Ritz CArlton Huntington or St. Regis in Dana Point?
 

We have 1 weeks reservations is august at both hotels. We have two kids (15 & 12). We love to lay by the pool and play tennis. At the st. regis we used starwood points (a lot) and at the ritz we got a rate of 205$ including breakfeast and valet parking. We love upscale hotels but hate getting ripped off. Are either of these hotels arrogant, snobby, or just total ripoffs (everything but the room) Please give me your advisce on where i should stay!!

The St. Regis has the prettier view, prettier grounds, more luxurious rooms, and better food. It's only a couple years old and service has not been as polished as it could be, but that's a minor issue IMO.
Hands down the SR vs the RC HB (which is not one of the better RC's in their chain. Location is a negative, rooms are standard RC).

Hi!
I agree w/ Ted Turner. I wasn't impressed w/ the RC Dana Point at all -- rooms nothing special, service a little snooty.
Have you checked out the new Montage Resort? It is close by in Laguna Beach.
And for less $$, there is a brand new Hyatt Regency Resort in Huntington Beach.

Please clarify that you are referring to the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Resort in Pasadena and NOT the R-C Laguna Niguel in Dana Point.... And bear in mind that the St. Regis and the R-C Huntington are some 40 or 50 miles apart.

I WAS REFERRING TO RC HUNTING......

The Ritz in Pasadena is a grand place with a nice view of the valley and well kept grounds. The St. Regis has the more striking views IMO since it is on the coast. The rooms at the Ritz vary a LOT. I've posted here before about my experiences, some good, some not. Since the Ritz is a converted mansion/library, there are some quirky non-cookie cutter rooms. But that doesn't excuse moldy showers, holes in the walls, bad service and heavily stained materials in the floors and furniture which I've experienced in some rooms there. Others have been perfect.
Because I so dislike unpredictable (read occasionally bad) accommodation surprises, I'd choose the St. Regis since it's new and in a beautiful location.
The Ritz Huntington has many nice attributes, but my own experiences will lead me not to stay there again in the near future.