Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa

I booked the Marriott Laguna Cliffs for a comfortable stay before heading home from a celebration of a 44th anniversary celebration. I booked the Ocean view room and was disappointed to end up with a 4th floor room with more of a peek a boo ocean view with no balcony. Currently they are putting in a pool so our views included backhoes and other heavy equip. We scheduled massages for late morning 11:30-12:30, and I requested a late check out based on my platinum status which is normally 4 pm. I was told 4 pm. When I questioned it, I was told it was based on availability. I explained that I was having massages and would like to change before I checked out and that 1 pm was going to be pushing it for a massage that was supposed to end at 12:30. She “graciously” extended my checkout until 1:30. So be advised that the Marriott benefits that we all stay for and appreciate are apparently not applicable at this location. Also this property will be undergoing major renovations for the next year so expect noise and more confusion. Very disappointed

by the ocean

Massive construction going on. We were not informed that it would be all tractors working all day. I went for a medical conference. If I had known that there was construction, I would not have attended the conference or I could have found a cheaper, better venue. The fees they charge were exorbitant , almost immoral. Charging 20% gratuity every time you charge your food and drinks to our room is so dumb.

I really wanted to like this stay. We got in on a slow rainy Sunday night. Valet took forever to greet us. We walked in and front desk was great. Kind and helpful. We get to the lobby again after self parking and the luggage is still on the cart waiting for a bell hop but we walk to our room and wait another 15 minutes - still no bell hop with my bag. We call the front desk and ten minutes later (on a slow night) the bags arrived. The room was ok… my ocean view was of the harbor and a construction zone. No one told me this would be the case when I reserved the room with a full ocean view upgrade. The bathroom floor was dirty and the coffee machine mug had coffee on it. We go to the lounge and order two lava cakes that had gone bad and tasted like dog food if I’m being kind. We call it a night and wake up at 8 am to housekeeping YELLING back and forth in the hallways. So disruptive. Oh this is after a heater that was loud and kept turning on and off all night. I couldn’t take it. I called front desk and Lorelai was very kind but said her manager wasn’t available to help address anything. I’d have to wait until the afternoon to hear from her. I asked them to let me leave. I cancelled my spa appointment because I no longer trusted any service there due to the clear poor management. They refunded my lava cakes and let me leave without a cancellation fee. I am a loyal Marriott customer and have never seen such terrible management. This place is getting run down and ignored it seems. It has potential and was sad. I left at 9 am that morning. I won’t be back.

Booked this hotel for house guest overflow for Christmas week months in advance. Hotel never disclosed that it would be under construction , with most of the grounds and one pool completely torn up. Bulldozers going crazy all day. The rooms we booked were not available due to the construction , so we were given inferior rooms. One day we had no water for several hours and then no hot water. When the water finally came back on , it was brown, full of sediment . When the remodel is completed , I’m sure it will be very nice. It is not what we signed up for!

Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Lobby and other public areas are well maintained. Room layout is different in a good way. The spa was awesome.

Major outside spaces are under a year-long renovation. Gym is nice but the one piece of equipment i wanted to use was broken. The spa with a massage was extremely expensive. Men's steam was out of service but apparently women's was good. Even self parking is charged at an exorbitant rate. Should be in the room rate, especially for CA residents.

We enjoyed our stay in a King Balcony Room. This was an upgrade from the King Room and was worthwhile as we wanted some fresh air. I think that without this balcony, the room would have felt quite closed in. From memory there was a window that slid open a little bit in the King room. We had a car with us, but also went for some walks from the resort. Due to the location on a cliff, the walks were very energetic and would be difficult during summer when it is hotter. There is some construction going on at the moment, a new pool build. This did not affect us as the builders were not working when we were there due to Thanksgiving. However, I can imagine some of the rooms would be affected quite a bit during construction work- so worth checking. Overall the resort and rooms were clean. The staff I remember the most, were the valets and unfortunately not for good reasons. I was asked to move our car forward during check in, although the car was really not in the way of anything. As I was in the passenger seat when asked, it was a bit rude really. It would have been a nice touch to deliver our bags to the room, or at least offer, instead we went to the carpark and then lugged everything ourselves. Just off a 15 hour flight and 90 minute drive.

Overall this is a 4 star property with very clean, modern, nice rooms and bathrooms. The property overall is very nice too. If you want an ocean view of any kind you must book a balcony with ocean view.