Southern California Weekend Staycation: Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

We celebrated our anniversary over the weekend and didn’t want to take time off or travel too far—plus my husband had a Hilton free night, so we chose the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach near Dana Point for a one-night stay! 💑🎉 Even though we ran into some rare cloudy and rainy weather, the overall experience was still lovely. 🅿️ Parking: The hotel only offers valet parking ($70 💸), so after some research, we parked on a hillside outside and walked over. Turns out, lots of people had the same idea! 🚗💨 🏠 Room: We booked an ocean view room, but with the overcast skies, the view wasn’t much to see. Also, it was quite a walk from the lobby (which is on the 5th floor!). The room itself was nice—decorated with light colors and lots of artwork, giving it a modern and fresh vibe. Toiletries were from Aesop, and they smelled amazing! 🧴🌿 We also came back to find a sweet anniversary dessert waiting for us—such a thoughtful touch! 🍰❤️ 🏖️ Private Beach: You need to take the hotel tram to get there—just head left outside the lobby. Trams run every 10–15 minutes. The beach is shared with local residents, but it was quiet and not crowded—perfect for lying back and relaxing. 🌊☀️ 🍽️ Dining: Dinner at the seaside restaurant was great—the fried calamari was delicious and came with fried lemon slices, which was a fun twist! 🦑🍋 We were too full for dessert, but they surprised us with a complimentary “Happy Anniversary” treat—so sweet! Breakfast is served at AVEO—it’s à la carte, and everyone tries to snag a table outside for the view. 🍳🌅 💆♀️ Activities: If you’re up for it, book a spa treatment—it looks super relaxing, but we skipped it due to the high price. Instead, we hit the gym—well-equipped with free weights and machines. You can also sign up for group classes like cardio, Pilates, etc. I joined a balance ball Pilates class! 🧘♀️⚽ They also have tennis courts and golf available. 🏊 Pool: There are several pools, including heated ones. We didn’t swim this time but enjoyed lounging on the chairs for a bit. ☺️ 🧥 Tip: Bring a jacket! It gets super windy and chilly by the water—I was freezing! 🥶💨 Have you had a staycation that turned out surprisingly relaxing? Or any favorite anniversary trip spots? Share your recommendations below! 👇💕 #SouthernCalifornia #OC #Getaway #WaldorfAstoria #Hilton #MountainAndOceanView #DestinationHotel #DanaPoint #LuxuryStay #AnniversaryTrip #BeachVibes #StaycationGoals