Blaire's 5 Best - Southern California

I had the absolute pleasure of visiting So Cal for a family long weekend getaway but of course had to make the rounds at the amazing properties in the area. There are 5 Virtuoso properties spanning from Dana Point to Newport Beach, and 1 new property added in the mix - all of which BPK Travel will be able to offer its clients exclusive, additional amenities!! I visited each resort while enjoying the perfect California sunshine! Here are the 5 things I liked best about Each

Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel

My first stop on my Tour-De-SoCal was at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is located in Dana Point, and it did not disappoint! The beach front views were insane and the service was amazing. Here are the 5 things I liked best about this property:

Its Proximity to the Ocean. The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel is positioned perfectly to the coast line. This property is truly ocean front... you can hear the waves, smell the ocean air and have your feet in the sand in the matter of minutes.
It's Pet Friendly. And pet friendly is an understatement! At the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, they will even place a dog bowl in your room and have monthly happy hours meant for you and your furry friend(s). If I was traveling with my pooch, this is definitely where I'd stay!
Its Gym. For all you workout enthusiasts, the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel has the best gym. With panoramic views of the ocean and even a chandelier, your workouts will definitely be prolonged because you'll probably spend more time than budgeted looking at the beautiful Pacific Ocean!
Its Bars. The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel has two bars with the most amazing views. 180Blu is incredible if you want an outdoor experience. I can't even tell you what it feels like to be on that balcony... perfection. Bar Raya is the spot if you want the most magnificent views of the sunset!
Its Anirondack Chairs. Ok this is probably a weird bullet point, BUT the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel has tons of anirondack chairs lining the property with beautiful views of the coast line. These chairs are actually able to receive food and drinks via room service... this is absolutely perfect if you want to catch the sunshine but lay low and not be at a bar or a restaurant (but still want a cocktail and a snack!). It was so smart and a great way to allow guests to continue enjoying the property!

Monarch Beach Resort

The Monarch Beach Resort is also located in Dana Point and was my second stop. I fell in love with the property the second I drove up! Seriously so stunning, fresh, buzzing and just cool! Here are the 5 things I like best:

Its Décor. Out of all the resorts I toured, I felt the Monarch Beach Resort had the freshest and coolest décor. The common areas are stunning, the rooms were light and airy - it definitely mastered the luxurious beachy feel!
Its Beach Club. All of the beaches in Southern California are public, but the Monarch Beach Resort is the only resort with a private beach club. The Monarch Beach Resort has cute little golf carts to take you to and from the beach (you could also walk!), and once you arrive, you know you will be taken care of!
Its Spa. The Monarch Beach Resort is home to the Miraval Spa which is the only spa of its kind outside of the original resort in Arizona. The spa was huge - so many treatment rooms and lots of options of workout classes. This is so perfect for any of you spa lovers!!
Its Pools. The Monarch Beach Resort has three pools: one for adults, one for children and one for the spa. The adults pool is super buzzing with tons of people enjoying the gorggg Cali weather! With great views of the water and the golf course, this is a perfect alternative to the beach.
Its Golf Course. The Monarch Beach Resort really has something for everyone... its golf course is located between the resort and the ocean and provides a great activity for people who need a little action or don't want to only bask in the sun.

Montage Laguna Beach

As I made my way North along the PCH, I couldn't visit the OC without a stop at the Montage Laguna Beach! This iconic resort definitely did not disappoint. Here are the 5 things I liked best about this property:

The Location. Laguna Beach has to be one of the cutest - if not cutest beach towns in America, and the Montage is perfectly located to the town center. The Montage has a courtesy car that will take its guests anywhere in Laguna Beach. This is perfect for any traveler who wants to experience the town in which they're staying.
The Pool. The Montage Laguna Beach has one of the most iconic and photographed pools in the OC. Not only was the Mosaic Pool insanely beautiful, it was so buzzing. Lots of hotel guests were there to enjoy the sunshine and views!
Its Restaurants. I had the absolute pleasure of enjoying lunch at the Montage Laguna Beach, and the food was amazing. I dined at the Mosaic Bar and Grill which is a great spot to enjoy the resort. One restaurant that is suuuuper special is Studio. This is the Montage's fine dining resort and is disconnected from the property with the most stunning views of the ocean.
It's Family Friendly. The Montage properties do such a great job of making sure their resorts are extremely family friendly and each has a great kids club called Paintbox. Not only do these programs give the parents some much needed alone time, they also are extremely admired by the kids. I met some of the Paintbox employees, and their enthusiasm and creativity were contagious!
Its Spa. The Montage Laguna Beach has a beautiful spa that you can tell is loved by the guests. When I took my tour, the spa was definitely one of the hot spots! Lots of guests were enjoying the workout areas and treatments, and the Montage Laguna Beach prided itself on offering the best services for its guests!

