Pronouncing Terranea can be tricky (terra-NAY-a), but pampering yourself comes easily at this scenic resort on the Los Angeles coast. Calm and quiet prevail at the 102-acre estate, making it hard to believe you’re just an 18-mile drive from the Los Angeles International Airport, and the hustle and bustle most folks associate with Southern California life.
The oceanside property features a whopping 582 rooms and suites. The property layout is fairly simple and straightforward, but its sheer size means it will take some time to learn your way around. Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, on clear days, its coastal location delivers eye-catching views of Catalina Island and rewards guests with both sunrise and sunset views.
Terranea has a Mediterranean feel, but the property does a nice job of blending in with its surroundings and letting its greatest asset, the coastal environment, shine.
Accommodations
I’ve stayed at Terranea twice, each time in a different room category. During my first visit, I spent a few days in a guest room with a distant view of the surf and one of the resort’s four heated pools. Along with a king bed, the room offered a sitting area and a large desk. The bathroom had a single vanity, a bathtub, a shower, and a water closet.
In addition to traditional-style hotel rooms, accommodation options include multi-bedroom casitas, bungalows, and villas with kitchens and living areas. My latest stay was in a one-bedroom casita that offered a generous amount of space to spread out, as well as perks such as a fireplace that ignited with the push of a button, and a washer and dryer. (Laundry soap and fabric sheets were also provided.)
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All accommodations, regardless of room category, have a balcony or patio, and a majority offer ocean views.
Public Spaces and Facilities
Whatever type of space you choose, you likely won’t spend much of your waking time there. The beauty of a stay at Terranea is getting outside, and the resort offers a number of entertaining ways to do it.
Depending on the day, guests can join a guided hike along the coast, go stargazing, or perhaps meet the falconer responsible for keeping the property seagull-free. The spacious fitness center has an ocean-front studio offering seaside yoga and spin classes. Peloton users will find a pair of the brand’s spin bikes and a rowing machine.
For an additional fee, you can practice your swing on a 9-hole, par 3, oceanfront golf course, go kayaking, or give archery a try. The Spa at Terranea features 25 treatment rooms and a private pool ideal for afternoon naps.
Terranea Kids Club is offered Wednesday through Sunday, and is available to children 3 to 12 years old. (Children must be potty-trained.) Days are broken into two sessions. The morning session runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; the cost is $135. The 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. afternoon session is $90.
Dining Options
Terranea has eight dining venues, ranging from gourmet cuisine at Mar’sel (open for dinner only) to grab-and-go at coffee, pastries, and salads at Sea Beans. On Saturdays and Sundays, Sea Beans offers a pancake station with toppings including fruit, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and more. It’s a hit with kids and kids-at-heart.
Bashi features wok-style dishes ranging from Bang Bang Shrimp (shrimp tossed in a spicy aioli) and garlic noodles to lobster fried rice, sushi, and sashimi. Perched cliffside, you can watch the sun set from the outside terrace at Nelson’s. Favorites include the Connecticut Lobster Roll and Seafood Cobb Salad.
Catalina Kitchen serves daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with Sunday brunch and a Friday night seafood buffet. On select days, guests may also have the option to dine at pop-ups featuring Mexican and Mediterranean selections.
Good to Know
Terranea offers 31 accommodations, spread throughout a variety of room categories, for guests with mobility, hearing, and sight disabilities.
Rates for Hotel King Guestrooms, Terranea’s standard entry-level room, start at $733. Be sure to budget for the daily resort fee, which ranges from $72 to $90 depending on the accommodation category.
Well-behaved dogs are permitted in Casita accommodations only. There are a number of breed restrictions; guests are allowed one dog up to 50 pounds or two dogs up to a combined 75 pounds. Pet fees range from $295 to $595, depending on the size of the Casita.
Check rates online at Expedia, Booking.com, or Hotels.com.
Review and photos by San Francisco Bay Area travel writer and television correspondent Dana Rebmann. Her stay was organized by Terranea, but as always, her thoughts and opinions are her own.
