Park Hyatt Aviara Review, Detailed Guide & How to Book VIP

Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa is one of my most frequently booked luxury resorts in San Diego. Not only is it a Forbes Five Star and a AAA Five Diamond property, but through me, you can access extra benefits through two VIP programs: Hyatt Prive or Virtuoso.

People stay here when they want a big full-service resort that has as many offerings for families as it does for golfers and business travelers.

Like most of our five-star resorts, it’s located inland, about 10 minutes from the beach. You’ll find it in a lovely residential neighborhood called Aviara, surrounding a world-renowned golf course of the same name and the Batiquitos Lagoon. Another location selling point is that it’s midway between San Diego’s downtown and Orange County.

I’ll review what I know about the resort, how to book with extra benefits, how to select a room, and answer frequently asked questions.

Guest Rooms and Suites at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort

Much of the muted blue and grey decor is meant to reflect the Great Blue Heron who lives in the lagoon. And, thanks to its Spanish colonial architecture, it has a decidedly understated feel of Mediterranean elegance.

All guest rooms and suites at the resort have private balconies with teak furnishings where you can watch the sunset or sunrise, depending on your room location, or simply enjoy a drink, relax, and enjoy life.

Even the standard guest rooms are spacious at 540 square feet. Of the 327 rooms, 43 are suites. All have modern, clean, and simple furnishings that exude a low-key luxury vibe, along with a subtle blue, gray, and white color palette that is a nod to the great blue heron.

NO ROLLAWAY BEDS

The resort did away with rollaway beds when it renovated so you will need connecting rooms or a connecting room to suite arrangement when traveling with more than four people who need beds.

Standard Guest Rooms

All standard guest rooms have either one king bed with a queen sleeper sofa or two king beds, a marble bath with dual vanity sinks, plus a soaking tub and a shower. You’ll even find real glasses and dishware, plus a wine opener in these rooms. Other notable in-room amenities include:

• 55-inch television with Chromecast video streaming
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Premium Le Labo bath amenities
• Two Frette robes and slippers
• Turndown service
• Mini-fridge
• Illy espresso/coffeemaker and tea kettle
• In-room safe

Standard guest rooms come in these view types:

• Coastal View: Views over the lagoon to the coast.
• Pool View: Sparkling pool and garden views.
• Courtyard View: Overlooking the central courtyard.
• Foothills View: View of local foothills and homes.
• 1 King or 2 Kings: Entry level room that looks at the resort grounds (could include parking lot).
• ADA accessible room with tub or shower: Can have either a garden or foothills view.

ROOM SELECTION TIPS

Pool and Courtyard View rooms are priced the same. Events like receptions and weddings happen in the Courtyard up until 10 p.m. so your room may over look these. Coastal View is the top guest room category and my top pick. I try to book Hyatt Prive guests into Pool or Courtyard and have them upgraded at time of booking to Coastal View.

Standard Suites

Standard suites have 855 square feet and are generally lower-level accommodations with two terraces that overlook a specific area within the resort.

Features include one king bed, a separate living room with a queen sleeper sofa, a marble bath with two vanity sinks, a soaking tub, and a shower. You’ll find an additional half bath in some suites. Standard suites reflect their location within the property and include:

• Pool Suites
• Courtyard Suites
• Fireside Terrace Suites (has a firepit)

SUITE TIPS

Pool Suites DO NOT have direct pool access.

Premium Suites

Premium Garden Suites

Spread out and enjoy leisure time in these 1,140-square-foot suites that overlook the resort’s lush gardens and have partial coastline views. Premium garden suites feature a bedroom with a king bed and a full master marble bathroom with dual vanities, along with a separate but smaller full-sized bathroom.

The living area has a queen sleeper sofa and a small dining table for two but does not have kitchen amenities. Guests will also enjoy two furnished balconies.

Blue Heron Suite

This nature-inspired suite overlooks the Aviara Golf Course and the Batiquitos Lagoon, home to these stately waterfowl. It features two balconies, one of which opens off the master bedroom and a larger one that opens off the living room. This specialty suite has a large living area with a dining area that seats eight and a kitchenette with full-sized appliances.

Guests also enjoy two full-sized bathrooms, a Bose stereo system, and access to digital newspapers and magazines. The Blue Heron Suite also gives you the option to connect to another room to turn this suite into a two-bedroom accommodation.

