Menu More MORE
AAA
Roadside... Roadside Assistance

Top Local Hotels Receive AAA Five, Four Diamond Ratings

Ten Lodgings Receive Their First AAA Four Diamond Award

Travel, Insurance & Consumer Tips
WALD_BeverlyHills_GuestRoom1_HR
The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is a new AAA Four Diamond property. Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Editors note: B-Roll of a AAA inspection is available here.

AAA has unveiled 121 hotels nationally that have earned the AAA Five Diamond Rating in the past 12 months, qualifying them for this year’s Five Diamond award list.  Honorees run the gamut in beautiful physical attributes and continue offering technology to enhance service, including in-room tablets, mobile apps, interactive kiosks, mobile keys and digital messaging. Of the 121 hotels, 13 are located throughout Southern California. 

The hotels receiving a AAA Five Diamond rating undergo several checks and balances including in-person inspections, anonymous overnight stays and finally, review by a panel of experts to ensure credibility.  Fewer than half of one percent of the more than 27,000 AAA Inspected and Approved hotels received the Five Diamond rating. 

“The AAA Five Diamond rating reflects the upper echelon of hotels that offer beautiful physical settings and extensive amenities, the highest quality furnishings and highly exceptional guest service,” said the Auto Club’s Approved Accommodations Supervisor Patricia Marenco.  “The Auto Club applauds Southern California’s AAA Five Diamond establishments for making excellence part of the everyday experience.”

The Automobile Club of Southern California also announced the AAA Four Diamond Award® list of 107 hotels for the Southland.  Ten hotels received their first AAA Four Diamond rating: the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, westdrift Manhattan Beach, Autograph Collection, The Sheraton Los Angeles San Gabriel, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, at Universal Studios, and Kimpton La Peer Hotel. 

The other five hotels receiving their first AAA Four Diamond rating are: The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Lido House, Autograph Collection in Newport Beach, Hotel Paseo, Autograph Collection in Palm Desert, Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs and Willows Hotel & Spa in Alpine. (Nationally, this year, there are 1,722 Four Diamond hotels.  Those at the Four Diamond level, just 6.3 percent of AAA Inspected & Approved hotels, are also an exclusive group.) 

Travelers can find Diamond Rated establishments and inspector insight in AAA trip planning products: the  AAA Mobile® app for tablets and smartphones, the TripTik® Travel Planner and Travel Guides on AAA.com and AAA TourBook® guides available at AAA/CAA offices.

The AAA Diamond ratings provides consumers with the broadest coverage of any rating system, geographically and by number of properties rated, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. 

To be considered for a AAA Diamond rating, lodgings must undergo a thorough inspection. AAA Five Diamond establishments go through the most extensive reviews with candidates for the rating undergoing multiple unannounced evaluations.  The Auto Club’s inspectors bring prior industry experience to the association to give AAA members effective, consistent evaluations to select the property and restaurant that meets their travel desires. (The AAA Four and Five Diamond ratings for restaurants will be announced in February.)

The Southern California AAA Five Diamond-rated hotels with year first rated:

Location

Property

Year Rated

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

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

AAA Four Diamond Ratings in Southern California Also Announced by Auto Club

The coveted AAA Four Diamond Award is presented to hotel general managers to recognize award-winning properties inspected by AAA and the Auto Club, the nation’s largest AAA affiliate.  To achieve AAA Four Diamonds, the lodging establishments must be “refined, stylish with upscale physical attributes, extensive amenities and a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail,” according to AAA Diamond rating guidelines.

Inspectors review and rate exterior, grounds and public areas, room décor, ambiance and amenities, guest room, bathrooms, housekeeping and maintenance, management and staff and guest services. Once the inspection is complete, properties that meet all requirements receive a rating of one to five Diamonds.

