THE MANOR

By the standards of a historic hotel built in 1946, the Lafayette is a sort of oddity. Guests arrive through a pair of proud white exterior columns into a handsome brick and stucco building. It appears initially as though the hotel were an embodiment of a Southern plantation rather than a historical Southern California Manor.

Design-wise, the greatest achievement of the Manor building today is that it creates an impression little has changed since 1946. Most of the building’s seventy-one rooms have at least one distinct characteristic not to be found elsewhere throughout the hotel.

European travelers will find Manor rooms familiar and comforting. Domestic travelers commonly find solace from typically Motel 6 depression. The ambiance and atmosphere of the four story Manor comes not from a decorator, but by the hand of time.

Rooms are available as one King bed, or two Queens. In conjunction with the historical rehabilitation, the bathrooms, no two the same, have received a slight refresh. Every room in the Manor also features brand new 37 inch LCD televisions.

POOLSIDE

There are some hotel rooms that charm with their view or décor, some that linger in memory for their location or atmosphere. These are the latter.

Characteristic of the same ‘Let’s Party!’ post war mindset that spawned plans for the entire hotel, these thirty-two rooms are not what you’d expect to be hidden behind the plantation style Manor. Yet here they are, a pair of two story motel style buildings lining the sides of the 52-meter pool. Each of these rooms feature a set of French doors opening directly onto or overlooking the famous Weissmuller Pool.

Bright and spacious, guests feel less like visitors than locals who’ve dropped by for a swim and a drink from the bar. Most of the poolside guestrooms have two Queen beds and enough space to blow up a raft.

Said to have been Conrad Hilton’s favorite rooms upon purchasing the hotel in the 1950’s, guests soon understand why. That same post war party atmosphere still remains.

Guest’s can drink, sunbathe, and party just like Sammy, Frank, and Dean.

SPLITS

A special note to our guests: As part of the historical renovation process, beginning December 2011 these rooms will be upgraded and refreshed. More details to follow. Should you have any questions regarding reserving this room type, please email us here.

If there’s one dominant film that comes to mind when thinking of San Diego, it has to to be Top Gun. Arguably, no movie did more for San Diego (and men’s competitive volleyball) than that 1986 classic. It was quintessential 80’s.

The very same decade that gave us singing fighter pilots also produced a very memorable approach to interior decorating, as exhibited in the design of the two
bedroom, two bath Split rooms.

These guestrooms are utilitarian to their core. They are an absolute hit with small families familiar with ‘roughing it’, or groups of friends more concerned with what bars they’ll be visiting rather than where they’ll sleep.