Laguna Beach offers just two five-star hotels, but a third makes its home in nearby Newport Beach. These luxury resorts offer breathtaking views and well-appointed amenities. If your idea of a vacation is to stay in the lap of ocean-side California luxury, then one of these resorts could be your destination. Although two out of three of these resorts have their own golf courses, there are many other courses around the Laguna Beach area, including The Talega Golf Club, Aliso Viejo Country Club Golf Course and Tijeras Creek Golf Club.
The Resort at Pelican Hill
The Resort at Pelican Hill is a member of Leading Hotels of the World. It boasts two 18-hole ocean-side golf courses sitting on 400 acres, Ocean North and Ocean South, designed by Tom Fazio. While you will find stunning views of the Pacific Ocean--from every hole--on one side of you, you will also find Irvine Ranch Land Reserve on your other side. This means you will have breathtaking views from every angle. As of November 2009, resort prices ranged from $495 per night for a Garden View king or double queen to $2,700 per night for a four- bedroom villa.
If your game is not as good as you would like it to be, you can use this opportunity to be taught by one of Golf Magazine America's top 100 instructors. The Pelican Hill Golf Academy is headed by Glenn Deck. One-day lessons with Deck ranged from $200 for a 45-minute lesson to $750 for 3.5 hours in November 2009.
After you work up an appetite with Deck, head to Andrea for an Italian fine dining experience or indulge in seafood or steak with your choice of more than 30 wines at the Pelican Grill.
The Resort at Pelican Grill
22701 Pelican Hill Road S.
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 467-6800
pelicanhill.com
The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort
The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort is a AAA five-diamond award hotel situated on the Pacific Ocean. This location is perfect for enjoying the resort's oceanfront golf course. You can take in breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean while you test your skills on the Monarch Beach Golf Links. This championship, par-70 course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and offers unyielding fairways that will challenge your game. Prices at this resort as of November 2009 ranged from $425 per night for a garden view room with one king or two queen beds to $1,250 per night for a St. Regis suites with one king bed and a full sleeper sofa.
St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort
1 Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 234-3201
stregismb.com
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Rates for the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel ranged from $425 per night for a garden view room with one king or two queen beds to $2,000 per night for a Ritz-Carlton one-bedroom ocean-view suite with club lounge access as of November 2009. Although the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel does not offer its own fairway, it is close to some of Southern California's best golf courses.
The Talega Golf Club is just eight miles away; Aliso Viejo Country Club Golf Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is just 15 miles from the Ritz; and
Tijeras Creek Golf Club, designed by Ted Robinson, is 20 miles away.
Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
1 Ritz-Carlton Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 240-2000
ritzcarlton.com