Palmer Suite

Located on the first floor of the resort overlooking the golf course designed by Arnold Palmer is the suite named after this legendary golf professional.

You’ll enjoy 1,640 square feet of space with a king master bedroom, a separate living area with a dining table that seats eight, a kitchenette with full-sized appliances, two full bathrooms, and the ability to connect to adjoining rooms to create a two- or three-bedroom suite.

This accommodation is ideal for golfers as it includes a putting green on one of the suite’s two patios.

Presidential Suite

Panoramic coastal views from two patios and premium comfort characterize this distinctive suite that boasts 2,140 square feet, a living area with a queen sofa sleeper and multiple seating areas, a separate dining space, and a food preparation area with a dining table that seats eight and a kitchenette with full-sized appliances, a Bose stereo system, and access to digital newspapers and magazines.

This accommodation has the option to connect to adjoining rooms to create a two- or three-bedroom suite.

LOOKING FOR A TWO BEDROOM SUITE? These are your options.

Presidential Suite to 2 Kings Coastal View; can also connect to 1 King Coastal View
Palmer Suite to 2 Kings Garden View
Blue Heron Suite to 2 Kings Coastal View
Premium Coastal Suite to 2 Kings Coastal View

Park Hyatt Aviara Restaurants

Not only did the dining spaces at Park Hyatt Avira get a full remodel, but they were also reimagined in terms of the food offered. Guests have a choice of four places to indulge in dinner and drink, including one that is exclusive to resort guests.

Ember & Rye

(Check for opening hours. There was a kitchen fire here and the restaurant has been temporarily closed while they repair the damage.)

The resort’s new signature restaurant, Ember & Rye, replaces the Argyle Steakhouse, formerly one of the area’s most beloved culinary offerings. Located in the clubhouse of the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club, Ember & Rye is the brainchild of Richard Blais, who rose to fame as the initial winner of Top Chef: All-Stars.

Blais is well-known for his unique and whimsical creations, yet the restaurant’s menu also retains the tradition of high-end golf clubhouses and old-fashioned steakhouses.

The menu includes snacks, salads and appetizers, vegetable plates, meat entrees, seafood entrees, desserts, and “accessories” that include items like garlic croissants. Steaks are the heart and soul of the menu, including bacon-wrapped filet mignon, a 30-ounce Flannery beef ribeye, and a Japanese Waygu sirloin, all cooked over an outdoor grill near the patio. The fun creations here also include fresh seafood and locally sourced vegetables and fun offerings like radishes dipped in white chocolate. For libations, Ember & Rye emphasizes retro-style cocktails while also offering generous glasses of wine from prominent California winemakers.

Overlooking the golf course’s 18th hole, the redesigned interior is bright and offers golf decor that is not overwhelming, along with background music that trends toward Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Chubby Checker.

Ponto Lago

GET FREE BREAKFAST FOR TWO

If you book in as a Hyatt Prive or Virtuoso client, you’ll enjoy complimentary breakfast for two at Ponto Lago.

I can tell you that clients love eating breakfast here, not only because it’s included with their VIP booking, but because it’s really good. You’ll find Baja-inspired cuisine available for breakfast, dinner, and weekend brunch at Ponto Lago. Menu items include fried egg and blue corn griddle tortilla and conchas French toast for breakfast, a daily roast special, catch-of-the-day, and an extensive ceviche and Crudo menu for dinner.

Diners will also find a craft cocktail menu and a large list of available agave tequilas to enjoy on the Ponto Logo’s lobby-level terrace. The restaurant also offers two private dining rooms, one for up to 14 guests, the other for up to 25 guests. These private rooms offer the ideal location to take in gorgeous California sunsets.

Pacific Point

This chic lobby bar and terrace restaurant offer Pacific Rim food, including a recently instituted sushi menu, along with Waygu short ribs, octopus poke, and roasted mochi carrots. The restaurant can get crowded on Friday evenings as many locals like to eat here and watch the sunsets. It’s walk-up as they do not take reservations.

The restaurant’s outdoor terrace offers heat lamps to take the chill out of fall and winter California evenings. Enjoy live music on the terrace on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and happy hour Sunday through Thursday in the later afternoons/early evenings.

Waters’ Edge

Resort guests only can enjoy a limited food menu during the day at this poolside venue. Waters’ Edge also serves handcrafted cocktails that you can enjoy while taking in your beautiful surroundings.

