Surf & Sand Laguna Beach’s Transformation Brings Guests Even Closer to Sea

Along California’s South Coast Highway are dozens upon dozens of accommodation options, from sleepy motels to the Ritz. The Surf & Sand Laguna Beach, a rare instance of a 5-star property located directly on the beach, stands out among them.  

Calling it a “hidden jewel,” Surf & Sand’s director of sales, Amy Limore, told Travel Market Report that the hotel is few and far between because developers aren’t permitted “to build this close to the ocean anymore” like when it first opened in 1948. 

Now over 70 years later, Surf & Sand is part of Historic Hotels of America, Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Legends Collection, and has just unveiled a property-wide transformation that’s been two years in the making.  

Lobby and Guestrooms 

Notably, two guest rooms have been removed so that the lobby and lounge now offer a sweeping panoramic ocean view, and there is a robust, highly curated art collection offering pops of color throughout the clean, white interiors. 

“When you walk in the door, you can see straight out to the ocean,” Nancy Johns, head of marketing for Surf & Sand’s parent company, JC Resorts, told TMR. “And the art is very different. I love it when I get to walk in and there’s a new piece.” 

“I literally had a client walk in and start screaming because she said, ‘I can’t believe how good this looks with the view,'” Limore added. “Guests can experience something like never before having the ocean and the renovated rooms.” 

Surf & Sand’s 165 guest rooms and suites, dispersed across three buildings, feature fully updated balconies with ocean views. The rooms’ bathrooms are now naturally lit, many with deep-soak bathtubs overlooking the ocean. Guestrooms also now have bespoke furniture pieces with Italian marble finishes and thoughtful touches – like faucets imported from France.  

Integrated personalized technology defines the room renovations, as well, with motorized window treatments, new beverage and Nespresso coffee consoles with refrigerated drawers, and well-stocked, light-up minibars. This is also the first time the rooms have had air conditioning – although some guests may forgo it in favor of the fresh sea breeze through their window each evening. 

“How many people use a sound machine, right?” Johns said. “For me, I turn off the AC, open up the doors, and listen to the ocean.” 

“People say it’s their best sleep ever,” Limore added, noting that guests who are more sensitive to the noisy waves can get complimentary ear plugs or a room in the building furthest from the beach, “but 99% always say they love the ocean sound and turn down the AC to hear it.” 

Spa and Restaurant 

It’s not only the lobby and guestrooms bringing guests closer to the sea at Surf & Sand. The Aquaterra Spa just finished a major renovation of its own, now sporting a private outdoor jacuzzi and eight treatment rooms, including a couples’ massage room that opens to the ocean.  

The hotel’s signature restaurant, Splashes, and its synonymous beachfront bar are beloved by guests and Laguna locals alike. The space is now anchored by a custom-designed Chihuly Chandelier sculpture, made of hundreds of blue glass-blown elements, and features floor-to-ceiling windows. Chef Ron Fougeray, who has been there for more than 10 years, cooks up ocean-inspired dishes using seasonal, locally sourced California ingredients. 

It’s not unusual for Surf & Sand employees to have been working there for more than 30 years, forming connections with repeat guests who they now enjoy the renovation with. The concierge team is always ready to add extra amenities for a client’s special occasion or plan a Laguna Beach outing for guests. 

“Our employees are not new; they know what they’re doing and have relationships with the guests,” Limore said. “It’s so neat [for them] to welcome back a guest who used to come here and now they’re coming and seeing the renovation. They have that history with the guests.” 

The Great Outdoors 

Bella Vista Terrace is where guests can relax, order small bites and drinks from the bar, and enjoy live music from 4 to 8 p.m. on the weekends. It’s also where they can feel closest to the wonders of the Pacific Ocean. 

“We had dolphins the other day, very close there, in the clear water. We felt like we could touch them,” Limore said. “Then there’s a private arch, and you can walk down there and see the sea urchins, and to the right, you can walk down to town on the beach – predicated on the tide.” 

Whether you walk to town on the sand or street, Laguna Beach offers about 100 mom-and-pop shops and local restaurants. The hotel also offers cars to take guests around town. 

“It’s very charming. It doesn’t have any of the big chains, so when you walk down, there’s a small restaurant and an art gallery…,” Johns said. “It’s just a wonderful environment.” 

Limore added that Surf & Sand is “special in the sense where you have everything and you don’t need to leave” the immediate area. The hotel offers programming ranging from beach yoga sessions to cocktail and craft beer pop-ups to kids’ art workshops and movie nights.  

The hotel also provides beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels – everything guests need to enjoy a relaxing day with their toes in the sand or lounging by the pool. 

“We’re literally on the beach,” Johns said, “so guests can just take steps down from the property and be on the beach which is really fabulous and exciting.” 

The meeting and event spaces have also been reimagined, and the property is especially popular for weddings on the beach.