We are going to be honeymooning in August in Santa Monica. What are the best hotels in the area? I have looked at a ton of options. There are lots of nice ones from what I have seen. I have been told Shutters is nice but is out of our budget. We are interested in the Huntley but having never been to the area, I am nervous to make the reservations. Any info on the Huntley or any other suggestions?

Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar are both pretty swanky-- they're sister properties, across the street from each other. In this part of town, they're the cream of the crop. There is also the JW Marriott property, Le Mérigot, as well as the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, both on Ocean Avenue, a quick walk south of the SM Pier and the pedestrian mall known as the Third Street Promenade. North of the Pier, you'll find the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows (long the choice of presidents and movie stars). These are the high-end choices.

There is a new hotel a half-block north of the Pier and across the street: The Shore Hotel. It's eco-friendly and quite contemporary (new construction) and looks quite nice, but I've only driven and/or walked by and haven't gone in.

Another possibility, albeit a bit offbeat, is the Shangri-la. The hotel dates from the 1930s, and is one of the best examples of the Streamline Moderne style of Art Déco in southern California. It used to be a bit downmarket, but they did a snazzy renovation a few years back and it has become much nicer. And pricier. The rooftop bar is always nice, however.

The Huntley is fine for what it really is: An urban highrise-ish hotel that caters to the business and tourist trade (you'll be in downtown Santa Monica, which is surprisingly the headquarters of many international financial firms). It's a couple of blocks inland, but it's also a half-block off the Promenade, so you'll have lots of shopping and dining choices around you.

What is your budget? None of these choices is particularly cheap, but I'm sure you'll be able to find something nice in the area.

Thanks for your quick reply! We will be in town for 5 nights and I'd like to keep it around $3000 total or below. I've seen rooms at some of the swanky hotels that you've mentioned that are a close fit in the budget but don't necessarily have an ocean view so I need to decide if the view is worth the extra $$.

The Georgian, an older hotel with a great history, has a 500sq ft king suite, oceanview, that is just over your budget in August (dang 14% hotel tax!) ...they also have a regular Queen room ocean view that start around $349 per night...but their regular rooms are definitely on the small side. You can see the king suite on youtube, and the reservation is cancellable if you'd like to lock something in while you continue to look around.
www.georgianhotel.com

Thank you! I had wondered about the Georgian. That was one of the first places I looked into but wasn't sure about it as it was older. Glad to hear that it is still a good option!!

Not sure but do not think the Georgian has a pool, which I for one would want in August.

Don't need a pool if you stay at the Georgian. The beach is across the street.

grosenb: That's not exactly correct. The Georgian is technically across Ocean Avenue, down a bluff, then across a pedestrian bridge spanning Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica Beach. A bit of a haul. Then there's the simple fact that the ocean water tends to be rather cool, so one takes quick dips and then suns oneself. Curiously, the water around Catalina Island feels warmer, so swimming there in the summer is wonderful...!

August will be warm, but not horribly so. Santa Monica is in a microclimate that keeps it a bit cooler than surrounding beach communities and any inland areas (welcome to California, where your weather can change by traveling one block away!). A pool is always nice, but not a huge necessity. The Georgian is a lovely old property, and they've been spending fair amounts in key renovations to keep itself fresh. Hopefully the ghosts are happy with the remodeling (some say the Georgian is haunted, as well as the Miramar-- and I'd be shocked if the Shangri-La wasn't haunted too).

There is a hotel farther down on Ocean called the Viceroy which could be a possibility; it looks nice from the outside and, given it's a bit south of the main drag of downtown SM, you might get a deal there. It's also just north of the fun of SM's Main Street, which has good restaurants (Chinois on Main is still quite good) and funky boutiques and occasional famous people sightings (a Mad Men actor getting coffee at Peet's with his teenage son was my most recent-- oh yeah, and an ex-Buffy actor at the Starbuck's down the road). Try for a higher floor at the Viceroy and you can get killer views of the Pacific and, on a clear day, my beloved Catalina Island.