Surf & Sand Laguna Beach

This review is more for Hotel.com rather than the resort. Majority of the hotel is under construction. We never received an email from Hotels.com notifying us of the construction during our stay. It was loud and uncomfortable to say the least. The resort staff were very accommodating and apologetic when they realized we were not informed. We were upgraded to a very large and nice suite. Unfortunately the restaurant, bar and the beach for the resort were closed. We love this resort and have been going there for years and will go back after the renovations. The staff are very nice and provide excellent service.

We stayed the first weekend they opened after renovation. We appreciated the Manager reaching out proactively to let us know this in advance letting us know the pool and restaurant weren’t yet available, but letting us know they would set us up on the beach, and their terrace was available for dining and drinks. The staff was awesome! Everyone was so welcoming and provided the best customer service all weekend. The rooms are fantastic and the views are just the best. We can’t wait to come back, and hope to do so very soon!

Wow, where do I even start… Surf and Sand is the most prime location and literally right on the beach. Everything is walkable. The staff was so friendly and helpful with all our needs. The room was wonderful (Srufside) and the bed and bedding was very comfortable. The pool was heated and the hot tub was perfect. The food and drinks were delicious. The construction was hardly noticeable. Only noticed once when at the coffee shop, but more out of curiosity. We never heard anything! Overall a spectacular place!

The Surf and Sand: Stunning Location, Disappointing Service The Surf and Sand's oceanfront location is genuinely spectacular—the kind of view that justifies five-star pricing. Unfortunately, the service quality falls far short of the property's premium positioning. Dining Issues: Our concierge recommended Splashes despite acknowledging recent reconstruction concerns, claiming they'd received no complaints. The reality was a severely limited menu with overpriced, overly rich dishes that didn't justify the cost. When we expressed concerns, no alternative dining options were suggested. Cancelled Services: Multiple advertised amenities failed to materialize. Morning yoga and other scheduled activities were cancelled without advance notice. Most frustratingly, a spa facial appointment booked a month in advance was cancelled when the aesthetician simply didn't show up. Billing Problems: Despite prepaying for our room, the hotel placed a $1,300 hold on our card for "incidentals"—an unusually high amount for a one-night stay. Additionally, the spa charged $148 for the cancelled facial service, and spa staff couldn't locate any record of the charge when we inquired. Bottom Line: While the oceanfront setting is undeniably beautiful, the property's operational issues—from unreliable service to questionable billing practices—don't support its five-star reputation. The location alone isn't enough to justify the premium pricing when basic hospitality standards aren't met.

The property and renovated rooms were beautiful. We loved the pool, easy access to beach and town.

We were there during renovations. So noise was an issue. Restaurant was closed. Not as clean as I am used too at a highly rated property. Staff was very friendly and did best to make our stay comfortable.

Great ocean view & access. Really enjoyed our time

We were SO pleased with our stay. Perfect location. So close to the ocean. Excellent service. Modern and amazing rooms. Make sure to get an ocean front/view room. They have an amazing restaurant and a café. Listen to this, If you’re a guest at the hotel, they will provide you with a beach umbrella and chairs. Wow! They also have a beautiful outdoor lounge area with incredible views. Everything was top notch. We will definitely stay at this resort again. Thank You!

Absolutely my favorite hotel right now! Amazing views from the room! Look out the window and the ocean is right there unobstructed. Bed comfortable, bathroom nice, and pool very clean and relaxing. The best part about this place is their staff. The customer service is top notch! Everyone to valet, maintenance, front desk, you name it, all employees were so nice, attentive, professional, and friendly. Made for a wonderful vacation.

In general was a very good resort, I loved the sound of the ocean while you sleep and staff is friendly and helpful however, the pool area and the beach access is kind of small and uncomfortable. Pool service is not so good, liquor options are very limited as well.

Staff was nice. Room was old, dingy and not very clean for the price you pay.

