Jetsettersblog

The $270 million Grand Del Mar, a 249-room, Mediterranean-style resort owned and operated by Manchester Grand Resorts, has opened in the Del Mar area of San Diego. Featuring an exotic amalgam of Spanish, Portuguese, Moroccan, French Provincial and Venetian design elements, the resort features colorful hues, arched doorways, rotundas; wood-beamed ceilings, stone columns, large patios and wrought iron accents. Design details also include more than 30 types of marble and stone, Portuguese tile, Venetian plastered walls, more than 25,000 square feet of handcrafted wood flooring and intricate, hand-stenciled ceilings. Landscaping includes more than 10,000 mature trees and more than a dozen water features.

The resort offers 218 Posh Rooms and 31 Elaborate Suites, each offering a view of the golf course, canyon preserve or pool area. All rooms feature a deep blue, pale yellow and gold color palette enhanced by distressed wood furnishings with brocade upholstery, crown moldings and millwork, and original fine art and accessories. Recreational activities includes 37 miles of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails of the adjacent Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, including nature walks, canyon expeditions and mountain bike tours led by an onsite naturalist. Other amenities include four swimming pools of varying sizes (including an adults-only spa pool, a children’s pool and one for toddlers), two outdoor tennis courts, and adventure-themed kids and teen programs.

The Grand Golf Club, San Diego’s only Tom Fazio-designed course, features a 50,000-square-foot clubhouse, which opened in September 2006 with a pro shop, a locker area, Addison (the resort’s signature restaurant) and The Clubhouse Grill. A 21,000-square-foot, Renaissance-inspired spa features services incorporating ingredients from the area, including water, mud, clay, stones, herbs and essential oils. The spa offers 11 treatment rooms, a fitness center, a salon and a boutique. An adjacent movement studio is available for complimentary fitness classes. Including Addison and The Clubhouse Grill, the resort features six dining venues. The others are Amaya, a poolside venue, a gourmet shop and a lobby lounge. The resort’s event space encompasses 20,000 square feet, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom (divisible by six), an ornate chapel, a lawn and four wine rooms.

Call 888-314-2030 or visit http://www.thegranddelmar.com/