A gorgeous California beach resort has been named America’s best – thanks to its stunning views and Michelin-starred food.
The Mission Pacific Beach Resort in Oceanside has claimed the top spot in Travel + Leisure’s prestigious reader survey, beating out luxury stalwarts and becoming the must-visit destination of 2024.
This seven-story slice of paradise, which only opened its doors three years ago, has already made waves with its 161 sumptuous rooms with jaw-dropping ocean views.
On top of that, it’s got a Michelin-starred Mexican restaurant, an Instagram-worthy rooftop bar serving craft cocktails at sunset and an original ‘Top Gun’ house from the 1986 Tom Cruise classic.
Tim Obert, area managing director of the resort, told The Mercury News, ‘I think everyone was completely surprised,’
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‘It’s our guests who voted for us, and they’re well traveled and experienced. They know what great is, so it’s flattering that they were kind enough to take the time to vote for us. We had hoped we would score well, but I don’t think any of us expected that we would be No. 1.’
But it’s not just America that’s fallen in love with this coastal gem. Mission Pacific Beach also snagged the No. 11 spot on Travel + Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels in the World for 2024.
This comes after Oceanside spent nearly a quarter century trying to develop a luxury waterfront hotel, with four failed attempts before their winning attempt.
Despite opening during the Covid pandemic, the resort has hit gold.
It now runs at 70 percent occupancy year-round with summer occupancy soaring above 80 percent.Â
Additionally, owners continually reinvest to keep it ‘current and relevant.’
More than 186,000 readers casted their votes.
‘When it opened in May of 2021, it opened during COVID, a difficult time to launch any hotel,’ Obert told the outlet.
‘So it started slowly and now has gained its footing and competes very well in the market. We run around 67, 70 percent occupancy for the year, but this year we’ll be closer to the low 70s,’ he added.
‘Like all resorts during the summer through Labor Day, we run well north of 80 percent occupancy.
‘Our owners continue to reinvest in the property on a regular basis. They have a luxury retail background and they continue to reinvent the product to be current and relevant.’
The cost for a night’s stay during July is about $500 to $800.Â