The Miraval Spa

I’m thrilled by the decision to expand wellness offerings at the resort and the partnership with world-renowned Miraval is the perfect fit. If you’re looking for a destination spa with the amenities of a full-service resort, Park Hyatt Aviara now fits this criteria.

The 15,000 square foot spa facilities boast 20 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms where expert spa practitioners perform Miraval signature treatments that integrate innovative and holistic modalities from around the world.

While the spa treatments are sure to destress and detox, there’s also a more robust fitness menu, including specialized classes to care for your physical wellbeing from morning yoga to singing bowls to happy hips to guided hikes around the lagoon. The spa includes a yoga studio, indoor solarium, pilates studio, steam room, sauna, whirlpool, fitness center, and more.

You can take a look at their multi-day itineraries, but San Diego residents take advantage of the day packages.

For runners, the resort offers digital walking and running maps. Trails include walking and running paths around the resort grounds as well as various trails around the Baquitos Lagoon.

More Park Hyatt Aviara Hotel Amenities

Guests can expect a full complement of resort amenities, including a concierge, parking valet, laundry and dry cleaning, in-room dining, and overnight shoeshine service.

Upon arrival, guests also receive a list of complementary events that they can participate in during their stay.

Outdoor Swimming Pools

No resort is complete without swimming pools, and the Park Hyatt Aviara gives you two. The reimagined family pool area features a two-story waterslide, a splash pad, and an enlarged Jacuzzi. The pool here also has zero entry which means there are no steps for younger kids to navigate when going in to swim.

WATER SLIDE RULES

To ride, you must be a minimum height of 4 ft. (48″) or 3.5 ft. (42″) with a floatation device. The maximum allowed weight is 300 lbs (136 kg).

For a quieter experience, head over to the adjacent adults-only pool with two additional Jacuzzis.

Both pool decks are open 24 hours (the slides are not) and overlook the Batiquitos Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean. Luxury cabana rentals (reserve these in advance) are available with lounge chairs, a day bed, and a stocked mini-fridge.

early and linger for a little bit after your treatment in the indoor solarium lounge area, whirlpools, saunas, and steam rooms.

Tennis Courts and Recreation Center

Located near the Aviara Golf Club are six state-of-the-art lighted tennis courts, including two clay courts, one with stadium seating.

The Aviara Tennis Club is ranked among the top 75 tennis resorts in the world. Private lessons are available, while general tennis clinics for resort guests are available on Saturdays. Guest can reserve courts on an hourly basis and can request match-ups for play.

In the tennis facility, you will find a recreational center where guests can play badminton, croquet, and sand volleyball daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Equipment is complimentary, and reservations are not needed.

Surf Concierge

The Park Hyatt Aviara may not be located directly on the Pacific Ocean, but that doesn’t mean that the resort staff won’t assist you in making the most of your time in the sun. Contact the surf concierge to arrange surfing lessons and other ocean experiences, or schedule a beach set up with umbrellas, chairs, and sand toys.

Also returning is the resort’s exclusive “Surfing with the Chef” experience, where guests begin the day by preparing breakfast with chef Pierre Albaladejo and continue by taking a surfing lesson from a local guide. The day ends with dinner on the beach with Chef Pierre. This experience includes a personalized surfboard that the Park Hyatt Aviara will ship home for you.

TopGolf Swing Suites

Links lovers, and anyone who has a mild interest in the game, should not miss this experience. Located near the main lobby, TopGolf offers two suites where you can practice your swing and participate in various interactive golf games and other multi-sport offerings on the floor-to-ceiling screen.

Not only can you perfect your swing here, but you can also enjoy gastropub-style food and drink, which comes as part of your rental fee.

As of this writing, the experience is available by the hour for resort guests but will eventually become available for rentals to larger groups depending on safety considerations.

Aviara Golf Club

Links enthusiasts love the Aviara Golf Club, rated the top golf resort in San Diego and also highly in the United States by Golf Digest. The 7,007-yard, par-72 golf course fits into the area’s natural topography with water hazards almost looking like they are extensions of Batiquitos Lagoon located adjacent to the course.

Aviara’s unique 18-hole coastal layout is the only course in San Diego designed by golfer Arnold Palmer. The panoramas overlooking the lagoon prompted Palmer to design this course, which winds through stunning terrain that includes native wildflowers and rolling valleys along with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean.

