Montage, Laguna Beach
Photo credit: Montage
Overview
Set high on the cliffs above the Pacific, in Laguna's arty little beach town, Montage Laguna Beach is the kind of resort that makes you feel fancy the second you pull up….but here's the plot twist: it's genuinely one of the best 5-star family stays in SoCal, not just a luxury hotel that tolerates your toddler. Here's everything parents need to know before you book.
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By Car: Montage Laguna Beach is about 1.5 hours from LA (traffic-dependent) and roughly 90 minutes from San Diego, right along scenic PCH.
By Plane: the closest airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA), about 16 miles / 25 minutes away. The resort doesn't run a free airport shuttle, but the Concierge can book a car through a preferred vendor. LAX is also an option for international flights (1.5–2 hours with traffic).
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Families that want to splurge and love having direct beach access!
Getting around
Shuttles: The Montage offers a complimentary house car service within the city of Laguna Beach — handy for hopping downtown for dinner or the galleries without dealing with parking twice in one day.
Beach Access: The resort sits directly above Treasure Island Beach, about a 4-minute walk down. There's a stroller-friendly ramp as well as stairs, great for families with little ones, though it can feel like a trek if you forget the sunscreen back in the room. Note this is a public beach, so it can get crowded on peak days, though the Montage reserves chairs and umbrellas for guests (wohoo)!.
Accessibility: ADA-accessible guestrooms are available, and facilities around the property cater to people with accessibility needs. Here is the full list.
Hotel Facilities Parents Need
Pools: Multiple outdoor pools, including the heated Mosaic Pool (6:00am–10:00pm) with a separate shallow baby pool, great for toddlers. There's also an adults-only (see below).
Spa Pool (7:00am–7:00pm), open to registered guests and to day-spa guests who book a treatment of $345+.
Sporting & Recreation: Tennis and basketball courts, fitness center, complimentary fitness classes, plus bookable experiences like paddleboarding, snorkeling, tidepool tours, hiking, and golf nearby are available (subject to availability and season).
Gym: A state-of-the-art fitness center with ocean views, located within Spa Montage. Open daily 6:00am–7:00pm, with complimentary classes for registered guests.
Spa: Spa Montage is a 20,000-sq-ft oceanfront spa with 21 treatment rooms, separate men's and women's lounges, steam room, sauna, and outdoor cold plunge/whirlpool. Open daily 7:00am–7:00pm.
Breakfast: Although not automatically included in the room rate, breakfast credits are tied to specific packages or travel-advisor/Virtuoso bookings (typically around $40–$80 per person). You should ask about this when you reserve your room.
Room Amenities Parents Look For
Family-Friendly Rooms: Suites and Three-Bedroom Villas are available for larger families. Connecting/adjoining rooms can be requested but aren't guaranteed, you’ll need to confirm directly with reservations at the time of booking.
Wifi: Complimentary, included in the daily resort fee.
Kitchen: Rooms include a minibar, refrigerator, and microwave.
Sleep
Cribs: Complimentary, available upon request (arrange in advance with Reservations).
Laundry: Not confirmed in official resort materials , ask at booking if this matters for a longer stay.
Parking & EV Charging
Parking: Valet only — there's no self-parking option.
Overnight guests: $75/night
Day guests (no validation): $30 for the first 3 hours, +$15/hour after
Dining/spa guests: Validated at $15 for the first 3 hours (complimentary if you spend $350+ on dining/spa)
Stays over 6 hours: $125–$250 depending on seasonal demand
Electric Chargers: Yes, 4 Tesla chargers and 4 standard EV charging stations, complimentary for registered guests.
Activities & Services for Kids
Kids Club “Paintbox” (ages 5–12) runs half-day and full-day sessions of arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, and Coastal-California-themed activities; kids can also earn "Montage Merit Badges."
Paintbox Petite (ages 2–5) is bookable by the hour and doesn't require potty training. Pricing has varied by season, prices range from a half-day around $175 and a full day around $250 per child, though these should be confirmed directly with the resort since they change seasonally. Advance reservations are recommended, especially in peak summer.
Babysitting: Available, for an additional fee.
Other Services & Activities: Children's Night Out (evening drop-off sessions) and Sunset S'mores are regular offerings.
Pet friendly
Yes! Montage Laguna Beach is pet-friendly. Dogs and cats under 75 lbs are welcome, for a non-refundable fee of $220 per pet, with a max of two pets per room. Pets can't be left alone in the room or in public indoor areas, but they're welcome on-leash (6 ft max) in outdoor spots like Mosaic Bar & Grille, the lawns, the beach paths, and the park below the resort.
Overall
The Montage is a luxury family resort that doesn’t just tolerate kids, it welcomes them! Paintbox is the real winner for parents, and the pool/beach setup works well for a range of ages, from babies to pre-teens. The tradeoff is that it can get pricey: between the room rate, resort fee, valet parking, and Paintbox sessions, a family stay adds up fast, and you'll want to budget beyond the nightly rate. For parents who can absorb that cost, it delivers a genuinely relaxing, well-run family trip.
Book Now!
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