Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach

This luxury resort offers exceptional amenities including a variety of fitness classes, bicycles and walking tours, complimentary for all guests. Additionally, a dedicated lap pool and jacuzzi are provided for spa guests. Another perk is very special: access to a dedicated restaurant on Monarch Beach with complimentary use of beach chairs/umbrellas & boogie boards. Access is restricted to guests and local members making it exclusive. To reach the Monarch Beach Club, board the mini tram bus in the front of the resort. Several trams operate during busy times so wait times are minimal. We appreciated how the mini trams are outfitted like wood-paneled station wagons popular during the rise of SoCal surf culture. Employees exceeded our high expectations for a Waldorf-Astoria property. Special thanks to the following: Russell at the front desk greeted us warmly, oriented us to the resort and found us a quiet room. Jonathan, also at the front desk, gladly accommodated us as Diamond Members with a later check-out. Ashley at the Part-n-Parcel cafe offered nutritious and delicious plant-based offerings and a gelato "happy hour." Prices at this grab & go eatery are so reasonable we were able to buy snacks and smoothies without feeling gauged. Fitness instructors Alex, Cory and Kelly were encouraging and accommodated beginner levels with fun classes. Kinza at Concierge set us up with complimentary bikes so we could explore the surrounding public trails and Salt Creek Beach & Park. Tram operator Ron was upbeat and reminded us of tram times to ensure we didn't miss the last departure from the private and gated Monarch Beach Club. Laurie, who was at the front desk, went out of her way to help us. Finally, Allison, a manager-trainee, kindly helped with questions and ensured our smooth departure. This was our first visit and we plan to return! Read less

Probably one of my favorite hotels to date. The staff is nice and welcoming, and not over the top fake in the way that can happen at other luxury resorts. Loved the furnishings, bed, bathroom products, and views. The nightly turndown service is a plus that so many hotels have gotten away from. My only complaint (and I wouldn't even call it that really) is that the patios/balconies on the rooms good use a refresh. The flooring was peeling up on ours. I was here for a business event, and absolutely want to come back for a relaxing non work stay. Highly recommend walking to the ocean and back. Read less

Booked a stay at the Waldorf for my birthday weekend including a reservation at Bourbon steakhouse for 8:45 PM. Everything was great and beautiful in typical Waldorf fashion having stayed at multiple locations. We were grabbing a drink at the main bar around 8 to wait for the reservation. I overheard a bartender tell another that they can't serve anymore food because the kitchen is slammed and thought nothing of it. After ordering another drink and telling a different bartender we had reservations they asked if we heard there was a fire in the kitchen on Bourbon Steakhouse and they are closed for the night. Since it was my birthday dinner we went to inquire at the restaurant and little man in a suit came up to cut us off before we could enter and told us in a very short, curt, and unprofessional way that the kitchen is closed due to an emergency and there's no food going out tonight and that we would have to find other arrangements. No trying to find a solution. No trying to sympathize with a situation. Not something I have ever experienced at a Waldorf property and definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. We ended up having to eat at the bar top downstairs and have mac and cheese and bread for dinner. I called the hotel on Monday morning following the trip because that interaction didn't sit right with me and they said the customer service manager isn't at the desk but he would call me immediately back. This is now Tuesday afternoon and still no call. Looking back at the night I believe the booked the restaurant to a gala or a wedding they were having on sight because after the bar dinner downstairs. I was walking by the restaurant to go to my room and a group of guests walked out of the restaurant at 10:30. Now I see why the short man cut me off before going inside the restaurant. Sorry for the long review but bottom line if you're celebrating something important maybe consider the Four Seasons. Read less