United States California The Best California Beach Resorts Rosewood Miramar Beach has an elite offering of luxury services and amenities By Ligaya Malones Ligaya Malones Freelance Writer / Editor / Blogger Twitter Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 12/25/22 Fact checked by Michelai Graham Fact checked by Michelai Graham Michigan State University American University Michelai Graham is a technology and business reporter who has written for The Urban Institute and Scoop News. She reports for AfroTech, Lifewire, and The Plug. TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. The state of California has everything, from its famous Redwood forests and the Sierra Nevada mountains to picturesque coastlines of beaches and even the desert beauty of the Mojave. Like the range of terrains, the Golden State has a diverse array of hospitality to fulfill the needs of any traveler. Whether you’re backpacking along the Pacific Coast and wanting an affordable and comfortable option or treating yourself to a luxury getaway at a five-star resort, you can find both serene and exhilarating experiences during your stay. For mid-range level resorts and higher, expect to pony up at least $300 a night, exclusive of daily resort fees. Despite California beach resorts’ higher rates, there is a range of amenities that couples, groups, families, and business travelers will enjoy. The 7 Best California Beach Resorts for 2023 Best Overall: Rosewood Miramar Beach Best Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Best for Families: Hotel Del Coronado Best Boutique: Vespera Resort Best Budget: Kona Kai Resort Best Budget, Runner Up: Capri Laguna Best for Wellness: Terranea The Best California Beach Resorts View All The Best California Beach Resorts Our Top Picks Rosewood Miramar Beach The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Hotel Del Coronado Vespera Resort Kona Kai Resort Capri Laguna Terranea See More (4) Final Verdict Methodology Best Overall : Rosewood Miramar Beach Courtesy of Rosewood Miramar Beach Buy on Tripadvisor.com Why We Chose It Rosewood Miramar Beach checks all the boxes for great service, understated luxury, impressive amenities, and a stunning beachfront location. Notable Amenities Whimsical, retro guest taxis shuttle guests around Montecito, bocce courts, babysitting services Pros and Cons Pros Top-rated, well-rounded service Family-friendly Cons Beyond budget for many Resort Overview Guests of Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, a well-to-do enclave of Santa Barbara, cannot praise the resort’s understated luxury enough. Set across 16 acres of manicured lawns and oceanfront views, its 158 upscale guestrooms and suites include a furnished terrace, garden view bungalows, and beach house guest rooms. Two cabana-lined pools offer both adults and families their own peace and enjoyment. Dining options include fancy Italian fare, a casual beach bar with light bites, a poolside bar and ice cream shop, an all-day restaurant, and more. Also on offer: a fitness studio with TRX-strength training equipment, private reformer Pilates instruction, and a spa for seasonal, and sleep-enhancing treatments. Guests can also reach out to the beach concierge to set up a beach day and water-based activities. Best Luxury : The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, California See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It Sweeping ocean views amp up luxurious rooms, along with a spa, tennis courts, and golf courses at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay along California’s northern coast. Notable Amenities 16,000-square-foot spa, championship oceanfront golf course, outdoor fire pits and adirondack chairs for lounging Pros and Cons Pros Curated experiences available via concierge Pet-friendly Nearby trails for hiking or biking Cons Daily parking fee Resort Overview In northern California, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. From two oceanfront golf courses, sprawling grounds dotted with fire pits and Adirondack chairs, to a spa boasting a whirlpool, sauna, and steam rooms, and seafood-centric dining, guests are afforded an all-around luxurious experience. Its rooms, suites, and guest houses offer a golf course, mountain, or ocean views. Guests in higher-category rooms can access the Club Lounge, which includes complimentary food and beverages, and a dedicated concierge. Guests traveling with dogs can book one of its Guest Houses, where a portion of the pet fee goes to the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA. The nightly resort fee covers a welcome glass of wine, WiFi, access to group fitness classes at The Colony Club, use of the practice green, and family board games and videos. The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay is located 40 minutes by car to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and is about 45 minutes to downtown San Francisco. Beach access is a few minutes walks from the resort. Best for Families : Hotel Del Coronado Courtesy of Hotel del Coronado See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It Numerous engaging and educational water-based programs for kids and families make Hotel Del Coronado a family-friendly no-brainer. Notable Amenities Ocean Explorers kids program, beachfront