Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club in California

With COVID-19 nearing its first anniversary, it’s safe to say we are all beginning to miss a little bit of normalcy.

The positive part about the whole COVID-19 experience is the amount of quality time I have spent with my family. I love to do little staycations with my family. I usually keep it within a 2-hour drive or less from where we live.

One of the most recent staycations we did was the Waldorf Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. I used to live nearby the hotel as a kid. Back in the day, the hotel was called St. Regis. The hotel has managed to stay the same all these years.

As a kid, this was our go-to spot on Sundays. I have tried to keep those same traditions with my children. My family and I usually spend Easter here. They have the cutest Easter brunch setup. The food is incredible; they have everything from pasta, omelets, waffle, and pancake stations to dessert tables and bottomless mimosas. The ambiance is beautiful, and you can sit outside on the patio with a view of the ocean.

They do an Easter egg hunt down at the courtyard where the kids can get their faces painted, pictures with the bunny, pony rides, games, and more. The whole experience is a lot of fun for the kids. My daughter Noemi looks forward to it every year. This Hotel is a great place to visit with the whole family.

Here are some quick little tips and information about the Hotel below:

Where is it located?

Dana Point, California, is a city in Orange County, off the coast. It is near the water with many things to do in the area.

What activities do they have at the Hotel?

The pool area offers three jacuzzies, cabanas, and a bar where you can order food or drinks. The kid area has a water play area, super fun for the kids and younger children.

Private Beach: The beach is beautiful. The Hotel has a private beach with full service. They have a tram that will take you down to the beach, about a 5-minute ride. They offer a full-service setup to put together a private little area on the sand for you and your guest equipped with an umbrella, chair, towels, and even beach toys. You can request surfboards, paddleboards, etc., upon request. The beach has a restaurant and full-service bar. The beach is perfect for spending a day with family or splitting a part of the day at the pool.

The Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach California Hotel has a golf course overlooking the ocean and Hotel. It is one of the most beautiful golf courses I have seen in California.

What is there to do in the area?

Orange County is full of things to do. You can shop at nearby malls. The best malls to go to are the South Coast Plaza, about 26 miles away, or Fashion Island in Newport, about 14 miles away. There are a bunch of great places in the area to eat. You can drive down the coast and eat at restaurants along the water or stop at some popular mom-and-pop restaurants. 

RJ’s Café and Stakes Pancake House are two of my favorite places in the area to get breakfast; both are only about a 5-minute drive from the Hotel. 

A fun place to go is Pure Water Sports. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Hotel.

Downtown Disney is an area that has shops and places to eat. The drive from the Monarch Beach Waldorf Astoria Hotel there is about 30 minutes. If you are traveling with kids, Disneyland is not too far from the Waldorf Astoria Monarch hotel.

Below are some other hotels in Orange County where I love to stay:

• Ritz Carlton– Laguna Nigel, CA
• Pelican Hill Resort– Newport Beach, CA
• Montage Resort– Laguna Beach, CA 

If you have visited these places, feel free to share your experience with me!