Casa Loma Beach Hotel sits right in Laguna Beach’s heart, just a short walk from the sand and tide pools that make this stretch of Orange County coast so special. Dogs stay in the rooms with you here, so you’re not juggling keys or feeling guilty about leaving your dog behind while you grab dinner. The location itself is the real draw — you can walk out your door and be at the beach within minutes, which makes for easy morning walks or afternoon lounges on the sand.

The hotel has that understated California beach vibe rather than the overdone resort feel. You’ll see surfers coming back from sessions, families heading down to explore the coves, and plenty of other dogs making the same pilgrimage to the water. Laguna Beach as a whole is remarkably dog-friendly, with lots of restaurants offering patio seating where your dog can hang out nearby while you eat.

The rooms themselves are straightforward — clean, functional, and focused on not getting in the way of what you actually want to do, which is spend time at the beach. You’re close enough to walk to Main Beach or Crescent Bay if you want to explore different stretches of coastline. The tide pools around here are fantastic if your dog likes investigating rocks and shallow water (just keep an eye on them around the edges). During low tide especially, there’s a lot to explore.

Since you’re steps from everything Laguna Beach offers — galleries, coffee shops, boutiques — you don’t need a car for much once you’ve settled in. Parking at the hotel can get tight during summer weekends, so factor that in if you’re planning a peak season visit.