Discover San Diego Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar

Thanks to the Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar, affordable luxury is no longer an oxymoron.

In our current state of economic uncertainty it's risky, some might even say downright foolhardy to throw caution (and money) to the wind in an effort to take an already existing (and successful) product and attempt to make it better. "Reinventing the wheel" in this day and age takes serious cash and cojones - more the latter than the former. But, as the adage goes, "nothing ventured, nothing gained."

When Bob Rauch and his wife Linda purchased an empty hilltop lot overlooking the 5 Freeway in Del Mar, their vision was not merely to create a hotel for travelers to rest their weary heads, but rather to develop a "compound," as Bob so affectionately refers to their creation, wherein locals and out-of-towners alike could enjoy unsurpassed five-star luxuries and amenities in the realm of two- and three-star hotels - an essentially unheard of and groundbreaking concept in the modern hotel industry.

And so emerged the San Diego Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar and adjoining Homewood Suites by Hilton. Together, the two buildings represent Bob and Linda's dream of delivering affordable luxury without compromising comfort or service. In fact, the husband and wife duo holds both tenets in the highest regard.

"We took this hotel to a completely different level," Bob enthusiastically remarks; his statement not without ample merit. He and Linda's creation not only houses a restaurant and full bar, but also a New York-style deli, full-service spa and salon and fitness room. The bar, deli and spa are all unique to the Del Mar location, as Bob and Linda made certain hotel guests and visitors would never be more than a stone's throw from any creature comforts or pampering possibilities.

"What we're most proud of is our bar," Bob exclaims. "No other Hilton Garden Inn has anything that comes close. And it's not just beer and wine, like some hotels offer. We're fully stocked. The locals love it here because they can come in and have a drink, grab some dinner and just enjoy themselves. Plus, we have the flat screen [television] for watching sports, and everyone loves our bartenders. I had one girl come in a while back who'd never been here before and before she left, she was telling me how much she loved it and couldn't wait to bring her friends. She drove all the way from downtown!"

After, or perhaps even while enjoying a drink at the hotel bar, guests can treat themselves to an incomparable meal from the on-site restaurant - The Great American Grill (soon to be renamed Bistro 39 or Bistro Thirty-Nine). Get all the restaurant details here.

Chef Larry Difolco of the Culinary Institute of America has created an impressive list of signature dishes which could easily grace the pages of some of the finer restaurants in San Diego, let alone an unsuspecting eatery within the lobby of a Hilton Garden Inn. Try the three-course prie-fix dinner menu for a mere $19.95. Or how about a $12.95 (going up to a still-reasonable $14.95 soon) Sunday champagne brunch, or $10.95 breakfast buffet? Oh, and did I mention the $10 wine flights served with fine cheese and crostini?

"Many hotels don't even know what a wine flight is," Bob said, half-jokingly. Forever endeavoring to transcend expectations, Bob and Linda have recently begun adding tastings to their repertoire. "On March 14 we're doing a winemaker's dinner with Drew Dixon of the Andrew Lane Winery. A five-course dinner with five of his wines is only $39.95. We're holding that event in the hotel ballroom." Yes, they have a ballroom, too.

In keeping with the theme of food, the hotel also houses the N.Y. Garden Deli & Cafe - another of Bob and Linda's innovations.

Offering sandwiches (showcasing Boar's Head meats and cheeses) and salads to both guests and local lunch-goers, the deli features an outdoor patio which, as Bob is quick to point out, "is absolutely packed during lunch." No doubt a testament to the delicious fare served within.

And if imbibing and indulging may not be your particular brand of vodka and/or lunchmeat, the fitness center and Serenity Spa and Salon are ideal for those looking to keep fit on the road or pamper themselves for an hour or even an entire day.

The spa offers a full range of services from makeup to massages in an environment rivaling that of establishments charging three or four times the cost of a visit to Serenity.

For the more active set, Bob has even created a "Run With the G.M. Program," where guests who are athletes can arrange a run with the general manager/partner himself. "My goal is to know every guest," Bob asserts.

Of course, at the crux of any five-star hotel is the ability of the establishment to deliver an exceptional night's sleep. Keeping this in mind, Bob and Linda again spared no expense and bestowed each room with beds featuring the adjustable and contouring Garden Sleep System. Accompanied by a lambskin undersheet to absorb perspiration, these beds provide a "unique and incredibly comfortable sleep unlike anything you've ever experienced," Bob explains.

There are even ergonomic (and ridiculously expensive) Herman Miller Mirra chairs in each room, 32-inch flats screens (with 50-plus channels and free HBO) and complimentary wireless high-speed Internet throughout the hotel.

"We want everyone who stays here or visits this hotel to say, 'I can't believe how amazing this place is!'" Bob states. With the Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar and Hilton Homewood Suites, he and Linda did indeed hit their mark.

For your own personalized experience, visit the Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar. And, view the Hilton Garden Inn Del Mar photo gallery here.