Capri Laguna On The Beach

Spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean are around almost every corner of this lovely beachfront hotel with a white-washed exterior reminiscent of a Mediterranean coastline hotel. It’s an older building with exterior corridors and no elevators, but the handsome lobby has a boutique feel, with marble floors, designer-quality furniture in soft earth tones, and lots of floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool area. A gas fireplace adds a cozy ambience to this friendly and relaxed place that caters to tourists seeking a peaceful beach experience. Guests (mainly couples, but some families) are commonly seen throughout the day enjoying a cup of coffee or glass of wine on their balconies or the large terrace. 

The Capri Laguna sits between South Coast Highway and a narrow but lovely beach that’s generally more peaceful than the popular beaches closer to downtown Laguna Beach. The hotel is just steps away from the water, and several restaurants and bars are across the highway. Downtown Laguna Beach's many restaurants, shops, and galleries are reachable in about 15 minutes of walking, or three minutes by car. During the summer, a free trolley to downtown stops near the hotel. It’s a four-minute drive to Victoria Beach, and an eight-minute drive to Crescent Bay Point Park. Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport can be reached in roughly 25 minutes. It’s approximately an hour-drive to Los Angeles International Airport and two hours to San Diego International Airport. Disneyland and other Anaheim attractions can be reached in 50 minutes, depending on traffic. 

These clean and spacious, residence-style rooms are decorated in a simple style befitting of their oceanfront setting. The King Room we saw has white walls and drapes, along with beige and brown patterned carpet. Bright accent colors of mint and aqua blue cheer up the space. The matching wood headboard and dining table has a dark finish. The kitchenette features a sink, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker. A sleeper sofa is included in the separate living space with the room’s only flat-screen TV. Robes, safes, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi are standard amenities. While the living and bedroom areas have an older look and feel, the bathroom are more modern. They feature handsome white and gray marble floors and walls framing the large walk-in showers with glass doors and rainfall showerheads. The wood and white ceramic vanities are small but also updated. Many rooms and suites feature excellent ocean views from either their large windows or private balconies that have tables and chairs. Other rooms overlook the pool area or other parts of the hotel grounds. The soothing sounds of crashing waves can be heard in most rooms, especially when the windows are open. Note that there are no elevators, and accessing some rooms requires taking flights of stairs. 

The lovely boutique hotel offers a free hot breakfast daily that includes cereal, yogurt, boiled eggs, waffles, and pancakes. Starbucks coffee is also served. The heated outdoor pool has enough room for a decent swim, and it’s seven feet deep in one end. Nice landscaping and comfy teak furniture surround it. The hotel also arranges tables and chairs for guests right on the beach, directly below the property. The fitness center is cramped and sparsely equipped with only a treadmill, stationary bicycle, and free weights. Guest laundry facilities are on-site, and the business center has two computers and a printer. Wi-Fi and parking are free, but on-site parking is limited and tight. Pets are welcome with a surcharge.