Highlights: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

•St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach is a grand Tuscan-style resort on spectacular hillside location overlooking Pacific Ocean

•Sleek, contemporary styled guest rooms and suites with 24-hour butler service

•Eight ocean-view restaurants and lounges

•Sandcastle Kids Club for children ages 5 to 12

•Three pools and tennis club

•18-hole oceanfront golf course

•European-influenced Mobil Four-Star-rated Spa Gaucin

Amenities: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

• 400 rooms, 7 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 4 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. 7 restaurants, 4 bars. Fitness room, spa. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Golf, 18 holes. Tennis. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

Tucked between Los Angeles and San Diego in California’s Orange County, the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach offers the best of both worlds to guests. Situated atop a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Tuscan-style resort with dazzling contemporary décor is a relaxing retreat ideal for a getaway, yet its proximity to major businesses also makes it a luxurious home-away-from-home for corporate executives. Its wide array of amenities makes it a perfect choice for groups and solo travelers alike. The sophistication appeals to couples, while its family-friendly attitude and Sandcastle Kids Club lures travelers with children.

The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach reigns over Orange County with its stately architecture and high perch. Arched windows, limestone columns, and intimate fountain-filled courtyards remind visitors of the Mediterranean. This seductive hotel is decidedly fresh and modern, with a sexy style. Geometric patterns, contemporary artwork, and a simple black, white, and brown palette create an inviting ambience in the guest rooms and suites -- the largest in Orange County with a minimum of 535 square feet per room.

A whole world exists outside the sleek private spaces, and this hotel is a playground for leisure and business travelers. Three glittering pools and a golden, sandy beach beckon young and old. An 18-hole ocean-view golf course and six tennis courts provide a competitive workout, and the Four-Star-rated Spa Gaucin offers a slice of European relaxation in the heart of southern California. After enjoying several delightful meals at the resort’s eight ocean-view restaurants, it’s likely that you’ll need to hit the gym, and the resort provides a wonderful fitness facility. From sport fishing and whale watching to boating, the surrounding Orange County locale offers a host of recreational opportunities. Sightseeing and shopping are plentiful in the area, and the county is home to a large number of major corporations, including Coca-Cola, Oracle, and Nike.

(+) Elegant hotel strikes a balance between work and play in a picturesque setting

Guest Services: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

The St. Regis chain of hotels and resorts prides itself on quality service. The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach provides 24-hour room service, personalized butler service, and concierge and business services. Additionally, the hotel provides complimentary shuttle service for guests who want to skip the short walk to the beach.

The hotel’s services are thoughtful and well planned. Business travelers are well taken care of, as are families with young children, who will enjoy the Sandcastle Kids Club. Even guests with pets are accommodated -- the pet loyalty program provides four-legged travelers with toys, treats, food and water dishes, and a special pet bed.

In general, I found a competent staff willing to meet and exceed my expectations. The concierge offered proactive advice and was helpful. The restaurant wait staff, particularly at Motif, was warm, efficient, and attentive. While my arrival service wasn’t as unique or warm as I was expecting, the seamless departure was an excellent end to a wonderful trip. The bellman quickly placed my bags in the car, offered drinks for the ride, and bid me a genuine farewell.

(+) Staff is well trained and professional
(-) Some staff members could have been more engaging

Guest Rooms: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach has 400 guest rooms, including 74 suites. The superior and deluxe rooms, all at least 535 square feet in size, are spacious retreats with ocean or garden views from private balconies. Striking contemporary décor with a black, white, and brown theme throughout marks the rooms. Dark woods, rich brown leathers, and stylish artwork complete the luxurious look. Flat screen televisions, wireless keyboards, and DVD/CD players are among the high-tech amenities available in all rooms. Comfort is never forsaken for style -- beds are topped with 300-thread-count sheets and goose-down comforters. Marble bathrooms feature oversized tubs and showers. Fresh plants in every room add to the comfortable upscale-home feel.

In addition to its spacious standard rooms, the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach has 44 executive suites with spacious living and working spaces, and 26 St. Regis suites with large living rooms equipped with pull-out beds for families. The hotel’s two Monarch suites, complete with two bathrooms, a wet bar, pantry and butler service, are ideal for entertaining. The two Presidential suites each features an entertainment center, fireplace, and piano in the living room, and seating for 10 in the dining room. Ocean view balconies invite guests into a contemporary outdoor setting. Original artwork by world-renowned artists, such as Picasso, complete the rich atmosphere and make these 3,100-square-foot guest spaces truly extraordinary.

