Sun, Suites & Serious FOMO: The Ultimate OC Staycation Guide
Orange County offers 27 standout staycation properties that eliminate the need for air travel. The county delivers cliffside bluffs, world-famous surf breaks, a thriving arts scene and restaurants that rival any major city. This makes it one of Southern California’s most spectacular destinations to simply stay put. Whether you want five-diamond pampering, a barefoot-on-the-sand bohemian crash, a Disney-adjacent luxury sleep or a historic cottage straight from 1935, this coast delivers. We’ve rounded up 27 of the best staycation spots across the county, from Anaheim’s theme park energy to Dana Point’s sailor-chic harbor charm. So you can unplug, unwind and arrive home restored (and mildly obsessed with checking availability again). Come with an open suitcase and leave with a full heart.
Anaheim & Costa Mesa
1. Magic Kingdom Dreams with a Midcentury Twist
The Anaheim Hotel is the rare property that has Disneyland proximity and actual personality at the same time. Spread across nine lush acres of manicured gardens, this mid-century gem sits directly across from the Disneyland Resort. Translation: the fireworks are your nightly entertainment. The real draw is the largest outdoor pool in the Anaheim Resort District, complete with a jacuzzi and poolside vibes. Golf lovers get a kick out of the Topgolf Swing Suite, the first golf and sports simulator to hit the entire Anaheim resort area. With 306 rooms across nine garden acres, it’s ideal for families, couples and anyone who believes a theme park trip should involve at least one poolside cocktail.
The Anaheim Hotel
1700 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.772.5900
2. Arts & Elegance at South Coast Plaza
The only AAA Four Diamond property in all of Costa Mesa, Avenue of the Arts makes you feel cultured just by checking in. It’s steps from Segerstrom Center for the Arts and a short stroll from South Coast Plaza. The arts-inspired design is everywhere, from the music-themed rooms to the serene lakeside setting. Rooms are spacious, modern and dripping in personality, with most offering private terraces that overlook the Avenue of the Arts fountain and lake. The on-site restaurant, The Silver Trumpet, serves California cuisine with sustainable ingredients from breakfast through dinner, while the glowing onyx bar and outdoor patio fire pits are reason enough to linger past dessert. The hotel offers a complimentary airport shuttle to John Wayne Airport, a heated outdoor pool and a hot tub. Plus, it’s one of the few Orange County hotels that makes no-car-needed a reality for culture-seekers.
Avenue of the Arts
3350 Avenue of the Arts
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.751.5100
3. Disneyland-Adjacent, Rooftop Views Included
JW Marriott Anaheim Resort sits within walking distance of Disneyland Resort and Anaheim GardenWalk. The property features a rooftop bar with nightly Disneyland fireworks views, an on-site JW Garden producing fresh herbs for cocktails and cuisine. Plus, the yoga and Zen studio, fitness center and heated outdoor pool make lazy mornings compete with a day at the parks. Rooms are spacious, modern and stocked with everything you need to reset before round two at the Magic Kingdom, or skip it and just enjoy being this comfortable.
JW Marriott Anaheim Resort
1775 S Clementine St
Anaheim, CA 92802
714.294.7800
Huntington Beach
4. Balinese Bliss Steps from the Pier
Paséa Hotel & Spa knows exactly what it is: the pinnacle of Huntington Beach cool, wrapped in Balinese-inspired wellness and a rooftop bar that was made for Instagram. This 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Recommended property is the only hotel in Huntington Beach to receive that designation. Most rooms and suites come with at least partial ocean views and private balconies ideal for watching the sun sink into the Pacific. Aarna Spa is an immersive retreat offering treatments, wellness classes by Alo Moves, steam rooms and sauna access. Lōrea restaurant brings California-coastal cuisine and craft cocktails with ocean views from nearly every seat, while Treehouse on PCH serves up rooftop sunset magic. The Paw-Séa dog park, complimentary beach cruisers, chairs, umbrellas and complimentary beach butler service round out a resort experience that earns every superlative thrown at it.
