[Craig T]

Originally Posted by 996AE

Five star Ritz Dana Point is truly a world class hotel and location.

https://www.reservations.com/hotel/the-ritz-carlton-laguna-niguel?rmcid=dsa&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1NbhBRCBARIsAKOTmUsRRy5fejfojkOdclUN lXjDSvp-1Z_-ZnaN41VfuF2IGlHzoTrvpS8aAvZWEALw_wcB

Budget friendly Oceanside CA has a few smaller hotels along the beach as does Carlsbad area.

In Huntington Beach mid priced hotels downtown and a few on PCH are worth checking into.

Post a nightly range and we could help you narrow it down.

The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel and Monarch Beach Resort are both fantastic hotels, but both will be $750-$1,200 per night during his Jul-Aug timeframe, and neither has the "chilled out feel" he's looking for. Also, the Ritz is not walking distance to restaurants and activities. It's pretty much a self-contained resort.