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Best Marriott resorts in California (2027)
The short answer
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel leads, on a bluff above Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is the pick for a spa escape, and The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe for skiing in winter and a private lake club in summer.
- 6
- picks, ranked
- 74,500
- points a night, the lowest we found in our preview prices
Our top 3
No. 1
The Ritz-Carlton
Dana Point, California
Best on the coast
No. 2
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara (opens marriott.com in a new tab)
Santa Barbara
Best for a spa escape
No. 3
The Ritz-Carlton
Truckee, California
Best in winter and summer
Side by side
Points a night from the lowest price we found in our preview prices, and our rating of the best-value stay we found. Hotels we don’t track yet link to Marriott. How we rate stays.
| # | Hotel | Best for | Points a night from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna NiguelDana Point, California | on the coast | 91,500 | Great |
| 2 | The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara (opens marriott.com in a new tab)Santa Barbara | a spa escape | See Marriott | Not tracked yet |
| 3 | The Ritz-Carlton, Lake TahoeTruckee, California | in winter and summer | 74,500 | Fair |
| 4 | The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon BayHalf Moon Bay, California | golf by the Pacific | 85,000 | Great |
| 5 | JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (opens marriott.com in a new tab)Palm Desert | in the desert | See Marriott | Not tracked yet |
| 6 | Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina (opens marriott.com in a new tab)Downtown San Diego | in San Diego | See Marriott | Not tracked yet |
No. 1
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Ritz-Carlton · Dana Point, California
Best on the coast
On a bluff above Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, with two pools, a spa and an Eco-Adventure Center for whale watching, e-biking and hikes in the Headlands.
- Points a night from
- 91,500
- Cash a night
- $1,160
- Best value
- Great, 1.34¢
No. 2
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara (opens marriott.com in a new tab)
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
The Ritz-Carlton · Santa Barbara
Best for a spa escape
On 78 acres with direct beach access on the Gaviota Coast, with three saltwater pools, a 42,000-square-foot spa and a wine tasting room.
Good to know
- Marriott's rate listings show a resort fee of $75 a night, which points don't cover.
No. 3
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Ritz-Carlton · Truckee, California
Best in winter and summer
Ski-in, ski-out at Northstar, linked to the village by gondola, with a private Lake Club on Lake Tahoe itself for beach days and paddleboards.
- Points a night from
- 74,500
- Cash a night
- $652
- Best value
- Fair, 0.93¢
Good to know
- The Lake Club takes 40 guests a day; kayaks and paddleboards are included, other water sports cost extra.
No. 4
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
Ritz-Carlton · Half Moon Bay, California
Best for golf by the Pacific
On the bluffs south of San Francisco, with two championship golf courses, a bagpiper at sunset and fire pits over the ocean.
- Points a night from
- 85,000
- Cash a night
- $770
- Best value
- Great, 1.02¢
Good to know
- Parking is valet only, at $70 a night.
- A nightly resort fee is charged on points stays too; points don't cover it (terms 3.2.f).
No. 5
JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa (opens marriott.com in a new tab)
JW Marriott · Palm Desert
Best in the desert
Two Ted Robinson golf courses, an 18-hole putting course and a lake with gondolas, in the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs.
Good to know
- The resort fee is $45 a day plus tax, and parking is extra; points don't cover either.
No. 6
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina (opens marriott.com in a new tab)
Marriott Hotels · Downtown San Diego
Best in San Diego
On the downtown waterfront next to Seaport Village, with a 424-slip marina, two free-form pools and a kids' splash zone.
Preview: points and cash figures are sample prices for illustration, not live availability.
How we chose
We rank each hotel by how well it fits what the list is for, using facts from Marriott’s and the hotel’s own pages: the beach, the pools, the kids club, the fees. For hotels we track, we add our points prices and rate the best stay we found by value per point; we call a stay Fair from 0.70¢ a point, and below that we say pay cash.
No hotel pays to be on our lists, and we don’t take a fee for a place in them.
Make the points go further
- Book five nights on one points reservation and the cheapest night is free. Find five-night stays.
- Have a Free Night Award? Add up to 25,000 of your own points to reach a pricier night. Using Free Night Awards.
- Points cover the room, room tax and service charge, not resort fees or parking. Check whether points beat the cash price.
- Short on points? The Marriott cards that earn them fastest.
Questions
What is the best Marriott resort in California?
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, on a bluff above Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is the pick for a spa escape.
Is there a Marriott resort near Palm Springs?
Yes. JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert has two golf courses and a lake with gondolas.
Which Marriott in California is best for skiing?
The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, ski-in, ski-out at Northstar.
Do Marriott points cover resort fees in California?
No. Points cover the room, room tax and service charge (terms 3.2.f). JW Marriott Desert Springs charges $45 a day and parking is extra.
Want one of these on points?
Tell us your balance and we'll alert you when we find an exceptional escape within reach.
Sources: Marriott’s and each hotel’s own pages, Marriott Bonvoy terms, section 3.2.f. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the hotel before you book. Award Escape is independent of Marriott.