Paséa Hotel & Spa
21080 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
855.622.2472
5. Splash-Worthy Oceanfront with a Hilton Address
Some resorts dabble in amenities. The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, simply does “more is more” as a personal mission statement. Two sparkling pools (including one with waterslides for families), a rooftop lounge on the ninth floor (OC’s highest coastal rooftop) and the iconic Cabo Wabo Beach Club all compete for your attention. The Drift a Waterfront Spa invites you to indulge in HydraFacials and signature treatments, while Henry’s Coastal Cuisine serves up California coastal fare that warrants a second reservation before your first is over. The resort fee covers a full beach kit: wagon, chairs, umbrella, refillable water bottles and resort activities. Beach days are already handled. Less than a five-minute walk from the sand, steps from Pacific City shopping and close to the Huntington Beach Pier, this is low-effort luxury done right.
The Waterfront Beach Resort
21100 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.845.8000
6. Surf City’s Most Beloved Beach House
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort is exactly what a Surf City hotel should be. It’s spirited, effortlessly cool and packed with perks that make every hour feel like golden hour. Located directly across from the famous Huntington Beach Pier, this boutique Kimpton property leans into Southern California’s endless-summer ethos. The complimentary amenity list reads like a beach lover’s dream: boogie boards, beach chairs, towels, umbrellas and nightly fireside s’mores kits. The fitness center features a 40-foot-wide rock-climbing wall, a Peloton bike and a full yoga studio. Every room has an in-room record player and a curated vinyl library, because some things just sound better on a turntable. Pacific Hideaway restaurant delivers Latin American and Asian-influenced cuisine, and with firepits lit on the patio each night, there’s truly no better place to end a day in Surf City.
Kimpton Shorebreak Huntington Beach Resort
500 Pacific Coast Hwy
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714.861.4470
Newport Beach & Newport Coast
7. The Ultimate Cape Cod Escape (On the Pacific)
Lido House, Autograph Collection is the kind of place Newport Beach locals pretend is too touristy, then book for their anniversary. Built on the site of the former Newport Beach City Hall, this Cape Cod-meets-California boutique hotel sits at the nexus of marina, beach and town. There are five custom-designed three-story cottages, named after local islands and styled by local design firms. The only rooftop bar in Newport Beach, Topside, is reason alone to make the reservation. A pool with private cabanas, Boost Spa and The Mayor’s Table restaurant (serving excellent seafood for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch) make it nearly impossible to leave the property. The hotel is also one of the first in the US to blend and bottle its own champagne in partnership with Piper-Heidsieck. Arrive for the views. Stay for the bubbles.
Lido House, Autograph Collection
3300 Newport Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.524.8500
8. Sophistication at Play, Newport-Style
The AAA Four Diamond Award didn’t come easy for VEA Newport Beach. It took a rooftop poolscape that goes from serene to celebratory as the afternoon unfolds, Frette robes, Nespresso machines in every room and a spa commanding 14,000 square feet. SPA VEA handles everything from massages to yoga and saltwater pool access, while the resort’s prime Newport Beach location keeps Fashion Island, Newport’s golden sands and Balboa Island all in easy reach. The Edge Bar’s restaurant design won a Gold Magellan Award. And the Spyglass Suite took another for penthouse design, meaning the Instagram content here is on another level. Suite options range from 600-plus square feet to the expansive Cosmopolitan Retreat, a multi-bedroom layout with a full kitchen. This is the resort you stay at when you want to feel like you own Newport Beach for a weekend.
VEA Newport Beach
900 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.640.4000
9. Italy Came to Newport (and Brought the Golf)
Spread across 504 coastal acres in Newport Coast, The Resort at Pelican Hill, a Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond property, is a Palladian fantasy. Expect Italian-inspired architecture, the iconic circular Coliseum Pool (one of the largest circular pools in the world), 36 championship golf holes by Tom Fazio and a five-star spa. Plus, villa accommodations with private garages, gourmet kitchens and limestone fireplaces. The bungalow guest rooms each have private terraces, while the villas offer two-to-four-bedroom options wrapped in hand-hewn wood beam ceilings and marble baths. Pelican Grill & Bar delivers coastal cuisine with views to match. An afternoon here feels like a private membership to a club that doesn’t need to advertise. Book it for a milestone birthday, an anniversary or any occasion that deserves the ceremony.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
22701 Pelican Hill Rd South
Newport Coast, CA 92657
888.507.6427
10. Fashion Island’s Most Stylish Address
Above the Newport coastline in a soaring 20-story tower near Fashion Island, Pendry Newport Beach delivers 295 rooms and suites, including 114 suites designed by Studio Munge. Spa Pendry is the only hotel MediSpa in Newport Beach, offering everything from massages to aesthetic treatments in a space that rewards lingering. SET Steak & Sushi brings premium Wagyu and flawless sashimi to the dining lineup, while Bar Pendry is the spot for a beautifully constructed cocktail. The Paintbox children’s program keeps younger guests engaged with all-day activities, and the pet policy is generous ($150 per animal). Two pool areas, a 24/7 fitness center with Peloton bikes and a concierge who can arrange ground transportation make it perfect for a family retreat, romantic getaway or solo splurge.
