Nestled along the coast of Dana Point, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach is equal parts sophisticated, approachable, and intimate, with a personality that celebrates the playful coastal lifestyle of Southern California. The distinctive property is nestled hillside and offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, coastal paths leading to seaside bluffs; 400 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, and access to the private Monarch Bay Beach Club. Luxurious amenities abound, including the oceanfront Monarch Beach Golf Links; the immersive experience at Waldorf Astoria Spa; and sparkling swimming pools with infinity-edge whirlpools. Seven exquisite dining concepts adorn the resort, celebrating seasonal cuisine and sustainable practices; ranging from casual grab-and-go stops to the elevated Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina. From the sparkling Pacific Ocean to unique points of interest, including the charming surf town of Dana Point and historic San Juan Capistrano, everything you need for a quintessential California experience is at your fingertips.
Amenities
Golf
Bar
Fitness Centre/Gym
Internet Access
Restaurant
Room Service
Spa
Swimming Pool
Where is it
Located in Dana Point, 1 mile away from Salt Creek Beach. Transfer time to Los Angeles International Airport is 1 hr
Hotel information
All rooms have air conditioning, tv, coffee/tea maker, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, alarm clock, WiFi, safe, bathrobes and slippers. Garden View Rooms with Balcony have a private balcony, desk and sitting area. With 1 king-size bed or 2 queen beds, sleeping maximum 3 adults or 4 adults.
Resort View Rooms with Balcony have a private balcony with resort views, sitting area and shower with separate bathtub. With 2 queen beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.
Pool View Rooms with Balcony have a private terrace with pool views, sitting area and shower with separate bathtub. With 2 queen beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.
Premium Pool View Two Queen Beds Rooms with Balcony have a private terrace with pool views, sitting area and shower with separate bathtub. With 2 queen beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.
Deluxe Studios with Balcony have a garden view and a sitting area. With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Ocean View Studios with Balcony have a sitting area, shower with separate bathtub and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Executive One Bedroom Suites have a private balcony, living room with sofa bed. With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Monarch Suites have a roll-in shower, private terrace, living room and sofa bed/ With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Signature One Bedroom Suites have 2 balconies, 2 spa inspired bathroom, with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Ocean View One Bedroom Suites have a private terrace, 2 bathrooms, living room area and sofa bed. With 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Grand One Bedroom Suites with Balcony have 2 private terraces, 2 bathrooms, a living room area and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 3 adults.
Ocean Grand Penthouse One Bedroom Suite has a private balcony, living/dining room area, 2 spa inspired bathrooms and 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.
Complimentary parking for day use with validation. $35 fee for day use without validation ($10 with validation, payable locally, subject to change). $70 fee per night for overnight guests (payable locally, subject to change).
AVEO Table & Bar (Latin American cuisine), Bourbon Steak (Steakhouse), Club 19 (American fare), Sombra (poolside cantina), 33 North (cocktails and light fare), Part & Parcel Market (market fresh food, picnic baskets and gelato bar), Monarch Bay Beach Club
3 swimming pools. Fitness centre. Spa*. Golf.
Complimentary WiFi is available in all public areas and rooms. Room service*. Pet friendly. Concierge service.
This resort has a mandatory daily resort fee of $63 (payable locally, subject to change).
Please note: Resort fees include Signature group fitness classes, Digital access to over 3,000 newspaper & magazine publications worldwide, Woodie tram to the exclusive Monarch Bay Beach Club Tram rides to Salt Creek Beach Beach, host service with towels, chairs & umbrellas, Beach games & activities, Athletic Club available 24 hours a day, Laundering of work-out gear Includes: 2 shirts, 2 pairs of pants and/or shorts, 1 sports bra and 1 pair of socks daily per room, Anticipated 24-hour turnaround, House bikes with self-guided local tours on a first-come basis, Discounted green fees, savings on Flex Set rentals, & preferred tee times at Monarch Beach Golf Links, In-room coffee & tea, Two bottles of water per day, refreshed at turndown, Overnight shoeshine, Local & toll-free calls, 24-hour business kiosk with free boarding pass printing
*Denotes local charge.
Based on 4157 reviews
Rating summary
Location
Sleep Quality
Rooms
Service
Value
Cleanliness
Traveller rating
Excellent (2937)
Very good (611)
Average (284)
Poor (179)
Terrible (146)
Beautiful resort, 5 star prices
Dec 1, 2024WanderlustGitaState College, Pennsylvania
The resort is beautiful and well maintained. The rooms were comfortable with a lot of attention to detail. The bathrooms were spacious and nice, and I really liked the shampoo and conditioner, The service was mostly good, though when we arrived there was no one at the front desk for at least 5 minutes, and another quest was already waiting. …
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The resort is beautiful and well maintained. The rooms were comfortable with a lot of attention to detail. The bathrooms were spacious and nice, and I really liked the shampoo and conditioner, The service was mostly good, though when we arrived there was no one at the front desk for at least 5 minutes, and another quest was already waiting. Housekeeping was thorough and responsive. As others have mentioned, the food is very expensive, as is any other service offered, so be prepared to pay a lot. The part and parcel cafe was the best place to get coffee, and the sandwiches were not bad. I loved all of the trails walking down to the beach and around Dana point. The whole area is very nice and well maintained. It is quite a way to the beach from the hotel, so that is not very convenient. The pool was nice, but it was too cold when we were there to really enjoy, so we only used the hot tubs.
