The state of California offers a diverse range of natural landscapes, from the famous Redwood forests and the Sierra Nevada mountains to picturesque coastlines with beautiful beaches and the desert splendor of the Mojave. California boasts a wide variety of accommodation options catering to the preferences of every traveler. Whether you’re embarking on a backpacking adventure along the Pacific Coast and seeking affordable yet comfortable lodging or indulging in a luxurious getaway at a five-star resort, you can find both peaceful and exhilarating experiences during your visit.
For mid-range and higher-end resorts, you should anticipate a minimum nightly rate of $300, excluding daily resort fees. Despite the elevated rates at California beach resorts, there is a diverse range of amenities to cater to couples, groups, families, and business travelers.
The 7 Best California Beach Resorts for 2023
Best Overall: Rosewood Miramar Beach
Why We Chose It: Rosewood Miramar Beach excels in delivering exceptional service, unobtrusive luxury, impressive facilities, and an enchanting beachfront location.
Notable Amenity: Charming retro guest taxis transport guests around Montecito, along with bocce courts and babysitting services.
BEST LUXURY: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Resort Overview: Located in Northern California, The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay perches atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Guests can enjoy an all-encompassing luxury experience, featuring two oceanfront golf courses, sprawling grounds adorned with fire pits and Adirondack chairs, a spa boasting a whirlpool, sauna, and steam rooms, and seafood-centric dining options.
The resort offers rooms, suites, and guest houses with views of the golf course, mountains, or ocean. Guests staying in higher-category rooms can access the Club Lounge, which provides complimentary food and beverages, as well as a dedicated concierge service. Those traveling with dogs can reserve one of the Guest Houses, with a portion of the pet fee supporting 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 conveniently located 40 minutes by car from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and approximately 45 minutes from downtown San Francisco. Beach access is just a short walk from the resort.
BEST FOR FAMILIES: Hotel Del Coronado
Resort Overview: Overlooking San Diego Bay and the downtown city skyline, the iconic Hotel Del Coronado offers an abundance of family-friendly activities within its historic resort. In 2022, it introduced Ocean Explorers in partnership with Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, an interactive kids’ program filled with engaging activities centered around marine life and conservation. Guests can book half and full-day sessions with activities taking place both indoors and on the beach, including tidepool exploration. Private poolside cabanas, daybeds, and beach umbrellas offer families a comfortable respite from the sun.
After a day of adventures, guests can relax in the newly renovated hotel, which completed a $400 million renovation in 2021. This renovation included the historic restoration of its front porch and lobby, updated “neighborhood” rooms with outdoor terraces and fire pits on the ground-level floor, a refreshed spa, and four upgraded dining outlets.
BEST BOUTIQUE: Vespera Resort
Why We Chose It: This sophisticated boutique hotel offers direct access to the beach and boardwalk, as well as proximity to the Central Coast’s wine country, nature preserves, and more.
Resort Overview: Vespera Resort, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, is a refined oceanfront hotel located in Pismo Beach. It distinguishes itself from typical oversized California beach houses by offering direct beachfront and boardwalk access. Most of its nautical-themed rooms come equipped with soaking tubs and balconies offering Pacific Ocean views. Star enthusiasts will appreciate Vespera’s stargazing program, complete with collapsible telescopes and a star chart in every room for exploring the night sky. The hotel also hosts events like stargazing nights in the lawn area.
An onsite restaurant provides breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Additionally, The Vintners Club hosts rotating wine dinners featuring local producers from Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, and Avila Valley.
A $35 amenity fee includes 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, numerous outdoor activities await, including visits to Pismo Reserve, the Monarch Butterfly Grove, and ATV adventures in nearby Oceano’s sand dunes.
BEST BUDGET: Kona Kai Resort
Why We Chose It: Kona Kai Resort’s waterfront location and a range of family-friendly amenities at an affordable rate (for Southern California) make it a unique choice.
Resort Overview: Kona Kai Resort, situated at the laid-back southern tip of Shelter Island, offers numerous amenities, a private beach, marina access, and San Diego Bay views. Guests can enjoy bonfire nights and over 30 fitness classes per week, all included in the daily resort fee. The resort’s advantageous location contributes to its relatively affordable nightly rate compared to other waterfront resorts in California. Business travelers will appreciate the short commute from the airport and the hotel’s various meeting spaces, while families can take advantage of the adults-only and kid-friendly pools.
Rooms and suites feature calming white and blue decor, stocked minibars with local Southern California items, and marble baths with rainfall showerheads. All accommodations include a private furnished patio or balcony with bay views. Pets are welcome at the resort, with the option to bring two dogs weighing up to 65 pounds for a pet fee of $100 for up to three nights. Furry companions can also access dog-friendly amenities, including a dog-approved menu.
The $42 daily resort fee covers internet access, bicycle rentals, access to the fitness center, steam room, and sauna, as well as 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 boasts a private beach area that hosts sandcastle building and nightly bonfires. Guests can request a s’more kit from the front desk for a cozy evening on the sand. It’s important to note that while the beach is located along the marina, it is better suited for lounging and recreational activities rather than swimming.
BEST BUDGET, RUNNER UP: Capri Laguna
Why We Chose It: This petite property epitomizes a cozy beach retreat with its comfortable rooms and beachfront views, ideal for a peaceful getaway.
Resort Overview: Capri Laguna is a charming beachfront hotel in Southern California, offering relatively affordable rates, especially considering its affluent location in Laguna Beach. The whitewashed building stands out with virtually all of its 45 guestrooms and suites providing ocean views through large windows. The King Suite includes a pull-out sofa bed, a kitchenette with a refrigerator and microwave, and a private furnished balcony with expansive ocean views. Bathrooms have a modern feel with marble finishes and rainfall showerheads.
The property offers fewer amenities compared to larger resorts, but its deck and beachfront area equipped with tables, chairs, and sun loungers allow guests to soak up the sun. The hotel serves a continental breakfast in the lobby each morning, while other dining options are available off the property. One vehicle per party enjoys complimentary parking as part of a daily $35 amenity fee, which is a positive feature considering that some other resorts charge separately for parking.
BEST FOR WELLNESS: Terranea
Why We Chose It: Terranea stands out with its cliffside spa treatment rooms, offering a serene setting for a wide range of wellness experiences at this Rancho Palos Verdes resort.
Resort Overview: Originally opened in 2009 as Marineland, California’s first theme park, Terranea has transformed into a destination spa renowned for its wellness services. The resort is perched on bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles County’s Rancho Palos Verdes.
Terranea’s award-winning spa takes a holistic approach to wellness, considering the time of day, nature, and the circadian rhythm when recommending treatments. The expansive spa features 25 treatment rooms where guests can indulge in treatments like the Honey Body Bliss body scrub and massage, which incorporates honey from the resort’s beehive along with moisturizing coconut oil. The spa also offers non-psychoactive, hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) massages to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. Indoor and outdoor spa lounges provide additional saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, and cold plunges.
For a more active wellness experience, guests can participate in indoor and outdoor movement classes such as seaside yoga, cycling, and stretching. A concierge service is available to organize nature walks, falconry experiences, and other outdoor adventures.
Terranea’s sprawling 102-acre resort area includes over 582 rooms, suites, and villas, a variety of dining options, an oceanfront golf course, and extensive meeting and event spaces, making it a popular choice for weddings and conferences.