Jill MedingerA luxurious home-base for racing, jumping, and polo in San Diego.
San Diego’s Fairmont Grand Del Mar is a luxury oasis drenched in year-round sunshine. The area is home to some of the country’s premier show jumping, polo, and horse racing. This year, the resort will be an official host hotel for the Breeders Cup, which will be held for the first time at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The two-day, $28-million event will attract fashionistas, celebrities, and some of the world’s best racehorses to the beachside venue for exciting races and extravagant parties.
The Fairmont Grand Del Mar has won dozens of awards for its spa, golf, and dining offerings, as well as Trip Advisor’s coveted top spot as the best luxury hotel in California. The five-star resort is nestled into the hills of Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, where each of the 249 guest-rooms offers the elegance of an old-world Mediterranean estate. The resort’s design honors architect Addison Mizner, whose work defines Palm Beach, Florida, and draws it inspiration from Spain’s palaces and France’s sun-washed coastal retreats.
Mizner’s aesthetic is perfect for San Diego’s warm climate and the community’s affinity for outdoor living. The hotel’s vast verandas and terraces, outdoor and poolside dining, as well as its tennis courts, hiking trails, and nearby ocean beaches, offer infinite ways to enjoy the outdoors. The resort’s high-end offerings include the Grand Golf Club, which was designed by Tom Fazio and features dramatic elevations, diverse bunkers, and lush fairways. The Forbes five-star spa—one of only 25 in the U.S.—offers a comprehensive menu of amenities, including fitness classes, relaxation lounges with fire-places, plush robes, and handcrafted chocolates.The resort provides door-to-door shuttle service to the stable next door and can arrange private lessons and rides on the 37 miles of trails that surround the sit