This Waldorf is unlike the ones you have been to. It is really more of a wellness spa and not just a luxury hotel. Don't get me wrong it is a 5 star luxury hotel. It is stunning. The Ritz was booked for some of the days we were gone so we tried the Waldorf. It did not disappoint at all. Like other luxury hotels in the area this place is very expensive, and some of it bugs me. Not only are you paying for your room, valet and taxes they also charge for most of the things you want to do there. This includes a resort charge with WiFi any and all fitness classes, beach towels (now this is nuts) , chairs & umbrellas, preferred green fees, beach games (are you kidding me), and any tram to the beautiful beach. Some I totally get and others are just silly. Now, I will be back. But I am never going to pay to play a game with others or for beach towels. We did not golf so I have no opinion on whether the cost is worth it, and I also have no idea how many holes it has. It is pretty and I do get the idea of a green fee, but beach towels, just no. The entire property is beautiful. It rests on top of a seaside bluff on some 175 acres in Dana Point. There is a private beach club, three pools (no fee), oceanfront golf, an amazing luxury spa and wonderful views. You can become a member of their spa, and fitness area. I have no idea of the cost. They offer every spa treatment you want and the service is great. We loved the pools and the views. The food is great there. This is another of you don't have to leave if you don't want place. Peace and quiet seekers will love this place and if you are into spa and wellness services, this is the place for you. All the guest rooms have a private terrace or patio. The rooms are so pretty. The beds are ever so comfortable. The housekeeping service is great. Our view was wonderful. There was nothing there that I needed that I did not have in my room. The service is just so kind and calm. We loved it. Save your pennies, this will cost you. Go for a special occasion or to just detox from the busy world. read more

See all

I visited the spa as part of an overnight getaway to the Waldorf Astoria resort after the New Year. Unfortunately, the spa doesn't live up to the resort level experience it should be. For starters, my initial tour didn't include the quiet room, which I later discovered on my own after my treatment. In addition, there were no light snacks in the women's area, only a single water dispenser & a tea station, both of which were empty the entire 4 hour duration of my time there. Upon departure I realized there are some light snacks in the "members area" , which was also not shown to me during my tour upon check in, and I was surprised to see it all being put away at 5:30 , despite the spa being open until 7:00 pm. When a spa facilitates extended exposure to heat via saunas and hot tubs, it's essential that patrons have access to water so they can rehydrate and to have snacks available. This was a total disappointment. For the service itself, I got a 60 minute de-stress package. The first few minutes after my technician introduced herself were spent reviewing upsell options for feet, scalp, eye, and shoulder treatments that ranged an addition $40-60. I was surprised to learn the add-ons did not actually add time to the service, but the same 60 minute massage would occur with an emphasis on the body part mentioned. This was tacky and not something I would expect from a 5 star resort. In terms of the facilities and their upkeep, the towels were piled high in the hampers throughout the time I was there and the bowl with iced washcloths stayed empty until the last hour. The facilities themselves were outdated and nothing special with respect to the dry and wet saunas and the small whirlpool in the women's section. Overall I do not recommend the Waldorf Astoria spa and will spend my $300-500 spa day money elsewhere. read more

See all

Came here recently on a Saturday and was very underwhelmed by the experience. I live local so have tried many spas in the area, including neighboring resorts. Immediately, the entrance/valet was so chaotic, dozens of golfers unloading, no traffic control and barely an acknowledgment when I pulled up with my car after waiting. Heading to the spa, the reception was awkward. Myself and another guest were shown the amentities at the same time. The locker area is so small so it felt strange when the attendant gave us two neighboring lockers in an already very small area, and she knew we weren't together. The indoor sauna is tiny, 2 people max, if you sit. One person couldn't even lie down. There was also no cold plunge. The spa pool is off the gym and to my surprise had absolutely no attendants. Trying to get the umbrellas open took me and my friend a few minutes of struggle to pop open. I was under the impression we would be able to have lunch by the pool but that was not the case. I maybe saw 2 attendants throughout the whole day in the spa itself. The massage itself was very nice, but didn't make up for the rest of the sub par things that day. Oh & the parking validation didn't even cover the whole cost, it's still a $15 charge. If you're looking for a spa day at one of the resorts here, save your searching and go to the Montage! read more

I love the spa and gym at the Waldorf Astoria in Dana Point. They have massage chairs downstairs and you can make a reservation. It's so nice to relax after a long day roughing it here ha ha. The staff is so welcoming and accommodating! You can have your hair and nails done here read more

