Summer is sadly over...except in Southern California.
Here, we don’t wait for the calendar to spin ‘round again to spend sunny days on the beach or BBQ with friends. For most of the year, the Golden State feels like the months of June through August on repeat. Even in winter, when temps dip into the 50s or 60s, the weather is still nice enough to take a walk, sit outside, or enjoy a meal al fresco without bundling up.
Of course, that’s why we all pay a significant sum to live here. But rather than pack all your belongings and move, a more affordable option is to book any one of our hotels that bottle up that special summer feeling, no matter what month you check in.
At these hotels, you can twist and turn down a waterslide or dip into lagoon-style pools that stay open (and heated!) year-round. They’re places where the beach or waterfront is just a short stroll away, and activities range from outdoor yoga to art walks and fireside s’mores.
Here are four hotels where this SoCal-based writer thinks summer never ends. Bonus: you’ll save money by visiting off season, and avoid large crowds, too.
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Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Carlsbad
Set above the Batiquitos Lagoon on more than 250 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Park Hyatt Aviara feels like a luxe Mediterranean coastal estate, even though it’s only a 15-minute drive into charming Carlsbad village.
Year-round, it’s a place to lounge by the pool, tee off on Southern California’s only coastal-designed Arnold Palmer signature golf course, or escape to the Miraval Life in Balance Spa for a restorative treatment or wellness ritual.
Notes of summer feel strongest within the secluded adult pool or sprawling family one, which has two two-story waterslides, a large lagoon shape with a zero-entry, and even a sandy play area for littles to dig and make castles. If you prefer the real thing, though, the resort offers an on-demand shuttle that will whisk you down to Carlsbad Beach with beach chairs, umbrellas, and sand toys in tow.
Or, stay on property to enjoy a game room, kid-friendly indoor putting green, or to cozy up by a fire pit on chilly nights. The resort also offers various seasonal programming, such as trivia or art projects, and has tennis and pickleball courts, plus access to a recreation center with sand volleyball, croquet, badminton, and bocce ball.
But one of my favorite aspects of staying here is that even entry-level rooms are luxuriously oversized. They start at 540 square feet with either a king bed and a sleeper sofa or two king beds. The latter is a real rarity in hotels, making these rooms extra comfy for families.
Vea Newport Beach
Newport Beach’s coastal appeal is undeniable, whether you’re off to ride the Fun Zone Ferris wheel, cruise the harbor in a Duffy boat, or stroll around lovely Balboa Island.
A great base for all of the above is Vea, centrally located near the beach, shopping, and activities. Though it can be hard to tear yourself away from the decadently modern digs.
A dramatic circular oculus waterfall greets guests as they enter the hotel, which was part of a top-to-bottom transformation that reimagined the hotel in 2022.
Inside, midcentury accents mix alongside a bold, contemporary design, all rooted in a strong coastal sense of place. Think airy open spaces, soothing colors, and a chic atmosphere intended to mirror the mood of this posh beach enclave.
A dip in the 85-foot infinity edge pool is all you need for a healthy dose of summer, though I like pairing a swim with a cabana rental. It’s a small but luxe upgrade that cocoons you in your own private space complete with plush seating, reserved loungers, and dedicated waitstaff. But it’s imperative you grab a drink at the poolside Edge Bar where wraparound seating is shaded by a giant screen projecting videos of active fish and marine life. More than just a moment for the ‘Gram, you’ll feel as if you’re clinking glasses inside an aquarium.
Rooms are also large and well appointed with Nespresso machines, Frette robes, and floor-to-ceiling windows, and staying here places you across the street from scores of designer shops at Newport’s tony Fashion Island.
Hilton San Diego Bayfront
San Diego is as endless summer as it gets with consistent sunshine, waterfront views, and mild temps. And if you’re a first-timer on a budget, I’d point you straight to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
The hotel is phenomenally well placed to experience all this city has to offer, walkable to sights including the buzzy Gaslamp Quarter, Petco Park, Seaport Village, and The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. If your itinerary is focused on any of those spots, you can easily skip the car rental.
Should you want to explore beyond the surrounding areas, a free daily shuttle drops guests off outside another property steeped in summer feels: the Hotel del Coronado on Coronado Island. ‘The Del,’ as it’s affectionately known, can cost double or triple what the Bayfront charges, so I think this hack can be an affordable way to experience the “best of both worlds” for easy Coronado access without the steep overnight rates.
Back on property, though, there’s plenty to appreciate, from the harborfront pool with a splash pad to bookable fire pits with front-row views to gorgeous sunsets.
Throughout the year, find a full schedule of programming, and my favorite perk of staying here is one that saves families serious money. Kids ages 10 and under eat free when dining in on-site restaurants from the children’s menu with the purchase of an adult entree.
Montage Laguna Beach
I yearn for a summer spent idling on Italy’s shores. Sadly, that hasn’t been in the cards for me in recent years. Though while staying at Montage Laguna Beach, I could have sworn I’d made it happen.
The posh hotel faces Treasure Island Beach, where turquoise blue waters crash along golden sands and magnificent rocks that reminded me of my visits to the craggy coves of the Amalfi Coast. It's spectacularly beautiful with raw, wild beauty I don’t think you’ll find elsewhere on the SoCal coast.
And the Montage offers an indulgent base to enjoy it all. Rooms feel like a summer pied-à-terre with spacious layouts that include separate seating areas and balconies—most with prime ocean views. Swimming in the Mosaic-tiled pool framed by panoramic vistas of the Pacific is a hallmark of staying here, and even kiddos are included in the fun with a separate wading area and an impressive kids club when parents need a break. And you’ll want one, ideally with a trip to the spa, where facilities include hot and cold contrast therapies, wet and dry saunas, and outdoor showers outfitted with infrared light.
Programming is also robust. Partake in anything from an aromatherapy-scented restorative yoga class to a guided walk around the manicured grounds’ art installations—Laguna is long revered as an artists’ colony, after all—that culminates with a waterfront meditation and movement session.
Cap it with a fresh-baked pastry from the French-inspired Bouchée patisserie, or a meal at Studio Mediterranean, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, serving up Greek-inspired seafood dishes in a white-washed space that looks plucked from the cliffs of Santorini.
The Shortcut
The off-season is the move: even in winter, SoCal sits in the 50s and 60s, so you get heated pools and walkable beaches with lower rates and thinner crowds.
Best for families: Park Hyatt Aviara has oversized entry-level rooms (some with two king beds, a genuine rarity) and a family pool with two-story waterslides, plus a beach shuttle that packs the chairs and toys for you.
Best on a budget: Hilton San Diego Bayfront puts you walking distance from the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park, runs a free shuttle to the much pricier Hotel del Coronado, and lets kids 10 and under eat free with an adult entree.
Worth the splurge: Montage Laguna Beach fronts Treasure Island Beach and channels the Amalfi Coast, with a mosaic-tiled pool over the Pacific and a spa designed to kill an entire afternoon.
For a Newport base: Vea's 85-foot infinity pool and cabanas sit steps from Fashion Island shopping, and the Edge Bar's aquarium-screen seating is worth a drink even if you're not swimming.
