Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina: Affordable Beachfront Getaway

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collage of photos from sonesta redondo beach
There are many fun things to enjoy in and around the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

The newly remodeled and renamed Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina offers first-class service, a gorgeous rooftop swimming pool and a location that can’t be beat — it’s just 7 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and within easy walking distance of shopping, the South Bay bike path and the Pacific Ocean.

Sonesta bought the former Crowne Plaza property in 2020 and renovated all of the 342 guest rooms. The common areas, meeting rooms and business center are spacious. The gift shop is cute, with beach necessities and a couple of locally made items.

Guests are a mix of business travelers, weekend vacationers and bridal parties.

The hotel is so pet-friendly that there is an Instagram spot at the entrance where you can pose with your furry family members.

When my 24-year-old daughter and I visited in March, we found this Redondo Beach hotel was exactly the right home base for a restorative weekend getaway.

Read More: Fun Things to Do in Redondo Beach

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Highlights of the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina

  • Comfortable recently renovated rooms
  • Convenient location that is close to the beach and many area attractions
  • A huge heated outdoor pool
  • Innovative menu created by Chef Hayato at SOL, the on-site restaurant
  • Front desk check-in staff is friendly and accommodating of our request for more puffy pillows and a late check-out time.
  • Award-winning concierge available on-site for directions and suggestions.
  • Valet parking and self-parking in the parking garage next door
View of a double queen room with balcony and pool view at the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina.
Room with two queen beds and balcony with pool view. Photo credit: Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina

Sonesta Redondo Rooms

All of the 342 guest rooms have been renovated. Room configurations include two queen beds that can sleep four people. king rooms that sleep two, junior suites that sleep 3 and a presidential suite with a sitting area that can sleep 3. Some of the rooms have full or partial ocean views.

Daily housekeeping is provided upon request.

Our deluxe room had two queen beds and a balcony with a pool view (where we sipped our morning coffee/tea). Their attention to bedding and light decor created a restful, calm atmosphere- we slept great!

Room amenities include:

  • Signature Sonesta bedding
  • Work desk & chair
  • Lighted make-up mirror
  • Mini-fridge
  • Keurig coffee maker
  • Iron & ironing board
  • Hair dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi internet access
  • Laptop-size safe
  • Flat-screen television
  • Radio/alarm clock
  • Air conditioning

Hotel Amenities

The rooftop saltwater swimming pool is heated and there’s a hot tub, too, which makes it usable, even on a chilly spring day. But even better is the rooftop view of the Pacific Ocean and the Palos Verdes Hills from the pool lounge chairs!

My daughter and I skipped the on-site fitness center, opting instead for rented electric bikes to be outside and near the beach.

We took advantage of the free yoga class on the rooftop patio next to the outdoor pool and tennis courts. Practicing outside adds a whole other level of calm. About 10 guests joined the class for gentle flow followed by sound bath meditation.

Dining at The Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina

Chef Hayato stands outside the SOL restaurant at the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina
Chef Hayato at the SOL Restaurant. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

SOL Restaurant

SOL serves an expansive breakfast menu and an intriguing dinner menu. There is indoor and outdoor seating with fire pits.

Executive Sous Chef, Hayato Yanai, grew up in San Diego, studied French cuisine and trained in Japan. He took over SOL in late 2022 and is making waves.

His dedication to precision mixed with his San Diego roots results in menu items such as Carne Asada fries (best seller) and Chasyu Toast (braised pork belly and melted brie with eryngi, shimeji, & white mushrooms on toasted sourdough). Even better? ALL menu items are under $25. I liked my meal so much that I returned with a friend the next evening for dinner.

Chef showing young woman how to make sushi at the SOL restaurant at the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina.
My daughter learning to make sushi with the chef. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

My daughter and I learned to make sushi with Chef in his newest venture: sushi making classes. We sipped a little sake while we made spicy tuna rolls, crudo and veggie rolls. We need a lot more practice but our lumpy rolls were tasty and Chef made it super fun. My daughter and I laughed and ate and had a great time. I would definitely do this again on a girl’s getaway or with my whole family.

Harbor Bar & Bistro

Harbor Bar & Bistro serves local lunch and dinner favorites & signature cocktails in a hip atmosphere.

We can recommend a very fresh Caesar salad from room service but preferred the lychee martini at Sol Restaurant over happy hour at the Harbor Bar & Bistro. I went off the happy hour menu and was not impressed with my dirty martini – too cloudy, not cold enough, old olives. The $7 menu was missing healthy finger food options.

Things to do Near Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina Resort

Here are some of the activities my 24-year-old daughter and I enjoyed during our stay at the Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina.

View from our room's balcony at the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina
View from our room at the Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina Resort. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Redondo Beach Pier

Just a 5-minute walk from the hotel, the Redondo Beach Pier is a landmark and a fun destination for locals and tourists. It is the original deep sea port of Los Angeles with a variety of water activities and stunning ocean views.

The Pier offers a variety of events throughout the year from yoga to outdoor concerts and of course, surfing.  The shops are beachy and the dining options vary from funnel cakes to elegant patio meals overlooking the water.

The Beach

Surf, kayak, beach comb or play volleyball on some of the most beautiful beaches in the South Bay. The hotel is close to Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and RAT Beach (Right After Torrance).

Kayaking

King Harbor Marina offers a range of activities and rentals, including boating, fishing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Biking

Explore the South Bay bicycle trail, a 22-mile paved bike path that runs along the beach with access just across the street from the Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina. The ride is scenic with beautiful ocean views in both directions. Turn left out of the front door of the Sonesta to get to Palos Verdes; turn right and ride to Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, all the way to Malibu. Bike Rentals are available on the first floor of the Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina at Sports Rents.

Whale Watching

Redondo Beach is known for its whale-watching tours where you can spot various species of whales, dolphins, and other marine life. But you don’t have to take a tour. It’s possible to spot these majestic creatures from the shore, and from the rooftop deck of Sonesta’s swimming pool.

Seaside Lagoon

The Seaside Lagoon is a saltwater lagoon that offers swimming, paddleboarding, and other water sports.

Redondo Beach Farmers Market

The Farmers Market is held every Thursday and offers a range of fresh produce, local crafts, and delicious food.

Surf Lessons

Redondo Beach is a great place to learn how to surf, and there are several surf schools in the area that offer lessons for all skill levels.

Sunset over the beach near the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina
Beautiful sunset over the beach. Photo credit: Kim Orlando

Watch the Sunset

The beach offers stunning views of the sunset over the ocean, making it the perfect spot for a romantic evening or a relaxing end to a busy day.

Play at the Park

Veteran’s Memorial Park is a short walk from the Sonesta Redondo Beach Marina. The 6 acre park is home to the historic Veterans Community Center, Veterans Senior Center, the Veterans Memorial and a spectacular playground. The memorial was built in 2010 as a tribute to all military.

Shop

Riviera Village is a charming shopping district 2 miles from the hotel. Most of the shops, restaurants and cafes are locally owned. It’s a great place to stroll around and enjoy the local vibe.

View of the front of the Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina.
View of the front of the hotel. Photo credit: Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina

Sonesta Redondo Beach & Marina FAQs

  • The hotel is located at 300 N. Harbor Dr., Redondo Beach, California.
  • Self-parking and valet parking are available for a fee.
  • There’s a 24-hour business center with workstations, printing & copying equipment.
  • The outdoor pool is heated and open year round.
  • A car is not necessary. Take an Uber from LAX and you can walk just about everywhere else during your stay.
  • The hotel is pet friendly, with no breed or height restrictions.
Kim Orlando, founder of SheBuysTravel, is a lifelong traveler, an entrepreneur and a sought-after social media and marketing consultant. She has made hundreds of appearances on TV and in digital and print media, sharing advice and tips built on decades of travel experiences. Hailing from the hills of Kentucky and taking her story to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, Kim built an online platform, the original TravelingMom, that has reached millions of moms and empowered them to explore the world with their families. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel. Kim has been featured on “News Nation,” “Today,” “Good Morning America” and on numerous satellite media tours. She has contributed travel guidance to outlets including The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more. (Read more about Kim’s media appearances here) Her travel mantra is simple: All travel counts. “You don’t have to go far. Leaving your home is travel,” Kim says. “Wherever you go, even just to the next town over, you can learn something new, see someone and something you haven’t seen before. “It’s good for the brain and good for the soul.” An epiphany in early parenthood started Kim on the journey that led to SheBuysTravel. She’d been a fan of a newsletter for women travelers, and she saw an opportunity. “I thought something like that for moms could be extraordinarily helpful,” she said. “I was traveling for work, traveling for fun, and I was looking for support.” That seed grew into the award-winning website TravelingMom, created as a resource for traveling families of all stripes. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel, with an expanded mission to serve women travelers at any stage of life. Millions of readers have visited the site for trip planning help, travel secrets, destination information and gear recommendations. What sets SheBuysTravel’s content apart, Kim says, is its foundation in real-world experience. “Our writers and editors have actually gone out there and done this stuff,” she says. “They’ve booked the flights, tried the tour, tested travel clothing, visited that new hot spot to see if it’s worth the hype. It’s all real.” Memorable Adventures A 2022 tour Kim guided to Bhutan was a particularly standout experience. “Bhutan sounds so exotic, of course,” she said. “But the part where my heart just glows and warms is thinking of the people we met – amazing women doing amazing things in Bhutan.” Their ranks included a former police officer whose ventures into food science helped mitigate food insecurity for residents of Bhutan’s highlands. Top Tips Planning for travel can be daunting, Kim acknowledges. “I always say: Go anyway. No trip is going to be perfect. There’s always going to be something you didn’t expect, something that doesn’t go the way you pictured or planned it. And that something is what’s going to make it a great trip.” And on a practical note: “Go early! Getting to the airport or hitting the road just an hour earlier relieves so much stress.” Kim’s Background Kim, a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, holds degrees in finance and entrepreneurship and has deep experience in developing and running businesses. Her previous work includes developing and running communications workshops and overseeing document management for corporations. SheBuysTravel hits a sweet spot where Kim’s two loves of travel and entrepreneurship meet. “The longer I work in this field, I only want to do more,” she says. “I find the travel world so exciting – not just the trips, but the whole online world of travel. There are still so many opportunities.” The World Awaits “The ‘best trip ever’ probably won’t be the same for an empty-nester or mom of three versus a single woman celebrating a bachelorette party with her friends,” Kim says. “We want to keep it real for traveling women, no matter what their age, life stage, where they came from or where they’re going. “We want to inspire women to travel in any shape or form.” In her free time, Kim enjoys visiting her adult kids, creating trips and traveling with her BFFs to explore the world. Her most recent adventures can be found on InstagramFacebook and LinkedIn.
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