How visitcatalinaisland.com Helps You Plan a Catalina Island Stay
Updated
visitcatalinaisland.com is the official gateway for Catalina Island Company, which operates four hotels, several restaurants, and resort-style amenities on the island. The site is built to help you plan a stay in one place: you can compare the four hotels, look at dining options, and use hotel packages, special offers, and full-service concierges to put together activities on land and sea. It suits first-time visitors who want a single starting point and repeat visitors who want to book a specific hotel or package.
What the site covers
The homepage presents the company as a "one-stop gateway" to the island, organized around three things you need for a trip:
- Lodging — four hotels, each with a different setting and character
- Dining — restaurants in Avalon and at Two Harbors, including beachfront and grill options
- Planning support — hotel packages, special offers, and concierges who recommend and plan activities
The site describes planning as "easy, breezy" because these pieces sit under one operator rather than being scattered across separate vendors.
The four hotels and who each one fits
The accommodations section lists four properties. The table below summarizes what the site says about each, so you can match one to your trip style.
| Hotel | Location | Character | Likely fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt Ada | Perched high above Avalon Bay | Upscale, with a commanding view | Travelers who want scenery and a quieter setting above town |
| Hotel Atwater | Heart of Avalon | Central, walkable to town | Visitors who want to be in the middle of Avalon's shops and restaurants |
| Pavilion Hotel | Steps from the beach in Avalon | Beachfront access | Beach-focused stays and families who want sand close by |
| Banning House Lodge & Villas | Two Harbors | Historic Craftsman-style bed & breakfast | Guests heading to the quieter Two Harbors side of the island |
The key decision is Avalon versus Two Harbors. Three hotels sit in Avalon, which the site describes as a "charming seaside city" with a range of culinary experiences. Banning House is the only option in Two Harbors, so if you want that side of the island, your lodging choice is effectively made for you.
How packages and the concierge reduce planning work
Two planning tools are called out on the homepage:
- Hotel packages and special offers — bundled stays that combine lodging with other elements, so you don't assemble each piece separately.
- Full-service concierges — staff who recommend and plan activities on land and sea.
The practical value is that you can start with a package as a baseline, then use the concierge to fill in specific activities. For example, if you book a Pavilion Hotel stay and want a beach day plus an on-the-water outing, the concierge is the contact point for arranging both rather than you booking each activity from a different operator.
The site does not publish package prices or list every offer on the homepage, so treat the packages section as the place to check current options rather than assuming a fixed bundle.
A practical way to use the site
- Decide your base first. Choose Avalon (Mt Ada, Hotel Atwater, or Pavilion) or Two Harbors (Banning House). This narrows everything else.
- Open the accommodations section to compare the four hotels and pick the one that matches your setting preference.
- Check packages and special offers before booking a room on its own — a bundle may cover what you were going to arrange separately.
- Plan dining around your base. Avalon has the widest spread, including Descanso Beach Club past the Catalina Casino and Avalon Grille; Two Harbors guests should confirm options there.
- Contact the concierge with your activity wish list — land and sea — and let them recommend and plan.
Common sticking points
- Assuming all four hotels are in Avalon. Only three are; Banning House is in Two Harbors, which changes your ferry logistics and the dining and activity options within walking distance.
- Skipping the packages section. The homepage frames packages and offers as a core planning tool, so booking a room alone may mean paying separately for things a package already covers.
- Waiting until arrival to plan activities. The concierge is described as ready to recommend and plan in advance, so reaching out before you travel gives more room to fit activities into your dates.
Start at the accommodations section to choose your hotel, then move to packages and offers, and use the concierge to round out the itinerary.