Pendry Newport Beach
690 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.688.8001
11. The Boardwalk’s Best-Kept Boutique Secret
Newport Beach Hotel, a Four Sisters Inn, is the oceanfront boutique the rest of Newport Beach has been trying to replicate. With just 20 rooms, all on the second floor with no elevator (pack light), this charmer sits right on the boardwalk steps from the Newport Pier. The vibe is intimate bed-and-breakfast meets stylish coastal escape. A complimentary continental breakfast, in-lobby wine and beer selection, free beach towels, chairs, umbrellas, bikes and sand toys make packing simple. The location, rated 9.7 out of 10 for couples by booking aggregators, speaks for itself. You wake up to the Pacific, walk to the pier, cycle the boardwalk and return to a room that makes you feel like a local with very good taste. It’s the anti-resort resort, and honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed.
Newport Beach Hotel
2306 W Oceanfront
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.673.7030
12. Time Travel to 1935, Surf Included
The 24 restored cottages at Crystal Cove Cottages offer something no luxury hotel can replicate: time travel. Built between 1920 and 1940 within Crystal Cove State Park’s National Historic District, some cottages sit directly on the beachfront while others perch on the bluff with spectacular coastline views. Individual cottages and dorm-style private rooms range from the cozy “Soda Shack” (the park’s original 1935 snack shack) to larger multi-room units sleeping up to nine. Amenities are intentionally minimal (no TVs, no daily service), but the Beachcomber Café is steps away, and the tidepools, hiking trails and 3.2 miles of pristine shoreline are your entertainment lineup. Book six months ahead. They sell out within minutes of release on the first of each month.
Crystal Cove Beach Cottages
35 Crystal Cove
Newport Coast, CA 92657
949.497.2096
13. Newport’s Only Waterfront AAA Four Diamond Resort
Newport Beach has no shortage of beautiful hotels, but only one sits on the bay with a marina full of multi-million-dollar yachts. Balboa Bay Resort is the only Forbes Four Star, AAA Four Diamond waterfront resort in Newport Beach. All spacious guestrooms and suites (each over 500 square feet) feature balconies, many with sweeping marina views and nautical sophistication. A+O Restaurant | Bar delivers waterfront dining with sunset views that compete with anything on the California coast. A poolside bar, fire pit, Drybar salon, full-service spa with nine treatment rooms and water sport rentals round out the property. Balboa Island, the Balboa Ferry and Fashion Island are all minutes away, which means you have a reason to leave (you just won’t want to).
Balboa Bay Resort
1221 W Coast Hwy
Newport Beach, CA 92663
949.645.5000
Laguna Beach
14. The Cliffside Crown Jewel
When people dream about a California luxury resort, they think of Montage Laguna Beach. Perched on 30 acres of coastal bluff above the Pacific, this craftsman-inspired masterpiece houses 262 guest rooms, suites and villas, all with ocean views. There’s also a museum-quality art collection, three signature restaurants (including Studio Mediterranean, one of the finest in Orange County) and a 20,000-square-foot oceanfront Spa Montage. The pool decks offer sweeping views, the Mosaic Bar & Grille has a beachside fire pit and the Lobby Lounge hosts live music on weekends. Every detail is calibrated for a guest who expects the exceptional and gets it. A four-minute walk leads to Treasure Island Beach. A stay here doesn’t just relax you. It recalibrates your baseline for what a good hotel should be.
Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.715.6000
15. Where Surf Culture Meets Soulful Hospitality
For proof that eco-conscious hospitality and coastal vibes aren’t mutually exclusive, look no further than Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels. Sitting directly above the Thalia Street surf break (considered one of the best in Laguna Beach), this 41-room boutique offers beach access, oceanfront firepits, an outdoor pool and hot tub and the signature Peaceful Rooms designed for deep, restorative sleep. Each Peaceful Room comes TV-free, with calming sound machines, pillow mist sprays and an Avocado Green mattress as standard. Beach attendants set up chairs, umbrellas and towels from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and the lodge’s sister property SCP Seven4One is just a short walk away for guests who want an outdoor atrium to round out the evening. The Every Stay Does Good program means every reservation supports coastline restoration and youth mental health initiatives. Environmentally conscious and beautiful, it’s a rare combination that Laguna pulls off.
