If there’s one thing the beach cities near Los Angeles don’t lack, it’s luxury hotels. Even chains that are moderately priced nearly everywhere else are eye-poppingly expensive from Santa Monica to Long Beach. As I’ve lived in the area and have visited often since the mid-1990s, I’ve observed that nightly rates have increased every year. More new hotels have leaned toward luxury, which means older ones follow the same price trend. 

As you may have noticed with my hotel reviews here, I tend to write about those luxury properties. If it were left completely up to my finances, I would only stay in those moderate hotels (especially when RAS has a say in it). Luckily, thanks to my FAM and media trips, as well as statement credits from my credit card accounts, I can book places that would normally be out of reach. That’s how RAS and I could stay at the Viceroy in Santa Monica, which I would consider a mid-level luxury hotel, after our cruise docked in Los Angeles.

There’s a lot to like about the Viceroy. Just two short blocks from the beach, it lets guests enjoy the Pacific salt air and sand, nearly 30 miles of bike and walking paths, and the Santa Monica Pier. Like the Loden Hotel in Vancouver, we enjoyed some extras associated with my card, this time, the Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Santa Monica hotel is part of a worldwide chain that will soon include fifteen other properties.

Accommodations

One benefit of the Sapphire Reserve hotel program for those classified as the Edit is the automatic room upgrade if one is available. We stayed in a spacious partial ocean-view king, which offered a still-impressive view of the Pacific and parts of Santa Monica beach. The bed, surrounded by mid-century-style furniture, was nearly as comfortable as the Purple mattress we have at home, so we both enjoyed a great night’s sleep. But the most luxurious part of the room was the bathroom, all marble, with a separate vanity and a deep marble tub/shower.

Other room options at the Viceroy, all featuring soothing ocean-inspired colors and décor, included two-queen and one-king rooms with city, pool and ocean views. Five suite types, all with full ocean views, range from 470 to 780 square feet and include separate living room spaces. But RAS and I were quite happy with our accommodations, which seemed palatial after the compact cruise ship stateroom.

Amenities

True to its beach theme and location, the Viceroy has a vibrant beach-themed atmosphere, from its lobby to its rooms to the outdoor pool and cabana area (which, curiously, lacked a hot tub). Another feature is the mid-century modern décor that gives the whole place a homey feel. I especially liked the seating areas around the restaurant, Sugar Plum, for getting some work done later in the evening, as well as the rich cup of hot chocolate I enjoyed.

Some of the activities, classified as signature experiences, are also specific to a beach stay, like the cruisers and e-bikes for rent, skateboard and surf lessons, kayak or paddleboard tours, culinary events or tickets to the Pacific Pier amusement park. My only disappointment with our stay was the fitness center, which was well-equipped in every way. But neither Peloton bike was working. I was looking forward to this after walking and running for over a week.

Food and Drink

The only thing RAS and I had at Sugar Plum was breakfast both days. We only have one picture from those meals. It’s not because the food wasn’t good – it was hearty and tasty. We both ordered basic plates that looked ordinary. And I simply neglected to take photos of them. I had avocado toast and oatmeal, while he ordered a massive breakfast burrito (something we could have shared) and pancakes. This was part of the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s breakfast credit, which turned out to be a great value, along with a property credit we could use for anything at the hotel (we used ours for parking).

Besides breakfast, Sugar Plum also serves starters, salads and entrees all day long. It seemed to be a variety of California-inspired cuisine where everything sounded fine, but nothing really stood out. I would have tried one of their craft cocktails or mocktails, which sounded more intriguing than anything offered at the Celebrity Summit, but we simply didn’t have time. There’s also a solid selection of wines and beers.