Los Angeles Editors:
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown B-roll
71Above Restaurant & Skylounge B-roll
AAA Diamond hotel inspection B-roll
San Diego Editors:
Sycuan Casino Resort B-roll
Bull & Bourbon B-roll
AAA has unveiled 119 hotels and 67 restaurants nationally that have earned the AAA Five Diamond® designation in the past 12 months, qualifying them for this year’s Five Diamond list, the upper echelon of AAA’s Diamond Program. Of the 186 hotels and restaurants, 17 are located throughout Southern California, including first-time lodging designee Hotel Bel-Air and first-time restaurant designee Providence.
Hotels receiving a AAA Five Diamond designation undergo in-person inspections, anonymous overnight stays and finally, review by a panel of experts to ensure credibility. This exclusive group represents only 0.4% of the nearly 27,000 AAA Diamond establishments across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. This the broadest coverage geographically and by number of properties designated compared to other review programs.
States with the most Five Diamond establishments include:
California (29) – 17 hotels/12 restaurants;
New York (23) – 11 hotels/12 restaurants;
Quintana Roo, Mexico (18) – 12 hotels/6 restaurants;
Florida (12) – 10 hotels/2 restaurants; and
Nevada (11) – 6 hotels/5 restaurants.
The 2020 Diamonds announcement comes on the heels of the unveiling of the new AAA Diamond Program, which included rebranding the Diamonds from ratings to designations, and updating inspection criteria. More diamonds indicate more elaborate surroundings and attention from service staff.
“The AAA Five Diamond designation reflects the hotels that offer world-class luxury, amenities and indulgence and restaurants that offer leading-edge cuisine and preparation with extraordinary guest service,” said the Auto Club’s Approved Accommodations Supervisor Patricia Marenco. “The Auto Club congratulates Southern California’s AAA Five Diamond establishments which are the ‘best of the best’ of the AAA Diamond Program.”
Southern California AAA Five Diamond-designated hotels:
|
Location |
Property |
Year |
|
Beverly Hills |
The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows |
2008 |
|
The Peninsula Beverly Hills |
1993 |
|
|
Carlsbad |
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa |
1999 |
|
Dana Point |
Monarch Beach Resort |
2007 |
|
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel |
1986 |
|
|
La Jolla |
The Lodge at Torrey Pines |
2002 |
|
Laguna Beach |
Montage Laguna Beach |
2012 |
|
Los Angeles |
Hotel Bel-Air |
2019 |
|
Montecito |
Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara |
2005 |
|
Newport Beach |
The Resort at Pelican Hill (Newport Coast) |
2009 |
|
Ojai |
Ojai Valley Inn |
2006 |
|
Rancho Santa Fe |
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa |
2014 |
|
San Diego |
Fairmont Grand Del Mar |
2009 |
|
Westlake Village |
Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village |
2008 |
|
|
|
|
Southern California AAA Five Diamond restaurants with year first designated:
|
Location |
|
Year |
|
Los Angeles |
|
|
|
Providence |
|
2019 |
|
Beverly Hills |
|
|
|
The Belvedere |
|
1995 |
|
San Diego |
|
|
|
Addison |
|
2008 |
AAA Four Diamonds in Southern California Also Announced by the Auto Club
Southern California is also home to 146 Four Diamond properties - 105 hotels and 41 restaurants. Six hotels received their first AAA Four Diamond: The Inn at Death Valley, Sycuan Casino Resort (El Cajon), Pasea Hotel & Spa (Huntington Beach), Los Angeles InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, The Huntley Santa Monica Beach and InterContinental San Diego.
Four restaurants received their first AAA Four Diamond designation: 71Above Restaurant & Skylounge (Los Angeles), Marché Moderne (Newport Beach), MARKET Restaurant + Bar (Del Mar), and Bull and Bourbon Steakhouse (El Cajon).
There were 125 AAA Four Diamond hotels and 62 Four Diamond restaurants added to the 2020 list for a total of 2,401 establishments (1,718 hotels and 683 restaurants) throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Those designated as a Four Diamond represent just 4.2 percent of the nearly 60,000 AAA Diamond hotels and restaurants.
States/provinces with the greatest number of Four Diamond establishments:
California (76);
New York (59);
Florida (50);
Ontario, Canada (47); and
Texas (32).
Travelers can find Diamond establishments and AAA Inspector insight in AAA trip planning products: the AAA Mobile® app, the TripTik® Travel Planner and Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook® guides available at AAA/CAA offices.
AAA Inspectors bring prior industry experience to the association to give AAA members and the public effective, consistent evaluations to select hotels and restaurants that meet their travel desires and needs.
For more information about the AAA Diamond Program and complete lists of AAA Four and Five Diamond hotels, visit AAA.com/Diamonds. AAA started listing accommodation information in its travel publications in the early 1900s. AAA has been doing field inspections of lodgings since 1937.
