Not a lot of value to be found in the 5* hotel Southern California hotel market, I think. Rates here are consistently cheaper than Park Hyatt Aviara, Ritz Laguna Niguel, Waldorf Monarch Beach, and Montage Laguna. I've stayed at both the Alila Marea and Waldorf Monarch Beach in the past few months, and found the service to be indifferent. At least the interior design at Alila Marea was more modern. It feels like at Alila, you're paying for the decades it took for someone to entitle the property and fight whatever development lawsuits, and for the inefficient layout required by the unique plot of land that was acquired. It also feels a lot less busy at Alila, which some people prefer, with the exception of the crowded and small pool area.

We stayed most recently at the Mission Pacific (again) and were perfectly happy with paying for an oceanfront suite for the price of a normal room at Alila Marea. Oceanside is louder and we saw a few unhoused people and youths hanging out at night, but it's nice to be able to walk around the MP, Seabird, and Pier.