With three pools, tons of activities, a marina, and shuttles to town and the beach, the Loews Coronado Bay Resort near San Diego offered everything my family needed for a relaxing vacation

It can be a long drive to San Diego from Los Angeles, especially with two young boys in the back seat.

Even once you cross the Coronado Bridge, it's still a 15-minute drive through downtown Coronado and a long stretch of highway before pulling up to Loews Coronado.

While we were more than eager to ditch the car, the benefit of the long drive was we found ourselves well-removed from the bustle of downtown Coronado. Driving through the entrance gate, I immediately felt myself shift into vacation mode. The palm tree-lined road that led to the hotel was flanked on one side by beach and the other by a small marina. Even my kids' whining stopped as they ogled the views.

We valeted and went inside, taking in the expansive lobby. Curving staircases flanked a contemporary chandelier and the space had a luxe, nautical feel with a navy stair runner and lots of painted white wood.

Beyond the stairs, a giant window led to the Bay Terrace, an outdoor bar overlooking the bay and San Diego skyline. I also noticed an inviting coffee shop and the hotel's restaurant.

When we walked up to the front desk to check-in, there was no line and the clerk greeted us warmly. She handed me and my husband and glasses of champagne (a welcome perk offered to all guests at check-in after 11 a.m.), and for my kids, two sheets of paper detailing a hotel scavenger hunt. The thoughtful touches set us off on the right foot.

As the hotel is large, it was quite a long walk to our room. Thankfully, the hallway walls were made up of mostly windows, which only increased our excitement more and the lovely bay and garden views helped make up for the schlep.

Our Partial Bay View Room was well-appointed and inviting, with lots of natural light pouring through the window and adjacent balcony. While we had a pretty clear view of the calm blue water, it was soon quickly clear why it was described as "partial." The parking lot was also in our line of sight. From inside our room or seated toward the back of the balcony, the view was practically all water. But sitting or standing closer to the edge, we could also see the parking lot. Though, it wasn't a detractor as the water views very much stole the show.

Inside the decor was modern and beachy, with crisp white linens, beige and pale turquoise accents, and oceanic-inspired art.

With four of us in a room, quarters could have been quite tight. But as doubles go, this room felt generously-sized at 450 square feet and beds were comfy. When we needed extra pillows, housekeeping delivered them promptly.

My boys approved of our flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi, while I enjoyed the deep bathtub, and my husband and I both appreciated the pod-style coffee maker.

In the bathroom, the sunken tub was nice, but the shower stall was standard-size and felt a bit small. However, it was clean with solid water pressure and did the job.

My husband and I enjoyed our evenings sitting on our balcony after the kids went to bed, and the bay view was pretty. The parking lot in the foreground didn't bother us much, but it's something for people to keep in mind when booking.

Had we been on a tighter budget, we could have been happy in an entry-level-priced Resort View room. Most rooms are virtually identical in look, size, and amenities. The difference between tiers is the view and whether you get a balcony or not.

A Resort View Double would have given us a balcony and pretty garden view for $63 less per night. A Resort View King, the least expensive room type, would not have had a balcony (nor two double beds), but would have saved us $99 per night.

There is a $35 daily resort fee, but thankfully, it included a good number of amenities.

There are three heated pools and a jacuzzi, one of which is just for adults. The pool deck hosts games and contests, as well as yoga and fitness classes and there's also gym access.

The fee also covers a guided nature walk, shuttles to the beach and to downtown Coronado, and beach chair, towel, and umbrella service. The shuttle to downtown Coronado runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round, and in peak season runs every 30 minutes. In the off-season it runs once an hour, so plan accordingly.

We set ourselves up at the family-friendly pool area and it was good we got there early to claim chairs, as it got pretty busy as the day went on. Though, the area was never overrun, but it was good to have first pick of lounging location.

The pool deck was expansive and thoughtfully designed. As part of it, there are three large pools and two jacuzzis. The adults-only pool and jacuzzi are set at one end, and at the other far end are a variety of games like giant chess and cornhole, the family pool, and another jacuzzi. There seemed to be plenty of room for families to enjoy themselves and for those who prefer a kid-free environment to relax peacefully. From the family pool, we could barely even see the adult pool.

Towels were plentiful and complimentary. Service from La Cantina, the pool restaurant and bar, was good and we highly enjoyed tacos for lunch.

The pool staff also ran games for the kids at regular short intervals in the afternoon, which provided me and my husband with some welcome margarita breaks, though we would have loved more of a kids' camp type situation.

While we spent three days touring San Diego, the other two days were reserved for relaxing at the resort.

On those days, we had breakfast at Crown Landing, which is Loews' California casual restaurant. The menu had the requisite poached eggs and pancakes, and everything was spot on.

