Author Ilona Kauremszky on location in Hamilton Cove, Catalina Island
You arrive at Santa Catalina Island by ferry, but it feels like you’ve been teleported. Welcome to Avalon, Los Angeles County’s southernmost city that’s part Mediterranean fantasy, and part retro postcard from the Golden Age of California cool.
And now, the setting for the new mystery novel by bestselling crime novelist Michael Connelly is Nightshade.
Twenty-two miles off the coast of Southern California, it’s in this idyllic island of palm-lined promenades, a bay dotted with yachts, and a pastel-hued town that time forgot, known as Avalon, where Connelly’s detectives use zippy golf carts. Moreover, visitors will also get to be in the driver’s seat using these compact vehicles, scooting by monuments and island landmarks featured in this fun page-turner when you book a stayover at one posh property.
Perched above it all, you’ll find Hamilton Cove, arguably the island’s best-kept luxury secret. Tucked inside this 185-unit condo development overlooking the bay is Villa 1-66.
This one-bedroom beauty marries Old World European style with slick SoCal comfort.
Book through Catalina Holiday, the boutique management company that holds the keys to the best private villas on the island, and prepare to feel like you’ve just stepped into your own Mediterranean retreat—minus the transatlantic flight. Catalina Holiday unlocks exclusive access to the island’s most glamorous hideaways—specifically, ocean-view villas tucked into this cliffside enclave.
I was lucky enough to nab Villa 1-66 for this dreamy island escape.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Villa 1-66 is like a private balcony on the world. Just a quick hop from Avalon, this posh 1-bedroom villa is nestled inside Hamilton Cove, the gated community that’s a world apart from the buzz of Crescent Avenue. Avalon is all charm and color—mosaic-tiled benches, vintage marquees, beach cruisers, and old-school arcades. It’s SoCal with a splash of Riviera glam.
The villa overlooks the sea, surrounded by rugged cliffs and bougainvillea. You’re only minutes away from the action, yet it feels miles from anywhere. One moment I’m sipping coffee on my sun-drenched patio; the next, I’m cruising into town in my complimentary golf cart for sushi and a stroll along Avalon Bay.
It’s escapism dialed up.
So now, you can think of Villa 1-66 as Avalon’s VIP box seat.
Set inside Hamilton Cove, this hilltop condo gazes out over Catalina’s crescent-shaped harbor, where boats bob like lazy sea birds. You’re just a short golf cart cruise from the town’s buzzing boardwalk, but up here, it’s all peace and panorama.
Avalon itself is an Americana dream. Candy shops. Dive bars. Waffle-cone parlors. And that famous Art Deco Casino building, looking like a sun-washed film set from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
There’s a beach for lounging, trails for wandering, and desert-like canyons, home to some of the planet’s rarest indigenous flora and fauna. Think of their island fox or even their ground squirrel.
VILLA HIGHLIGHTS
Step into Villa 1-66 and exhale. The space is sleek, yet cozy. Light pours in from arched French doors. The Mediterranean-style balcony? Unreal.
The views? Straight out of a travel reel. Spot dolphins. Watch sailboats drift past. Sunset here hits differently.
Inside, you’ve got warm mahogany hardwood floors that welcome you in.
The open-concept living room spills into a gourmet kitchen—a sleek setup with KitchenAid stainless appliances, a Keurig stocked with Starbucks capsules, and every tool a travelling chef could want.
Step outside. That ocean-facing balcony? A showstopper.
Sunsets here go full Technicolor. Sip wine. Grill dinner. Watch the horizon glow.
Inside, the bedroom is a sanctuary. A cloud-soft Cariloha king bed dressed in luxury linens is the ideal antidote to carry you into the next day’s island activities.
Tech-wise, it’s all there: Alexa, Toshiba Smart TVs, and that magic feeling of saying, “Alexa, play vacation vibes.”
CATALINA HOLIDAY PERKS
You get:
- A complimentary golf cart (your island ride!) It’s a 2020 EZGO electric golf cart allowing you to zoom around Avalon in eco-style.
- Private pool access (Cue the morning swims)
- Tennis courts (Bring your game)
- Free Wi-Fi (If you must check in with reality)
- Gated security (Privacy, guaranteed)
- Tranquil hillside setting (No street noise. Just seabirds.)
- Putting green
- No booking fees
FINAL IMPRESSION
Want to channel the South of France without leaving America? Villa 1-66 in Hamilton Cove is your golden ticket, where coffee tastes better on a balcony, where every stroll feels cinematic.
- Buy Travel Insurance
- Search for Great Tours HERE
- Get a Car Rental
Undoubtedly, travelers can arrive with a suitcase of anticipation and leave with a heart full of longing to return. For Michael Connelly fans, the villa’s complimentary golf cart will come in super handy as you sleuth your way around, seeing the local spots starring in Nightshade!
For the latest villa booking rates, check Vrbo.com or directly with Catalina Holiday.
Photo credits: Ilona Kauremszky + Supplied
Hotel-Scoop Columnist Ilona Kauremszky stayed as a guest of Love Catalina Island and Catalina Holiday. Get ready to read her Catalina Island feature in a future issue of DreamScapes magazine.