and poolside cabana and daybed rentals Pros and Cons Pros Multiple dining and drinking options for family night and date night Historic resort features a mix of restored buildings and newer, more modern buildings offering multiple ways to stay Cons Interior, non-ocean facing rooms seem cramped compared to ocean view rooms Resort Overview Across the San Diego Bay and the Downtown city skyline, the iconic Hotel Del Coronado offers a wealth of family-friendly activities within its historic resort. In 2022, it launched Ocean Explorers in partnership with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, an interactive kids’ program packed with engaging activities around marine life and preservation. Guests can book a half and full-day session with activities taking place inside and on the beach, including in its tidepools. Its private poolside cabanas or daybeds and a beach umbrella set up on the sand give families a respite from the sun. When you’re ready to settle down after a day of activities, you can find the same level of comfort amidst the newly renovated hotel. The Hotel Del Coronado completed a $400 million renovation in 2021, which included the historic restoration of its front porch and lobby. Other renovations include the renovated “neighborhood” rooms with outdoor terraces and fire pits on its ground-level floor; a refreshed spa; and four upgraded dining outlets. Best Boutique : Vespera Resort See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It This sophisticated boutique hotel offers direct beach and boardwalk access, and proximity to the Central Coast’s wine country, nature preserves, and more. Notable Amenities In-room collapsible telescopes to scope out the night sky, curated experiences like a local wine tasting, spa Pros and Cons Pros Direct beach and boardwalk access Beach and fishing gear included in amenity fee Cons No spa Resort Overview Vespera Resort (named after the evening star) in Pismo Beach, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is a sophisticated oceanfront hotel that offers something different than a typical oversized California beach house. In addition to direct beachfront and boardwalk access, most of its nautical-themed rooms come with soaking tubs and balconies with Pacific ocean views. If you’re one for looking at the stars, Vespera–named after the evening star–has a stargazing program. All rooms have collapsible telescopes and a star chart for guests to explore the night sky. The hotel also hosts events like stargazing nights in the lawn area. An onsite restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. And don’t miss The Vintners Club which hosts rotating wine dinners from local producers within the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, and Avila Valley. The $35 amenity fee covers daily well-being classes like outdoor yoga, shuttle service within Pismo Beach city limits, beach chairs, umbrellas, toys, fishing gear, and upgraded WiFi. Beyond the beach, a number of outdoor pursuits abound, including Pismo Reserve, the Monarch Butterfly Grove, and ATV-ing around nearby Oceano’s sand dunes. Best Budget : Kona Kai Resort Courtesy of Kona Kai Resort & Spa See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It This resort’s waterfront location and variety of family-friendly amenities at an affordable rate (for southern California) make it a unique proposition. Notable Amenities Onsite restaurant and poolside bar, discount on poolside cabana rentals included in resort fee Pros and Cons Pros Family and business traveler friendly Spacious outdoor pool area with unobstructed views of the marina Cons Daily resort fee Resort Overview Numerous amenities, a private beach, a marina, and San Diego Bay views are found at the Kona Kai Resort. Located at the laid-back, southern tip of Shelter Island, the resort’s offerings include bonfire nights and more than 30 fitness classes per week (included in your daily resort fee). The resort’s location helps make its nightly rate more palatable compared to other waterfront resorts in California. Business travelers will appreciate the brief car ride from the airport and the hotel’s several meeting spaces, while families will enjoy the adults-only and kid-friendly pools. Rooms and suites are decorated in calming whites and blues, come with a stocked minibar with local SoCal items and feature marble baths with rainfall shower heads. All rooms also either have a private furnished patio or balcony with views of the bay. Pets are also welcome at the resort; guests can have two dogs up to 65 pounds for a pet fee of $100 for up to three nights. Your furbabies can also access dog-friendly amenities that include a dog-approved menu. The $42 daily resort fee includes internet access; bicycle rentals; fitness center, steam and sauna room access; lawn and beach games, and electric vehicle charging. A full-service spa offers open-air massages, a Eucalyptus steam room, and a jacuzzi. The resort also has a private beach area that hosts sandcastle buildings and nightly bonfires. You can ask the front desk for a s’more kit to have a cozy night on the sand. Guests should note that while the beach is right on the marina, it is more suited for lounging and recreational activities than swimming. Best Budget, Runner Up : Capri Laguna Capri