Help! I am trying to decide between the St. Regis Monarch Resort in Dana Point and the Montage Resort in Laguna. Anyone stayed in both? Please advise. We love beach, views, gorgeous pool, and luxurious rooms. Thanks for your help!

The Montage has far better views, being much closer to the actual beach. The Monarch has a great reputation, but it's across Coast Highway and a bit of a schlepp from the beach. The Montage is the standard for ultra-luxury resorts in south OC right now.

rjw, will you please email me at [email protected]

claveygirl, rjw gave you excellent advice. That is a gorgeous area.

Hi,
Happy anniversary! We stayed at the St. regis this summer for 5 days and I loved it! It was the best resort I have stayed at. The pool is great and the best part is that you get access to the Monarch Bay Club, a private beach club in Dana Point. We had the best dinner of our lives there. The St. Regis is such a beautiful hotel,the rooms were great and all the facilities were extraordinary. I was truly impressed. We did not visit the Montage or Surf and Sand, but we saw them from the road. They also looked very nice. Now when I look back I would have liked to have checked them. However, I truly thought the St. Regis was great and as a bonts we earned many starpoints for our stay. Whatever you decide, I wish you a happy 25th!

Thanks to you all for your helpful replies. We booked the Montage for April and are looking forward to a lovely and relaxing getaway.