Hotel Stay at Grand Pacific Palisades Resort in Carlsbad, CA
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
4.3
4.5
Select room:
Subtotal
$0
Family-friendly resort located steps from a popular amusement park, waterpark, and aquarium; award-winning brewpub on site
What You Get
- Stay for two in a one-bedroom condo suite or two-bedroom condo suite
- Up to two kids 17 or younger stay free
$32 Daily Resort Fee Includes
- Self-parking
- Access to business center
- WiFi
- Access to the Family Pool with Splash Pad
- Access to the Quiet Pool and Fire Pits
- In-room coffee and tea
Shuttle Service
- Local area shuttle within 5-mile radius
Hotel at a Glance: Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
Grand Pacific Palisades Resort always comes up smelling like the ocean. Many of the rooms at Grand Pacific Palisades Resort have private balconies that overlook the park views, as well as the Pacific Ocean. These top-notch views, along with outstanding customer service, earned the resort TripAdvisor's Certificate of Excellence in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022
- Good for kids: The resort hosts kid activities and boasts a family pool and splash pad
- Adults play too at the Quiet Pool with 180° views of the Pacific Ocean
- Award-winning brewpub: Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant, which serves microbrews on tap and by bottles.
- Free shuttle service within 5 miles of the resort which includes the Carlsbad beaches, which are open at this time
- Tee off at the 18-hole "The Crossings" golf course, which boasts panoramic views of the ocean.
- The Cassara Kitchen & Bar open daily, provides the perfect setting to unwind with handcrafted cocktails, appetizers, small and big bites complimented by relaxing coastal views.
- Attractions within walking distance: Neighboring amusement park and aquarium are accessible through a private pedestrian entrance across from the hotel; Restaurant Row and Carlsbad Premium Outlets are also nearby.
- Local and onsite amenities & attractions operating days and hours subject to change based on local restrictions. Please visit this link for the most current safety and health policies.
San Diego: Tips for the Perfect Weekend Escape
Day 1:
❀ Balboa Park ❀
Full of green space, flora, and fauna, this lovely park is home to the world-famous and much-beloved San Diego Zoo, the historic Old Globe Theatre, 15 museums, a carousel, and a miniature railroad.
Visit the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Comic-Con Museum, or the San Diego Air and Space Museum, among many other attractions.
There are many gardens full of native plants, roses, and cacti, as well as a Veterans Memorial Garden and dog parks. Stop by the Australian Garden where you can spot plants that are native to Australia.
ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ San Diego Zoo ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ

Experience the fun and interactive Animals in Action Experience as zoo workers bring the animals out to you for an up-close view. Be taken behind the scenes by expert wildlife behavior specialists and find out more about some of the animals, all while learning how the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is helping to save species locally and around the globe.
Fancy something extra-special? Go for the Exclusive VIP Experience and enjoy a customized visit to suit your needs and interests. During the roughly five hours with your own personal tour guide, you can explore the Zoo’s animal habitat areas that you are most interested in. The experience also includes a sit-down lunch to provide a needed break as you explore the grounds.
###Day 2:
☀ Coronado Island ☀

Head to the Coronado Museum of History and Art* that is home to over 20,000 photographs and 1,400 artifacts in their permanent collection. Get a sight of the Hotel del Coronado, believed to be the inspiration for the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz.
Search for keepsakes at local shops, get captivated by talents at art galleries at Ferry Landing, and admire the scenic sights of San Diego Bay.
♪ Gaslamp Quarter ♪