Laguna See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It This petite property is the epitome of cozy beach stay with its comfy rooms and beachfront views, all perfect for a quiet getaway. Notable Amenities Parking included in amenity fee, heated outdoor pool Pros and Cons Pros Virtually all rooms have a partial ocean view Free continental breakfast Cons No onsite restaurant Resort Overview For a charming beachfront hotel in southern California for a comparatively affordable rate, and in affluent Laguna Beach at that, the whitewashed building of Mediterranean-themed Capri Laguna is a bit of an anomaly. Virtually all of its 45 guestrooms and suites present ocean views from its large windows. Its King Suite includes a pull-out sofa bed, kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, and a private, furnished balcony with wide ocean views. Bathrooms appear more modern than their living spaces, featuring marble throughout and rainfall showerheads. The amenities are fewer than other larger resorts, but the deck and beachfront area with tables, chairs, and sun loungers maximize vitamin D time from its petite surroundings. The hotel serves a continental breakfast in the lobby each morning, but for other meals, guests will have to look off the property. Parking for one vehicle per party is included in a daily $35 amenity fee, which is a plus as other resorts charge separately for parking. Best for Wellness : Terranea Courtesy of Terranea Resort See Rates on Kayak.com Why We Chose It Cliffside spa treatment rooms provide a tranquil setting for numerous wellness offerings at this resort in Rancho Palos Verdes. Notable Amenities Four outdoor pools (adults-only, kid-friendly, spa), fire pits for elevated outdoor lounging experience, complimentary curated experiences Pros and Cons Pros Perfect for a staycation or the type of hotel stay where you hardly (if ever) leave the resort property Tennis at Peninsula Racket Club via complimentary shuttle Kids Club Discovery Garden for children’s activities Cons Tide Pool Kids Club temporarily closed as of spring 2022 Resort Overview First opened in 2009 as California’s first theme park, Marineland, Terranea is now a destination spa where its wellness services are a big draw for its guests. The resort holds court on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles County’s Rancho Palos Verdes. Terranea’s award-winning spa approaches wellness according to the time of your visit, factoring in nature and the circadian rhythm when suggesting treatments. The expansive space features 25 treatment rooms where you can receive treatments like the Honey Body Bliss body scrub and massage duo utilizing honey from its own beehive, along with moisturizing coconut oil. The spa also offers non-psychoactive, hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) massage to assist in relaxation and promote better sleep. Guests can also access indoor and outdoor spa lounges, where there are additional saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, and cold plunges. For a more active experience, guests can also indulge in its indoor and outdoor movement classes such as seaside yoga, cycling, and stretching. A concierge is available to coordinate nature walks, falconry experiences, and other outdoor pursuits. Its 102-acre resort area features more than 582 rooms, suites, and villas; a host of restaurants; an oceanfront golf course; and meetings and events spaces that make it popular with weddings and conferences. Final Verdict California beach resorts are plentiful, and while travelers should expect virtually all of them to be pricey (especially those traveling from out of state), it's possible to find a beach resort that matches your travel style and budget. From the northern coast to California’s southern parts, Rosewood Miramar Beach is our top choice California beach resort for its beachfront location, excellent service, understated luxury, impressive amenities, and various dining options. For a family-friendly resort, we recommend Hotel Del Coronado for water-based education programs for kids. And Kona Kai Resort is a great option for budget-friendly resorts; it has a variety of amenities and a private beach area with views of San Diego Bay. Property Resort Fee Room Rates Free Wi-Fi Rosewood Miramar Beach Best Overall Yes $$$$ Included in the resort fee The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Best Luxury Yes $$$$ Included in the resort fee The Hotel Del Coronado Best for Families Yes $$$$ Included in the resort fee Vespera Resort Best Boutique Yes $$$ Included in the resort fee Kona Kai Resort Best Budget Yes $$$ Included in the resort fee Capri Laguna Best Budget, Runner Up Yes $$ Included in the resort fee Terranea Resort Best for Wellness Yes $$$$ Included in the resort fee Methodology We considered dozens of California beachfront hotels and evaluated each for quality of service, reputation, diversity of amenities (e.g., on-site parking, pools, dining options, free WiFi, and more), and guest reviews. Special consideration was given to hotels with timely refreshes and renovations, and those with unique offerings for children and pets. Getty Images / Charles Harker Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! 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