The Resort at Pelican Hill Review: California’s Top Luxury Resort
- Matt Tannenbaum
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
If you're dreaming of a world-class luxury escape on the Southern California coast, look no further than The Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach. With sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, architecture that will transport you to a Tuscan village, and private bungalow-style villas, this 5-star resort is easily one of the top luxury resorts to book in California. In this full review, I will break down everything you need to know from how to book this resort as a savvy Points Traveller to everything you can expect during a stay at The Resort at Pelican Hill.
The Resort at Pelican Hill Location
This 500+ acre resort is perched up the hill from the iconic California Pacific Ocean coastline in beautiful Newport Beach. The Resort at Pelican Hill offers unobstructed sunset views, easy access to the Orange County Beaches like Crystal Cove State Park and nearby Laguna Beach. This property boasts a world class golf course and is within close proximity to high-end shopping at Fashion Island Mall. The resort offers trolley shuttles and private SUVs that can take you to all of these great spots.
For guests coming from out of town, the resort is only:
45 minutes from LAX Airport
20 minutes from John Wayne Airport (SNA)
The resort is also only 90 minutes from San Diego Airport if you’re looking to extend the trip to see more of Southern California.
The property isn’t directly on the beach which makes it feel very secluded and serene and extremely spacious. There are still plenty of beautiful beach views from everywhere on the property.
Spacious, Private, and Ultra-Luxurious Accomondations
The rooms here aren't just rooms but rather standalone bungalows and villas, complete with:
Wood-beamed high ceilings
Fireplaces
Deep soaking tubs
Private terraces
The rooms are thoughtfully designed and extremely well furnished making it feel more like a home. The high vaulted wood beam ceiling is truly such a nice touch for even the standard base room. The bathrooms are super spacious and feature amazing shower and soaking tub.
The Villas at Pelican Hill offer even more luxury featuring full gourmet kitchens, personal butlers, and access to an exclusive clubhouse and pool.
Resort Amenities at the Pelican Hill
Pelican Hill is known for its massive 136’ diameter Coliseum Pool. Like the name suggests, the pool area looks like a Roman Luxury Pool. The second floor upper area is lined with private cabanas that feature extremly spacious accomodations with an interior and outdoor space. On the first floor is ample amounts of seating area including lounge chairs with surrounding hedges to add an additional layer of privacy and relaxation at the pool. Additioanlly, there is a hot for guests and a second adult only pool area on the second floor as well. And of course, the pool area overlooks beautiful views of the golf course and Pacific Ocean.
The resort boasts 36 holes of Tom Fazio-designed golf and a driving range for warmup.
The Spa at Pelican Hill naturally is an award-winning oasis offering ocean-inspired treatments. Guests of the resort can use the spa, steam room, and sauna without needing a booked treatment. The fitness center features tons of great cardio equipment and free weights as well.
Complimentary resort shuttle to nearby Crystal Cove beach, restaurants, and shopping.
Dining Options
You don’t have to leave the property to have an unforgettable meal.
Andrea Ristorante – Homemade pasta and seasonal Italian cuisine served in an elegant coastal setting that overlooks the property
Pelican Grill – A more casual but upscale experience. Has a massive TV Jumbotron LED screen in the adjacent bar area perfect for watching the game with some cocktails
Coliseum Pool & Grill – Poolside bites and cocktails and great brunch with views of the amazing pool, golf course, and coastline below
The Best Way to Book The Resort at Pelican Hill
Pelican Hill was recently acquired by Marriott Bonvoy and branded as a St Regis property, Marriott’s high end luxury brand. The best way to book the resort is direct with Marriott and paired together with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex Credit Card which gives you great perks from platinum status, late checkout, and even the ability to book this room for free. You will also earn 21x points during your stay!
Another Great option is also to book it with the American Express Platinum Card through their AMEX Fine Hotels & Resorts Program which will have you earn 5X points PLUS:
Daily breakfast for two
Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout
Room upgrades (when available)
$100 resort credit
One of the best ways to book this card is with POINTS. This is easily one of the best point redemptions giving your Marriott Bonvoy points tons of value with nightly rates over $1,500+ per the Standard Base Room! It is even better if you can book a stay here with an 85,000 Point Free Night Certificate that you can get by having the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex Credit Card. With high nightly rates, you most likely will have to add the 15,000 points to book a room on a weekend with many rates unfortunately over the 100K threshold.
Pro Tip: May and June are commonly known as May Grey and June Gloom in Southern California so be sure to stay away from these months if you’re looking for beautiful weather (although the fog typically only comes in the morning or afternoons and quickly burns off). September is the best time to come to So Cal with summer crowds dwindling and arguably the best and truest summer weather.
Overall Impression
Pelican Hill is more than a resort. This property is a destination in itself. From private bungalows to world-class golf and spa services, it’s the kind of place you never want to leave. This resort is easily one of the best luxury properties in California and the entire country. If you're looking to plan the ultimate romantic getaway or unforgettable stay, this property is absolutely worth it if you can afford the high nightly rates.
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