On a tip from some friends whose impeccable tastes I admire, I booked into the deservedly top-ranked Avalon Hotel for two nights while on a business trip to Catalina in early April this year. Understand this: The Avalon is the only class act hotel on the island. The owners and staff just "get it." I loved the assertive yet restrained... more

We booked our stay through Travelocity. The hotel had no record of the reservation... turned out Travelocity had made an error. Even though the hotel was full, they scrambled to make arrangements and were able to get a room for us. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout the process. more