Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, California
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel premiered as the first luxury beach resort along coastal Orange County. Today, the Dana Point resort boasts a newly re-imagined vibe, services and spaces, yet still occupies its perch atop 150 foot bluff featuring cascading views of the Pacific Ocean. The hotel is the premiere destination for travelers who desire a playful approach to Southern California luxury. Located half way between Los Angeles and San Diego, the surfside retreat awakens guests’ senses with its unique beach ocean-front setting and remarkable service heritage. Over the years, the resort has been the recipient of many awards, but is proud to boast its AAA Five Diamond status for the 28th consecutive year.
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3 reviews for Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, California
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Ciaran Blumenfeld (verified owner) –
Perfect Mother/Daughter Getaway
Life is so fast paced, kids grow up too fast. We decided to stay at the Ritz for a mother daughter weekend. I traveled to the hotel with my 12 and 15 year old daughters and planned a relaxing time together – no schedule, no agenda, just together time. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner, followed by sunset and strawberries on our balcony. We ordered a movie and room service snacks and painted our nails. We slept in the next morning, grabbed coffee and snacks in the cafe and took a long walk on the beach, followed by a fine flop in lounge chairs poolside. All of us turned off our phones for the bulk of the trip and really enjoyed each other’s company. Yes it was a splurge but it was a worthwhile one. For a change I did not have to be the harried mom, rushing here and there, and they did not have to hurry up, clean up, catch up or really do anything other than relax. We all did a fine job of that and the Ritz made it perfect!
Tips for Families
Use the beach valet to ferry all of your stuff to the beach. Grab a seat on the patio before sunset and watch the show! You can often see dolphins and whales from the hotel. Bring binoculars!
Jennifer Miner (verified owner) –
The Ritz comes through again; this luxury hotel is great for high-end family travel.
We’ve all heard of Ritz-Carlton, and this hotel is a terrific example of how the brand manages to create opulence and luxury without alienating families with little children. Everything is top-rated here, but of especially of note at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Laguna Niguel in Dana Point is that it’s one of the Ritz hotels that got rid of its “Ritz Kidz” children’s clubs (read: glorified day care)and replaced with with a branch of Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment. The Ambassadors of the Environment program here provides hands-on education regarding local sea life, flora and fauna in appropriate and interesting ways for kids of all ages. My children went on a walking tour of the gardens with a botanist, and went on a whale watch with an affiliated tour guide. They saw lots of dolphins up close, and a giant great blue whale as it slowly swam near the catamaran. If you take your family to the Ritz-Carlton here, be sure to sign your kids up for at least a 1/2 day with Ambassadors of the Environment. They’ll love it.
Tips for Families
Be sure to request a room with an ocean view. The “garden” views get shady pretty early in the afternoon. Also, this hotel is not literally on the beach, it’s up a palisade so there’s a few minute’s walk to get to the actual shoreline.
Kristi Marcelle (verified owner) –
Best Ocean Views in Orange County
Situated between two local beaches it’s the ultimate Southern California beach vacation. This is a wonderful beach to stroll, boogie board and surf. It’s also the local hangout for high school kids in the summer. The beach butler will shuttle you down to the beach and set up chairs, towels and water. There are also walking trails that go far into the canyon behind the hotel and are stroller friendly. Rooms are traditional, some have unbelievable ocean views and at sunset there is no better spot on the coast to be as the sun sets over Catalina Islands and the surfers below with the occasional flock of pelicans flying by – it’s gorgeous here. The views 180blu patio bar is date-night perfect and the floor to ceiling windows at Raya are a close second. The sit-down brunch at Raya is pricey but worth it. I can’t recommend the eco-adventure programs enough. My kids did a night time beach exploration and learned how to find little critters hiding in the ends of the kelp bulbs and they dissected an owl pellet – they were very excited and the staff is extremely knowledgeable. There are also complimentary activities scattered around: ping-pong, little playground, tennis and tours of the garden.
Tips for Families
+The Club Level can be a great value for families. Full breakfast and light lunch and dinner plus snacks all day can more than pay for the upgrade. The club is stocked with board games, a crazy amount of candy jars and a concierge that will help with anything. There is also a selection of alcohol for adults. +In summer the free Laguna Beach trolley stops here. +There is a lot candy scattered around the resort which can be challenging with kids. +If you’re staying during summer the dog Yappy Hours are a don’t-miss only-in-Orange-County thing to see