Sep 28, 2016, 11:56 am
Last edit by: Astrophsx
Daily resort fee is $60 (not waived with status or with booking a club room)
Valet fee is $70 per night
Platinum benefits:
- Free breakfast is no longer offered
- 1,000 welcome points
- One category upgrade based upon availability (usually a coastline or ocean view room)
Tips from a local:
- If you want to avoid the $70 valet fee and don't mind a 10 minute stroll you can park for free on Niguel Rd & Stonehill Dr on the hill except for Friday’s between 10am and Noon.
- The marine layer usually burns off around noon to 1pm each day.
- May, June, and early July are known as “May gray/June gloom”. This time of the year is usually overcast and not the most ideal beach weather. Hot summer weather is usually July to mid-October.
- Beach Hut Deli and Moulin are cheaper places for lunch and are a ~3 minute walk. There is a hidden walking path on the backside of the property that makes walking there slightly easier at Cabrillo Isle & Ritz Carlton drive.
- If you live in the area there is a locals "anniversary" card that allows for a 15% discount on food/alcohol/spa and free valet parking for the day for two cars (not for overnight stays). You will need to show evidence that you live in the area.
- Valet is $5 for the day if visiting a restaurant or marketplace.
- The free OC Parks Summer Concert Series on the Salt Creek Beach lawn is usually a few weekends in August and is very popular locally. Alcohol is sold and usually multiple food trucks. They also have free movies on the lawn during the weekends in August.
- Wireless, high-speed Internet access in guest rooms and common areas.
- Outdoor Yoga, Pilates, and Seaside Hikes alternate daily.
- Shuttle service to and from Salt Creek Beach on an individual guest request basis (not applicable to group transfers).
- Access to resort’s Beach Butler Service and use of beach recreation equipment including towel service, umbrellas, and beach chairs.
- Unlimited use of the Tennis Courts including rackets. Tournament and clinic fees are additional.
- Courtesy resort driver – transportation within 3 miles of the resort.
- Complimentary 45 minute private photography session and one digital image (not applicable to special occasions and events).
- A special Garden Tour experience where you discover Birds, Bees, and Butterflies local to Dana Point in the beautiful Eco-Adventure Garden, reserve through the [email protected] m.
Valet fee is $70 per night
Platinum benefits:
- Free breakfast is no longer offered
- 1,000 welcome points
- One category upgrade based upon availability (usually a coastline or ocean view room)
Tips from a local:
- If you want to avoid the $70 valet fee and don't mind a 10 minute stroll you can park for free on Niguel Rd & Stonehill Dr on the hill except for Friday’s between 10am and Noon.
- The marine layer usually burns off around noon to 1pm each day.
- May, June, and early July are known as “May gray/June gloom”. This time of the year is usually overcast and not the most ideal beach weather. Hot summer weather is usually July to mid-October.
- Beach Hut Deli and Moulin are cheaper places for lunch and are a ~3 minute walk. There is a hidden walking path on the backside of the property that makes walking there slightly easier at Cabrillo Isle & Ritz Carlton drive.
- If you live in the area there is a locals "anniversary" card that allows for a 15% discount on food/alcohol/spa and free valet parking for the day for two cars (not for overnight stays). You will need to show evidence that you live in the area.
- Valet is $5 for the day if visiting a restaurant or marketplace.
- The free OC Parks Summer Concert Series on the Salt Creek Beach lawn is usually a few weekends in August and is very popular locally. Alcohol is sold and usually multiple food trucks. They also have free movies on the lawn during the weekends in August.
Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel [Master Thread]
Feb 12, 2019, 9:25 am
#92
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
A free upgrade to Club Level at a Ritz is very very rare. Do NOT expect to be upgraded to the club level without paying the $150-300 per night upgrade fee. As referenced above, just about the only time a Ritz will upgrade you to a club level for free is when it helps them (i.e. the property is sold out and they have no choice but to upgrade someone to a club level room). Maybe you'll get the once in a blue moon freebie, but do not bake the chances of this happening into making a choice about staying at a Ritz vs another hotel.
May 30, 2019, 1:29 pm
#94
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 73
Oct 19, 2019, 11:28 am
#95
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: YYZ
Programs: Super Elite 100K, Mariott Ambassador Elite,
Posts: 231
Booking Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel with Bonvoy points?