It looks amazing in pictures, but the rooms have old dust in every corner which is very yuck, I had to plug something and moved the night stand and the dust came out flying, you look at every corner and is dirty. The view was fantastic from our room and the ocean sound was great!!!. The in room dinning was fairly fast and the wait staff very nice and helpful, and we decided to eat in our room as the hostess for the restaurant was so snobbish and standoffish because we did not have a reservation. We were willing to wait, but chose to order in room service as it was not a welcoming welcome as paying guest of the hotel. That night only got worse as there was a false fire alarm at 2:something!! Yes, 2:00AM and nobody came to tell us it was a false alarm, we stood outside our room with other people trying to figure that out. When we checked out and I mentioned it, the front desk person acted like he had no idea. The other disappointment was that my electrical car could not be charged (either night) as they "only charge Teslas" which I found infuriating, in LA there is never an issue with charging at all hotels, so they need an adapter as the prevalence of so many more EVs will be a reality and the review may ensure the hotel invest in a $20 connector that I now carry. The pavlova dessert was fantastic. So, is the sound of the ocean, the view, and Pavlova enough for me to stay here and spend thousands of dollars at this resort again you ask when there are so many choices?

Location and amenities are first rate. The room was very nice and maid service was excellent and not disruptive at all. Staff is excellent from parking to the pool attendants. Might be the best value in Laguna

The ocean view in our room is awesome. Property looks a little run down compared to our last stay. The hallway and balcony areas have gas smell. The bath towels are rough. Expecting improvements with such high price to pay.

We were there during renovations. So noise was an issue. Restaurant was closed. Not as clean as I am used too at a highly rated property. Staff was very friendly and did best to make our stay comfortable.

Room was spotless and staff was great

This place is amazing for two reasons. Right on the ocean! No other property has this setting so close. Sit on your balcony and watch the dolphins go by! Also, the staff is the best I've encountered at a hotel. Extremely friendly and helpful. It is an older hotel but it is very well maintained.

Let’s start with the negative. Hotel needs a lot of renovation on the exterior. You can really tell being next the ocean is deteriorating the steel all throughout. Inside my room u can tell the quality of maintenance is low. For the price they charge a night they should really take the time to paint a whole section rather than brush strokes and clean in location around equipment for example the mini bar fridge where u can tell the tile wasn’t completed around. If you need some pointers email me I can give you a consultation. Now let’s talk about the good stuff. Hands down one of the best hotels in Laguna. Pool, bar, and restaurant all over see the ocean. Take the outside stairs and boom the beach sand is right at your steps, the water at this location is clear as can be. All the rooms over see the ocean with balcony’s. fyi no AC but who needs an AC when all you have to do is open the balcony door and get that fresh ocean breeze in. The staff offered here at support and very friendly from the valet driver to the maintenance people around. If the maintenance inside and outside of the facility was up to par I would most def give this a 5 star but for me it’s like 3.5…. Sorry for the low review I’m in design and construction so I can see all the details.

Outstanding checkin experience with Chris. Beautiful propterty, room immaculate. Food from Splashes was outstanding. Jack at pool bar was amazing!

Things were a little unorganized on the beach. Trash and old towels

For the $1,500 spent to stay at this property for two nights, I had high expectations. Surf and Sand did not come close to meeting those expectations. I thought we were staying at a high-end/luxury property and this place does not qualify. We stayed in a JR Catalina Suite with an ocean view private balcony. That sounded great, but in reality we had a balcony with a view of the roof of the building in front of us with the ocean behind it. The view also included an Active walkway that generally had other guests (good afternoon screaming kids), housekeepers, and a friendly painter that we shared our morning coffee with. Not the relaxing time we thought we’d be getting. The room had a portable AC unit connected to the window (which I understand may be better than what other rooms had), but the room was otherwise fine. Ultimately, if the room was half the price I’d not be writing a negative review. It unfortunately comes down to poor value and not meeting my high-expectations that came with that price. Note that I booked this room in early May, so it’s not as though I was booking this the week before when you’d expect to get hit with a higher rate. One last thing - not a single member of their team acknowledged we were there to celebrate our 25th anniversary despite my calling the hotel and letting them know after booking the room. I definitely will not be going back, and would not recommend. I’ve never left a negative review on Expedia before this…

Loved the view from this hotel and the balcony, however, in the summer, it was way too hot to not have an air conditioner in the room because of the high humidity! Did not sleep good for two nights with just a ceiling fan!

Remarkable view and gorgeous room

NO AC?!!? We paid $700+ for a room without AC during a hot stay? Had to open the doors, windows and fans, leaving no privacy. What a surprise! Also, no elevator to a wing with several floors. Not possible for older folk or disabled.

