Still looking for some advice from anyone familiar with either Surf and Sand Hotel or Inn at Laguna. Need some good comparisons. Thanks for any advice.

Surf & Sand is south of downtown and was, until the Montage opened, one of THE luxury resorts in town. Their restaurant, Splashes, is practically on the sand. Great place for a cocktail.

The Inn at Laguna is practically right on Main Beach (intersection of Coast Highway and Laguna Canyon Blvd). Also very, very nice. Adjacent to Las Brisas, a Mexican restaurant that out-of-towners adore; the food actually isn't very good, but the views are incredibly sumptuous. If you're familiar with that hellhole Gladstone's up in the Santa Monica/Malibu area-- same idea. Go there for cocktails and Happy Hour munchies, then go elsewhere for dinner. Splashes, for example. Or Studio at the Montage. Or Claes (in Hotel Laguna). Or French 75. Or Savoury (in the Casa del Camino Hotel). Or....

I would prefer to stay at Surf and Sand, than Inn at Laguna. Inn at Laguna is located almost too close to Downtown, that you'll always have loud tourists (and locals) outside, partying late and such. If you're ok with that, then that's fine. But, my preference would be Surf and Sand. It's not really "that" far, IMO. I walk everywhere and don't shy from a few blocks or 10 blocks - they're really short blocks in Laguna anyway.

Inn at Laguna has one advantage in that you can stroll to a gorgeous park which stretches along the ocean to the north, starting at Las Brisas restaurant next door. But be sure to get a room on the ocean side because the land side rooms pick up noise from PCH. Best rooms for privacy, quiet and ocean views are on the top two levels in the wing south of the lobby. IMO Las Brisas has good food, particularly the seafood, in a great setting. Usually crowded. Not for intimate dining, but fun.

What about Dana Point Marriott? It sits up on a cliff and has spectacular views. State beach right below.

No really want to go to Laguna

One of my favorite things about the Inn at Laguna is the breakfast. It's included in the room price. You order it the night before (they give you a menu checklist to hang on the door) and it's brought to your room at the time you specify. Or you can choose to have it served up on the deck overlooking the water.

I also thought the location was great & the rooms were clean and nice. I would stay there again in a second.

I decided to go with the Inn at laguna - I read posts that have said that the Surf and Sand Hotel has no air cond and that the waves are so loud it keeps them up at night

Many hotels right on the coast have no A/C. It generally doesn't get hot enough to need it. When I lived across the street from the beach, I never used A/C.

The wave sound? Well, it's kinda loud. I like it, but that's me. It's romantic and soothing.

But I think you made a good choice. Have fun down in Laguna!