Fodor's Expert Review Regent Santa Monica Beach Hotel

Walk to the ocean side of the soaring atrium at this family- and pet-friendly hotel (formerly the Loews) and you feel like you're on a cruise ship: massive windows give way to the expansive sea below, and sunny "experience managers" are just a text away. All rooms are a minimum of 720 square feet and offer soaking tubs and rain showers, marble counters, and walk-in closets. Rooms come with a complimentary "refreshment center" stocked with drinks and snacks (you can even choose what you want before you arrive). Higher rooms have arched ceilings with side skylights. The state-of-the-art fitness center is joined by the West Coast's only Guerlain spa for true L.A.-grade training and primping. The experience managers are joined by beach butlers to plan out and enhance your stay. Meet friends in the clubby lobby, take in the ocean views over fresh Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare at the dreamy Orla by celebrity chef Michael Mina, or enjoy tableside cocktails at the Orla Bar. If you're seeking something simpler, try Sweet July Cafe (featuring another hot chef collab with Ayesha Curry) for warm drinks, pastries, and other quick bites. Kids and pets go first-class at the Regent, with loaner gear, amenity kits, and special activities.