If you’re in SoCal and looking for a staycation or just visiting California, this gem of a hotel would make for a nice visit. The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel is about 1 hour from Los Angeles, but it feels like you’ve left the state altogether. Nestled on a hill right above the beach, the views are breathtaking. I wish I could wake up every morning to a view like this. We stayed for two nights and three days, and since it was our first practice run “traveling” with London, it was the perfect amount of time.

The Property

If you’re looking to take photos, there are definitely plenty of corners and areas on the property to get some good ones. The property is big but walkable. I loved that the hotel is set high on the hills, so you really feel like you’re on top of everything, and it makes the experience that much more magical. We lucked out the first day because it was overcast, but if you do plan to shoot (especially in late Spring/Summer), you should wake early, close to sunrise, or wait til golden hour, so you can make sure to capture the views. The sun in Cali is strong, so shooting outside late morning, early afternoon is generally a no in the summer. Every corner was so pretty, and we were very content just staying on the property the whole time without venturing out. They had two restaurants open, Raya and 180 Blue, which both had gorgeous sea views. They also had a small marketplace with grab-and-go food, and the food there was actually pretty good. I had a quinoa salad that I’m currently trying to figure out how to copy. Sharing more about our dinner at Raya restaurant HERE.

The Pools

The hotel has two pools. One is larger than the other, but both are equally beautiful. We chose the smaller pool because of the introverts and because of London. It felt more like a kiddie pool, smaller and less intimidating, especially since this was her first time in a pool. But it’s definitely not a kiddie pool; you can enjoy it all the same as an adult, and I loved that it was quieter than the other pool. One thing they are not lacking is pool chairs. We visited at a time when it was less busy, but I can imagine that even when it’s busy, there is more than enough room to find a spot to relax by the pool.

The Room

We got an ocean-view room with a fire pit, and I will say that if you stay here, it almost seems like a must. Although it does mean you’re on the bottom level, and people can walk past most of the rooms on that level. However, having a fire pit on our balcony was honestly so cool, and it was a little chillier than we liked during our stay, so we loved using it to stay warm while we were out there. It was also nice to eat breakfast around it on our second day there. If you opt for a room on a higher level, you do get a bigger balcony, and with the kids, a fire pit might be a little tricky. We had to keep barricading London away from it. Our room was a good size and all we needed for our stay. We got a king-size bed, and they were so nice to even add a crib for London. It was a mini crib and was perfect for her, and she slept the whole night in it. The only thing I didn’t think about was that there was only a stand-up shower, so it was a little tricky giving London a bath. I would just keep that in mind for any parents reading this, if bath is a must, make sure you check the room you book.

The Views

I loved that there were places to sit, relax, and take in the view throughout the property. There was no shortage of amazing views. We just kept taking pictures because it had been so long since we’d been on a trip, and it made us so happy. And I love that London gets to start venturing out with us on our trips now and enjoy these experiences.

The Beach

The beach is conveniently located right below the hotel. They have a path where you can walk down, and also offer a shuttle service that runs every 10 minutes to bring you down. Once you’re down there, they provide you with towels, water, umbrellas, and chairs if you like, and you’re all ready to spend the day. They even have a little shop if you want to grab some food to eat on the beach. Note that one side of the beach is for surfers only, but we didn’t want to go in the water, so we were happy just watching them. I do wish the beach were easier to get to, but it’s really not far at all. I’m being spoiled and just want to walk right out to the beach, but you wouldn’t get those insane views if the hotel were right on the beach.