We have been planning family trips (while following safety precautions) all summer long, and finally booked a staycation! Our family was recently hosted by the new Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites, with a double queen bedroom suite and partial ocean view. All thoughts and reviews in this blog post are my own.
Photo is of the valet parking, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website.
The hotel is located on 4th Street in Santa Monica, with 211 suites and 75 guest rooms. Upon arriving to the hotel, their valet staff were prompt and courteous; they told me that they only offer valet parking, which is $42 a night. If your hotel room isn’t available yet, they will hold onto your luggage until it is. We checked in at 2pm, and our room wasn’t available until 4pm, so we lounged around at the pool area.
Photo is of the fitness room, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
Photo is of the pool area, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
You can enter the outdoor pool area right off the elevator or through the fitness room. When you step out the door, you are welcomed with a refreshing, ocean breeze and view of clear skies. There are a few cabanas alongside the hotel building, and seating chairs around the pool. The water was just the right temperature for our family, with plenty of towels available for guests. The pool is only 3 1/2-4/12 feet deep, so I was comfortable enough to walk around in the pool with Auggie. They provided poolside snacks and drinks, which can all be purchased in the lobby. You can reserve a cabana ahead of time, but the pool area wasn’t crowded at all (during our stay) so there were always some seating available.
Photo is of the room suite, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
When our room was ready, I received a text message and I scurried to get our room keys. The suite was very spacious for our family of three, and Auggie (being 3 years old) enjoyed running around and jumping on the bed. Even with a partial view of the ocean, you still see plenty of the open water along with the lively Santa Monica pier. You can head to my Instagram stories here to see the room tour! If you ever had a question, the staff is a phone call away from your hotel room, such as having your car ready at valet parking, needing a wake up call from the front desk, or placing an order at the restaurant.
Photo is of the bar lounge, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
Photo is of Monica’s (restaurant), from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
They also have a restaurant in the hotel called Monica’s, and you can view their delicious menu via QR code. Auggie and I ate breakfast there early on a Monday morning. There are plenty of seating in the restaurant, or you can order your food to-go to enjoy in your hotel room. We had the All-American breakfast, which includes hashbrowns, eggs, two bacon pieces (or sausage), fruit slices, and toast; along with coffee, orange juice, and milk (for Auggie). For dinner, we ordered their Wagyu burger, salmon dinner plate, grilled peaches and heirloom tomato, and chicken tenders and fries. There is a full bar-lounge at the restaurant, and you can take your drinks up to your room as well.
Photo is of the Good Vibes Only wall, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
Photo is of the lobby, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
Photo is of the lobby by the conference rooms, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
Photo is of the lobby to purchase snacks and drinks, from the Hilton Santa Monica’s website. 
In the lobby, you can purchase snacks and drinks, take a picture by their “good vibes only” corner, and admire the indoor view of the floors. If you had to wait for your room to be available, and didn’t want to lounge at the pool just yet, you can sit in the lobby by the restaurant and bar lounge. There are also conference rooms available, and extra lobby seating by those rooms.
Overall, the Hilton Santa Monica Hotel & Suites is very clean and quiet, with such a friendly staff. It’s the perfect place to relax, whether in the lobby or at the poolside, and check out local sites. Plus, it’s a great stay while visiting an iconic city in Los Angeles! Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I will be sharing things to do near the hotel.
