Hotel Mac Rae

It's just one flight of stairs from the beach to the rooms, so Hotel Mac Rae is a great fit if you're planning to spend your time at the beach. A room facing Crescent would be a nice choice, though street noise below can be pretty loud in the evening and at night. It does die down late, since Avalon has no late-night venues. On our Catalina weekend it was nearly the cheapest room available, and while hotels on the island aren't good value, sadly, this one is an excellent choice. The room wasn't tiny despite being over 100 years old, and though a bit spartan, it was very clean and well maintained. The bathroom was too, with no complaints from me. I spent plenty of time on the comfortable patio furniture, though the patio could use more plants and shade. Front desk and housekeeping staff were friendly and helpful. There's no locked luggage room before or after checkout, but the storage area seemed safe and gave us no worries.

Walk out the front and you're right at the beach, the location is unbeatable. The friendly staff serve a simple breakfast with pastries, yogurt, tea, coffee, and OJ. Rooms are cozy and arranged around a central courtyard where you can sit and chat or enjoy breakfast.

We picked this hotel for its spot on Avalon's main street, close to restaurants. Our courtyard-facing room was small, but for one night that was fine. It had a mini fridge, desk and chair, and some space for the luggage rack. The decor felt very 70s with a bit of a beach look. Breakfast was basic, with pastries, yogurt, and whole fruit.

The location worked perfectly, with everything right below and all around us, and every staff member we met was kind and helpful. My husband and I stayed in October 2024 for our 10-year anniversary. The bed was super comfortable, and everything was clean and tidy. Our inner-courtyard room was quiet throughout the night and the whole trip. We enjoyed it so much we've already booked that same room for our next anniversary in October 2025. Can't wait!