The Resort at Pelican Hill

The Resort at Pelican Hill is located in Newport Beach which is about 15-20 minutes North of Laguna. This huge property spans over 500 acres with tons of different areas to enjoy! Here are the 5 things I liked best about The Resort at Pelican Hill:

Its Room Option. The Resort at Pelican Hill has something for everyone. Whether its a getaway for you and your significant other, they have bungalows. If it's a family vacation, there are 2-4 bedroom villas, all complete with a kitchen and in what seems like a little community. You could even get creative and book connecting bungalows or multiple villas next to each other for a multi-gen trip. Lots of accommodations to choose from!
Its Golf Course. The Resort at Pelican Hill has the best two golf courses in the OC. You can see the golf courses from the main lobby of the hotel, and they are absolutely beautiful. If golf is your #1 most important feature of a resort, this is your place!
Its Room Décor. I liked the décor of the guest rooms at The Resort at Pelican Hill the best. A take on Tuscan décor, the rooms were huge and coastal yet cozy. I thought they were all beautiful!
Its Butler Service. The Resort at Pelican Hill is very spread out, but it has Mercedes SUVs that will take its guests around the property. It's very convenient if you don't want to walk, and there are plenty of these cars so you don't have to wait for a long time!
Its Villa Clubhouse. If you choose to book a stay at a villa at the Resort at Pelican Hill, you get exclusive access to the Villa Clubhouse. This is like a resort within a resort. Here, there's a restaurant, a bar and a pool. It's beautiful!

Island Hotel

The Island Hotel is located in Newport Beach and is a different type of Virtuoso property. Once a Four Seasons property and definitely a more metropolitan hotel, my stay at the Island Hotel was great! Here are the 5 things I liked best about this property:

Its Proximity to Fashion Island. Fashion Island is THE SPOT to shop in the OC. With every store you could imagine, it's perfect for any fashionista, and the Island Hotel is almost touching Fashion Island!
Its Number of Suites. There are so many suites in the Island Hotel that are huge and decorated coastal yet comfortable. I had the pleasure of staying in a suite and had more space that I knew what to do with! :)
Its Market Place. The Island Hotel has a mini grocery store for snacks and drinks that is surprisingly super well priced. This is great for any traveler who wishes to fuel up before a long day of shopping !
Its Pool. Even though this hotel is more geared to a traveler who wishes to explore his or her surroundings, the pool is luxurious and comfy. With chaise lounges and cabanas, this is the perfect place for some R&R after you shop til you drop.
Its Club Level. For only $50 extra a day, you can gain access to the club level which is a great meeting spot for some drinks, snacks and even a pillow menu ! This is a huge value add for clients wanting a little extra during their stay.

The Ranch at Laguna Beach

My family and I had the pleasure of staying at The Ranch at Laguna Beach over the weekend and absolutely loved it. This property just opened in December and is a part of the National Geographic Unique Lodges in the World! Here are the 5 things I liked best about this property:

Its Valley Views. The Ranch at Laguna Beach is located in the middle of the valley, and the views were absolutely beautiful. When the sun reflected off the hillside, it made the greenery light up in a golden color and was just breathtaking. What was also so cool is that though you are in the middle of the valley, it's only a 10 minute walk to the beach!
Its Main Restaurant. Harvest is the main restaurant at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, and not only was the food amazing, the décor was sooo cute. This is the perfect place to enjoy breakfast al fresco or to have a cocktail while watching golfers tee off.
Its Patio. The Ranch at Laguna Beach has live music on the patio during the weekends, and it is quite the spot for guests to enjoy. With tons of seating, a bar and an option to play corn hole, it's such a special place to have a cocktail before you start your night!
Its Room Décor. The rooms at The Ranch at Laguna Beach are so cute. The décor is coastal and trendy and all locally sourced from a shop in Laguna Beach.
Its Golf Course. The Ranch at Laguna Beach has a 9 hole golf course that is meant for someone who wants to have fun and be immersed in nature. This golf course has exceptional valley views throughout and also offers many fun programs for junior golfers. This course is laid back and chill and perfect for any level of golfer to enjoy!