When thinking about Laguna Beach in Southern California you probably think of pristine beaches, an artistic community, fantastic restaurants, and beachfront hotels. There are many beautiful places to stay and recently I chose to experience The Montage Resort.

A few years ago, I had a spa day at The Montage and dreamed of returning, this time spending the night in order to have a full experience. I have stayed at the Beverly Hills Montage on a few occasions and loved it, so my expectations were high.

The Montage is known for their excellent service and magnificent accommodations and I was eager to enjoy forty-eight hours of Always5Star luxury.

I booked our room using my American Express Platinum Card with the Finer Hotel and Resorts program. To learn more about this benefit:

Always5Star Tips on how to use the American Express Finer Hotel Benefit

We (my sister-in-law and myself) wanted to kick off our rest and relaxation weekend with treatments at the spa. What better way to let go of stress than utilizing the spa and facilities? This is my favorite way to unwind at a lavish hotel.

Upon check-in, I was met with a frustrating experience which, as you know, happens to the most seasoned traveler. There was a mix up with my reservation through the American Express Finer Hotels Program and the Montage.

I made a reservation for a King Room with Partial Ocean View, Breakfast, upgraded to the next level with a $100 spa credit and 4pm check out. What I received was a Standard Room without the amenities promised by the American Express Platinum Card program.

When I showed my confirmation email for the upgraded room, the front desk was unwilling to help. They instructed me to call American Express to fix the issue, which I did. In my experience, luxury hotels are typically very obliging and helpful whenever a problem arises but this time, the staff did not assist me.

After over an hour, it was determined that the reservation had been mishandled and the front desk staff offered to upgrade to the Villa’s Ocean Front room… at a discounted extra charge.

At this point, I was exhausted and knew the view would be exceptional, so I opted to pay the extra for the premiere room. Thankfully, the room met my expectations as it did offer a breathtaking view, but I was still reeling with frustration over how the whole reservation had been handled.

Our check-in delay cut into the spa time I had planned, and I couldn’t help but think that if they had sent us to the spa while they resolved the reservation issue, this would have made up for the inconvenience on my end.

The fact this was not offered points to poor service and not what I would ever expect from a five-star property like The Montage Hotels.

There were positive elements to our stay though, and I want to focus on those in case you’d like to stay here.

5StarTips🌟:

🌟 Views and Proximity to the Beach

This hotel is located on a coastal bluff, high above the Pacific Ocean and made up of thirty acres of direct ocean access across from the hotel.

Since the hotel is on a bluff, the ocean views are picture perfect.

You can access the beach with walkways and stairs to the sand.

Make arrangements with the concierge if you wish to have lounge chairs and towels to bring to the beach.

Access is available for all, but the climb back is steep.

There are 250 guestrooms, some offer expansive views of the ocean.

The centerpiece of this resort is both the gorgeous lobby as well as the Mosaic designed pool.

Depending on traffic, it’s only a 10-20-minute drive from the hotel to the vibrant downtown art community.

My Room:

The beautiful ocean view was the highlight of the room! The décor, though pretty and beach inspired, needed an update. I was told the hotel is being renovated and should be complete in 2019.

The room was standard sized and to me, seemed overpriced for what was offered.

The linens were clean and top quality.

In the bathroom, there was a lovely oversized tub with marble trim, counter space and a few drawers.

5StarTip🌟:

As with most five-star luxury resorts there are resort and valet fees that you need to consider adding to your stay when you are booking.

At this publication, the resort fee was $84.00.

Spa Facility

I would not hesitate to come back and enjoy the spa facilities and a treatment. This time, I elected to enjoy a Swedish massage which helped relieve the stress I felt in my shoulders and back.

The spa facility is 20,000 square feet. Here you will find eucalyptus steam rooms, dry redwood saunas, ocean air whirlpools, fireplace lounges, a state of the art fitness center, plus a movement studio and lap pool featuring stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. If you book a treatment, make sure to allow enough time to enjoy all of these options.

🌟 Check to see if there are any complimentary fitness center classes. During my stay, there was yoga offered each morning.

🌟 Look at the forecast and book a day when the weather is clear so that you can enjoy the California sunshine and relax outside by the spa pool. Be sure to order a glass of champagne or your favorite beverage.

The pool-side lounge chairs are situated at a glass fence, so you can take in the views. There is something very calming about watching the waves roll in. This really enhances the spa experience!

Food service is available at the pool and it’s a beautiful setting for lunch or a snack. I like to have a treatment, then sit outside and have a bite to eat with champagne while admiring the beauty of the beach and open blue sky.

Here are more features that make the Montage Spa an Always5Star experience:

• Indoor and Outdoor treatment rooms
• Signature couple’s suite
• Outdoor lap pool
• Mind / Body Movement Studio complete with floor-to-ceiling open-air windows offering panoramic views of the ocean
• An expansive fitness room with state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment outfitted with individual media and music centers; Life Fitness strength training and free weight area
• Separate men’s and women’s luxurious lounges complete with
• Relaxation room with fireplace
• Marble steam room
• Sauna
• Outdoor cold plunge and whirlpool
• Large marble and tile showers
• Custom bath amenities

Address: 30801 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Phone: (866) 271-6953

The Lobby Lounge

Sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean greet you upon your arrival. Floor to ceiling windows frame the Pacific Ocean perfectly. The luxury furnishings invite you to order a cocktail and sit while admiring the beauty of the resort.

Dining

Studio is a luxury French restaurant that features modern French cuisine with a California twist. Situated with views of the ocean, Studio is a fine dining experience.

Beautifully constructed dishes include fruits and vegetables from southern California along with other seasonal products.

I did not experience a meal here but hope to come back and try it. Nothing goes with French cuisine like a delicious glass of champagne!

The Loft Bistro is a relaxed, beachy restaurant that features a six-foot wood-burning rotisserie and cheese gallery which includes over 50 cheese selections from both regional and international cheese makers.

Enjoy poolside dining at Mosaic Bar and Grille. Here, resort guests can order salads, grilled sandwiches or fresh daily seafood. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I ate here twice during my stay and liked it.

Final Thoughts:

When I looked for a luxury stay in Southern California, there were several places to consider.

Because I had a wonderful overnight stay at the Beverly Hills Montage, I quickly decided on The Montage in Laguna Beach.

What I learned is that each property is different and that an exceptional staff in a five-star hotel is essential to an Always5Star experience.

The Montage in Laguna Beach has a lot of excellent virtues (location, views, spa), but an improvement on service/staff and updates to the property itself would bring this hotel to another level.

This resort has enormous potential to be magnificent. I did see improvements being made on the property while I was there and am hopeful that the management will work towards creating a flawless experience for all guests.

When someone stays at a luxury hotel, the expectation is that guests will not have a single worry or concern due to attention to detail from a top-notch staff. A discerning guest will pay top dollar, but also expects to get a return on the investment in the form of an impeccable experience.

I am grateful that it all worked out because I booked our room with my American Express Platinum Card with the Finer Hotel and Resorts program. In the end it was American Express that solved the issue for me. I would highly recommend booking through them. To learn more about this benefit:

5StarTip🌟: Tips on how to use the American Express Platinum Card Fine Hotels & Resorts Benefit

Note: I was not compensated for this post. My opinions are entirely my own and are based on my experiences which I paid for entirely myself.

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