Catalina Island?

JWC · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:27 PM

My wife and I are planning a 2 night getaway to Catalina in mid to late September. We will be going during the mid-week. I have done a lot of research and decided that we will stay at the Pavilion Lodge. It has great reviews on Trip Advisor. We plan on taking the boat from Dana Point. We also intend to take the Undersea and Classic Inland Motor tours. I can purchase the Discovery package on visitCatalina.com which includes all of the above. I also checked out booking everything separately. Normally the package price would be cheaper but Travelocity has deeply discounted rates at the Pavilion Lodge making it cheaper to book separately.

The last time I visited Catalina was July 4th, 1960. My wife has never been there.

Has anybody done the above, either partially or in whole? Any recommendations on room location at the Pavilion Lodge and comments ( good or bad )? What is the parking situation at the boat dock in Dana Point? Any restaurant recommendations? Any other info will be greatly appreciated.

lawren2 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 01:45 PM

John it has been eons since we went to Catalina, perhaps the Dana Point boat didn't exist 13 years ago because we went out of Long Beach. So no I haven't any recommendations but am very interested to hear about your stay on Santa Catalina.

Please let us know how your trip went!

PHILL12 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 02:57 PM

Its been a few years since we did this trip!

We did take a mini vacation for three years and would stay over night on the Queen Mary and just walk over to catch the boat to the island and spend couple days there. Any more than that and we were going nuts because you can do about anything there is to do in one day.

We then spent three days at Disneyland and one week we ran to Vegas for another couple days.

Where in the world we got the idea this would be a cheaper vacation I have no idea!

Must have been my wife that figured this one out.

PHIL

JWC · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lawren2

John it has been eons since we went to Catalina, perhaps the Dana Point boat didn't exist 13 years ago because we went out of Long Beach. So no I haven't any recommendations but am very interested to hear about your stay on Santa Catalina.

Please let us know how your trip went!

I will let you know all about it. There are 5 different ports you can leave from now. They are: Marina del Rey, San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point. They are served by 2 different ferry companies. Catalina Express serves Dana Point and 2 other ports. Catalina Express is the cheapest. Dana Point is the closest to us. You can also go into either Avalon or Two Harbors on Catalina.

lawren2 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWC

I will let you know all about it. There are 5 different ports you can leave from now. They are: Marina del Rey, San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach, and Dana Point. They are served by 2 different ferry companies. Catalina Express serves Dana Point and 2 other ports. Catalina Express is the cheapest. Dana Point is the closest to us. You can also go into either Avalon or Two Harbors on Catalina.

My homebase is generally Laguna Beach at my dad's or Laguna Surf when I can get it. I figured Dana Point was added after we went or we would certainly have gone from there!

Nice to know for future reference. Thanks!

lawren2 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHILL12

Its been a few years since we did this trip!

We did take a mini vacation for three years and would stay over night on the Queen Mary and just walk over to catch the boat to the island and spend couple days there. Any more than that and we were going nuts because you can do about anything there is to do in one day.

We then spent three days at Disneyland and one week we ran to Vegas for another couple days.

Where in the world we got the idea this would be a cheaper vacation I have no idea!

Must have been my wife that figured this one out.

PHIL

This is a 2 nite stay destination at best but it is different and fun. I hear they have decent scuba/snorkeling as well but that Pacific Ocean isn't warm enough at any time of year for more than a toe dip!

I would have liked to get out of Avalon to the other harbor. Maybe next time.

Barbeque · #7 (**permalink**) 07-24-2009, 11:35 PM

July 1960 Before I was born

My son gets to go to Boy scout camp on Catalina starting Sunday Lucky
Oh well we all get to go to Carslbad Inn in a few weeks

farscape · #8 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 07:53 PM

We took a spectacular helicopter ride over in about 15 to 20 minutes. A little expensive but quite the experience.