See all

We arrived at the spa at 6:55 p.m., knowing they closed at 7, and simply asked if we could take a very quick shower and change for dinner. Zero accommodation. The spa manager, with a condescending smile, told me the best they could offer was for us to change clothes in the bathroom down the hall. That was especially disappointing given that we had spent the entire day hosting customers at the resort and had arranged the spa access in advance. That said, the golf staff was amazing. At Bourbon Steak, a server accidentally dumped an entire tray of drinks down my back and they could not have been more gracious about it. Accidents happen, and how you handle them matters. I love almost everything about the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach. The property, golf team and restaurant staff are fantastic. Unfortunately, the spa experience was the complete opposite. Done with the spa. read more

I took my wife here for a couples massage for our anniversary. The massage was great but was it worth the price? Well that comes down to your preference. The facility and spa was updated and well kept. The staff were friendly and helpful. The quiet space and ambiance with the beach as the backdrop while eating a quick lunch was unforgettable. So if you just want a massage then no it's not worth jt. But if you want to make a date out of it with your significant other then definitely worth jt. read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - View from lunch - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

I get massages weekly, and this was probably the worst massage I've had in the past few years. The therapist was very sweet, but was in very poor physical shape and I knew as soon as we walked to the room and she was out of breath that it was going to be a terrible massage.... I basically just got massage oil rubbed on my body. Again, she was very nice, and no she didn't ask if the pressure needed to be adjusted... she was so out of shape I didn't want to ask for medium pressure (instead of feather light), and probably the reason she didn't ask. The front desk staff was friendly and they ran on time. The massage room was clean and the fire place was a nice touch. read more

I debated giving this place 2 stars. For a high end spa competing with the ritz and pelican hill from a price point the overall experience was very underwhelming. Facilities definitely need an upgrade. The locker room area is tight and the tiny lockers had a keypad for locking which required pressing really hard and barely worked. The sauna room was single level and on the small side. Steam room was also relatively small but the steam was strong. There was what appeared to be a third aromatic sauna which was out of order. There were no ice towels which is the norm at high end spas and no water bottles by the sauna and steam room. The waiting area had minimal snacks and beverages which is also a basic at many nice spas. The massage service was ok nothing special. Valet parking is $10 with spa validation. The Pelican and Ritz spas are overall much better if you're looking to splurge. read more

See all

The spa has the most basic of baseline facials. Everything is an add on. I felt like this was a sales pitch rather than providing clarity on what's included and not included in the service. At these prices and at such a high end place? They should just have more comprehensive services prepared in the service and leave one "custom" facial as a baseline where you can add on. The other ones have barely any service and again they are looking to add on. So basically it's $600 to get A normal facial that has a mask and some level of exfoliation. I left pissed off because my technician dances around the fact that there was nothing but the hydrating machine. She wanted to tell me the origins of every manufacturer alive and what each ingredient was but didn't just answer what's included and what isn't. I have all of the same lotions and potions at home. I'm just asking so I can determine quickly what I want to add on. Don't book 90 minutes. They give 20 minutes of service and hope that you fill up the rest of the time with add ons. The rest of the staff is lovely. The places is beautiful. Great steam, sauna and jacuzzi. No day passes available. Only can use the facilities with a service. Be prepared to spend $600-$1000 per treatment. read more

We had a great time with a great room. The monarch bay beach club was a great spot to eat. read more

See all

If I could give this place 0 stars, I absolutely would. I booked a 60-minute massage and paid for the full hour. When I made the appointment, no one mentioned that I needed to arrive much earlier than the scheduled time. I arrived a little early, and they had me sit in the waiting room until someone came to show me to the changing area, telling me to 'take my time.' I had no idea I was supposed to rush. I've had massages at many places, and usually, the clock starts when the therapist begins the massage, not while you're sitting around waiting. This is supposed to be a high-end spa, but the customer service was terrible. I would highly recommend finding a different place where you get the service you're paying for, rather than feeling like they're just trying to rush you through and take your money. I also want to add review about massage itself.My husband and I booked a couples massage, and honestly, it was really disappointing. After the session, my husband said his massage was pretty mediocre, and I felt the same way. The whole thing felt rushed, and the therapist kept interrupting the flow by walking around the table to get oil or other stuff. She barely spent any time on my legs--just about two minutes on each side. I thought she'd focus more on my back since I mentioned it was hurting, but that didn't happen either. Also the massage table was broken, and she had to stop in the middle of the session to fix it. It was super loud, and my husband said it completely ruined his experience. When I talked to the manager about adjusting the price since we didn't get the full 60 minutes we paid for, she was really rude and basically blamed us, even though we showed up on time and still had to wait in the reception. We paid $360 per person, and honestly, you're better off going somewhere like Montage for a real 5-star experience. Don't waste your money here guys. read more

Beautiful spa, well laid out and clean. I had a massage and the provider was a male of which I am Always hesitant but he was very professional and made me feel comfortable. In my opinion, this was the most important part of my treatment. The therapist had a nice, strong pressure, relieving me of some aches and pains. Can't complain here. A must try. read more

This spa is perfect for a day of rest, it was quiet and service was very good. Good amenities.