Guests say that playing the carefully maintained greens and fairways is like walking through a botanic garden. The two-story clubhouse matches the Spanish colonial architecture of the resort and includes 32,000 square feet of space that includes Aviara’s signature restaurant, Ember & Rye.

The clubhouse houses an award-winning golf shop and the Aviara Performance Center, where you can get custom golf clubs designed to fit your swing.

Golfers can improve their game through Aviara Golf Academy, the longest-running golf academy in the Western United States. Choose from one-, two- and three-day golf schools, private lessons, and on-course playing lessons. Golf Digest has recognized the academy as one of the top 25 golf schools in the country.

Weddings and Events

For over a decade, the Park Hyatt Aviara has been considered one of the best wedding destinations in Southern California. It has a total of 78,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spaces to satisfy your requirements for all kinds of functions, including birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate events. Outdoor venues include:

• Avalon
• Laviana
• The Gardens
• Fountain Terrace
• Palmer Pavillion
• Heron Lawn

The largest venue is the Grand Ballroom, which has a total of 11,700 square feet of space, including a pre-function foyer with 3,480 square feet. Other interior venues are:

• Aviara Salon
• Pelican
• California Salon
• Goldfinch

All newlyweds get a complimentary night at the resort, plus romantic extras. Wedding parties may reserve a block of rooms for guests and may even reserve the entire resort.

The Park Hyatt Aviara event staff specializes in ethnic weddings and will help couples customize their reception menus. Among the ethnic weddings that the resort can arrange are Hindu, Jain, and Muslim weddings.

Park Hyatt Aviara with Kids

I have stayed here with my daughter. There are kids’ menus available throughout the resort, and chefs are more than willing to make customizations for picky kids when possible.

They’ll be happy to place a crib in the room if you need it. In addition to the fabulous pool area, there is always something on the resort’s agenda that’s a fun, family-friendly activity, whether it’s s’mores or a sandcastle-building contest.

Park Hyatt Aviara is also pet-friendly for dogs up to 50 lbs (75 lbs combined weight if you bring two dogs) with designated relieving areas, and there were a few dogs in residence, which was fun to see.

Fun Things to Do Near Park Hyatt Aviara

The resort is located away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Diego, but you’ll still find plenty of great activities if you choose to spend a day off the resort grounds. Try these attractions during your stay.

LEGOLAND California

An excursion to LEGOLAND California is a must for families with children. The nearby theme park features 60 rides, attractions, and a water park made of lego bricks. I have loads of advice on how to buy discount LEGOLAND California tickets including a promo code.

Batiquitos Lagoon

Located adjacent to the golf course, Batiquitos Lagoon is home to the Great Blue Heron and is one of the few remaining tidal wetlands in Southern California. Several easy walking and running trails wind through this protected ecological preserve, which dedicated hikers and families won’t want to miss.

Pacific Ocean Beaches

Three San Diego beaches are located near the resort: South Ponto Beach, Carlsbad State Beach, and Moonlight Beach.

South Ponto Beach is a popular Carlsbad beach with families and is closest to the resort, situated between California Highway 101 and the Batiquitos Lagoon.

Carlsbad State Beach, also known as Tamarack Beach, is another family-friendly location. It’s also an ideal place to walk or jog, thanks to ta four-mile path that parallels the ocean.

Moonlight Beach, one of the most popular beaches in Southern California, is located in the neighboring community of Encinitas. This beach offers a grassy park in addition to the sand and surf. The resort offers a shuttle service to and from Moonlight Beach because it offers guests the most amenities, including a snack bar, playground, and state-of-the-art lifeguard station.

Mission San Luis Rey

This restored mission is the largest one in California. Still used as a seminary and a retreat center, Million San Luis Rey is a National Historic Site with buildings that blend Spanish, Mexican, and Moorish architecture.

The Flower Fields

If your stay occurs between March 1 and Mother’s Day, a trip to the Carlsbad Ranch Flower Fields is well worth your time. The massive flower garden encompasses nearly fifty acres of Giant Tecolote Ranunculus flowers, providing an annual riot of color.

GET MORE CARLSBAD TIPS

Check out my list of things to do in Carlsbad with kids and where to eat in Carlsbad.

FAQs About Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa

Here, I’ll try to address the questions I hear the most when people are trying to decide whether this is the best place to stay for their vacation.