I'm going to Ca in April....My husband and I would prefer to stay near the beach..I'm having trouble finding a good one in Laguna, LB, or Santa Monica..and what about Newport?

www.lagunariviera.com

tracy has given you one of the best options for reasonably-priced beach-access hotels in southern California. You will pay dearly for beachfront in Santa Monica or Newport Beach; Long Beach's beaches don't compare well to the other areas as far as scenic beauty (and it pains me to say it, since I live in Long Beach), so I'd look at the Laguna Riviera very seriously.

If you can forego direct sand access, the Georgian in Santa Monica would be my top choice.

You don't want to stay in Newport. Laguna would be the nicest. Santa Monica would be the most fun.

I know it's not on your list of locations, but the Beach House in Hermosa might be worth a look.
http://www.beach-house.com/hermosa-beach-hotels.html

Another option is Huntington Beach:
http://huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml

Thanks for all of your help..We're going w/the Laguna Riviera...Has anyone stayed there?

Hi, we've stayed at the Laguna Riviera and enjoyed it very much. Modest digs but beachfront with balconies, good free breakfast, friendly etc. Would def. return, acutally hope to returen!

You can find more details in that yrs. trip report if you'd like ~

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34438298

Great! We're so excited to go!

I heartily second the location of The Beach House in Hermosa Beach. The Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach area is quaint and well situated between Santa Monica and Newport/Laguna so if you wish to travel in either direction to take in the sights in those locales you can do so easily.

I spent six days in Manhattan Beach with friends in January and spent the days roaming the beach areas up and down the coast on bike and in a car. The MB/Hermosa/Redondo area was very laidback and relaxing.