It's really a run down spa. So sad, as the hotel is so beautiful. Since the change in ownership this spa has changed its high standard to a super low level spa. I wouldn't recommend it My husband had booked us here bc our usual place was fully booked (Montage spa) for Valentine's Day services including a couples massage and a facial. When we arrived, after checking in and confirming all our services, they had a mix up of not knowing that we had a couples massage and were going to give us individual massages. Super disorganized. The massages: Pre messages: the therapist for both of us (I asked my husband about his experience right after) did not ask us about our pressure preferences or even if we had any injuries or if we wanted to focus on a certain area, instead only ask if we wanted any add on. Massages: mediocre for both, didn't ask much about pressure, if it's ok, or even didn't ask me in the beginning about my headrest, I had to stop her when she started to adjust. The window was open and the pool is right outside and splashing was so loud that you couldn't relax, which is the entire point of a massage. My husband asked them about it and they said oh, ok... and shut the window but the sound was still loud. After the massage, I spoke with my husband and decided to share the experience with the management before our facials (my husband was so annoyed he was ready to cancel that service) When we walked out of the room, there was no water offered, one of them escorted us to our areas. I went to the front and asked for management and spoke to them about the experience above. She apologized, offered to not charge the massage. The point wasn't to not be charged, your spa made our Valentine's Day experience horrible. The effects of our day is not wiped by you now not charging us! The offered us a glass of champagne and we had our facial. My facial was good, the person was prepped about our experience, so she was very attentive. But this type of service" Being attentive" should be the norm at a high end spa! No manager should be talking to their staff before a service bc of a incident to get the service we clients deserve. Facilities: the showers were disgusting, hair everywhere, I went to 3 showers to find one but then discover there fake nails that had been fallen off on the ground (this is after it was cleaned supposedly) when I brought it to the cleaning crew attention they said since it's 4pm they will have the night shift clean it. I also brought it up to the manager and she gave the excuse of "we have been busy". I wonder how health department would feel about their answer!!! So all in all as you probably wouldn't want to go here. read more

I have been to this spot a couple of times this year. It is generally very pretty and nice and quiet. The last time I went, a girl was on her phone in the hot tub on FaceTime. I asked her if she was on FaceTime because we did not have any clothes on and she said that she was. I said I'm sure you're not going to point the camera at us, but would you mind getting off off of your phone because it's very loud and disruptive.in addition, I asked for a glass of champagne, which is generally complementary with the service and the spot attendant never returned. In short, I think this place is pretty hit or miss and it's expensive to not have a beautiful afternoon. read more

Thank you Lisa for the perfect birthday massage today! My husband and I stay at this resort 4-5 times a year and this trip proved to be one of the best we have had. Aveo delivered an amazing steak and top notch table service as usual, but the true delight was our visit to the spa. Lisa is an exceptionally talented massage therapist who has strong hands, an intuitive and empathetic sense of where to work, she listened to my requests and over delivered. Best of all she has a delightfully refreshing personality. Thank you Waldorf for never disappointing! read more

I had a mani/pedi service with Linda at the Deborah Lippmann salon. She was great. She gave excellent customer service, because she explained in detail what she was going to do, asked if I had any allergies, offered me a hot beverage, placed the spa sandals on, gathered my belongings and walked me back to the women's lounge...exceptional. I chose the Deborah Lippmann gel lab pro cranberry kiss nail polish & it was perfect. The front desk staff were great too, and handled the pressure of an employee having to leave early for a family emergency. My scheduled blowout service at the drybar was cancelled and they gave me a complimentary service at another location for the inconvenience. The Spa Cafe was awesome! Flora and staff were organized with our friend's bachelorette luncheon. The chicken pecan salad was tasty and the sparkling wine as well. The jacuzzi was great, amenities & showers were good, lockers easy to use, and the women's lounge to relax in had snacks and tea for the guests'. Overall, fabulous experience and will come back to enjoy the services. read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

WOW! This spa is amazing. And huge! I had a great time here. Very nice amenities. I recommend to everyone that you arrive super early so that you can truly and fully enjoy the spa before your appointment. They have so much to offer prior to your appt. Great facial. Beautiful amenities. I will be back. read more

