Southern California Vacation Guide: Laguna Beach Inn Hotel Review

The Laguna Beach Inn is a 23-room boutique hotel nestled along the Wood's Cove section of Laguna Beach, California. This Mediterranean-style hotel property boasts clean rooms, hardwood floors, partial ocean views from the sundeck and some of the rooms, as well as a refreshing, intimate pool area.

The hotel also offers free wireless internet in all rooms, outdoor BBQ areas, a good selection of TV channels and even complimentary use of off-site fitness facilities. The rooms themselves aren't huge, but they are comfortable, pretty and well-maintained. Nice touches such as marble vanities, spacious closets with luggage rack, good-sized mini-fridges, and hair dryers complete the 'at home' feel.

Keep reading for a detailed review illustrating why we're rating this property four out of four stars on our 'boutique hotel' scale. Four stars does not imply this is a 'four-star' property; however, depending on your definition of a perfect vacation, you may just feel like you're staying in one!

Laguna Beach Inn Hotel Review: Rates, Rooms and Current Promotions

Rates vary at the Laguna Beach Inn hotel, so check their web site here for the best current deals. Book your vacation over the phone, and specifically request the "LagunaBeach.com rate" when booking. (You will be sent e-mail confirmation for your records.)

Right now, rooms are being booked at the Laguna Beach Inn hotel at discounted, off-peak rates for as little as $98 for a king room through March 2011! That is an exceptional value for this property, which can charge as much as $200 a night for a two-bed room when tax is figured in during peak season.

Choose from king rooms, two full-size beds, jacuzzi rooms and even a two-bedroom, two-bath bungalow complete with a full, stainless steel-appointed kitchen. The two-story town-home suite offers a private patio, a fireplace and plenty of room to spread out, especially with the extra sleeper sofa in the living area.

Laguna Beach Inn Review: Beach Access, Check-In and Check-Out

Be aware that check-in is usually firm at around 3 p.m., and if you arrive early, your room may not be ready. Use that time to grab lunch, or stroll the beach. You can request a late check-out, and may be able to use your room up until 1 p.m. on the last day of your trip, which is very convenient for showering off after one last trip to the beach before heading home.

While the Laguna Beach Inn hotel property does not sit right on the beach, there is direct, free beach access to some of Laguna's most gorgeous spots right across the street. Be prepared to cross the rather busy Pacific Coast Highway to get there, and don't forget to use the crosswalks! Laguna Beach cops are notorious for handing out jay-walking tickets, and not just to generate city revenue; pedestrians have been struck and killed in the area. Use caution.

Once across the street, you can head down to the beach via the Wood's Cove beach access. Be aware there is a flight of stairs down to the sand, which is very common in Laguna as the streets sit quite a bit above sea level. While this makes for breath-taking views over the bluffs and from area rooftops, it can make it a challenge for the mobility-challenged to get down to the water.

Laguna Beach Inn Review: Tips, Highlights and Killer Freebies!

One of the best features of the Laguna Beach Inn is the behind-the-scenes hospitality. While staff mainly keeps to the small office at the front of the property, there is someone available to assist guests until roughly 11 p.m. each night. The Laguna Beach Inn staff members are happy to check out beach toys, beach towels and other ammenities to guests, as well as set up a nightly, complimentary wine and cheese hour in the hotel's small cafe.

The wine and cheese hour is very quiet and relaxing at the Laguna Beach Inn; once the staff sets up the wine and cheese and freshens up the apple baskets, they disappear unless summoned, allowing guests to quietly enjoy their down time. Besides the complimentary wine and nibbles, guests are also given a $20 breakfast credit at a nearby bistro.

The K'ya Bistro and Bar, located within a sister-hotel to the Laguna Beach Inn, offers plenty of delicious, simple breakfast items in a quaint, ocean-side setting. After breakfast, stroll up to the rooftop lounge for some amazing views and photo opportunities or down to the beach to watch the waves.

For the $20 K'ya credit, two guests can eat well on an assortment of bagels ($2), fresh fruit ($4), pancakes, specialty egg scrambles ($9), or a smoked salmon plate ($10). For the author's visit, two adults and two children ate to satisfaction and were left with a small bill for $2.13 for tax, plus tip.

Laguna Beach Inn Review: Bring The Kids...And Some Comfortable Shoes!

When visiting the beach with the kids, no need to pack or buy beach toys! Just another thoughtful, convenient touch at the Laguna Beach Inn, a slew of beach and pool toys are available for guests to use (the toys are located in a cabinet next to the pool). Either sign toys out at the front desk or utilize the honor system. Bottom line? Bring 'em back! Beach towels are also available at the office.

Another nice touch, but one to be aware of when travelling with small children, the fully-fenced pool actually has a deep end! This is a fun touch for adults and older kids, and the little ones will still have plenty of room for supervised splashing and swimming in the shallow end.

All in all, the Laguna Beach Inn is a lovely property at an affordable rate that should meet the needs of most travellers. Be prepared for a bit of noise from the roadway, and a lot of walking. In Laguna Beach, parking is at a premium, and parking tickets are expensive.

The Laguna Beach Inn hotel offers free on-site parking in a small lot. If you get a spot when you check in, your best bet is to leave your car where it is and travel by foot. While only a short walk to the beach, it's about six blocks to the K'ya Bistro in the morning. Though this may not be a simple stroll, it is doable, even with kids in tow.

The Laguna Beach Inn is located at 2020 S. Coast Hwy, in Laguna Beach, Calif. You can reach the property at (949) 494-5450 for more information and to make reservations.

Source:

Author Visit - August 2010: Personal Review
Laguna Beach Inn web site for current room rates