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Duplicate charge not reversed
Nov 30, 2024wooannee
We had overall a nice time at this property, but I had a bad experience at the end. The property itself is beautiful and in a lovely location.Our toddlers loved riding the beach tram. Food was pretty good although pricey which is to be expected for a WA. The staff was very friendly and upgraded us to a fireplace terrace room as Diamond members…
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We had overall a nice time at this property, but I had a bad experience at the end. The property itself is beautiful and in a lovely location.Our toddlers loved riding the beach tram. Food was pretty good although pricey which is to be expected for a WA. The staff was very friendly and upgraded us to a fireplace terrace room as Diamond members which was very nice.
However, upon checking out, they charged me for the final night’s parking twice (at $70/night). They said because I used a Hilton free night certificate I couldn’t consolidate that night’s reservation with the rest of my stay, which is fine. On our last day we ate at one of the restaurants and charged to the room so there was about $114 charged to my room that last night including the $70 parking fee. The morning I checked out they charged another $70 which would be a duplicate parking charge.
When I returned home, I called their guest services desk and mentioned the extra charge asking them to reverse it. They said the extra charge would drop off within 10 business days of checking out. Two weeks after I had checked out I called back twice to follow up, leaving a voice message about my case and no one contacted me. I was forced to dispute the charge on my credit card to get the $70 back. I did not expect this lack of service from a WA and I would expect a much higher level of customer care from this brand. It was a disappointing way to end the trip and now I am leery about staying at another WA.
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Perfection except for the food
Nov 30, 2024fabfindsfabfinds
I cannot say enough good things. What a pleasant surprise this hotel was! It is really beautiful in a slightly more modern way. Public spaces are all wonderful and accessible. Rooms are large, spacious and were spotless. Having stayed in the Ritz several times (never ever again it is filthy) and Montage a few times (nice but rooms starting to feel…
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I cannot say enough good things. What a pleasant surprise this hotel was! It is really beautiful in a slightly more modern way. Public spaces are all wonderful and accessible. Rooms are large, spacious and were spotless. Having stayed in the Ritz several times (never ever again it is filthy) and Montage a few times (nice but rooms starting to feel tired) this is our new hotel when we go to Orange County. We have family there so are there a few times a year. Unfortunately, it fell very short in the restaurant experience. Aveo was a colossal disappointment and super overpriced. A glass of cakewalk wine $32.00!!
Breakfast is overpriced a buffet *nice but nothing out of this world was nearly 80.00 a person. It was most certainly not an 80.00 per person buffet. That aside, everything else was wonderful, great pool, beautiful spa..just hope they revamp their Aveo, with a better menu, higher quality food that warrants the price tag- will revisit for sure!
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Nice resort
Nov 10, 2024caitlinabelAlhambra, California
I redeemed my annual Hilton FNA for a standard king at WA Monarch Beach this past wknd. I was lucky to prepay $200 back in June using my Jan-Jun Amex Aspire credit (I guess they stopped allowing this). I will use my Jul-Dec $200 credit for this stay. A few days before arrival, I was proactively upgraded to a one bedroom suite. Day before arrival,…
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I redeemed my annual Hilton FNA for a standard king at WA Monarch Beach this past wknd. I was lucky to prepay $200 back in June using my Jan-Jun Amex Aspire credit (I guess they stopped allowing this). I will use my Jul-Dec $200 credit for this stay. A few days before arrival, I was proactively upgraded to a one bedroom suite. Day before arrival, I was upgraded to a fireside resort view. I didn’t mind the smaller room since it was just my husband and I, celebrating our wedding anniversary. The patio fire pit was actually more special, in my opinion. It was a sold out night due to a holiday wknd and also a wedding. Cash price is typically $1000+.
We arrived around 3pm and our room (118) was ready. There was a lovely amenity dessert waiting for us in the room. We dropped off our belongings and headed to the spa for our 4pm appts. Sadly, the outdoor jacuzzi at the spa pool was not heated, boo. So hubby and I went back to our lounges to relax. Massages were ok, nothing spectacular.
I texted the hotel to ask about the Diamond F&B benefit but no response. I went to front desk to ask after dinner. It’s $50 daily. We used it at Part and Parcel, their on-site cafe. Our phone wasn’t working in the room, neither was our Nespresso machine. Had to call front desk from my own phone. I asked about a late check out, they offered 1PM. After all the issues, they honored a 2PM late check out. We would consider returning but the $70 valet parking seems extreme.
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A picturesque setting with plentiful amenities!
Nov 6, 2024Lauren WSan Diego, California
Major highlights:
-Rooms renovated recently and are very well appointed and very comfortable.
-Love the turndown service and nice 5 star touches that have not all returned to the same caliber after the pandemic, but here, they do it very well.
-pool area and pool bar/restaurant service was fantastic
-walking trails, running maps and tram to the…
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Major highlights:
-Rooms renovated recently and are very well appointed and very comfortable.
-Love the turndown service and nice 5 star touches that have not all returned to the same caliber after the pandemic, but here, they do it very well.
-pool area and pool bar/restaurant service was fantastic
-walking trails, running maps and tram to the beach!
-lobby area is perfect for working from the hotel. Lots of seating, outlets, and a very comfortable environment.
So-so:
-They seem to charge an auto porterage/housekeeping tip which we were not notified about. Didn't love this.
-Restaurant food was average for the standard 5 star price point.
-Had to call to request housekeeping service the second day of our stay. The positive was the room attendant was a delight and came quickly and was very prompt after.
Luxury comes with a high price tag and high expectations. Overall, a very enjoyable stay.
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Beautiful resort, 5 star prices