See all

First, I just want to say I was SO excited for this experience. I was between the ritz, Waldorf, and montage, and ultimately chose the Waldorf for our spa experience. To be honest, it was VERY disappointing. I don't even know where to start. When you're spending $300+ on a one hour treatment (x2 since I was with my husband) one would expect a high level luxury experience. For starters, the locker rooms were extremely small. At first I was the only one in there, so I didn't really think about it. Then, 2 other women were walked back and we were all pretty much on top of each other. Second, the quality. My gym has nicer locker rooms/sauna/jacuzzi than the Waldorf spa. I noticed, but wasn't going to let that dampen my time. I then walked out to the "Women's lounge" which is where you wait for your service. I've been to a decent amount of spa's, and never have I ever been to one that doesn't AT LEAST have a station with infused water & tea selection. In fact, most of them also offer complimentary champagne. ($300/person in fact does not earn you any welcome champagne here!). The Women's lounge was literally just a dark blue couch in a dark hallway. The only water was around the corner at a filling station. I usually look forward to the lounge experience, and sometimes spend up to an hour relaxing in there. I felt like I was waiting at the dentist in a robe. For my treatment- the woman performing my body scrub seemed new, so I was happy to cut her some slack. She seemed a little nervous and like she was trying to remember the routine by talking through it. Again, I was willing to overlook this. The actual treatment was fine, not amazing (wouldn't do again), but still enjoyable. The end though was kind of bizarre- she didn't want to have to have me flip over to my stomach again for the last portion of my back, so she just had me sit up and said "it was easier". Honestly she was so sweet so I feel bad but it was a bit odd. That being said, my experience compared to my husbands was still better. He said it was the worst massage he's ever received. It was supposed to be the "performance massage", which is like a deep tissue treatment. First off, it was freezing in the room. Second, she basically just aggressively scratched his scalp and rubbed his neck over and over in the same spot while having him lay on his back for the first half of the session. The second half, she lightly rubbed each limb a couple of times very quickly. Not only was it not relaxing, it was definitely not deep tissue. After the treatment, we planned to spend the day at the resort using the facilities (which we were told by the spa we were able to do ahead of time), and then get ready for dinner. Meaning, we would have spent money at the pool ordering drinks, lunch, as well as a decent amount on a nice dinner. Instead, we found out we were limited to using the "spa pool"- which is fine, that's common at luxury hotel spas, but usually that pool is also very nice, just a little smaller. This is literally a lap pool attached to the gym. There is no food or drink service offered, it was quite small, and there were people swimming laps making it impossible for us to even get in the pool (it was a hot day so that was rough). There was no music, ambiance, or any sort of service out there. Not only that, but it backed up to the residences at the Waldorf, and it was trash day:) so we got to listen to the trash truck go by while watching people swim in their swim cap & goggles. Needless to say, we didn't bother staying for any meals or spending another dime there. Such a bummer, because we would have loved to come back regularly had we had a better experience. We're Hilton members and live locally, so it has always been a place we've been excited to try. Note: I actually asked the front desk if there was any way we could use the regular pool (the hotel was literally DEAD- it was noon on a Wednesday in September), and he said no. When I described our disappointment with the lap pool, he agreed and literally said he encourages people to stay at the hotel and not just use the spa for that reason. Soooo clearly I'm not the first one to bring this up. Overall SUCH A BUMMER. This was for our 8 year anniversary and I cried in the hallway as we grabbed our stuff to leave. I think we'll try the ritz next time! read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - "Spa pool" aka the gym - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Fiancé and I did two days of treatments here. They offer a full menu of options. One slight hang up I had was calling to make the appointments the staff really didn't know the differences in treatments. Know you left products and services--especially at a 5-star resort. We had to get several callbacks to get an explanation on certain aspects of the facials and massages. As for the services they were good. My facial was amazing. I did the dramatic healing facial for 90 minutes. Trish did a great job! The next day I had the 60 minute serenity massage. Natalie was my masseuse. I was pleased with the service and professionalism. The facilities are nice. Private pool and hot tub for the spa, as well as men's and women's whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms. The locker rooms are well maintained and staffed. I made sure to utilize them to the fullest. I would go back. read more

I'm giving 3 stars only for spa itself, my deep tissue therapist was fabulous. The spa charges $400 for 55 min. When I made an appointment (in advance) they di not inform me that steam room was out of order, half showers also out of order, *aroma therapy spa was just a very small sauna room (2 maybe 3 person) no "aroma" of any kind and if your at spa pool *nobody comes out there to take spa lunch order or anything. The lounge chairs appear and smell as to have been used at a fraternity party. Sunscreen container (after searching 15 min) was empty and filthy looking. I've included some photos. Definitely not 5 facility. I live in a resort town, I've been to many 5. Past 30 years, this one is a 3-4. Due to the lack of communication during the appointment process. I made the $400 service appointment solely to use the steam room. As I checked in the desk woman named all the "wonderful amenities" Go across the road to Ritz read more

See all

Went to the spa today with some of my girlfriends. We all got a variety of services here. I would say that we all left wanting a little more. I personally got the body scrub and I really was blown away with how quick the whole thing was. I was sold by the woman to upgrade to the hair scrub because it sounded wonderful. It was a 5 min oil placement with some random rubbing not really a relaxing and calming massage and then they wrap your hair in a towel for $45. Not worth it at all. The woman in front of us at checkout complained about the same thing and they just apologized. The spas policy to hike up prices over the weekend is slightly absurd on top of the 20% service fee and gratuity. They do give you the option to change that 20% but I didn't. The scrub is not worth the $275. Go home and scrub yourself and save your money. The amenities and cleanliness of the place were wonderful. The staff was great and very friendly. I completely understand the current economic situation and price hikes but there are things "worth it" and other things that just don't make sense. The cafe at the hotel was great for coffee and chocolate croissant. The Aveo was delicious. I tried the lobster salad and it was perfect. My friend on the other hand ordered a salad and had a hair in it. They did cover the cost but man, this was our first time at this place so our first impressions were slightly soured. Overall the place is stunning, the spa services are overpriced, the people are kind. Would return for a a glass of wine and the view but sadly we won't be adding the spa on our list for a second visit. If pricing can't change I would encourage management to put a little more into the training or staff to do a stellar job at the services. read more

What brought me here was a promotion - a 90 minute massage at the 60 minute price. With gratuity it still was very expensive and now that I've experienced the spa facilities, I'm not sure it is worth the value. I motivated to try it mainly because I wanted to see if it was a place I could take my husband to in the future, but I don't think I will. The facilities themselves... it seems at one point they may have been nice but there is a lot of wear and tear that has not been fixed. I saw a lot of rusty fixtures, empty toilet seat cover holders, loose towel hooks, etc. For a resort of this caliber and for the prices they charge they do not do a very good job maintaining the facilities. It is also quite small. The spa jacuzzi is small and situated in an area of the lounge that doesn't really promote relaxation. The sauna and steam room were a good size and fine. The quiet room was very nice and the self-serve tea was really good. My massage treatment with Sirene (I think that was her name) was also very good. However, I did not particularly like the room I was placed in. It was in a couples massage room so it was huge and it was on the chilly side. I probably should have asked the therapist to turn up temp up. It also was not very dark in the room so I found it difficult to relax even with the eye mask. Though I enjoyed the massage treatment, I did not feel that the facilities were good enough to enjoy for the price. Montage, though also very expensive, has much better facilities and a nicer, more accessible spa pool and jacuzzi for spa guests. read more

The staff is super nice and service providers at the spa are very sweet as well. However- the couples massage we requested for both me and my husband were not that greats. Felt like they were rushing the whole time and all over the place. I asked for CBD to be used on my neck and shoulders which was fine but she applied it in the middle of the service. This lotion had a 'burning' icy hot sensation which is fine but made the whole experience very cold as it went all over my body. But then at the end of the massage she continued to rub my head and face with unwashed hands and my entire head and face now feel like I was rubbed with icy hot. As for my husband's massage in the same room- he obviously had a different masseuse and no CBD. But his felt rushed as well. Both of us ended feeling just a little blah considering the 'luxury' of this hotel. Then at the end I was charged for 2 CBD add ons instead of 1- which ?? And there is an Auto 20% gratuity added? WTF? Why would the service providers want to work hard? They make the same no matter what! read more

Over Memorial Day Weekend, my husband and I enjoyed a couples massage and spent the afternoon lounging by the pool. It was wonderful! The entire staff is very friendly and made us feel at home read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - Enjoying the jacuzzi - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

See all

Very disappointed with the spa amenities at this Spa. There is no ice towels provided to use during or before a sauna or hot steam room. Their is no tea provided as other places do and the snacks are limited to a small baggie of dried fruits. Just not what I expected considering there are other options available at a cheaper cost with higher level of services and amenities. I understand we are in a pandemic...but it shouldn't be an excuse to be stingy with offerings. read more