AAA Four Diamond hotels throughout Southern California, along with first year rated:

Location

Property

Year Rated

Kern County

 

 

Bakersfield

The Padre Hotel

2015

Los Angeles County

 

 

Beverly Hills

Montage Beverly Hills

2014

 

SLS Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills

2009

 

Viceroy L'Ermitage Beverly Hills

2017

 

Beverly Wilshire A Four Seasons Hotel

1993

 

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

2018*

Burbank

Hotel Amarano Burbank

2011

Hollywood

Loews Hollywood Hotel

2008

 

W Hollywood

2010

Long Beach

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

2013

Los Angeles

Luxe City Center Hotel

2013

 

Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel

2015

 

Mr. C Beverly Hills

2012

 

Intercontinental Los Angeles Century City

1988

 

Omni Los Angeles Hotel At California Plaza

2003

 

Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills

2011

 

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites

2013

 

Hotel Bel-Air

2012

 

Sofitel Los Angeles At Beverly Hills

1993

 

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live

2011

 

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

2011

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

The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

2002

 

Shore Hotel

2012

 

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

1989

 

JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot

2002

 

Viceroy Santa Monica

2017

 

Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica

2013

Universal City

Sheraton Universal Hotel, At Universal Studios

2018*

 

Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City

2007

West Hollywood

The London West Hollywood At Beverly Hills

2008

 

Sunset Marquis

2007

 

Kimpton La Peer Hotel

2018*

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

Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

2004

 

Blue Lantern Inn

1991

Huntington Beach

The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel

1991

 

Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa

2003

Laguna Beach

Surf & Sand Resort

1991

 

The Ranch At Laguna Beach

2018*

Newport Beach

Balboa Bay Resort

2004

 

Lido House, Autograph Collection

2018*

 

Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel

2007

 

Fashion Island Hotel

2014

Riverside County

 

 

Cabazon

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa

2005

Idyllwild

The Grand Idyllwild Lodge

2017

Indian Wells

Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa

2003

 

Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort & Spa

1987

 

Miramonte Indian Wells Resort & Spa, Curio Collection By Hilton

2008

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 Casino Resort Spa

2009

 

The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage

2014

 

The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa

2009

Riverside

The Mission Inn Hotel & Spa

2010

Temecula

Ponte Vineyard Inn

2012

 

Pechanga Resort Casino

2002

San Bernardino County

 

Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead Resort And Spa, Autograph Collection

2010

San Diego County

 

 

Alpine

Viejas Casino & Resort

2013

 

Willows Hotel & Spa

2018*

Carlsbad

Cape Rey Carlsbad, A Hilton Resort

2013

Coronado

Hotel Del Coronado, Curio Collection By Hilton

2005

 

Loews Coronado Bay Resort

1992

Del Mar

L'Auberge Del Mar

2002

La Jolla

La Valencia Hotel & Spa

2010

 

Hyatt Regency La Jolla

1990

 

The Grande Colonial

2008

 

Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa

2005

Lakeside

Barona Resort & Casino

2010

Pala

Pala Casino Spa And Resort

2004

Rancho Bernardo

Rancho Bernardo Inn

1977

San Diego

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

2013

 

The Westgate Hotel

2007

 

The US Grant, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Diego

2007

 

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina

1984

 

The Westin San Diego

1994

 

Andaz San Diego

2013

 

Pacific Terrace Hotel

2007

 

San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter

2013

 

Omni San Diego Hotel

2005

 

The Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

2012

 

Hilton San Diego Bayfront

2011

San Luis Obispo County

 

Paso Robles

La Bellasera Hotel & Suites

2011

 

Allegretto Vineyard Resort

2017

Santa Barbara County

 

Pismo Beach

Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa

2009

Los Olivos

Fess Parker Wine Country Inn & Spa

2012

Santa Barbara

Simpson House Inn

2013

 

Harbor View Inn

1997

 

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

2006

 

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

2015

 

Santa Barbara Inn

2017

Santa Ynez

Chumash Casino Resort & Spa

2004

 

Santa Ynez Inn

2002

Solvang

The Ballard Inn

1993

 

Hotel Corque

2011

Summerland

Inn On Summer Hill

1990

Ventura County

 

 

Oxnard

Embassy Suites By Hilton Mandalay Beach Resort

2014

Westlake Village

Westlake Village Inn

2011

CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Automobile Club of Southern California. All Rights Reserved.
The Automobile Club of Southern California is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the following California counties: Inyo, Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura.