The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel

I rarely write reviews, but this stay absolutely deserved one. We visited to celebrate my wife’s birthday and had an unforgettable experience. Traveling with a newborn and our dog can be stressful, yet the accommodations and thoughtfulness here were second to none. I don't say this lightly! The property is stunning—panoramic views among the best you will ever find on Earth. The rooms are newly renovated and spacious as well. Ritz-Carlton service is always strong, but this team exceeded even our prior experiences. We were greeted by name, never rushed, and staff consistently went out of their way to help. Seth at the main bar was outstanding (started a few weeks ago; I hope i got his name right), Nick at valet made departing effortless, the bellman (a big hockey fan who adored our dog) was so hospitable, and another team member even surprised our dog with a little bacon treat and our baby with a bear -- she was wonderful! It was an incredible stay made special by people who genuinely care. I hope the staff is recognized for its hard work—they’re the reason these visits become fun, seamless, and truly memorable. 5 starts team. Bravo.

We’re a family of four—2 adults and 2 kids—and we recently stayed one night at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. As usual, it didn’t disappoint. We booked directly through Marriott about a month before, reserving a Resort View King with a balcony. When we checked in just before 7 PM, Sayali at the front desk immediately recognized our Marriott Platinum status and hooked us up with a nice upgrade. They offered us a fireside King room, but we picked a Two Queen Resort View on the first floor since it was more comfortable for our family. They also offered us water and champagne during check-in, which was a really nice welcome after the drive. Our room was #1015. Walking down the hall, I noticed the hallways had just been renovated. We’ve stayed here almost every year for the past five years, so it was cool to see the fresh updates. When we got into the room, I was honestly amazed at how clean and fresh everything felt—like we were the first ones staying there. The rooms had been redone just a few months ago, and it really shows. The furniture and décor were beautiful, and I loved little touches like the Dyson hairdryer. They had some beautiful hardcover photo books in the room (California Casa, Boatlife, and a few others). I joked with my wife that it looked like no one had ever even flipped through them—the pages were perfect. Our patio had two chairs and looked out over a peaceful garden with trees, plants, and a koi pond. We usually book fireside rooms, so having the garden view and hearing the water was a nice change. The kids really enjoyed it too. The beds here are seriously comfy. My kid kept talking about how cozy the bed was—not just when we were sleeping, but even the next day! It’s pretty rare that the whole family agrees on a hotel bed, but this one got thumbs up all around. Honestly, those beds alone make me want to keep coming back. Shoutout to Esmeralda. Whenever I had a request, I usually used the chat feature on the app, and she was great—quick, friendly, and helpful every time. The service here is always amazing. Before checkout, Tri Phan surprised us with a little departure gift with a hand written note. It was totally unexpected, and he recognized us as guests. He thought he might have missed an email from me, and I had to admit I hadn’t reached out prior to our stay. Honestly, I’m blown away by the level of care Tri provides during our stay. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton last year during graduation, and Tri Phan still remembered us! It was really nice to see that kind of personal touch—shows how much they care about their guests. Even though it’s been a year, he made us feel truly welcome again. I also want to give a shoutout to Nicholas Lau, the Assistant Room Operations Manager, who introduced himself, gave us his card, and told us to reach out next time we visit. The staff here just go above and beyond—you can tell they really care about their guests and want to make sure everyone has a great stay. Sayali Lad at the front desk was fantastic too and assisted during check-in and check-out. What really stands out is how the staff always provide service with a smile. You can tell they genuinely enjoy what they do, and that positive energy makes the whole stay even better. Overall, we’ve always had great experiences at this property, and this visit was no different. We’ll definitely keep coming back every year to enjoy the hospitality, the updated rooms, and the beautiful surroundings.

I have nothing bad to say. Everything was perfect—the people, the food, and the luxurious rooms. Honestly, I would stay here again without hesitation. Excellent place, and the food is top-notch.