I booked a massage treatment for my boyfriend's birthday and also booked myself a manicure while he was getting his massage. The facilities are beautiful and clean. My boyfriend said his massage was amazing and exactly what he needed. My manicure was very relaxing and not rushed. My nail technician, I believe her name was Dan) was so wonderful and sweet! Overall, loved it and would come back. read more

The spa at the Monarch Beach Hotel is currently offering a high tea service on the weekends and with that comes access to all of the spa facilities for the day. The high tea service with simply lovely! We were served by a wonderful woman named Flora and her assistant Maya. They were both highly attentive without being intrusive. The tea service was wonderful, with my favorite being the Monarch Beach exclusive citrus blend made with chamomile leaves. The amount of food provided was actually a bit overwhelming which was purely sumptuous! Several savory options and lots of delectable treats as well - and a to go box for leftovers. The spa itself was meh. Well it was nice to have access to the pool, the spa's pool doesn't have a view of the ocean and it's nothing special. The women's locker room was very tight and crowded with people, as were the Jacuzzi, the saunas and the steam room. While there were a few hitches as it seems like they are trying to find their groove (for example, when we first arrived there was no one at the front desk to help us and then when someone showed up she was busy on the phone and, after tea service, we were directed to the spa but not given locker keys and had to search for someone to help us to get access to the locker), overall the service was on point, making us feel comfortable and welcomed. read more

See all

The almost complete renovation of the Spa is fabulous. I will probably update the review with 5 stars after the renovation is complete. The current locker area is small, and the vanity area is also narrow. But I understand that it is under renovation. -I had a great massage with PAMELA. I get massages regularly, so at first touch, I can tell if I am going to have a great massage or an average one. Pamela was definitely the former. She was attentive and applied just the right pressure for me. - Now onto the FLOATING MEDITATION: I was really looking forward to this because I had no idea what it was, but it sounded relaxing. You jump into a silk hammock and she rocks you. Then, she chants a few chokras and starts playing some sounds with her meditation sound bowls. Oh my gosh, I give this a 2 stars because she was piercing my ears with her meditation sound bowls. It was SO uncomfortable (i.e. Imagine being in the front row watching a bad singer at a concert without any headphones)because I had to put my hands over my ears half the time. I wonder if she knew what she was doing. It was not peaceful, it was not relaxing. And I definitely wasn't in a meditative state. read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

Let me start off by saying, my massage and therapist (Lynn) were great. That's about where my positive experience ended. I called the morning of to confirm and was scolded that they did in fact call. Ok whatever, just wanted to double check. Attitude wasn't necessary. I then asked if we could use the hotel pool after the service to which she replied with a firm no. Very much an attitude of no, that's not allowed, instead of "hey so sorry that's for hotel guests but we have a great outdoor lap pool to use" would have gone a long way in terms of setting the mood for my visit. Instead i showed up feeling the need to apologize? Wtf So we get to the spa itself, it's ok... no cold plunge, aromatherapy in sauna didn't appear to be working. Didn't have ice for wash cloths or cold water anywhere in the actual spa. One bucket with warm bottled waters. Maybe 5 total. Once we returned from lunch to the pool, 3 middle school or high school girls were banging on the gate to let them in. We pretended to ignore the harassment (nobody was talking at the lap pool, WAS relaxing until these 3 showed up like they were trying to sneak back stage at Coachella). Once we returned to the spa to shower/relax/recharge before returning home, the 3 girls snuck in another entrance, proceeded to storm into the women's spa area while we were in the steam room. They were loud, rude and disturbing the peaceful vibe of the spa. Not to mention they left their backpacks in the middle of the wet floor, which was a tripling liability. With that said; I spent nearly $1000 yesterday on myself and my friend at the spa and restaurant... only to be told what I COULDN'T do... and apparently the Waldorf Astoria is a babysitter for rich local kids that their parents think they can just use their passes wherever, whenever. There's many high end resorts locally I will gladly give my business to in the future but not here... and definitely not after how they dealt with the chaos upon exiting. Go to montage or ritz instead! read more

I absolutely love this place! I live close by and it's a wonderful place to bring visitors and friends because of the gorgeous views and phenomenal service. If you get the chance, please meet Felipe! He is world class at customer engagement, and he was a highlight of our most recent visit. He showed us around the hotel and also took amazing photos of us. Felipe really went above and beyond and because of him, we are definitely coming back to visit again soon! Also I recommend their desserts here.... So good!! read more