Laguna Surf Lodge
825 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.403.8328
16. A 1930s Charmer with a Modern Soul
SCP Seven4One is the boutique the industry trends toward but rarely achieves. This 12-room retreat dates to the 1930s and has been reimagined with a mindful, sustainable ethos. The open-air atrium with its green living wall, fire feature and cozy seating is where the day starts over morning coffee. And the rooftop deck is where it ends over sunset cocktails. No TVs, calming sound machines and a curated selection of beer, wine and cocktails add up to a genuine slow-down experience. Guests access the oceanfront pool, hot tub and beach amenities at sister property Laguna Surf Lodge steps away. For those wanting something intimate, unpretentious and deeply restorative (without sacrificing a walkable location near galleries, boutiques, and the best restaurants in town) this one is a fit. Plus: it’s pet-friendly, and Laguna Beach’s free trolley stops right outside.
SCP Seven4One
741 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.494.6200
17. Vinyl, Binoculars & Shaw’s Cove at Your Door
Hotel Joaquin is the ultimate boutique experience for guests who believe the details matter most. This adults-only 22-room property sits steps from Shaw’s Cove, a residential beach coveted by locals for its tidal pools and clear water. Every room comes with Italian linens, Salt & Stone bath amenities, a minibar and a record player with curated vinyl. Complimentary coffee service and a decadent breakfast are delivered each morning. And binoculars are in the room for ocean watching. The Adventure Outpost supplies bicycles, bodyboards and beach games at no charge. Saline Bar serves ocean-inspired cocktails for sunset enjoyment, while the heated pool offers one of the better viewpoints in Laguna Beach. It’s an 18+ property that treats adulthood like an art form.
Hotel Joaquin
985 N Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.494.5294
18. Mallorcan Dreams on a California Cliff
After a $15 million renovation in summer 2024, Casa Loma Beach Hotel is having a full second act, and it is absolutely worth the attention. With 70 luxurious, entirely reimagined rooms, this oceanfront boutique draws inspiration from a laidback Mallorcan sensibility blended with California coastal vitality. The rooftop Pacific Terrace delivers panoramic Pacific views alongside drinks and light plates from Cecilia’s, while the heated outdoor pool with loungers and cabanas, a daily wine reception and fresh-baked cookies give it the warm, personal feel of a beloved inn with the amenities of a true resort. Heisler Park sits opposite the hotel, downtown Laguna Beach’s galleries and restaurants are a short stroll away and the Laguna Beach free trolley stops nearby. It is the comeback story of Orange County hospitality, and the rooms book up accordingly.
Casa Loma Beach Hotel
211 N Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.497.9722
19. Lush Hillside Hideaway with Old-World Charm
On a lushly landscaped hillside, Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa is a 23-room boutique with origins in the early 20th century that has evolved into one of Laguna Beach’s most atmospheric escapes. Rare Catalina tiles, original pressed-block architecture, tropical gardens, an outdoor pool and spa services make the grounds feel removed from time. The lounge and café serve a complimentary European-style continental breakfast each morning, while Mediterranean-inspired small plates and Spanish and Italian-influenced bites are available from midday through early evening for guests to enjoy poolside, in-room or picnic-style at nearby Victoria Beach. All food is made in-house with fresh, local ingredients. This is not a maximalist resort. It’s an intimate, thoughtful retreat that happens to be within walking distance of Victoria Beach and a short drive from Main Beach. Come for the serenity, and leave reluctantly.
Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa
2510 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949.494.2996
20. California Ranch Life With Five Stars
The Ranch at Laguna Beach is what happens when an 87-acre canyon decides to become one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 100 Hotels in the World. Just moments from the Pacific, the Ranch’s 97 cottage-inspired rooms and suites have an intentional understated quality. Think farmhouse-chic with canyon views and sustainability built in. Harvest Restaurant serves modern California coastal cuisine with ingredients sourced from the property’s own biodynamic farm and local purveyors. A nine-hole golf course, Sycamore Spa by Hudson, a heated saline pool, farm-to-table dining and free bikes round out the experience. Aliso Beach is a 350-yard walk, and the lodge fire pits were made for long conversations over local wine. Plus, Condé Nast Traveler readers voted it one of the top resorts in California in 2025.
