The Best Hotels to Book in Huntington Beach, California, for Every Traveler

It is not obligatory that you ride the waves during a visit to the Waterfront Beach Resort in Surf City, USA. Check into this hotel in Huntington Beach, drop your luggage in an oceanfront king room and prepare to alleviate your body of every weight imaginable. The Drift Spa will loosen up your shoulders, while stretching out in a cabana on the sand will put your feet at ease. When it comes to the heavy lifting, let the elevator whisk you to the rooftop lounge where waiters will handle the champagne and charcuterie for you.

As the name suggests, Kimpton Shorebreak has surfing at its heart. The rooms at this boho-chic oceanfront resort match what you see outside your window, with a maritime color scheme, wave-patterned carpets and headboards striped like deckchairs. As a guest, you’ll enjoy access to the resort’s beach cruiser bikes, surf guides and lockers. In the evenings, there are even fireside s’mores – the perfect way to warm up after a day in the surf.

Short of sleeping on the sand, Paséa’s oceanfront suites are as close as you can get to Huntington Beach’s famous surf – ocean views flood in from two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, with a color palette that reflects the sun, sea and sand. There’s even a hand-painted acoustic guitar in the room, so you can channel your inner Beach Boy. And after a day on the waves, the Aarna Spa offers a range of rejuvenating treatments for those tired muscles.

For a supremely comfortable four-star stay just a few minutes’ walk from Disneyland, look no further than the Sheraton Anaheim. Kids will love the breakfasts, burgers and other treats at the on-site American restaurant, Savor at 1855, while adults can enjoy a well-earned drink at the SIP Lobby Bar after a day of theme park fun. The Splash Pool Bar, meanwhile, is perfect for cooling off on a hot Cali afternoon if you don’t want to make the 30-minute drive to the sands of Huntington Beach.

The upscale neighborhood of Fountain Valley shows there’s more to Orange County than sand and surf, and the classy Ayres Hotel fits in perfectly with its surroundings. The spacious lobby, with its elegantly faded oriental rugs and marble fireplace, sets the tone for a graceful aesthetic that extends to the rooms. While the beach is always one of the main draws at Huntington, don’t miss the lakes and native Californian plants of the nearby Mile Square Regional Park.

Just steps from the beach, this motel-style inn lets you virtually roll out of your comfortable room and into the surf – and at the other end of the day, you’ll see why they call this stretch of sand Sunset Beach, as you watch the sun go down in spectacular fashion while enjoying a drink in one of several laid-back bars. Beach chairs and beach toys come as standard for guests.

If you get bored of the beach – or those sunburned shoulders need a break from the sun – the large indoor pool at Hotel Huntington Beach is a great place to work out. The nightly happy hour will tempt you into the darkly stylish Bar Rouge, while the cobblestone streets of Old World Village, just next door, are home to German delis and Oktoberfest-themed bars.

With balconies overlooking Huntington Beach – or, in the top suites, patios with private fire pits – the Hyatt Regency can’t be beat for location. If you’re planning on being out for the day, perhaps enjoying the surf or birdwatching up the coast at Seal Beach, then pick up fresh produce for a packed lunch at the on-site Surf City Grocers. Don’t miss the acclaimed Watertable restaurant, though – try the salmon with chive mashed potatoes, lentils and butternut squash in a red wine vinaigrette.