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 |