| 
by
Courtney
Caldwell
 | The
sun-soaked lobby of Hilton Costa Mesa |
As
a 20-year resident of California it was never necessary to think about a hotel
or where to stay when meeting with clients in the area. After all, they were all
right there in my backyard, not more than a half-hour drive away. Suffice it to
say, I was spoiled from the immediate access. All
that changed when we moved the company to Michigan in 1998. Meeting with clients
in Southern California now required a place to stay. Not as easy as it sounds.
In fact, it became quite daunting to find the right hotel, one that provided close
proximity to client's bricks and mortar while at the same time being close enough
to visit family 40 miles in the opposite direction. So, both location and freeway
access were very important. With
Southern California plenty big enough to be its own state, surely there are thousands
of hotels that fit the bill. Not quite. Indeed there are hotels galore, but most
didn't meet my requirements until I found the Hilton Costa Mesa. Not only did
this property fulfill my needs, it exceeded my expectations in almost every way.
Location,
location, location; a good place to start. The Hilton Costa Mesa is located right
off the 405 freeway which, for those of you who don't know, is the main artery
for traffic going north and south on the west side of the state. This is crucial
in getting around as most of the east and west freeways intersect all along the
405. If you have business travel between LA and San Diego or just want to soak
up the sun at any of the coastal beaches, this is the freeway you'll likely use
the most. The
Hilton Costa Mesa is only a few short miles from the heart of Costa Mesa, and
from Newport Beach, a swanky upscale beach community. The hotel is literally at
the end of the Bristol Street exit ramp, making it accessible for those going
to nearly any town or beach along the coast. Shops, restaurants and famed malls,
South Coast Plaza Resort in Costa Mesa and Fashion Island in Newport Beach are
also conveniently located near the hotel and freeway.
So
what else makes this Hilton location so fantastic? Well, for me, it's a stone's
throw from where I need to meet with clients in Irvine, only 15 minutes away.
On the other hand, it's only a half-hour away to visit family in Santa Monica
to the north. For others who are traveling to the area, it's only minutes from
some of the best tourist attractions Southern California has to offer.
(CONTINUE...)
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