Fairmont Miramar Hotel Overview

Fairmont Miramar is located near Santa Monica Beach in Los Angeles, just one street away from the beach. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the beach and about 10 minutes to the Third Street Promenade. Since it is a bit farther from the busiest area, The Pier, it feels especially quiet, and the beachfront right in front doesn’t have a lot of random crowds.

This hotel is among the most upscale and luxurious properties near Santa Monica Beach. Regular rooms run around $400-$500 per night, while the cheapest suites are between $600-$700. Its biggest unique feature is the bungalows—standalone little villas built around a garden with a pool, plus flowerbeds and streams, which make the setting feel very comfortable. Of course, those run about $1,000+ per night.

Image from fairmontmoments

Booking

This time we stayed in Fairmont Miramar’s most basic suite—the Palisades Suites. It has a European-style design and feels quite old. It includes a living room, one bedroom, and one bathroom.

Image from the Fairmont official website

We booked using the 2*2 Free Nights we received from the Fairmont credit card sign-up as me and LD went together. Since the Fairmont card also includes a Fairmont Premier membership, which came with a suite upgrade voucher, we were able to use it and upgraded to a suite for four nights. Fairmont Miramar also charges an extra resort fee of $25 per night, which includes free bikes, private beach access and shuttle service, free morning coffee, pool service, and more.

Hotel Experience

Entrance

  • The hotel entrance itself feels very comfortable, and the flowers on both sides are beautiful.
  • The first thing you see is one of the hotel’s oldest trees. Many people specifically come here to shoot wedding photos and hold weddings.
  • There’s a sign by this tree, and it is already over 100 years old.
  • There are lots of sports cars parked at the entrance.
  • Because we came earlier in the day, there weren’t many people at the front door. In the evening, there were still a couple dozen staff lined up in two rows, and it was pretty impressive.

Lobby

  • The lobby is quite grand and gilded.
  • Behind the lobby are the garden, the Fig restaurant, and the pool.
  • Before 10:00 AM every morning, coffee and tea are offered free and unlimited.

Room

  • This suite had a city view. The view is nicely shielded by lush trees, so it feels private. The lobby area, however, wasn’t as lavish as I imagined and the furniture is a bit old.
  • The bedroom is quite comfortable, with one king bed and especially soft pillows.
  • The bedroom cabinets are very unique—everyone can count how many drawers it has.
  • The bathroom is similar to a regular home bathroom. The toiletries are the same brand as Park Hyatt in New York.
  • Overall, the room felt average and not as luxurious as expected. But it is very practical to stay in and has a good space layout.

Hotel Facilities and Activities

What I remember most is the hotel’s amenities and activities. Before this stay, I thought a hotel was just a place to sleep at night. Fairmont Miramar changed my view completely.

Fig Restaurant

Fairmont Premier members also get a $50 dining credit each year that can be used at the hotel restaurants. Fairmont Miramar’s restaurant is called Fig. Every day from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM is Happy Hour, and everything except steak is 50% off. It was extremely affordable—so good value it felt almost like everyday comfort food.

  • The outdoor section of the Fig restaurant
  • The indoor section of the Fig restaurant
  • We ordered four dishes. Even with all four under Happy Hour 50% off, the total was under $50: lamb noodles, chicken breast, spicy fries, and shellfish.

Pool

I’d never really used a hotel pool before, but this time I gave it a try. They provide free loungers, umbrellas, and towels, plus free lemonade.

  • The morning pool. By noon and afternoon, it gets much busier, but most Americans are just sunbathing; only families with kids are really in the pool together.
  • Loungers
  • Free lemonade~

Beach

A major perk is that the hotel has its own private section of Santa Monica Beach, complete with loungers, umbrellas, and beach toys. Even better, the hotel provides a free shuttle to the beach, and the Jeep ride is very comfortable. You can also place orders directly on the beach, and staff will bring your food from the nearby beachside restaurant to your spot. After trying this, I couldn’t help but think, life with money really is good.

  • Jeep transfer to the beach
  • Private beach area and facilities

Shuttle Service

The hotel also offers free transfers within 3 miles. Just let the Concierge at the front desk know and a dedicated car will pick you up. It’s very convenient for getting to The Pier and Pacific Park. During rush hour, however, walking and driving may take about the same time.

  • House Car with free transfer

Bikes and Scooters

The hotel also offers free rentals of BMW bikes and Scooters, which make a coastal stroll really comfortable.

  • BMW bike—we biked in the morning to Whole Foods for breakfast.
  • Scooter rides are great

Conclusion

After staying at Fairmont Miramar, I felt a bit regretful about my previous stay at Park Hyatt. Downtown hotels can have much higher rack rates, but the experience at a resort in a scenic area feels better, and the service is more varied. In addition, most of the guests here were middle-aged Americans who all looked like successful people, and I couldn’t help but sigh that having money and free time is such a nice place to be. As the only one staying at this luxury hotel largely thanks to credit-card free-stay perks—someone who feels like they might not naturally belong there—I still felt a little awkward. But at least this trip felt almost perfect, and I earned it through my own effort.

If you still have a Free Night to use, consider Fairmont Miramar. You definitely won’t be disappointed.