The Inn sits on a hill 350 feet above Avalon and features breathtaking views of the cliffs and ocean. The former home of chewing gum millionaire William Wrigley Jr., it … now operates as a charming -- and very expensive -- bed and breakfast. The staff is sweet and accommodating, every room has a fantastic view, and breakfast and lunch are free. [link]

The island's one full-service resort, Catalina Canyon offers such amenities as a day spa, a heated outdoor pool, and a beautiful courtyard garden. The gorgeous … Spanish-style building unfortunately houses some pretty surly staff members, but Catalina Canyon is one of the island's best deals money-wise, so that's not likely to change anytime soon. One tip: don't request a Jacuzzi room unless you're hopelessly committed to bubbly hot water. They're marooned down in the basement. [link]

An excellent bargain for the money steeped atmosphere of the island, the Hotel Mac Rae offers impressive midweek and off-season rates. In return you get a hotel that … feels more like a youth hostel than luxury accommodations. If you can't get over this, it's best not to stay here. If you can, you'll enjoy the great location -- right on the beach, with a bar next door and the ferry just a short walk away. [link]

The Hotel Catalina keeps it pretty basic, with serviceable rooms and a casual approach to customer service. For the money, you could probably get the same kind of … treatment and accommodations elsewhere; but the Hotel Catalina does have balconies and a stunning hillside location to recommend it over its ocean-side peers. It's also just a block from crowded Crescent Drive, close enough to be convenient but far enough away to be quiet. [link]

Sumptuous and trendy, the Hotel Metropole features plenty of the urban luxuries familiar to city dwellers -- Frette linens, private balconies, Jacuzzis galore -- in a … picturesque oceanfront setting on the quiet end of Avalon. The cute Metropole Marketplace is a fun place to eat ice cream, buy trinkets and generally act like a total tourist, but the noise can be a little much during the day, especially if you like to sleep in. Oh, and the Metropole is expensive, of course. What was your first clue? [link]

Half a block from the ocean and very reasonably priced, the Seaport offers fun vacation packages for the intrepid traveler; some include helicopter rides, others boat … tickets, and most champagne. Family-run and adamantly non-smoking, the service can come off as fantastic or completely lacking, depending on your temperament. Shell out for one of the more expensive rooms and you won't be disappointed. [link]

The Catalina Island Inn occupies a cozy little harborfront building and offers views of the ocean over the tops of other beachside buildings. The rooms are small, and … there's no elevator; if you're looking for all the amenities of a modern box hotel, this isn't your place. It's also a touch more expensive than some of its downhome peers. But it's clean, quaint, charming, and within easy walking distance of most of Avalon. [link]