Biggest Pro - sunset was amazing from beach front balcony!! Cons - Property is outdated, ac didn’t work well, valet was busy and rude, pool was crowded. I would expect way more for the cost. I’ve stayed in 2 star hotels that had nicer bathrooms. My beach front upgraded room had a 1960s bathtub faucet that leaked and went in and out of cold. Overall - I won’t come back unless they update the units or lower the price. I spent almost 800.00 for a 1 night stay. I would expect more for the cost. Again, the view and location are amazing. Worth at-least one stay, at a lower rate.

Gorgeous room, amazing private balcony over the beach.. friendly accommodating staff ❤️

Newly renovated oceanfront hotel with breathtaking views

Location was amazing. Did not like that there was no air conditioning. Very high humidity

I have returned to the Surf&Sand over many years. The Service is always impeccable, personable, professional and gracious. From Kit & Allie who greeted us at reception to lovely housekeeping and room service staff, spa and restaurant. The makeover of the spa is not complete, however we received excellent massage services in our room overlooking the beautiful ocean and coastline. We stayed in a King studio oceanfront on the top floor and highly recommend. Beautifully appointed recently renovated. I wish we could've stayed forever.

Bathroom & shower doors have razor sharp edges. Too much clutter of glasses and bottles stacked up next to the tv. Whoever did the new design did a horrible job.

Excellent service. Professional in every department the restaurant. The bell boy. The front desk. The property itself was amazing with the ocean front row and center. Loved it.

I expected a seamless and accommodating experience from a luxury hotel, but unfortunately, my recent stay fell short. On February 15, the morning after Valentine’s Day, I made two polite requests to extend my checkout by just one hour—from 11 AM to 12 PM. Both times, the front desk refused, stating that the hotel was fully occupied and a new group was arriving at 1 PM. However, when I checked out at 11 AM, I mentioned this to the management team, and to my surprise, they apologized and said they could have easily extended my checkout by an hour. This contradiction was frustrating and highlighted poor communication between the staff. A luxury hotel should prioritize guest experience and consistency in service. Had the front desk been better trained or more customer-focused, this could have been avoided. While I appreciate the management’s apology, it doesn’t change the fact that my request—one that is quite common—was unnecessarily denied. I hope the hotel improves its front desk training and communication to ensure that all guests receive the level of service expected from a high-end establishment.

Service was poor throughout our stay- concierge was unable to help with anything I asked for - the whole hotel looked tired and in need of a renovation and the only thing it had going for it was the proximity to the sea and town which I think is what they are relying on. They overcharged us for parking three times as we had 3 rooms ! On a plus - the beds were comfortable and view was amazing but it should have been for the price. Wouldn’t go back.

Was treated poorly by security made us feel unwelcome, but continued to come at me and my girlfriend after I said we were guest multiple times. Just extremely unprofessional uncalled for and not the actions of a 4 to 5 star hotel.

The excellent service and attention was apparent form the minute we arrived. Everyone was great!

This was the best hotel stay of our lives. The location/view from balcony (ON the most beautiful beach) was incomparable. And the staff was amazing. I recommend a stay here with no hesitation. (Maxine, Josh, Efrain, and Every staff member was the best of the best.)

I can't say enough good about Monica at the front desk, Kat the manager and Laurie the conceirge! The stay started off rocky but Monica was so attentive as was Laurie- they got Kat involved who was so professional and attantive and they made this the best stay ever. Beautiful room, really friendly team, great service. Laurie sent a beuatiful card for our 3 occasions with some goodies and booked us the best tables in fantastic reaturants in the area.We didn't want to leave! Thank you all so much again! Looking forward to seeing you again!

Mike the manager is amazing! I go to this hotel several times a year for work and the experience is always so great from the room to the hotel itself. Management just takes it next level. Mike is so amazing and always so accommodating and helpful. Coming in with work- I am always checking in at different times and sometimes need to adjust my schedule- he is always willing to help and be understanding and remember my name. It’s very kind with the amount of people he meets a day.

Outstanding checkin experience with Chris. Beautiful propterty, room immaculate. Food from Splashes was outstanding. Jack at pool bar was amazing!

No Air Conditioning in Room only ceiling fan and room got warm even with windows open which we tried to maintain close due to proximity with pool and noise/privacy. Was charged for Valet although did not use this service and a room charge we did not make (both were refunded). Staff is not so friendly.

We had a very nice time. The hotel was conveniently located. We used the free trolley to get around because lots of traffic and parking issues.