Our other full day at the resort, we took the free shuttle to Silver Strand Beach, which was less than 10 minutes away.

The fact that our hotel wasn't beachfront was definitely not as convenient as the Del, but for us, saving about $100 per night felt worth the short shuttle, which ran every 30 minutes during our stay.

When we arrived, the beach concierge set us up with chairs, umbrellas, towels, and boogie boards at no additional cost. The beach is known for its calm waters and few crowds. On our visit, we had it largely to ourselves.

Later, we also took the shuttle into downtown Coronado for dinner. At that point, it was so crowded we had to stand for the duration of the ride. That felt frustrating. Given such a peak rush hour, I'd like to see the hotel supply a second shuttle van.

One final on-site highlight was the gorgeous Bay Terrace, which was a patio and bar area with cozy seating, string lights, and fire pits overlooking the San Diego skyline.

Our foursome spent a sweet happy hour there snuggling by the fire and snacking on flatbread pizzas.

The hotel is located in Coronado, which is a sweet little town. Rent some bikes and follow the Silver Strand Bike Path to get downtown, or take the Loews' free shuttle. It's fun to simply walk or bike around downtown, ogling the homes you wish you could afford and taking in its Southern California style of charm. The Hotel Del Coronado is a National Historic Landmark, and worth a walk-through too, or even a tour.

For window shopping and strolling, Orange Avenue has almost exclusively non-chain retailers and restaurants. The beach is also a draw, whether for swimming, sunning, or strolling along the paved walking path. The beach closes to the hotel is located across the highway, and you can get there on foot or take the resort's free shuttle. The walk is about 15 minutes along a path that takes guests through a tunnel under the highway and onto the sand.

The resort also abuts the marina and bay, providing boating, water sports, and nature exploring opportunities.

Across the bay, downtown San Diego can be accessed by ferry or car. Take the ferry from Coronado's town center to downtown San Diego to explore museums and the lively Gaslamp Quarter, or drive across the bridge for attractions such as Balboa Park's museums, gardens, and renowned San Diego Zoo. The ferry takes about 15 minutes and runs every hour between 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays, and until 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It costs $5 one-way, and children aged 3 and under ride for free.

Trip Advisor ranks Loews Coronado Bay Resort as 6 out of 17 hotels in Coronado. It currently has a 4.5-star rating.

Positive reviews appreciated the beautiful property and location, great food, and friendly staff — all of which I agree wholeheartedly. The staff was very attentive, especially at the pool, where service was prompt and with a smile, and added engagement with the kids was a nice added value. I also loved that the scavenger hunt the kids completed could be brought to the coffee bar by the lobby to receive a free cookie.

Common complaints related to the hotel's daily resort fee of $35, which doesn't include parking that adds another $34 to $39 depending on if you choose to self-park or valet.

Some guests felt that for this additional cost, the cost to rent bicycles should be included (it's not). Some also warned against rooms with balconies facing the pool, for reasons of noisiness and a lack of privacy.

Who stays here: Families and couples looking for a luxurious coastal resort vacation, and are willing to compromise a bit on location for a more affordable price-point, as well as those who are fans of the high-end Loews brand.

We like: The location. We felt surrounded by natural elements and completely removed from city bustle, but close enough to access it. We were just a shuttle ride away from the beach or town, and a short drive to downtown San Diego.

We love (don't miss this feature!): The bay views afforded from all corners of the property are fantastic and peaceful, especially in the Bay Terrace bar area. Plus, the fantastic staff helped keep our kids entertained at the pool.

We think you should know: The resort and parking fees definitely add to the price tag and the distance from Coronado's town center can be seen as a pro or con depending on your point of view. Similarly, the lack of direct beachfront access is something to consider. However, for us, the resort amenities such as the pool deck with games, food, and bar service, and the easy beach service added a lot of value.

We'd do this differently next time: I could have used one more day to enjoy the resort. We didn't have enough time to try beach yoga, a marina spin class, or go for a nature walk, all of which are included with the resort fee.

The Loews Coronado Bay Resort offers many resort perks at a more affordable price than similar hotels in the area. It's a great choice for a coastal getaway in the San Diego area that is remote and picturesque.

While the scenery is definitely a perk, it also comes with caveats, such as the fact that the hotel is not within walking distance of downtown Coronado. Likewise, the hotel is waterfront and faces the bay, but is not beachfront. The beach can be accessed by foot if you don't mind crossing a highway, or by car or the hotel's free hotel shuttle.

We enjoyed our Partial Bay View Double for the balcony and view, which felt worth the extra $99 per night over a standard booking. Though, the latter offers a strong value if you don't need the view or terrace. However, being able to look out at that expanse of blue was special, and I can't wait to return.