The Ranch at Laguna Beach
31106 Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
888.316.0959
21. Tide-Line Luxury
A Laguna institution since it first opened in 1948, Surf & Sand Laguna Beach remains one of the most compelling oceanfront stays in Southern California following its recent top-to-bottom renovation. Built almost at the tide line along 500 feet of private beachfront, all 165 rooms feature private balcony views of the Pacific. Splashes Restaurant, terraced directly above the breaking waves, is widely considered one of California’s most scenic dining rooms. Aquaterra Spa delivers marine-based wellness treatments with ocean-inspired therapies and, appropriately, the sound of surf in the background. Beach chair and umbrella service available, and the property’s design (described as a “sun-washed Mediterranean village”) adds visual warmth to the already spectacular location. Couples rate the experience 9.9 for the location.
Surf & Sand Laguna Beach
1555 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
888.579.8544
Dana Point
22. Bluff-Top Harbor Views, Old-School Romance
Blue Lantern Inn is Dana Point’s finest example of boutique hospitality with real heart. Perched on a bluff above Dana Point Harbor, this 29-room Four Sisters Inn property offers a level of personalized service the big resorts simply can’t replicate. Every room has a jetted spa tub and a working fireplace, an extraordinary combination for the OC coast. A complimentary chef-prepared breakfast each morning and an afternoon wine reception anchor the days, while the stone terrace overlooking the harbor offers incredible views. The inn is a short walk from downtown Dana Point’s restaurants and bars and a quick drive to Salt Creek Beach, the Ritz-Carlton and Doheny State Beach. It is old-school, intimate and exactly what a romantic coastal getaway should feel like.
Blue Lantern Inn
34343 Blue Lantern St
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.661.1304
23. Dana Point’s Most Talked-About New Opening
Capistrano Coast House is the rebrand story Orange County’s hospitality scene needed. It opened in May 2026 under Avalon Hospitality Group on a site that’s been a beloved coastal retreat since the 1930s. This Mediterranean-inspired boutique in Capistrano Beach blends history with a fresh, design-forward approach. Panoramic ocean views from every room, al fresco dining patios and a bed-and-breakfast mentality set it apart from the corporate coastal resorts. Complimentary beach towels, welcome snacks and a continental breakfast round out a property that the hotel’s management notes is “deeply connected to the coast.” With Capistrano Beach, Doheny State Beach and Dana Point Harbor minutes away, it’s an ideal base for exploring the area. New energy, vintage soul.
Capistrano Coast House
34862 Pacific Coast Hwy
Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
949.545.9283
24. Five Diamonds Above Salt Creek Beach
Few properties have defined Orange County coastal luxury as consistently as The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. The recently redesigned rooms, inspired by the soulful charm of Southern California and the elegance of Spanish architecture, only elevated the conversation. Perched atop a 150-foot seaside bluff halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, this Dana Point resort delivers the full Five Diamond experience. Think beach butler service with personal transportation to Salt Creek, 12 spa treatment rooms, Pacific-facing dining and eco-adventures for guests who want to explore beyond the bluff. The Club Level adds five daily culinary presentations and a private lounge with sweeping ocean views. Ten newly redesigned two-bedroom suites bring the most refined iteration of Ritz-Carlton service to this storied address.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
One Ritz-Carlton Dr
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.240.2000
25. OC’s Premier Five-Diamond Beach Club
Five years in, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club has done nothing but refine its version of Southern California’s laid-back luxury. Located on 175 acres of tropical gardens atop a 150-foot bluff, this AAA Five-Diamond retreat features a private beach club: the exclusive Monarch Bay Beach Club. Plus, there are three pools with infinity-edge whirlpools, the spectacular Waldorf Astoria Spa and the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed Monarch Beach Golf Links. Bourbon Steak Orange County by Michael Mina anchors the culinary lineup, and the property’s ocean-view restaurants and bars mean there’s always an excuse to dress for dinner. All 400 guest rooms and suites have private terraces or patios. The beach tram is a delight, and the whole experience maintains the elegance the Waldorf brand does better than almost anyone.
Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club
1 Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.234.3200
26. Cliffside Views, Harbor Proximity, Poolside Paradise
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa earns its spot on this list with sheer spectacular placement. It sits on the cliffs of Dana Point with awe-inspiring panoramic Pacific views, steps from Dana Point Harbor and Doheny State Beach. It features two heated outdoor pools (including a splash zone for younger guests), two ocean-view pool decks, Lantern’s Edge restaurant, a full-service spa and 378 rooms, many with private balconies. These details give the resort the comfortable scale of a luxury destination with the personality of its dramatic coastal setting. The Camp Cliffs kids day camp makes it family-friendly, while the spa, signature restaurant, and putting green keep adults occupied. Condé Nast Traveler named it one of the Top 20 Resorts in Southern California.
Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa
25135 Park Lantern
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.661.5000
San Juan Capistrano
27. History, Haciendas & the Mission Next Door
There are hotels that could exist anywhere. Then, there’s Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Autograph Collection, a property that could only exist in one place. Located adjacent to the 240-year-old Mission San Juan Capistrano, this resort was built across four acres to honor three distinct periods of Spanish architecture. The result is an intimate 125-room retreat with outdoor patios overlooking the ruins of the Great Stone Church. Ysidora Restaurant & Lounge serves comfort food infused with Spanish flavors, and the Café at the Mission delivers specialty La Colombe coffee and house-made salads. The resort’s complimentary all-electric Moke shuttles guests to the historic Los Rios District. Fireside patio rooms come with private fire pits, curated snacks and sparkling wine. Midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s a geographically effortless escape.
Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano
26907 Old Mission Rd
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
949.503.5700
Before You Check Out
While you’re planning your OC staycation, consider building a day around Dana Point Harbor, with waterfront dining, sunset harbor cruises, whale watching and paddleboarding scenes that are worth an afternoon. If you’re staying in Laguna Beach between late June and August, the Sawdust Art Festival is one of the most beloved Southern California summer traditions. 180-plus local artists sell original work in a charming outdoor setting that captures the creative spirit Laguna Beach is known for.
And if your idea of the perfect staycation involves mineral pools and red clay mud, head inland to Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Temescal Valley. It’s a wellness sanctuary that’s been sending people home feeling measurably better for more than 160 years. The legendary Club Mud (California’s only therapeutic red clay mineral bath) and pools make it a full-day ritual worth building your itinerary around. Between the cliffs, the galleries, the salt air and the healing waters, Orange County is exactly where you want to be.
Q&A
Q: What is the best area of Orange County for a luxury staycation?
A: Dana Point and Laguna Beach offer the highest concentration of luxury properties in Orange County. Dana Point is home to the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, two of OC’s finest Five Diamond resorts with direct beach access. Laguna Beach offers a broader range from ultra-luxury (Montage Laguna Beach) to boutique (Hotel Joaquin, Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa), all within a walkable, arts-rich coastal town.
Q: What are the most romantic hotels in Orange County?
A: Blue Lantern Inn (Dana Point) consistently tops romantic getaway lists for its fireplace and jetted tub rooms and harbor views. Hotel Joaquin (Laguna Beach) earns high marks for its intimate scale and record player-in-every-room charm. Casa Laguna Hotel & Spa and Surf & Sand Laguna Beach are equally beloved for couples, while Lido House in Newport Beach offers rooftop cocktails and custom champagne that makes any occasion feel special.
Q: Are there budget-friendly staycation options in Orange County?
A: Crystal Cove Beach Cottages in Newport Coast offer historic beachfront stays at some of the most affordable oceanfront rates in SoCal. SCP Seven4One and Laguna Surf Lodge by SCP Hotels in Laguna Beach also offer more accessible price points than the major resorts, while delivering thoughtful hospitality and excellent locations.
Q: Which Orange County hotels are best for families?
A: The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, and Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach are both designed with families in mind. They have dual pools, waterslides, beach butler service and pet-friendly policies. JW Marriott Anaheim Resort offers Disneyland proximity plus a full children’s program. The Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa has the Camp Cliffs day camp, a splash deck and family-friendly pools. The Anaheim Hotel’s large pool and Topgolf Swing Suites keep all ages occupied.
Q: What is the best spa resort in Orange County?
A: The Resort at Pelican Hill (Newport Coast) holds a Forbes Five-Star spa designation, while the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Spa features steam rooms, saunas and immersive therapies. Montage Laguna Beach’s 20,000-square-foot Spa Montage is oceanfront and extraordinary. For a day-spa-only experience, Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Temescal Valley has operated for more than 160 years and remains one of the most celebrated mineral spa experiences on the West Coast.