Right next to the ocean! What a delight

A Slice of Paradise at Surf & Sand Laguna From the moment you step onto the property, Surf & Sand Laguna wraps you in the kind of coastal magic only Laguna Beach can offer. The sound of crashing waves greets you the second you check in—because yes, the beach is truly right there. It’s like waking up inside a dream, where every room has a front-row seat to the Pacific Ocean. Surf & Sand is more than a resort—it’s a soulful escape where we as a family can slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the beauty of nature. We have returned countless times being such a quick drive from LA and will continue to keep coming back.

Great Location. Easy walk to the main beach. Dining options are very good.

Location and amenities are first rate. The room was very nice and maid service was excellent and not disruptive at all. Staff is excellent from parking to the pool attendants. Might be the best value in Laguna

location

Great location. Beautiful beach and close to great restaurants and shops. Awesome staff.

Beautiful ocean view from the room , hotel feels secluded even though you are centrally located to many shops and restaurants

The renovations are excellent, the oceanfront views are unbeatable. Walking distance to everything.

Location location location. Hanging over the beach in brand new rooms, is pretty unbeatable.

The view was outstanding. The restaurant was exhalant.

This review is more for Hotel.com rather than the resort. Majority of the hotel is under construction. We never received an email from Hotels.com notifying us of the construction during our stay. It was loud and uncomfortable to say the least. The resort staff were very accommodating and apologetic when they realized we were not informed. We were upgraded to a very large and nice suite. Unfortunately the restaurant, bar and the beach for the resort were closed. We love this resort and have been going there for years and will go back after the renovations. The staff are very nice and provide excellent service.

Beautiful property but overpriced in all aspects. Good and beverage especially

Wow, where do I even start… Surf and Sand is the most prime location and literally right on the beach. Everything is walkable. The staff was so friendly and helpful with all our needs. The room was wonderful (Srufside) and the bed and bedding was very comfortable. The pool was heated and the hot tub was perfect. The food and drinks were delicious. The construction was hardly noticeable. Only noticed once when at the coffee shop, but more out of curiosity. We never heard anything! Overall a spectacular place!

The Surf and Sand: Stunning Location, Disappointing Service The Surf and Sand's oceanfront location is genuinely spectacular—the kind of view that justifies five-star pricing. Unfortunately, the service quality falls far short of the property's premium positioning. Dining Issues: Our concierge recommended Splashes despite acknowledging recent reconstruction concerns, claiming they'd received no complaints. The reality was a severely limited menu with overpriced, overly rich dishes that didn't justify the cost. When we expressed concerns, no alternative dining options were suggested. Cancelled Services: Multiple advertised amenities failed to materialize. Morning yoga and other scheduled activities were cancelled without advance notice. Most frustratingly, a spa facial appointment booked a month in advance was cancelled when the aesthetician simply didn't show up. Billing Problems: Despite prepaying for our room, the hotel placed a $1,300 hold on our card for "incidentals"—an unusually high amount for a one-night stay. Additionally, the spa charged $148 for the cancelled facial service, and spa staff couldn't locate any record of the charge when we inquired. Bottom Line: While the oceanfront setting is undeniably beautiful, the property's operational issues—from unreliable service to questionable billing practices—don't support its five-star reputation. The location alone isn't enough to justify the premium pricing when basic hospitality standards aren't met.

This is an amazing property one the only hotels on the beach which is so rare in Laguna Beach, and great great location close to restaurants and shops and main beach ! The breakfast at splashes is fantastic pricy but very good . And room service bites were amazing overall as usual really had a fantastic stay , the room was just stunning going to bed hearing the waves crashing and waking up to that !

We were there during renovations. So noise was an issue. Restaurant was closed. Not as clean as I am used too at a highly rated property. Staff was very friendly and did best to make our stay comfortable.

Friendly checkin and got a complimentary bottle of wine and chocolates.. beautiful view and love the bar area

Outstanding checkin experience with Chris. Beautiful propterty, room immaculate. Food from Splashes was outstanding. Jack at pool bar was amazing!

Property is in a great centeal location to everything on the Laguna strip. Everything was excellent during stay. However, I do have to add one thing that was odd at the end of my stay when I was abt to checkout. I went to the restaurant bar and asked the staffer/bartender if he had change to break a bill…when he handed me the change, he said…”this is for the restaurant, right?” Not sure what he meant by that or what he was trying to imply, and what does it matter what im using it for??? I thought that was odd him asking me that. (I wanted change so I could tip the housekeeping btw, but that was none of his business).