Articles Mentioning Luxury

Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort

This 121-room luxury hotel just might be the perfect place for a reclusive film star to hide from adoring fans. For those who like their vacation experience plush and focused on their needs, the Koa Kea is an excellent alternative to the area’s larger resort chains. Rooms have a subtle, beachy style and luxe features include fine Egyptian linens, Italian marble bathrooms, and espresso machines. Additionally, the resort has a high-end fitness center with individual cable-TV monitors. With just one pool and restaurant, it may lack some features of the nearby Hyatt mega-resort — but the beach here is better, the price tag slightly lower, and the service more attentive and pampering.

Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego

Located in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego is a hip luxury property with unique design touches and a young vibe. Surrounding streets are filled with bars and restaurants, while the waterfront is about a 20-minute walk. The on-site eatery earns raves from guests for its creative American fare and cocktails, and the fourth-floor pool has a relaxing deck and seasonal bar. The 211 rooms and suites are massive and modern, with luxe touches like Italian linens and rainforest showers with Jerusalem stone. Many options also feature incredible views of the city skyline. Other features include a fitness center and a full-service spa with a couples soaking tub. There are fees for Wi-Fi and breakfast, though. The US Grant — a Luxury Collection Hotel has a more classic elegant feel, but higher rates. 

Monarch Beach Resort

The luxury Monarch Beach Resort is situated on stunning grounds overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The 400 spacious, elegant rooms and suites are bright and airy, with private balconies, modern amenities, and luxe marble bathrooms with separate showers and soaking tubs. Chic interiors include several dining options, such as a Mediterranean restaurant and a tavern, and there are lovely outdoor pools, an extensive spa and wellness facilities, and an 18-hole golf course. The hotel’s beach club is a hike to reach on foot, though a free shuttle runs there throughout the day. This is easily one of the nicer hotels in Orange County, but guests seeking something closer to the sand should consider the nearby Montage Laguna Beach, though rates will be higher.

The Langham New York Fifth Avenue

The Langham Place Fifth Avenue is a modern luxury hotel conveniently located a four-minute walk from the Empire State Building and three blocks from Bryant Park. Some of the 234 spacious and minimalist rooms come with kitchens and laundry machines, making this an appealing choice for business travelers and families. Michelin-star Ai Fiori restaurant provides a distinct Riviera setting and Italian and French cuisine. Some of the 7,500 square feet of flexible meetings, events, and weddings spaces feature skyline or Empire State Building views. Chuan Body + Soul includes a modern fitness center and a Himalayan salt sauna. Just about the only downside is how simply the rooms are decorated. For a more striking design and an indoor pool, consider the nearby Chatwal, A Luxury Collection Hotel, New York. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

With spacious, beautiful rooms, a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and tasteful, contemporary decor, this hotel delivers the level of luxury you’d expect from a Ritz. Its downtown location in the L.A. Live entertainment complex means you’re close to numerous restaurants, a movie theater and sports games in the adjacent Staples Center, but you’ll have to drive to see L.A.’s most popular tourist sites.

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Nigel luxury hotel sits atop a 150-foot bluff that’s up against a beach, which means breathtaking views from the hotel and grounds, plus a place to surf and boogie board below. The 396 rooms and suites are elegantly decorated in a soothing color palette and all feature private balconies. Upgrading to a Club Level Room comes with excellent food and drink presentations in a private lounge. With two large pools, six dining outlets, free yoga, a relaxing spa, and access to eco adventures, the hotel has all the amenities of a massive resort — but with a relaxed and quiet setting that feels intimate and local. Note that there’s a nightly resort fee and about a two-minute walk down to the beach. For something just as luxe, but slightly cheaper and further from the beach, check rates at Monarch Beach Resort. 

Montage Laguna Beach

With beautiful grounds, an elegant spa, and modern rooms (all of which have stunning views of the ocean), this hotel is possibly the most serene and relaxing in Orange County, California. It’s perched directly above the beach, and the building’s “U” shape allows for breathtaking views from the lobby and all pools, restaurants, and guest rooms.

Montage Beverly Hills

This 201-room luxury hotel located in the heart of upscale Beverly Hills is elegant in every way, from the Spanish Colonial-inspired architecture to the spacious, sumptuous rooms to the perfectly manicured courtyard. Highlights include a luxury spa, renowned Italian restaurant, and a heated rooftop pool. Only the Peninsula and the Beverly Wilshire hotels can compare.

The James New York SoHo

With a stunning rooftop bar and pool, great freebies (including Wi-Fi and nightly wine and cheese), David Burke restaurant, and a hotel art curator, this 114-room Soho boutique embodies the hip, creative neighborhood it inhabits. Its bright, minimalist rooms are smaller than those at some of the James’ luxury competitors, but they’re full of enough thoughtful details to make up for it. Travelers could also consider the nearby boutique Greenwich Hotel, which has a Japanese-inspired spa and pool (the James can arrange in-room massages).

Gaia Hotel & Reserve

This intimate luxury hotel located a 10-minute drive from the entrance to Manuel Antonio National Park is one of the area’s top options. Tucked into the hillside of a 14-acre nature reserve, Gaia feels appropriately exclusive and private, and has the attentive, personalized service to match. Freebies abound: a terrific a la carte breakfast, tours of the reserve, a mini spa treatment, and Wi-Fi, to name a few. The hotel’s 22 rooms, which include suites, studios, and villas, are stylishly decorated with lots of natural materials like stone, wood, and wicker. Jungle and ocean views claim the spotlight from almost every corner — highlighted by the multi-tiered infinity pool and open-air restaurant. The hotel has a spa and a small gym. Note that only Loft and Loft Deluxe Suites allow children under 13. Travelers might want to compare rates and amenities — and rules regarding children — with Arenas Del Mar Beach and Nature Resort.  


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