La Bahia Hotel and Spa

We wanted to love this place and booked a long weekend before Christmas, hoping to try the “new” Hotel after usually staying at the Dream Inn. We left disappointed and have booked another March weekend at the Dream Inn instead. The prices feel too high for the service. There was still a lot of renovation work going on, as others have mentioned. Our room was nice, but it smelled awful, and the bathroom and toilet fan didn’t work properly. The young men at the valet parking were very friendly and helpful. We tried the restaurant, but the lighting was too bright and it was so cold that we wore our winter jackets the whole time. I can’t even remember what I ate, which isn’t a good sign. The spa lady was lovely, but the spa was very small, and the “ocean view sauna” turned out to be an infrared sauna. The view and location had sounded amazing, so the experience didn’t meet my expectations.

The personal touches at La Bahia made our wedding night unforgettable for my wife and me. The front desk decorated our room, left a handwritten note congratulating us, and checked in to see how we were doing. Those gestures meant a lot and made us feel cared for and celebrated. That warmth was consistent with everyone we met, and you could tell the staff took real pride in making the stay special. Our whole wedding group came to the hotel after the ceremony for dinner at High Tide Restaurant, then stayed the night. In the week beforehand, Kenneth, the manager at High Tide, patiently helped finalize the meal and get every detail right. The serving team were attentive, friendly, and professional, and kept our group comfortable all evening. The service felt joyful and seamless, making dinner relaxed and fun. The valet crew welcomed everyone right away and set a great tone. Every interaction, from our first phone call onward, felt thoughtful and personal. We never felt like just another reservation. This was a once in a lifetime occasion, and La Bahia helped make it something we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives. We’re deeply grateful and can’t recommend it highly enough.

The pool bar doesn’t open until 11, and the hotel bar couldn’t make me a bloody Mary either, so I had to go to Low Tide. I’d like at least one bar open early and another open late, and the fire pits by the pool should be going when the pool opens at 7am. The spa was lovely, the hotel is beautiful, and the restaurants could use more choices. It’s nice overall, but a bit pricey and they still need time to sort some things out.

The fresh, yummy food and how easy it was to get to the beach and neighborhood fun made the stay feel refreshing. As someone from SoCal, I’ve missed the California vibe I’m used to since moving up north, and this hotel brought it back. The thoughtful design details and warm service fit the lovely surroundings. I’ll definitely be back!