Quick question, tried a google but can only find old references to pre Bonvoy documents.
Can you book this hotel with only Marriott points?
When trying to do a search for December, it only gives me options that include a cash upgrade.
Can you book this hotel with only Marriott points?
When trying to do a search for December, it only gives me options that include a cash upgrade.
Oct 19, 2019, 11:32 am
#96
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
1. Are standard rooms available for your dates?
2. Could you be looking at some high demand period (NYE?) for which the hotel has declared an exemption?
3. The Starriott website does some funky things when you search, so try picking a normal refundable room rate, click through to see room availability, and then click the box to see options for paying with points. Sometimes searching by location for points redemptions doesn't show all of the choices.
2. Could you be looking at some high demand period (NYE?) for which the hotel has declared an exemption?
3. The Starriott website does some funky things when you search, so try picking a normal refundable room rate, click through to see room availability, and then click the box to see options for paying with points. Sometimes searching by location for points redemptions doesn't show all of the choices.
Nov 21, 2019, 2:39 pm
#98
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 42
Stay here in 2019 Aug
Used my ritz card sign up award nights in this hotel. The cash price is $1k and I think it is crazy. Don't get me wrong. The hotel lobby and places are very beautiful. Service is above average in Ritz standard. But I won't pay $1k or even $500 for the night.
I am Titanium Elite. No breakfast. Parking fee and resort fee are charged so that is $100 per night. I want to highlight the resort fee and it is the first time I think resort fee is well worth it. The hotel is located in the cliff so there is a path going to the beach. You can call the golf cart to be picked up and then drive you there. The beach bulter will help you set up umbrella and chairs, towels. You can rent kids toys and bodyboard for free from there. When you are done, you can let the cart pick you up and drive up hill. It is a steep climbing path.
The room is fine and clean. Nothing too special. If you have kids, they will offer a bucket of kids beach toys. Cool!
I only tried the 180Blue restaurant and I think it is a reasonable priced restaurant. Other restaurants on site are over-priced.
I did request a late check and was given 2pm check out. This gives us another 2 hour of playing in the pool. The pool is nice too. It also has kids play yard.
Overall, I think it is a nice Ritz Carlton Hotel but I probably won't stay here in future because the price is too high.
I am Titanium Elite. No breakfast. Parking fee and resort fee are charged so that is $100 per night. I want to highlight the resort fee and it is the first time I think resort fee is well worth it. The hotel is located in the cliff so there is a path going to the beach. You can call the golf cart to be picked up and then drive you there. The beach bulter will help you set up umbrella and chairs, towels. You can rent kids toys and bodyboard for free from there. When you are done, you can let the cart pick you up and drive up hill. It is a steep climbing path.
The room is fine and clean. Nothing too special. If you have kids, they will offer a bucket of kids beach toys. Cool!
I only tried the 180Blue restaurant and I think it is a reasonable priced restaurant. Other restaurants on site are over-priced.
I did request a late check and was given 2pm check out. This gives us another 2 hour of playing in the pool. The pool is nice too. It also has kids play yard.
Overall, I think it is a nice Ritz Carlton Hotel but I probably won't stay here in future because the price is too high.
Nov 21, 2019, 10:23 pm
#100
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 73
I think I've read about this practice once or twice before. Do all Ritz Carlton properties do this? Specifically for this property, is a club level upgrade $150 for two people fixed or does this vary during the year? And finally, are there set prices for club level upgrades for each Ritz property? Thanks!
Jan 2, 2020, 5:01 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Starwood/Hyatt/IHG-PLAT/Hilton-DIA
Posts: 468
I think I've read about this practice once or twice before. Do all Ritz Carlton properties do this? Specifically for this property, is a club level upgrade $150 for two people fixed or does this vary during the year? And finally, are there set prices for club level upgrades for each Ritz property? Thanks!
im sure I could have negotiated, but wasn’t worth it even at $200
Jun 29, 2020, 12:29 pm
#104
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
Platinums
What is the platinum breakfast benefit for a family of 4 in the same suite?
Also, will they waive the resort fee for Plats?
Also, will they waive the resort fee for Plats?
Jun 29, 2020, 12:34 pm
#105
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,916