Today I want to share with you the how-to’s of a great romantic getaway weekend at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, California. Now, there’re certainly no shortage of luxury hotels along the coast of Southern California; the sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, along with warm sunny weather that’s practically a guarantee, make this prime real estate for the luxury travel market. The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort is a stand out, though. It’s one of the two best luxury hotels in the Dana Point area (the other being the adjacent Ritz-Carlton hotel). The St Regis Monarch Beach Resort’s sheer extravagance cannot be overstated. This top-of-the-line Starwood property pampers its guests from start to finish. And, as I discovered recently, it makes a great resort for a weekend romantic getaway.
There’s nothing subtle about the luxury at this resort. The St. Regis Monarch Beach is finely appointed with attention to detail, and the staff is both friendly and attentive (while remaining completely professional). Don’t look for casual “chillaxing” guests in beat-up old jeans, either. It seems that even people who prefer to dress down take “resort casual” seriously here. This is pretty unusual for Southern California, by the way; remember that this is the part of the country where the rich and famous wear jeans to swanky Michelin-starred restaurants. The St Regis Monarch Beach Resort, in Dana Point, is definitely upper crust, yet the friendly atmosphere encouraged by the smiling staff and relaxed, happy guests ensure that it’s still a comfortable place to stay.
The St Regis Monarch Beach Resort is built on a palisade, thus, the sweeping views of the California coast and Pacific Ocean are impressive — but there is no direct, easy beach access. Walking from the guest rooms, past the pools, past the golf course and under a little overpass to get to the beach may be off-putting to some. It’s a large property, after all! Because of this, the St Regis supplies free shuttle service to and from the beach, beach club dining and to and from the golf course restaurant. It’s about a five minute ride. We used the shuttle and were happy with it, however, it’s important to keep in mind that there are other hotels near Laguna Beach that are actual beachfront properties.
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