Need Tiki Hotel Suggestions for Anaheim and San Diego

Hi,

So the Vicar and I are going to Dinneyland and San Diego for Thanksgiving weekend. I was hoping to find a tiki or tiki-esque hotel still standing near Dinneyland that we can stay at.

We also are planning to go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park while we are down there so we might want to swith hotels. If so we would love San Diego tiki hotel suggestions.

I appreciate all your help on this.

Melissa

Aloha, RetroDiva

Note the spectacular tikis at this North County San Diego hotel:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=9971&forum=2

You could easily stay in this hotel for both locations.

[ Edited by: christiki295 2006-11-01 21:27 ]

Humphrey's is amazing. I hear it's quite pricey, though. Otherwise the Red Lion Hanlei Hotel is definitely cool. Thier on-site Tiki restaurant, The Islands is just killer...and they do an amazing buffet on Sundays, I think. Also a killer Sushi bar on site and Tiki's throughout.
Check out this too:
http://www.tikicentral.com/search.php?term=san+diego&submit=Search&srch=title&frm=2&usr=&srt=newest

Also, when you're looking for tiki-essque places, anywhere on Planet Earth, always, ALWAYS, check out Critiki
http://www.critiki.com/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?by=location&city_id=102&region_id=6&country_id=1&state_id=4

Another vote for Humphrey's Half Moon Inn on Shelter Island. We've been staying there since the 1970's and love its laid-back Polynesian feel. Its had its ups and downs over the decades, but right now its never looked or been operated any better. :)

Not to mention you can just take the short stroll right over to the Bali Hai restaurant to enjoy dinner with a great view, and their many tropical libations...without worry about driving back to your hotel. :wink:

The Red Lion's Hanalei is probably the best bet as it is in the middle of the city. The one in Carlsbad is about 20 HARD minutes north of the Hanalei and there is not much up there except for Lego Land.
If you choose the Hanalei you are less than 10 minutes from the beach (The Freak Factory, you gotta see the 20 foot tiki) and less than 10 minutes from downtown (Mister Tiki, good food, pricey, young hipsters that don't know dink about tiki). Just past the airport about two minutes is Trader Morts Liq ((really neat tiki hut style bldg & Eli Headly's tiki is there) and two more minutes to the Bali Hai. Get a Mister Bali Hai mug.
And Tiki Land is less than five minutes from the hotel as well.

Hi,

We are actually only planning to be in SD one out of the three nights we are there.

The plan is to stay at a hotel close to dinneyland on Fri. the 24th so we can get up bright and early and start at the park first thing. Then go all day at dinneyland and stay again at the same hotel. Then get up Sun. morning and drive down to SD and go to the wild animal park for about half a day, stay at an SD hotel on Sun. night.

My guess is that we'll prob due Humphrey on Sun. night. It looks fantastic.

Thanks for the Critiki suggestion, it's been helpful.

Anyone stayed at Akua Motor Inn? http://www.critiki.com/cgi-bin/location.cgi?loc_id=331

Seems like it's the only tiki esque hotel left next to Dinneland. Doesn't get a very high rating on Critiki but at least it's something.

Melissa

I found a photo of the Akua Motor Inn here http://www.roadsidepeek.com/motels/polynmotel/index.htm

and this review doesn't make it sound enticing http://www.sleepcritique.com/article.php/20051013204853499

I always stay across the street at the Tropicana Inn

http://www.bei-hotels.com/

They just remodeled all of the rooms, they are all mini suites with kitchenettes. You can literally walk outside to the stop light, cross the street and you're at Disneyland. Not tiki, but you'll spend so much time at Disneyland you won't hardly see the hotel anyway...

Really a shame because Anaheim used have several tropically themed hotels and motels awaybackwhen.

But then again...so did a couple of hundred other cities.

I will be doing my great tiki-pilgrimage from Norway to California, Nevada and Arizona this spring. I need hotel suggestions for San Francisco, Anaheim and Las Vegas. Tiki-theme preferable, but not a must. Can anybody help?

Hi,

We stayed at Humphrey's Half Moon Inn when we were in SD and we LOVED it. Even the rain we had while we were there didn't detract from how beautiful it was.

Thanks, I'll check it out. Any suggestions for Vegas as well?

For vegas we always stay at the Luxor because it's reasonable and we joined their One Club so we get all sorts of offer letters from them for cheap room rates and free gambling credits. In addition they are close to Mandalay Bay and all the shopping there.

Haven't heard of any tiki hotels in vegas but you may want to check out critiki.com as that is where I got the info on Humphrey's.

Good luck and maybe we'll see you when you're up here.

I work at Forbidden Island so do stop by when you're in town.

On 2006-11-04 14:08, stuff-o-rama wrote:
I found a photo of the Akua Motor Inn here http://www.roadsidepeek.com/motels/polynmotel/index.htm

and this review doesn't make it sound enticing http://www.sleepcritique.com/article.php/20051013204853499

Through a 100% reliable source, which I cannot divulge, I have learned that the Akua Motor Inn added wireless internet access (for only $2/night), new laundry machines, and all new furniture to their guest rooms in April of 2008. It does not appear to be tiki-ish furniture, but it's a good indication that the current owners are trying to freshen the place up. Also, according to their website, their rates are only $43-$47/night! I may just give this one a try on my next trip south.

Just an fyi, Akua Motor Inn is not particularly close to Disneyland. Same town but a 15-20 minute drive. You'll need the car.

well I could make it from there to D-land in 5 to 10 min, but I drive like a maniac.
:wink:

Jeff(bigtikidude)