Save yourself some time and just book at the Montage. For two massages, it was over $700. At the Montage, it is well appointed. The women's lounge area is light and airy, with the most luxurious teas, cookies, fruit water, etc. There is a eucalyptus room, a steam room, sauna, cold plunge, two jacuzzis, and one of the most gorgeous pool side ocean views ever. At the Miraval spa- you are looking at the side of a building, the hot tub in the women's lounge is run down and rusty, and it was impossible to have more than 2 people in one area to change bc the locker area is so small. The "enhancements," were at least $40+, and then of course they add the gratuity. The massage was awful. I feel like im floating on a cloud at the montage. I left wondering whether these therapists actually had their license. No pressure, despite asking for more, and just felt like they were oiling me up to throw me on some sort of slip and slide after... No one to take orders outside by the pool. At the montage, you can grab lunch, drinks, etc with your girlfriends. This is definitely not worth the price tag. I am reading it is under new ownership- my suggestion is to throw these on groupon during the transition like Pelican Hill did for a bit... read more

not much change since monarch beach resort closed. the quality of the food food was awfulllllllll. watery ceviche, no flavor on bread and hard. too many same boring unhealthy dishes just like other restaurants. burger and fries, pasta loaded with cheese and butter, sandwiches loaded with fat dressing and bacon, chips with no flavor, no fruit dishes to offer. read more

Waldorf Astoria Spa - LIGHT LUNCH MEAL BUT WAS NOT THAT GOOD - Day Spas Near Me - Dana Point, California

We booked a 75 minutes couples massage. My husband's therapist asked him if he had any allergies, and he mentioned that he had hay fever pretty badly this season. Since she heard the word, "fever", she refused his service and we drove 1.5 hours home without getting massages. No amount of explanation could change the minds of the therapist of spa manager. Horrible experience. read more

This review is for the spa facilities only as I did not use any services. I came here with a spa pass so my husband and I could have a relaxing daycation without need to stay overnight since we are local. The spa pass allowed us to use all of the wonderful amenities without having to pay for services, especially since my husband doesn't enjoy massages. Upon checking into the spa, we were greeted by an attendant at the front desk who was friendly and offered us a little tiny glass of their juices/elixirs, which were both tasty and refreshing. After waiting a few minutes in their zen-inspired lobby, we were taken into the back by male and female staff who showed us the locker rooms separately. The women's locker room has: - 3 or so small/medium areas with lockers (electronic lockers that you program your own code into, - each locker contains spa robe for you to use and rubber spa sandals (the attendant helped me find the right size for me) - bathroom area with toilet stalls - shower area - each stall is private with shelves that are already stocked with clean towels, mat, wash cloth, and a disposable razor. The showers have bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and even a bottle of eucalyptus shower spray that gives your shower a luxurious experience. - 1 jacuzzi tub with jets and an awesome waterfall (both on switches) - this was my favorite part! - 1 dry sauna room (fits maybe 4-5 people comfortably) - 1 aromatic sauna room (small, only fits two people on a bench) - 1 eucalyptus steam room (fits 4-5 people comfortably) - Sink & mirror area with complimentary mouthwash, sunblock, deodorant, body lotion, hair spray, hair gel, makeup remover, disposable hair brushes, a curling iron, a flat iron, and a hairdryer. - Plenty of clean white towels - Complimentary spa water - Cold washcloths near the jacuzzi - Machine that pulls out all the water from your swimsuit (free to use) The spa was relatively quiet when I was there on a Sunday afternoon, so I was able to enjoy much of the locker room facilities alone, which was fantastic. There were a few times where a group of chatty ladies would come but I just rotated to different spots. A door leading out of the locker room leads into the treatment waiting area (just a few couches), then into a quiet room which is a relatively small room set-up with chaise lounges and blankets where you can take a nap, have tea, read a book etc. There is a CO-ED lounge down the hall called the "Tranquility Lounge", which was not actually shown to me during the tour - my husband told me about it later. This makes a nice meeting spot if you're with someone of the opposite sex, a place to chat quietly and have tea. The only thing in this room is a few couches and a hot water station. This might also be where couples wait for their treatments. The best spot for a co-ed couple is downstairs on the 3rd floor, outside at the spa's heated (82F) pool and outdoor hot tub. The outdoor lap pool: - Is heated which was nice since we were there on a not so very warm winter day. - plays relaxing MUSIC underwater! This was a first for me! - Is only about 3 feet deep so people who aren't strong swimmers don't have to stress - Is 18+ (no kids unlike the main hotel pool) The outdoor hot tub: - Is a good size to fit maybe 8 or so people comfortably, though when we went, 3 very loud and chatty ladies were camping out there, so we opted to wait until they left to step in. The outdoor area has lots of lounges/chairs, pool towels, even a sunblock dispenser. With a spa pass, we also had access to the fitness classes there, which include things like aerial silks and yoga. We didn't take any but the two studios we saw looked nice and clean. Overall, the spa was well-kept, clean, not too crowded, and we had a relaxing couple of hours. The spa validates the valet parking as well! Some things I wish they had: - More refreshments available. There appeared to be a cafe near the spa but it looked closed. It would've been nice to access water from the pool area instead of having to go back upstairs or take the elevator to the locker rooms. There was only hot water in the tranquility lounge, but no cups, or teas. There were a few pieces of fruit out, but it would've been nice to have more variety. - Layout is somewhat confusing. The back hallways are a maze of unmarked doors (what I'm assuming are treatment rooms), and I got lost a few times. - Good face moisturizer in the locker rooms. I used the "SPF", but it was thick like actual body sunscreen and burned my face a bit. - More of a co-ed "quiet room" where people can meet, have tea/snacks, read books, recline in comfy chairs w/ blankets, etc. The tranquility room was really bare, and no where in the spa did they play relaxing spa music as you'd expect. read more

