What To Really Expect
by A TripAdvisor Member
What to really expect:
The hotel is very beautiful, the views are stunning, the service and staff are great and the rooms were very comfortable and our bungalow was very quite. You expect to pay for a hotel that has gone to such great lengths to preserve the view and provide such luxury. This hotel has certainly made sure of that. It’s very expensive, more so than other resorts of the same caliber. All of this is fine if you know what to really expect. If you’re getting away for a quite romantic weekend, be prepared. Everything about the resort is geared toward being outside which means it is a popular destination for meetings, outdoor banquets, tours, weddings, children and generally lots of people sharing the same space. We were there two nights and there was one wedding, a luncheon, and an evening banquet all set up on the main grounds, overlooking the ocean. The hotel provides day care for worn out parents ($75 a day) and also uses the grounds and pool area to entertain lots of children. And this was OFF season. There is a lap pool and a beautiful spa, BUT, again, be prepared. The spa has the gall to charge guests $20 for using the lap pool as well as the spa facilities. I found this outrageous considering the hotel is billed as a resort and everything is already very expensive. If you’re getting a spa treatment, the spa automatically charges a 20 % tip to your bill. Don’t be bullied by them. Despite what you think, you do have an option to pay what you want. While the service poolside is very good, I found the food was average. A tuna salad that costs nearly $25 should be stellar. Not average. Order that same meal at dinner and the price jumps $17. All of this for a great view? You could always pack a picnic and go to the beach for free or just know what to really expect when staying at the Montage Resort.
A beautiful property with a luxury spa and lots of service!
by TripAdvisor Member traveljunkie-LA
My spouse and I just returned from a brief stay at the Montage Resort. We were impressed! We went in low season, but the resort was fully staffed - so many staff member in fact, it felt like they vastly outnumbered us guests. When booking, call the resort for special deals and offers, especially if you're going in low season.
The resort overlooks a spectacular ocean bluff, with access to a clean, quiet beach (with tide pools) in artsy Laguna Beach. Service was excellent all-around. Before our nightly turndown service, we tipped the housekeeper a bit more than usual, and in turn we received many extra bath supplies and towels! No "attitude" at all from the staff and management of Montage during our entire stay.
Our room was of the least expensive option (Ocean Horizon), but it was well-apportioned and clean. The bathroom had a relatively big bathtub and separate marble shower. A big corner sofa made it feels more cozy. The headboard of the bed was a bit creaky and noisy, though.....
The grounds are well-manicured, with swimming pools both for adults and children, and an outdoor jacuzzi. There are also various firepits on the property for nighttime gatherings and stargazing. The Lobby Bar features an entertainer at night, who is quite talented.
The headline restaurant at Montage, named Studio, was comparable to some of the better restaurants we have in L.A. The tasting menu was well-balanced and reasonably priced. The chef seems quite adept at working with seasonal delicacies (such as white truffles). To their credit, the restaurant staff STRICTLY enforce the dinner dress code - a refreshing departure from the usual O.C. laissez-faire. The Loft, Montage's more casual dining venue, was also good. Service there was professional and cordial. The Loft is a great place for breakfast, overlooking the Pacific and the coastline.
Montage boasts a very plush spa. However, the spa services (massages, wraps, etc.) are very expensive. For $20 daily, resort guests may obtain a spa pass to use the spa facilities. There is an open-air jacuzzi, with a warm waterfall. There are the usual dry and wet saunas, as well as an ice-cold dipping pool. The exercise facilities are well-equipped. The spa shop is quite extensive.
Overall, a nice (but expensive) spa and beach getaway destination. It is comparable to Bacara (a similar resort in Santa Barbara). Laguna Beach is a bit sleepy at night, but hey, that's part of the local charm!
We love it!
by A TripAdvisor Member
We stay often with my husband's firm and it is lovely. The beach is beautiful. The rooms are gorgeous - each w/ an ocean view. The spa is out of this world. Pool is fun and food is good. Overall, we've had wonderful service. Spa desk staff can be a little snobby, but therapists are excellent.
Oasis at the Montage
by A TripAdvisor Member
VERY pleasantly surprised. Having traveled extensively, I'm a bit of a cyncic when it comes to expectations. I've been disappointed more than a few times by what I've seen on the Internet and the reality. The Montage does have a beautiful website, so I was very surprised to discover that the place is even better in person. Yes, it is EXPENSIVE. We stayed in a 2-bedroom bungalow suite and it was one of the nicest rooms I've ever stayed in on 4 continents! Great views. Beautiful grounds. Deluxe spa. Service was impeccable (so I don't understand the negative reviews about such). Restaurants were excellent. Even room service food (usually a big source of disappointment) was delicious. I was quite skeptical when, upon arriving, I saw that the average age of the staff there seemed to hover around 17 but I was proven wrong again. Exceptional attention to detail. My family was always greeted by name. Little complimentary amenities poolside, such as passionfruit smoothies and sunglass cleaning to get those pesky sunscreen smears off the shades, do make a difference. It seems like the only thing the staff didn't do was feed me peeled grapes. To be sure, you do pay for it in the high price of the room, but the old adage is true: you get what you pay for. I've stayed at the nearby Ritz, which is very nice as well. However, if you prefer a smaller, low-key, yet equally luxurious hotel, the Montage is the best choice for that area.
stunning...but expensive
by TripAdvisor Member lstein
Stayed at the montage recently with my wife. The resort is really spectaular. The views up and down the Coast are beautiful. The rooms are quite luxurious and the service at the hotel is incredible. If you want a 5 star california retreat this is it. However, be warned, this resort is very, very expensive.
Photos
Pool at the Montage Resort
Laguna Beach in Back of the Montage Resort
Mosaics Cafe at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach
Forum Posts
TIDES INN
by susieQ50
Hi everyone
Has anybody staye at the Tides Inn or have any opinions about it please
Re: TIDES INN
by yvr
Gets good reviews from TripAdvisor which posts reviews of hotels etc. from past guests. I think I may have stayed there many many years ago.
Re: TIDES INN
by susieQ50
Thanks for your reply
we're coming from England next April for my 60th bday
our first trip to California
& looking at various options for accommodation
Sue
Re: TIDES INN
by orcoastgirl
Hi there, we love Laguna Beach and have enjoyed stays at The Montage, Laguna Reef, Casa Laguna Inn and the Hotel Laguna. Let me know if you have any specific questons about any of these hotels. www.lagunabeach.com is a nice website for this area. Have fun! :)
Re: TIDES INN
by susieQ50
thanks very much for your reply. i'm pretty sure the montage is out of my
budget. will def check out that website !!
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