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Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

Newport Beach & Laguna Beach • Dana Point • OVER THE TOP

avg. $918 / night

Includes $48 / night in cash back

Cash back is redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out

Hilton Honors™ property

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Cash back

5% cash back on all completed stays (redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out)

Credit card points

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Hotel loyalty points

Points accrual and status eligibility with major hotel loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and others

Free breakfast

Breakfast-included rate options available

Room upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades (subject to property availability)

Extend your stay

Early check-in and late check-out (subject to property availability)

Location

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At a glance

Spanish Colonial-inspired resort on a Dana Point bluff with a funicular-accessed beach club and renovated interiors in pale oak and ivory.

Best for: Coastal travelers seeking Spanish Colonial architecture

Highlights:

  • Mediterranean Revival bluff-top complex designed by WATG in 2001
  • Funicular-accessed beach club with floor-to-ceiling Pacific views
  • Bleached oak rooms with geometric wallcovering and light-stained wood panels
Coastal-Mediterraneanserene

PB hotel design editorial

Perched on a bluff above Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, where the coastal scrubland of Orange County gives way to a long arc of Pacific sand, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach was purpose-built in 2001 in a Mediterranean Revival idiom that draws its architectural grammar from Southern California's Spanish Colonial tradition — white stucco walls, terracotta-tiled rooflines, arched colonnades, and stepped terraces descending toward the ocean. The 400-room, four-story complex was designed by the WATG architecture firm, whose resort fluency is evident in how the massing is broken into residential-scaled wings rather than a single monolithic block, allowing the property to feel more like a hillside village than a convention hotel. A phased renovation has brought the interiors closer to the quieter register of contemporary California resort design: the guest rooms now favor bleached oak millwork, geometric wallcovering in pale ivory, and upholstered headboards framed against light-stained wood panels, the palette shifting between soft grey and warm sand depending on the room category. The beach club below, reached by funicular, anchors the property's most atmospheric spaces — a glass-walled restaurant with floor-to-ceiling views across the Pacific, brass branch-form chandeliers overhead, rattan and dark-walnut dining chairs arranged across sisal-toned carpet. Blue-and-white striped umbrellas grid the lawn terrace between the restaurant pavilion and the shoreline, completing a composition that feels less like a resort amenity and more like a private beach colony.

Travel notes

No travel notes provided yet.

About

Daily Mandatory Charge includes: Resort Charge with WiFi: fitness classes: beach towels, chairs & umbrellas: bike rentals: preferred green fees: beach games: tram to beach: tennis court access: laundering of workout gear: digital newspapers. Also includes CA Tourism & Tourism BID Assessments. Perched atop a seaside bluff on 175 acres in Dana Point, our Five Diamond-rated resort is the perfect blend of Southern California's laid-back luxury and iconic True Waldorf Service. This sophisticated beach-house retreat offers indulgence and inspiration, with a private beach club, three pools, oceanfront golf, luxury spa, unique coastal activities, California cuisine, and more. It's a place to celebrate our love affair with the sea and sand.

Amenities

Pool

Internet

Kids Activities

Beachfront

Suites

Room service

Free Internet

Wheelchair Access

Restaurant

Bar/Lounge

Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Reviews

4,225 reviews

"Came here this past weekend for a work/family retreat. Lovely grounds, very nice staff. Unfortunately, very bouncy bed. Every time my husband moved in his sleep, the bed also moved and felt like a bouncy trampoline. It was so bad, I almost left to go back home. I stayed, though, because that would've meant summoning my car from the valet and then driving 40 min to get home and 40 min to come back and get him and my kid (who was able to sleep) after his conference meetings. Didn't finally get to fall asleep until 4am, but guess what? Children started running up and down the halls screaming starting at 6 or 7am. I even heard a dad running with his kid, both yelling "AHHHHH!" as they ran down the hall. As I went down to breakfast later, I noticed a bunch of doors had "do not disturb" signs on them, you would think these screamers would've noticed people might still be sleeping in the morning and told their kids to bring their noise level down, but nope! Lots of rules if you bring your dog, which is understandable. Yet no rules regarding kids running around and screaming all morning long. Hmmm... imo, that takes away from the haute vibe of the resort. BTW, my daughter slept on the other bed, and somehow the mattress moved off the platform, so I am convinced the mattresses suck and don't have much substance to them. Speaking of breakfast, it was mediocre. Buffet brunch Saturday and buffet breakfast Sunday were just ok and the food was disappointingly not even warm. I got a stomach ache from the Saturday brunch and I'm pretty sure it has to do with the food being room temp. Dinner was better, but again some of it was room temp. Oh and room was mostly clean, but there were a couple things like a random cashew on the floor under the desk and hair on the toilet. For the kind of resort this is with a super strict/expensive pet policy, I would've expected it to be spotless. I was in room 425. If you check, that cashew might still be there! Overall, I think the highlight of this stay was how nice the staff is. All of them, front desk, valet, housekeeping, bartender. The rest of the stay was lacking in many ways."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 06, 2026

"We recently spent three nights for my son’s birthday and I want to thank you for making it a memorable stay. The service and hospitality that we received was way more than we expected. From the moment of our arrival, we were greeted by super friendly and helpful people and that continued for our entire stay from everyone. Just to mention a few who really stood out were Giselle, Matt, Julio, Eugenio and Skyler in the hotel section and Leo and Lyle in Bourbon Steak. Everyone was great and made my son’s birthday special and our family were blessed. Thank you to the entire staff."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 06, 2026

"Beautiful hotel with beautiful scenery. The look was amazing. Staff was definitely well trained. The pool area service was unreal. The grounds were amazing"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Apr 17, 2026

"Truly stunning property, I think it has very recently been refurbished. Top notch service, very family focused. Great pools and beautiful grounds, lovely beach. Only downside is the food is slightly expensive for what it is. Parking USD75 per night but can literally park a 5 mins walk for free."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Apr 15, 2026

"I have stayed at the Waldorf Astoria a handful of times, but this recent visit was truly special thanks to Sidre. From the moment I booked, Sidre ensured every detail was handled with the best customer service I have ever experienced. The entire staff is incredibly warm, lovely, and caring. The food is fantastic and the drinks are so fun that you honestly never have to leave the property. If you’re looking for a seamless, luxury getaway, this is it. Thank you, Sidre, for making this stay so amazing!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Apr 13, 2026

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Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach | Best Design-Driven Stays in Newport Beach & Laguna Beach