Take your loved one for a romantic dinner, catch a jazz, flamenco or comedy show, and if the you do not want the night to end, go dancing in a nightclub.
Listed on the National Historic Register, explorers can take in their famed surroundings while they search for quirky souvenirs, stylish jewelry, and trendy clothing.
###Day 3:
☸ Belmont Park ☸
Opened in 1925, Belmont Park is nestled on the shores of Mission Beach. This beachfront entertainment offers modern and vintage attractions such as the Giant Dipper roller coaster that is now a national historic landmark.
Enjoy roller coasters and thrill rides, as well as delightful carnival rides such as a carousel and bumper cars. Have fun at the amusement park’s newer features such as ziplines, escape rooms, and laser tag games.
Once your energy levels have been depleted, indulge in the venue’s various additional amenities, such as dining areas and beach-themed shops.
♔ Old Town ♔
Considered the birthplace of California, Old Town offers a glimpse of San Diego’s infancy and colonial roots. See a variety of 19th-century buildings that are now museums, shops and eateries.
Spot adobe churches that adorn the Old Town’s scenery, and see the Mormon Battalion Historic Site honoring the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who served in the US Army's Mormon Battalion during the Mexican-American War.
Are you a fan of spooky fun? Visit the Whaley House Museum, dubbed one of the Most Terrifying Places in America by the Travel Channel. Ghosts of former residents are said to inhabit the rooms, which are filled with Victorian furniture and eerie dolls.
Other Details
Room Details
One-Bedroom Condo Suite
- One California king bed and one sofa bed
- Standard occupancy: 2
- Maximum occupancy: 4
- Adding occupants above standard: $20 per night for each additional guest 18 or older; kids 17 or younger stay free
Two-Bedroom Condo Suite
- One California king bed, one twin bed, one full bed, and one sofa bed
- Standard occupancy: 4
- Maximum occupancy: 6
- Adding occupants above standard: $20 per night for each additional guest 18 or older; kids 17 or younger stay free
Hotel Policies
- Check in: 5 p.m.
- Check out: 10 a.m.
- $32 Resort Fee includes:
- self-parking
- access to fitness center
- access to business center
- high speed WiFi
- access to splash pad
- in-room coffee and tea
- daily newspaper (available on weekends upon request.)
- Parking: included in resort fee.
- Smoking policy: no smoking inside the property.
- Pet policy: pets are not allowed inside the property.
- Accessibility: please contact property for handicap-accessibility requests or options.
- Room upgrades: not available.
Amenities
- Golf course nearby
- Area shuttle within a five-mile radius
- Brewpub on same campus
- Resort-hosted activities
- High-speed WiFi access
- New restaurant onsite with coastal views
Getting There
- Nearest airports: McClellan-Palomar (CLD; 3 miles) and San Diego International (SAN; 32 miles)
- Cab fare: about $15 from CLD, including a 15% tip
- Distance from San Diego metro area: 32 miles
Need to know info
- For all hotel/lodgings in California booked more than 72 hours in advance, purchasers will have 24 hours after the reservation is confirmed to request a refund
- 8-day cancellation notice required prior to check-in or reservation is non-refundable; reservations made within cancellation window are non-refundable
- No-shows will be charged total Groupon rate
- Traveler name must match ID at time of check-in
- $32 daily resort fee, plus tax, added at purchase
- No refunds will be processed by Groupon after check-in
- Must be 21+ to check in
- Credit card required at check-in
- Rates may vary by date and are subject to availability
- Dates cannot be changed once booked; valid only for night(s) purchased
- Final price at checkout may include an additional Groupon service fee, which Groupon retains as compensation for facilitating your reservation; this fee will not exceed 6% of the nightly cost of the reservation.
- Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
- Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings
About Grand Pacific Palisades Resort
Customer Reviews
- bed
- hotel
- staff
- pool
- service
Reviewed on
Vanessa
11 ratings|3 reviews
Loved this resort! So many things for families to do, must stay here. We are going to stay here annually.
Carina
Top reviewer
Helpful reviewer
16 ratings|10 reviews
Great proximity to Legoland and good eateries in the area. The rooms were clean.
Roberto
1 rating|1 review
This is our second time coming to this destination and we really love it. Close to grocery store, the beach, Legoland, Sky Zone, and much more
Reviewed on
I1185ZImikee
|1 review
Lots more room for same price as hotels in San Diego. Very spacious one-bedroom condo. Full kitchen with appliances. Great shower with no wait for hot water. A bit noisy with guests upstairs and outside. Clean, comfortable. Parking was underground and free. Nice view of the ocean. Fireplace with gas log makes it cozy.
stronger123
|1 review
Good place close to Legoland, but with lots of room for improvement Nice family friendly resort with room for improvement. We enjoyed straying in the 2 bedroom apartment, which was clean and spacious. Our kids enjoyed the pool and splash pad as well as the playground. The grounds are beautiful with nice views over the hill. In spring time, you have the view of the pretty flower fields too. It is super close to Legoland and the Karl Strauss restaurant is next door too. The hotel staff is friendly. We also appreciated the on-site gym and paid laundry. What we do think could improve the guest experience significantly is:
1. Making this property pet-friendly. No problem if we have to pay an additional cleaning fee. There is a nice grassy area for the dogs too. Not sure how they do not allow dogs in this day and age! We would love to return here but may not be able to next time, simply because of this reason.
2. Need more dining options and in-room dining service for the price of the resort. We drove late with kids and there was no dining option on-site. Luckily, Ubereats worked.
3. EV chargers are a must. Again, I don’t understand how a resort this size doesn’t have these.
So overall, it’s a nice place to stay near Legoland & the flower fields but has lots of room for improvement.
mariahO481XB
|1 review
Doesn't care about guest experience No bellboys. I was staying at the hotel with my 89 year old mother. Her house had to have some work done so we moved her out for one week. I had to bring a lot of stuff for her, including medical equipment. I was shocked to find out there are no bellboys so I had to deal with moving everything myself.
No ADA (shower, toilet seat, bed rail). I specifically requested an ADA unit as my mother is disabled. The website said the room would have handicapped accessible showers, a raised toilet seat and a bed rail. The room had NONE of these things. This meant my mother could not get in and out of bed by herself, or get on and off the toilet by herself. She couldn’t climb into the tub so she just didn’t take a shower for a week.
No real room service. There is a brewery onsite and you can order food from there and have it delivered. This might be fine for a day or two but it’s greasy pub food that gets old quickly.
New flooring above and woken up at 830am daily. Each morning I was woken up at 830am with banging and pounding and hammering. I called to complain and they told me they were installing new flooring in the unit above us. Why would you put guests in a unit with construction going on right above? Because you don’t care about the comfort of your guests. The noise went on all day until 5. I complained but they said there was nothing they could do to stop the construction which is clearly not true. It’s their property. They can tell workers where to go and what to do. According to their website, there were renovations being done until January 31 so clearly they are running behind. Instead of this being their problem they passed it along to me.
Dishwasher leaked. The unit had a dishwasher which I only used once because it leaked water onto the floor.
Never came for trash, towels, restock even though I asked for it. We were there for a week and they never serviced our room. They never restocked anything or took out our trash. Near the end of the week I called and asked them to come and get our trash as it was overflowing but no one ever came.
WIFI. The WIFI was flaky. I had to use my own mobile hotspot because I needed to work and the hotel WIFI was too unreliable.
Aggressive Timeshare. I was contacted by the concierge 3 different times about scheduling a timeshare tour, once by phone and twice by email.
In short, this hotel doesn’t really care about the guest experience. Consider yourself warned.