Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego

This is really no longer a Four Seasons. Since they lost 50% of the facilities to the adjoining Park Hyatt several years ago the site has become a shadow of it's former self. Certainly it is still a nice place to visit. but not for the $ charged. Should this mostly timeshare resort lose the Four Seasons name, which will one day come to pass, I imagine prices will have to halve.

Great place but far away, great for golfers

Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara delivers the premium level of hospitality the brand is known for. Kaitlyn is a Four Seasons treasure! She ensured we were well cared for during our weekend Legoland getaway. She showed exceptional kindness and gave a goodie box with Legoland swag to my five year old. We had enjoyable meals in Seasons restaurant and I was thoroughly impressed by the thoughtfully attentive staff who greeted me by name and ensured my guests and I wanted for nothing. Aviara is an amazingly picturesque resort with peekaboo ocean views throughout. This was my first time staying at the Four Seasons as my previous stays here have been at Park Hyatt. If one is booking through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts there are some things to be aware of: First of all, these are two bedroom units with a door separating the primary bedroom and ensuite bath from the rest of the unit. The primary bedroom has a separate entry door that allows the space to be marketed as a “studio” with a kitchenette when closed off from the rest of the unit, which is essentially a one bedroom condo that does have a full kitchen. What is called a "kitchenette" in the studio rooms is not a kitchenette at all... just a bar sink with a microwave and stocked with a few dishes but no bowls; no range; no toaster;  and no ice trays in the small dorm fridge. No laundry machines in the “studio” side either. A totally unworkable set up that makes it just another hotel room, rather than a typical residence club unit that would allow one to prepare meals.   Secondly, Not only are you in a de facto hotel room you are marooned far away from hotel amenities, like an ice machine as these villas are spread out all over the Aviara resort. As it turns out, Four Seasons personnel will happily shuttle you to and from the guest house and deliver ice to you upon request; however, who wants to be in a position to provide a gratuity every time one needs something as mundane and essential as ice? Because of these accommodations (or lack thereof), the AmEx FHR booking is not worth the points or dollars if you don’t receive the complimentary upgrade to the larger one-bedroom unit. Without the upgrade, one is better off staying at the Park Hyatt where you have easy access to their amazing pools, spa and services. The Four Seasons units are currently under renovation so there are a number of units currently taken out of the inventory while they are being updated. For this reason the chances of a complementary upgrade through AmEx during the renovation period is slim to none. Unfortunately, you won’t know for sure until you check in. Our room decor was pristine as we had a studio in the freshly updated Building 11.  Bathroom was nice, with an abundance of lighting and ventilation.  The one huge negative about the bathroom is the standard shower/tub combo... oddly out of place at a resort and hella out of place for a primary bath.  This feels like taking a shower in the hall bath of a 1970's starter home! Not luxurious at all.  The expectation is a shower stall and separate soak tub at a resort.  The bare minimum would be a spacious shower only bathroom.  Adding to the oddness is the half shower door.  It looks like the contractor installed the grab bar on the wall where the shower door attaches and when the shower door installers showed up they could not complete the install.  Crazy weird! (Photo below). Would I return? Only for the one bedroom unit or the whole enchilada, the two bedroom.

Very comfortable stay

The food was fantastic and grounds were meticulously kept

Such a lovely, relaxing property. The rooms are perfect, the facilities are great, Seasons restaurant is delicious, and the staff are wonderful. This was our second time here and we will come again when we need some R & R.

Constant construction noise, room had a sliding door that literally wouldn’t close or securely lock and the finishes were cheap.

Such a wonderful stay! We will be back!

Norma and her team at The Four Seasons are amazing!