The coveted AAA Four Diamond is presented to hotel general managers and executive chefs to recognize award-winning properties inspected by AAA and the Auto Club, the nation’s largest AAA affiliate. To achieve AAA Four Diamonds, Inspectors review exterior, grounds and public areas, guest rooms, ambiance and amenities, housekeeping and maintenance and guest services.
AAA Four Diamond hotels throughout Southern California and first-year designation:
| Location |
Property |
Year |
|
Kern County |
|
|
|
Bakersfield |
The Padre Hotel |
2015 |
|
Inyo County |
|
|
|
Death Valley |
The Inn at Death Valley |
2019 |
|
Los Angeles County |
|
|
|
Beverly Hills |
Beverly Wilshire A Four Seasons Hotel |
1993 |
|
Montage Beverly Hills |
2014 |
|
|
SLS Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills |
2009 |
|
|
Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills |
2017 |
|
|
|
Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills |
2018 |
|
Burbank |
Hotel Amarano Burbank |
2011 |
|
Hollywood |
Loews Hollywood Hotel |
2008 |
|
W Hollywood |
2010 |
|
|
Los Angeles |
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills |
2011 |
|
Long Beach |
Hyatt Regency Long Beach |
2013 |
|
|
InterContinental Los Angeles Century City |
1988 |
|
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown |
2019 |
|
|
|
Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel |
2015 |
|
|
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live |
2011 |
|
|
Mr. C Beverly Hills |
2012 |
|
Omni Los Angeles Hotel At California Plaza |
2003 |
|
|
Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills |
1993 |
|
|
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles |
2011 |
|
|
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites |
2013 |
|
|
Manhattan Beach |
westdrift Manhattan Beach, Autograph Collection |
2018 |
|
Marina Del Rey |
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey |
2015 |
|
Rancho Palos Verdes |
Terranea Resort |
2010 |
|
San Gabriel |
Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel |
2011 |
|
The Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel |
2018 |
|
|
Santa Monica |
JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot |
2002 |
|
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel |
1989 |
|
|
|
The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows |
2002 |
|
|
The Huntley Santa Monica Beach |
2019 |
|
Viceroy Santa Monica |
2017 |
|
|
Universal City |
Sheraton Universal Hotel, At Universal Studios |
2018 |
|
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City |
2007 |
|
|
West Hollywood |
Kimpton La Peer Hotel |
2018 |
|
Sunset Marquis |
2007 |
|
|
The London West Hollywood At Beverly Hills |
2008 |
|
|
Orange County |
|
|
|
Anaheim |
Disneyland® Hotel |
2011 |
|
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa |
2001 |
|
|
Costa Mesa |
Avenue Of The Arts Costa Mesa, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel |
2013 |
|
Dana Point |
Blue Lantern Inn |
1991 |
|
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa |
2004 |
|
|
Huntington Beach |
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa |
2003 |
|
Pasea Hotel & Spa |
2019 |
|
|
|
The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel |
1991 |
|
Laguna Beach |
Surf & Sand Resort |
1991 |
|
The Ranch At Laguna Beach |
2018 |
|
|
Newport Beach |
Balboa Bay Resort |
2004 |
|
|
Fashion Island Hotel |
2014 |
|
Lido House, Autograph Collection |
2018 |
|
|
Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel |
2007 |
|
|
Riverside County |
|
|
|
Idyllwild |
The Grand Idyllwild Lodge |
2017 |
|
Indian Wells |
Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa |
1987 |
|
Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Curio Collection By Hilton |
2008 |
|
|
Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa |
2003 |
|
|
La Quinta |
La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort |
2014 |
|
Palm Desert |
Hotel Paseo, Autograph Collection |
2018 |
|
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa |
1987 |
|
|
Palm Springs |
Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs |
2018 |
|
The Willows Historic Palm Springs Inn |
1997 |
|
|
Rancho Mirage |
Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa-Rancho Mirage |
2009 |
|