Unlike some contemporary design, which feels stark and impersonal, my room’s modern style was elegant, warm and inviting. The amazingly comfortable bed was certainly a highlight in this immaculately maintained room. Everything was new and sparkling, and the spacious marble bathroom, with its enormous shower and tub, was especially luxurious. While the hotel did not provide a welcome amenity during my stay, I was delighted to find an assortment of national and local magazines placed in my room.

(+) Modern luxurious guest rooms with high-tech look and comfortable feel

Facilities & Activities: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach’s wide array of recreational opportunities makes it a perfect destination for families and adults. Its beautiful sandy beach, reachable by a short walk through nature trails or tram, is a sand castle architect’s dream. Three pools nestled on emerald green lawns are ideal for active swimming or soaking up the sun. The resort boasts an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and tennis buffs can rally on one of six hard courts or two clay courts.

The Sandcastle Kids Club offers educational and innovative play for kids ages 5 to 12. In addition to half-day and full-day programs featuring arts and crafts, the hotel invites its youngest guests to learn how to surf, play golf with Dad, meditate in a children’s yoga class, or explore the Ocean Institute. On Friday evenings, the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach offers Kidz Night Out. Children participate in a fun night of pizza and movies while their parents enjoy cocktails or dinner under the stars.

The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach’s Four-Star-rated Spa Gaucin is a 30,000-square-foot haven that offers treatments inspired by European and Southern California relaxation methods. Choose from hot stone massages and reflexology, or enjoy a revitalizing Vitamin C facial. Each treatment begins with a toss of a coin --and your worries -- into the spa’s fountain.

The large fitness center is an excellent facility with well-maintained equipment, and it offers a selection of group exercise classes.

Guests who venture beyond the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach will find an array of activities in the Orange County area. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy sport fishing, whale watching, and hiking, while area art galleries and boutiques attract shoppers. Families have plenty to keep them busy, too, with Disneyland 26 miles away, and the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld about an hour’s drive.

(+) First-rate golf, tennis, and spa in a beachfront setting

Dining & Lounge: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

The St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach offers eight ocean-view restaurants and lounges. From casual to chic, this resort has it all. I found the variety wonderful. Coffee and bakery items, as well as sandwiches and salads, are available at the coffee shop-style Crust.

Motif offers diners international cuisine throughout the day, and a Sunday champagne brunch. Guests are transported by tram to the beachfront Monarch Bay Club, where grilled meats and seafood are available at lunch and dinner. Club 19 is perfect for golfers on the go, while the Pool Bar & Grill is a relaxing outdoor spot for casual cuisine. The Lobby Bar & Lounge has a cozy atmosphere with an outdoor terrace and a fireplace to warm guests on chilly evenings. The brainchild of celebrity chef Michael Mina with design advice from Tony Chi, Stonehill Tavern spotlights modern American dishes and features the chef’s famous small plate trios. Private dinners and tasting are held in the Wine Cellar, with an inventory of 17,000 wine bottles.

Attentive and prompt service and excellent food made breakfast really stand out, and very much enjoyed the complimentary sample smoothie offered before ordering breakfast. Beautiful fresh flowers topped the table, and my view looking out over the resort lawn and pools was spectacular. I could have lingered over breakfast all day. The staff tended to every need without ever being intrusive.

I also took advantage of in-room dining and discovered equally excellent food with a lovely presentation. Because the wait staff in the restaurants was extremely attentive, I was surprised that the staff member who delivered my tray didn’t attempt to ascertain my needs. While the meal arrived a bit later than I expected, it did not detracted from the experience, and the staff member, while not engaging in any small talk, did display the tray in an appealing manner.

(+) Restaurants provide a nice variety of cuisines and atmospheres with scenic views
(-) Room service wasn’t as polished as the restaurant experiences

Business Services: St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

Business travelers are well taken care of at the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach. Wireless Internet service is available in all public spaces, and a business concierge is on hand to assist all business travelers. A fully staffed business center offers secretarial services, computer support, a notary public, and access to faxes, copiers, and computers, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Special arrangements can be made for after-hours needs by calling the concierge. Travelers who prefer to conduct their business in private will find the guest rooms and suites -- fitted with high-speed wireless Internet and multiple phones -- well equipped to handle their needs.

I was pleased to find three staff members in the business center. Polite and professional, the staff assisted me with my needs. While I would have enjoyed more prompt service, I did find the facility to be exceptionally well suited to business travelers because of its state-of-the-art technology and wide variety of available services.

(+) Fully staffed business center and in-room business amenities make this hotel a perfect fit for business travelers