Catalina Island hotels: where to stay in Avalon and Two Harbors

A garden and the beach on the same side of the road

The Pavilion sits on the beach side of Crescent Avenue, with a green courtyard between the rooms and the sand just beyond. Wine and cheese are served in the garden in the afternoon, and in the morning you watch the boats head out.

This is our pick for a first visit: step off the ferry, walk a few minutes and you are there. Rooms are not large, and the promenade is lively in the evening. The beach outside is the town's busiest by day, but early in the morning you may have it to yourself.

The newest on the seafront

The Bellanca is one of Avalon's newest hotels, with bright rooms, a roof terrace and bay views from many rooms. It sits midway along Crescent Avenue with the restaurants right below.

It suits couples who want modern rooms and polished service in a town where many hotels are old. Prices reflect that.

A small inn for couples

Seacrest Inn is a small inn a block back from the water, with few rooms and a quiet, private feel. It is designed for couples, and several rooms have their own whirlpool bath.

It suits anyone after calm and romance in the middle of Avalon without staying on the seafront. It is not set up for families.

The Wrigley hotel from the 1920s

Hotel Atwater was built by the Wrigley family in the 1920s and has been refreshed with light rooms and cheerful details. It is a block from the beach, between the seafront and the shops.

This is our pick for families, with a range of room types and everything close by. Children like walking to the beach and ice cream stands on their own, and parents like the lack of traffic. It is large for Avalon, so less personal than the small inns.

Modern and quiet

The Aurora is a small, modern hotel a couple of streets back from the water, with simple, clean rooms and a terrace for evenings. It is quiet here, even though the promenade is two minutes away.

It suits anyone after a calm, more affordable place to sleep while spending the days outdoors.

On the square by the seafront

Hotel Metropole sits midway along Crescent Avenue beside the small Metropole Market Place, with shops and cafés outside and the beach across the road. Several rooms look over the bay.

It suits couples and friends who want to be central and walk everywhere. The area is lively day and evening, so ask for a room away from the street if you sleep lightly.

A pool in the valley above town

Catalina Canyon Inn sits a little way up the valley behind Avalon, surrounded by hills, with a pool and hot tub, which few hotels in town have. It is quieter here than down by the water.

It suits families and anyone who wants a pool and room to breathe. It is a fifteen-minute walk down to the seafront, or a short hop by golf cart.

A view over two bays

Banning House Lodge is an old wooden summer house on a rise above Two Harbors, looking over the bays on both sides of the island. It has only a few rooms, and in the evening it is almost silent.

It suits hikers, kayakers and couples looking for nature and peace. There is little to do at night, and boats here run less often than to Avalon. Bring food and water on hikes, as shops are few beyond the village.