I just wanted to do a shout out to Expedia Cruises Laguna Niguel, particularly our agent Autumn Berte. We have been booking with her for several years now. She is amazing! We appreciate the heads up on upcoming sales and always taking excellent care of us while we are sailing. Even is there is a problem or a snag during our trip she is right on it! We have our next 4 trips booked through her.

We stayed at Ritz Carlton for 3 nights and 4 days, and I can say without a doubt it was one of the best experience we’ve had. From the moment we came into the driveway we were greeted by amazing valet only attendants, to check in. The floral arrangement at the lobby was impeccable. Our room was spacious, clean and it has a Nespresso along with kettle and fridge. I am also amazed that they refill pods daily. The full size soap and toiletries were good however it doesn’t smell nice. I do love the proximity of the hotel to the beach, its a nice walk/stroll downhill and uphill. The garden/koi pond was nicely decorated as well. I love that our room balcony has direct access to the pool, it made it alot easier with 2 kids in tow. I believe what sets this apart from all is the level of customer service that they have. They make you feel art home and relaxed . We cant wait to be back at this location again.

We had stayed at the Ritz 4 previous times and had always enjoyed the experience. We stay on the club level as we feel that the easily accessible food and drink throughout the day removes the unwanted stress of searching for dining options, especially with kids. Service has always been impressive. The club concierge staff are particularly helpful and have the experience necessary to provide an enjoyable, stress free experience. We decided to continue the tradition and booked 5 nights in a club garden view room in January 2025 for a stay in late June / early July. A month out from our arrival, I noticed on the Ritz website that renovations were underway at the hotel so I decided to call to confirm room and club lounge availability. The management assured me that renovations were nearing completion and that if I was able to book a club room, I could be confident that it would be available when I arrived. 2 weeks out from my arrival I logged into my bonvoy account and saw that my room type had changed from a club level room to a standard garden view room. I called to question the change and was informed that the club is still being renovated and that they changed my room type accordingly. They also noted that a resort credit would be “explained upon check-in.” None of this information was proactively shared by the Ritz, I had to call multiple times to try to figure out what was happening. Any “resort credit” offered would not offset the loss of a club lounge - I would have booked a standard room if I wanted one. I do feel sorry for the management at the hotel as I’m sure the renovation timeline is out of their control. However, their communication of the impacts that the renovation would have on their guests fell far short. Without my reaching out, I would have been surprised upon check-in and left with no option but to accept that my vacation would be significantly diminished by the ongoing renovations and absence of the promised club lounge. I find this approach unacceptable for a hotel of this price level.

One of my favorite resorts to travel with my family.,

I wanted to share my feedback regarding our recent experience at the Ritz Laguna Beach during our son's wedding. Unfortunately, it has not been a pleasant journey, especially dealing with the banquet managers and the accounting department post-event. Our wedding events took place from May 26th to May 28th, and while the venue itself is undeniably beautiful, our interactions with your team have been less than satisfactory. Initially, when we visited the venue, the banquet manager was extremely attentive and eager to impress us, which led us to finalize the location. However, once the deposit was made, the terms of the contract seemed to change with several fine prints being added. Despite paying for an hourly beverage package, we were unexpectedly charged for tea and coffee for non-drinkers. Additionally, the bride and groom's room, which had a card stating complimentary food and beverages, still incurred charges. Few days prior to the event, despite having paid the full estimated cost, we were asked for an additional 10% extra funds for contingency. It has been over 30 days now, and the accounts department has yet to settle the account. When we raised concerns, invoices were created against the balance 10% contingency funds, making it apparent that there is an intent to avoid returning money to customers. Our experience suggests that customers need to be extremely cautious and read contracts thoroughly, including all fine prints. Trusting the managers without a careful review can lead to unexpected charges and difficulties in getting refunds. We strongly advise against agreeing to the 10% extra for contingency as it appears this is a strategy to retain customer funds. I hope this feedback is taken seriously and that steps are taken to improve customer interactions and transparency in billing practices.