After a long hiatus from “real” traveling due to the pandemic, this past spring my family enjoyed a luxurious weekend stay at the Montage Laguna Beach, a Forbes five-star resort.
This Southern Californian hotel is located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, perched atop a very scenic cliff above the Pacific Ocean. The location is dreamy and makes you feel like you are visiting the French or Italian Riviera. The vibe is laidback yet luxurious.
Upon entering the hotel, the lobby area is very open, featuring spectacular views of the ocean from the Lobby Lounge:
Here are some more views of seating areas at the Lobby Lounge:
Just outside of the Lobby Lounge, you can step out to a balcony that has seating and amazing views of the entire resort, the pool below, and the ocean beyond:
We originally had booked an Ocean Coastal King Room but were upgraded upon arrival to the best view in the house: the Ocean Surf King Room. Room 415 was on the highest floor of the resort, hence the great views:
In addition to a room upgrade, we also received some other complimentary perks: daily breakfast for two, $100 resort credit, and late check-out. PRO TIP: book your stay through me, and I can offer you the same VIP amenities!
The daily breakfast is available via room service or at The Loft, a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and panoramic views of the ocean. We enjoyed our breakfast in our room every morning. The highlight for me was a delicious three-egg omelet with goat cheese.
To our pleasant surprise, the hotel welcomed us with champagne on ice, as well as with chocolate-covered strawberries:
Our room was very spacious at 500 square feet, decorated in light airy tones, with a luxrious marble bathroom that included double vanities, a large soaking tub, and a separate shower and toilet area. Here are some photos of the sparkling bathroom:
Here’s our spacious room, which you also can tour via my live video on YouTube:
The balcony was lovely and had very comfortable and stylish seating:
If you’re interested in suites at Montage Laguna Beach, there are plenty of luxurious options. I toured an Ocean Coastal Bungalow Suite, specifically Room 7113, located in the Payne Bungalow, which is a separate building from the main hotel building and located closer to the ocean.
Our stay included daily turndown service. We received complimentary bottled waters and gourmet chocolates (made on-site!):
The hotel’s facilities include gorgeous pools (even an adults-only lap pool), as well as a spa and fitness center with ocean views.
Here is the main pool, which is open 24 hrs and heated to a balmy 82 degrees:
You can check out a panoramic view of the pool in my YouTube video. One unique thing about the main pool area is the hotel’s resident Harris’ Hawk, “Fox.” Fox flies around and keeps all the sea gulls from bothering the guests! We got to meet him and his keeper and were enthralled with this amazing bird.
You can get complimentary bottled water and fruit in the fitness center:
The fitness center is for adults only, which leads to the adults only lap pool area. Check out my YouTube video tour:
For dining options, in addition to the Loft, be sure to check out the Mosaic Bar & Grille for lunch or dinner, which has indoor and outdoor seating options. Across the street from the resort is a shopping center that has a grocery store and CVS for provisions, as well as several great restaurants, including Starfish, a yummy Asian fusion restaurant. We ordered take-out a few times and ate on our balcony – my favorite spot!
There is complimentary tea and coffee available outside of The Loft from 6:00am to 10:00am. One morning, I decided to bring the coffee back to my room and enjoy it on the balcony:
The grounds and landscaping of the resort are gorgeous and immaculate:
Montage Laguna Beach is adjacent to Treasure Island Beach, which is maintained by both the hotel and the City of Laguna Beach. This entire area is spectacular with beautiful plants, foilage, and trees and amazing cove beaches:
Note that although Laguna Beach is an artist’s community with lots of great restaurants and shops, it can be difficult to get a Lyft or Uber driver to come to the hotel. Be sure to pre-arrange for transportation or talk to the Concierge team for assistance.
Montage Laguna Beach lived up to its five-star reputation, with an outstanding location, gorgeous rooms with amazing views, stellar facilities, top-notch service, and delicious food. I highly recommend this hotel and am now obsessed with Montage Hotels & Resorts!
Ready for your own luxurious retreat? If you book your Montage stay through me, I can offer you complimentary VIP amenities, such as a resort credit, daily breakfast, early check-in/late check-out, and a room upgrade (subject to availability). Contact me today to start planning your next luxury vacation!