My girlfriend and I had an amazing spa day at Miraval/Monarch Beach. I loved the relaxation room where we had tea and delicious granola. My massage was wonderful. A few observations that could have made this a five-star review: -Several showers were out of order. -Not a single full length mirror in the dressing room. -No real vanity area to put make-up on. Otherwise, it was a lovely day and I can't wait to return. read more

Just finished my facial which was ok. But the spa had over book the facility with our corporate group or more than 400 attending with a bridal group. The facility is not equipped with the number. The bridal guests were loud and obnoxious which is to no fault of the spa. However over booking is I spoke to the young girl at the front and mentioned it was crowded and all she said was " I'm sorry" then acted as if she didn't care. Her tone of voice was pretty crappy. After spending $290 for a facial and not being able to enjoy the facility really sucked. Won't be coming by here anytime soon. read more

I had a hydra facial a while back and 2 weeks ago I got a couple's organic facial with my fiancé .Loved them both ,but my favorite stays the hydra facial :) If you are staying at the monarch please stop at the Miraval Spa.The facility is amazing and the services A+ read more

So it's my birthday.... the bf was super amazing and decided to surprise me with a spa day. I had no idea whatsoever of what we had planned for the day. To be frank, I wish I could give five stars to individuals versus the overall experience. It is SOLELY because I had some phenomenal stylists/therapist experiences that I am giving four stars. I would whole heartedly give a full Forbes five star rating to the few individuals I've mentioned below. The spa itself, if I were to rate it, would get a two (714) 404-5406star at best. Good thing they have some amazing staff to more than make up for their lack of tact. Here are the standouts from my day: Deborah: I had a detox massage with Deborah and she was downright brilliant. Honestly, I've had massages all over the world and she is hands down the best I've had in years. Kudos Deborah, you are a diamond in the rough. Giovani: I have to mention how exemplary his service was during my stay. He was incredibly attentive and probably the only reason why I overall had a lovely time. I heart him. Period. Monica: damn. How I wish she was closer to Newport, I haven't had a blowout this amazing in forever. Monica is knowledgeable, caring, and so so so so utterly cool. I wish she had her own salon, i would give her the keys to my hair kingdom. Melissa: she was helpful in resolving the myriad of issues I had with booking. I appreciate her tact and professionalism. Chloe: although not my stylist for the day, her peppy and upbeat auto certainly added to my birthday vibes. Lastly, the spa attendants were amazing. I forget their names specifically but that aspect of the operation was intact completely. Here's the negative, apart from giovani, front desk was a complete shit show. I didn't feel the need to ruffle any feathers, however, I find it very easy to believe that this spa is struggling to get their forbes rating considering the initial greeting for guests. I don't want to single out the gal that checked me in. However, she said as beyond rude and condescending. As well, completely misunderstood my requests in the morning... that's fine. I won't go into detail, but I truly believe the lack of smooth in my overall experience can me very directly attributed to her non existent attention to detail and overall superior and rude attitude. In my opinion, she's entirely in the wrong industry. Hospitality will not work for her with that attitude. Thank you to those who made my special day amazing! I wish I could see you all again without having to deal with the crapshoot operation that the spa front desk has to offer. read more

Well. The facial was okay but not amazing for the price. Additionally I had a very bad experience with the person at the front desk. Totally incapable!!! Charged twice for the service. Not willing to modify the tip or listen that I'm going to be charged twice for the service. This level of incompetence and service is not expected for a 5 star hotel. Recommendation take different people of the front desk that can use the system. read more