7 Great Places to Stay in Orange County
Table of Contents
Story and photos by Julie Diebolt Price (unless otherwise indicated)
Lodging in Orange County
Lodging in Orange County is plentiful from recognizable name-brand hotels to boutique hotels as well as bed and breakfasts. Many chain hotels are located near John Wayne Airport. If you are flying into Orange County, the airport area would be a good home base in which to see many towns in the region.
If Disneyland is your destination, there is a range of choices for every budget. From the newest hotels like Cambria Hotel and Suites, Four-Diamond rated hotels like JW Marriott and Westin opening in 2020, or budget and boutique options like Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, or Grand Legacy at the Park (with a rooftop bar overlooking Disneyland), you will be close to all the Disney action.
If you are looking for something a little more eclectic, there are unique properties close to the coast. You can even sleep aboard a sailboat near the Balboa Pier. World-famous resorts like The Ritz Carleton, Laguna Niguel and Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point offer all-inclusive luxury experiences that are unmatched in coastal Southern California.
Anaheim
The Grand Legacy at the Park is a boutique hotel that is only a 5-minute walk to Disneyland Resort. It’s family-friendly with a heated pool and spa and has a Splash Zone for kids.
What makes this property so special is that they have rooms with a view of the park. A view is particularly important when you want a front-row seat for the world-famous fireworks display.
Be sure to visit the rooftop bar and restaurant, The Fifth. It’s the only one you’ll find in Anaheim.
Grand Legacy At The Park, 1650 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, CA
If you want to stay in a castle while visiting Disneyland, Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel is a boutique hotel that is budget and family-friendly. In addition to the 13 acres of peaceful gardens, they also have a pool, bar, and restaurants. And, a perfect location to see the nightly fireworks display.
A free hotel shuttle whisks you to and from Disneyland each day, which is a cost-effective way to save money on the parking fees at the Happiest Place On Earth.
Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA
Newport Beach
Doryman’s Inn is across from the Newport Beach Pier along the oceanfront on Balboa Peninsula. With eleven rooms designed in the romantic and classic Victorian style, antique furnishings and wallpaper create a cozy experience right on the beach.
The neighborhood is a mix of beach shops and exciting eateries. A short walk takes you to the Fun Zone and water transportation around the bay and Catalina Island
Doryman’s Oceanfront Inn, 2102 West Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA
On the sand and across from a well-groomed city park, Balboa Inn is an oceanfront resort with an intimate ambiance. In the style of a casual, coastal Newport Beach vacation home, Balboa Inn is handicap accessible, as well as business, pet, and family-friendly.
A sundeck, Jacuzzi pool, and uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views (you can see from Dana Point to Catalina), along with their off-season specials, make the Balboa Inn a perfect retreat in Orange County.
Balboa Inn, 105 Main Street, Newport Beach, CA
Dana Point
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel combines the best in service, scenery, and activities in one perfect location on the coast of Southern California in Orange County.
Family and pet-friendly with direct access to the beach, you can enjoy luxury rooms facing the ocean or gardens. Spa treatments or surfing, whale-watching, or golfing next door at Monarch Beach Golf Links, are just some of the activities designed for your pleasure.
A popular wedding venue and meeting locale, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel presents collections of local artist’s work in the public areas and locally sourced cuisine in the dining rooms.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, One Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, CA
The Blue Lantern Inn perches on the bluffs overlooking Dana Point Harbor. Most of the rooms feature a magnificent Pacific Ocean view in this luxurious boutique hotel, and the property boasts other amenities such as a fitness center and bicycles to explore the area. It’s also considered to be one of the most affordable beach resorts.
Located in the Lantern District, The Blue Lantern Inn is mere steps away from fine dining, popular cafés, and a revitalized downtown.
Blue Lantern Inn, A Four Sisters Inn, 34343 Street Of The Blue Lantern, Dana Point, CA
Over a mile of white, sandy beach, and some of the best surfing in Southern California is only part of the reason to camp at Doheny State Beach Campground. Thirty-three premium beachfront campsites accommodate RVs, tents, and trailers, with an additional 88 sites just steps from the beach.
Amenities at the campground include drinking water, flush toilets, hot showers (for a fee), and a dump station. But that’s not all. There is a 5-acre picnic area with trees, tables, and BBQs, a host that sells firewood, an amphitheater, volleyball court, many walking trails, and a ranger station.
Within a mile of the campground, there are restaurants, shopping, a boat launch, and a marina. The Day-Use area is separated from the campground but shares the same pristine Pacific Ocean beach.
Reservations are encouraged, especially during the busy summer season. Modest fees for day or overnight visits are paid online at Reserve California.
Doheny State Beach Campground, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, CA
Julie Diebolt Price is an award-winning photographer, educator, travel writer, guide, and a passionate traveler. Along with extensive travel in the United States, she has many European, Mexican, and Chinese stamps in her passport. She enjoys planning, researching, creating and sharing experiences. Julie is a member of TravMedia, Professional Photographers of America, International Travel Writers and Photographers Alliance, and Travel Massive.