Art Hotel Laguna Beach features a rooftop terrace and puts you just a 5-minute drive from Main Beach Park. Guests can enjoy the outdoor pool, and hiking/biking trails, kayaking, and mountain biking are nearby. A children's pool and a garden are offered, and in-room conveniences include refrigerators and microwaves.
Pros: The hotel is blocks away from the beach and across be street from the Laguna Beach trolley.
The hotel's art work is really cool and we really enjoyed the private balcony the room had.
Cons: The hotel proprietors seemed a little bit unfocused and honestl a bit worn out. While we were checking in RJ was very helpful with walking a through the local maps, but had to be prompted to give us out room keys. Checking out it seemed as if the woman at the front desk was going through a route script of phrases rather than being genuinely hospitable.
Also, the term "ocean view" for the room we booked may be a bit of an overstatement. Yes, you could see the ocean from across Pacific Coast Drive when you stood up on the private balacony, but that was about it. Not a big deal, but I guess we expected more of a view given that the name was labeled as ocean view.
Trying Hard, But...
Pros: Independent hotel; cool location; affordable. Laguna Beach is a fun but pricey town. The hotel recommended Madison Square and Gardens Cafe for breakfast and it was great. This hotel is right across the street from a very nice public beach and about 3/4 of a mile from the main strip of shops and galleries and restaurants. They very nicely let us borrow beach toys after it was technically check-out time. Soft fluffy bath towels. 24-hour front desk. Good parking.
Cons: The person staffing the front desk when we arrived did not acknowledge I was waiting in front of him until he was darn good and ready. The person he was training did, so I knew I wasn't actually invisible. Until he finally greeted me, I honestly couldn't tell if he knew I was there even though I was about two feet in front of him. That was weird and off-putting to start.
No fan or other ventilation in the bathroom; the room was like a sauna all day and night even with the AC on. Everything felt sort of clammy. The room seemed more grubby than artsy. Decorative pillows piled on the bed were not appealing, just made me wonder how often those covers got laundered. No accessible electrical outlet by the beds; didn't realize how much I missed that until I couldn't have it. Crumpled up info sheet on the desk in the room said to see hotel map on the other side, but the map was gone. The window did not seem to lock.
Quiet, clean, reasonable, and friendly
Pros: I needed a place to start over and landed here. Gail, the owner, was very helpful in giving me a room.
She offers rooms in a variety of sizes and they were more than adequate for my needs. Gail runs the property and knows Laguna very well - she is always available to help out and Isis, a member of her staff, was great at pointing out local food and activities.
Cons: It can be a little challenging finding your room if you're on an upper floor. The space outside one floor had a water spill.
Great Family Get-together
Pros: The rooms are good size - we had a group of 14 in three rooms (4 were small children) and with 2 queen beds and a hide-a-bed in each room we were comfortable. The staff was friendly and helpful. It is not a luxury hotel - but very clean and family-oriented! Close to the beach and art galleries and eating places.
Quiet, clean, reasonable, and friendly
Pros: I needed a place to start over and landed here. Gail, the owner, was very helpful in giving me a room.
She offers rooms in a variety of sizes and they were more than adequate for my needs. Gail runs the property and knows Laguna very well - she is always available to help out and Isis, a member of her staff, was great at pointing out local food and activities.
Cons: It can be a little challenging finding your room if you're on an upper floor. The space outside one floor had a water spill.
Great Family Get-together
Pros: The rooms are good size - we had a group of 14 in three rooms (4 were small children) and with 2 queen beds and a hide-a-bed in each room we were comfortable. The staff was friendly and helpful. It is not a luxury hotel - but very clean and family-oriented! Close to the beach and art galleries and eating places.
