Pros - location of Kona Kai (surrounded by the marina and boardwalk), free bikes and activities near by. You can also book water activities at action sport rentals, which is located on the resort's property. We rented a jet-ski for an hour and this was the ultimate highlight of our staycation! Cons - the rooms are not the most luxurious, but they do the job. Cleaning could be improved, the table in our room had some pencil shavings or black dirt on it when we first arrived. Generally speaking, we recommend Kona Kai and would come back (just probably not during peak season). It's not exactly a resort, but steps up from a normal hotel. Perfect for a peaceful staycation.