The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel
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Pool
In House Restaurant
Air Conditioning
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3 Reviews for The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
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'10, '11, '12
1 family found this helpful
"Beachfront luxury for families "
As an Orange County resident and frequent visitor to gorgeous Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, I have always admired the stunning Ritz Carlton resort sitting up on the bluff and wondered what it might look like inside. I was quite excited when the Oceanfront invited me and my family to stay at the Ritz Carlton to experience Dana Point from the tourist’s point of view.
When we arrived at the resort it was all dressed up for Christmas with multiple Christmas trees and the most elaborate gingerbread/candy display I have ever seen. In true Orange County style the display took on a beach theme complete with swirling seas, a giant tall ship and adorable beach shacks. My kids were upset that they couldn’t snack on the amazing display! Another great touch of Orange County was the display of various artist designed surf boards which were being auctioned off for charity. The boards were each unique and truly works of art.
Rooms
My family stayed on the concierge level which was definitely a treat. One this level, guests have free reign at various food options which are served throughout the day as well as complimentary beverages, including alcohol. Being able to step outside our room and find a wide variety of delicious food was almost as exciting as Santa Claus for my kids! Mommy found cocktail time after a long day to be quite nice herself. It would be very easy to dine exclusively on the concierge level the entire time you stayed at the Ritz and be fed quite well.
Our room was a standard sized hotel room and truth be told, did not stand out compared to other luxury hotel rooms I have stayed in. The décor was simple and the bathroom was pretty standard. The beds were comfortable, the fridge was very useful (especially since it was not stocked with annoying minibar items), and the complimentary wireless internet was very much appreciated, however I did find it odd that there was no dresser in the room to store clothes. There was certainly nothing wrong with the room, but the ocean view was definitely the star.
Location
You know the old saying “location, location, location”, well the Ritz most definitely has that covered. Whether you are sitting on an Adirondack chair on the lawn overlooking the ocean; watching the waves from the outdoor patio at 180blu or the expansive picture windows at Raya, the resort’s signature restaurant; or have taken a complimentary ride down to the beach for a few hours of fun on the sand, it is hard not to be enchanted by the picture perfect surroundings. I am told the pool area is quite enchanting as well but unfortunately it was being redone during our stay. Honestly, with Salt Creek next door, I see little need for pool time. Salt Creek is a an incredible beach for families with huge grassy areas which are perfect for picnicking or throwing a football, a seasonal snack bar, beach volleyball courts, and waves perfect for surfing or skipping over. Orange County has several great beaches and this one is definitely one of the best.
Dining
During our stay at the Ritz we had the opportunity to dine at Raya, the resort’s all day dining establishment with incredible views of the Pacific. The children’s dinner menu features selections such as spaghetti, fajitas, beef tacos, fish, and chicken strips (of course!). My fish loving daughter gobbled down her salmon while her carnivorous brother ate his taco. We enjoyed a ceviche sampler for an appetizer and found the tastes to be quite refreshing. My kids were not fans of the plantain chips that it was served with but we all definitely enjoyed the yucca. For dinner I dined on ancho-pistachio crusted ahi tuna which was perfectly seared and was accompanied by a divine crab stuffed squash blossom. I even managed to find room for a side of wild mushrooms which make me salivate just thinking about them!
If your family is looking for a sweet treat or you need a great cup of coffee, the Marketplace is the place to visit. Every single dessert in their glass display case looked like it was too pretty to eat but to delicious to pass up!
Ambassadors of the Environment
One of the Ritz’s signature offerings is the Ambassadors of the Environment program, designed in part by Jean-Michel Cousteau. Expert naturalists can take children and families on 15 different excursions including whale watching, organic cooking classes, snorkeling in kelp beds, and wave-based adventures. My family didn’t have the opportunity to enjoy this program but I have heard that kids have so much fun during these programs that they don’t even realize they are educational!
Bottomline: The oceanfront location and stunning grounds of the Ritz certainly do not disappoint!
To find out more about luxury experiences in coastal Orange County, check out the destination resource The Oceanfront http://www.theoceanfrontca.com/
Disclosure: My family received on complimentary night stay at the Ritz as well as dinner at Raya in order to complete this review for Trekaroo. All opinions are my own.
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0 families found this helpful
"Amazing!"
It's the Ritz so what else would you expect? The stay was perfect. We had a room overlooking the ocean and the room was very nice. The staff was very helpful and kind. Rooms were very clean. Salt Creek beach is right next door which is great for the kids.
0 families found this helpful
"Beautiful view of the surf..."
This is a luxury hotel on a bluff overlooking the pacific ocean. Classic artwork and furnishings, marble bathrooms, understated elegance. A good hotel for families with kids. The food is great and there is an outdoor pool for summers. They will shuttle you down to the beach (about a mile walk, and pretty steep) in a golf cart if you wish. There is a park where the kids can roam free next to the hotel and the beach.
Location.
This Dana Point beachfront hotel is located near Mission San Juan
Capistrano.
Features.
Dining options at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel include a
restaurant and a bar/lounge. Room service is available 24 hours a
day. Recreational amenities include an outdoor pool, a health club,
and a spa tub. There is a full service health spa on site. This 5.0
star property has a business center and offers secretarial services
and audio visual equipment. Wireless Internet access is available
in public areas. This Dana Point property has event space
consisting of banquet facilities and conference rooms. Concierge
services, translation services, and tour assistance are available.
Additional property amenities include a poolside bar, valet
parking, and barbecue grills.
Guestrooms.
There are 396 guestrooms at The Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel.
Guestrooms have balconies. Beds come with premium bedding.
Bathrooms feature makeup/shaving mirrors, designer toiletries,
bathrobes, and scales. In addition to CD players, guestrooms offer
multi line phones with voice mail. 42 inch plasma televisions have
DVD players and pay movies. Air conditioned rooms also include
desks, complimentary bottled water, irons/ironing boards, and clock
radios. Guests may request hypo allergenic bedding, extra
towels/bedding, and wake up calls. A nightly turndown service and
housekeeping are available. Cribs (infant beds) and rollaway beds
are available on request. Guestrooms are all non smoking.
Check-In: 4 PM
Check-Out: Noon
Number of Rooms: 396
Number of Suites: 0
Pets: yes
Recreational Facilities:
Pool
Fitness Facility
Services:
In house Restaurant
In house Bar
Room Service
High Speed Internet
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