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage |
2014 |
|
|
The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa |
2009 |
|
|
Riverside |
The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa |
2010 |
|
Temecula |
Pechanga Resort Casino |
2002 |
|
Ponte Vineyard Inn |
2012 |
|
|
San Bernardino County |
|
|
|
Lake Arrowhead |
Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa |
2010 |
|
San Diego County |
|
|
|
Alpine |
Viejas Casino & Resort |
2013 |
|
Willows Hotel & Spa |
2018 |
|
|
Carlsbad |
Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, A Hilton Resort & Spa |
2013 |
|
Coronado |
Hotel Del Coronado, Curio Collection By Hilton |
2005 |
|
Loews Coronado Bay Resort |
1992 |
|
|
Del Mar |
L'Auberge Del Mar |
2002 |
|
El Cajon |
Sycuan Casino Resort |
2019 |
|
La Jolla |
Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa |
2005 |
|
Grand Colonial |
2008 |
|
|
Hyatt Regency La Jolla At Aventine |
1990 |
|
|
Pala |
Pala Casino Spa and Resort |
2004 |
|
Rancho Bernardo |
Rancho Bernardo Inn |
1977 |
|
San Diego |
Andaz San Diego |
2013 |
|
|
Hilton San Diego Bayfront |
2011 |
|
InterContinental San Diego |
2019 |
|
|
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego |
2013 |
|
|
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina |
1984 |
|
|
Omni San Diego Hotel |
2005 |
|
|
Pacific Terrace Hotel |
2007 |
|
|
THE US GRANT, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego |
2007 |
|
|
|
The Westgate Hotel |
2007 |
|
|
The Westin San Diego |
1994 |
|
The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter |
2012 |
|
|
San Luis Obispo County |
|
|
|
Paso Robles |
Allegretto Vineyard Resort |
2017 |
|
La Bellasera Hotel & Suites |
2011 |
|
|
Pismo Beach |
Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa |
2009 |
|
Santa Barbara County |
|
|
|
Los Olivos |
Fess Parker Wine Country Inn |
2012 |
|
Santa Barbara |
Harbor View Inn |
1997 |
|
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort |
2006 |
|
|
Santa Barbara Inn |
2017 |
|
|
Simpson House Inn |
2013 |
|
|
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara |
2015 |
|
|
Santa Ynez |
Chumash Casino Resort & Spa |
2004 |
|
Santa Ynez Inn |
2002 |
|
|
Solvang |
Hotel Corque |
2011 |
|
The Ballard Inn |
1993 |
|
|
Summerland |
Inn On Summer Hill |
1990 |
|
Ventura County |
|
|
|
Oxnard |
Embassy Suites By Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort |
2014 |
|
Westlake Village |
Westlake Village Inn |
2011 |
Southern California AAA Four Diamond restaurants and year first designated:
|
Location |
Name |
Year |
|
Los Angeles County Restaurants |
||
|
Beverly Hills |
Cut by Wolfgang Puck |
2010 |
|
Spago Beverly Hills |
2004 |
|
|
The Blvd |
2011 |
|
|
Calabasas |
Saddle Peak Lodge |
1997 |
|
Los Angeles |
Culina Modern Italian |
1995 |
|
Patina |
1991 |
|
|
|
71Above Restaurant & Skylounge |
2019 |
|
Malibu |
Nobu Malibu |
2016 |
|
Pasadena |
The Raymond Restaurant |
2005 |
|
Orange County Restaurants |
||
|
Anaheim |
Napa Rose |
2010 |
|
Dana Point |
Raya |
2012 |
|
Fullerton |
The Cellar |
1990 |
|
Laguna Beach |
Studio |
2008 |
|
Newport Beach |
Marché Moderne |
2019 |
|
Riverside County Restaurants |
||
|
Cabazon |
Cielo |
2011 |
|
Palm Springs |
Le Vallauris |
1993 |
|
Rancho Mirage |
Wally's Desert Turtle |
1993 |
|
The Steakhouse |
2018 |
|
|
Riverside |
Duane's Prime Steaks & Seafood |
1995 |
|
Temecula |
Great Oak Steakhouse |
2012 |
|
San Diego County Restaurants |
||
|
Alpine |
The Grove Steakhouse |
2015 |
|
Carlsbad |
Argyle Steakhouse |
2012 |
|
Vivace |
1999 |
|
|
Del Mar |
MARKET Restaurant + Bar |
2019 |
|
El Cajon |
Bull and Bourbon Steakhouse |
2019 |
|
La Jolla |
AR Valentien |
2004 |
|
Donovan's Steak & Chop House |
2010 |
|
|
George's At the Cove |
2000 |
|
|
The Marine Room |
2013 |
|
|
Rancho Bernardo |
Avant |
2017 |
|
Rancho Santa Fe |
Mille Fleurs |
1991 |
|
|
Veladora |
2017 |
|
San Diego |
Cowboy Star Restaurant and Butcher Shop |
2017 |
|
Grant Grill |
2007 |
|
|
Mister A's (Bertrand’s at Mr. A’s) |
1994 |
|
|
Santa Barbara County Restaurants |
||
|
Santa Barbara |
Angel Oak |
2017 |
|
Bouchon |
2014 |
|
|
Santa Ynez |
Willows |
2005 |
|
Solvang |
The Gathering Table |
2005 |
|
Ventura County Restaurants |
||
|
Ojai |
Olivella |
2015 |
|
Westlake Village |
ONYX Restaurant |
2016 |