The Spa at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach January 2025 was not the fresh start that Southern Californians hoped for as their post-holiday lull was interrupted by crisis. Devastating property loss, mass evacuations and air pollution from wildfire smoke sent Los Angeles residents to surrounding areas like Palm Springs, Big Bear and Orange County to await the green light for returning home. Staff at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach recall how their exclusive property in Dana Point, California became fully booked overnight. Located on the southern Orange County coastline, the 175-acre, five-star resort became an unexpected sanctuary for Angeleños seeking clean air and a place to recuperate as the natural disaster unfolded. With less name recognition than its neighbors to the North, like artsy Laguna Beach or the more central Newport Beach, Dana Point was already something of a “quiet luxury” destination. With a massive re-vamp of the Dana Point Harbor underway, it was only matter of time before Dana Point gained attention as an under-the-radar wellness destination. With Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach’s hiking trails, beach access, multiple dining options, private beach club and spa defied its close proximity to the city. The rush occurred mere weeks before their planned announcement of their spa updates. The tragedy in Los Angeles simply moved up the timeline for recognizing the quiet, coastal community’s merits as a luxury wellness hub. Keep reading to learn more about how Waldorf Astoria brought a top travel trend to Dana Point, California and helped to put South Orange County on the map as a luxury wellness destination. The pool at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach The Calmcation A luxury travel agency declared 2025’s top luxury travel trends to include the “calmcation,” the continuation of wellness getaways prioritizing “relaxation, mindfulness and rejuvenation.” This heightened emphasis on well-being swept the luxury travel sector, from Bio-Hacking and Longevity-inspired offerings in Spain, to the newly-introduced Vitality Experts (including tarot readers) at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles. But the phenomenon of the “calmcation” was put to the test as the unfolding natural disaster sent panicked Angeleños into crisis. Whereas destination travel takes long-term planning, South OC’s coastal Dana Point proved itself to offer myriad opportunities for settling hijacked nervous systems both on- and off-site. But impressively, it is located just over an hour away from the city, making it ideal for an off-the-cuff booking in the name of calm. The ambiance at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach is enhanced by opportunities to ground in nature, including private beach access, golf and hiking trails. A pool with an ocean view doses guests with fresh air and vitamin D, while fitness classes, tennis courts and a gym provide active visitors with “nature’s antidepressant,” endorphins. Gentler options for emotional nourishment include yoga and sound baths, not to mention the re-habituating effects of soothing touch via massage. Beauty-minded guests have access to antioxidant-packed facials from brands like 111 Skin, as well as typical spa amenities like the steam room and sauna. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Detoxing in Dana Point But the sense of “escape” afforded by a getaway is only part of the therapeutic effect of vacationing. Helping the body to achieve a parasympathetic state of relaxation is important for physical health, especially during times of heightened stress. Accessing the innate relaxation response, the biological antidote to the stress response during which digestion, repair and detox are optimized, is critically important when seeking to regain a calm baseline. In this context, detox was of particular import. As experts such as osteopathic doctor Mark Ghalili, naturopathic doctor Nadia Musavvir and nurse Natalie Aguilar all pointed out, exposure to the wildfire smoke placed an added toxic burden on the bodies of locals. Even beyond the emotional strain, certain sensitive groups faced physical difficulties from the toxic load. As someone with difficulty detoxing due to the MTHFR genetic mutation, my body went into a systemic inflammatory response that my doctor confirmed with bloodwork. My symptoms ranged from brain fog, fatigue and swelling to severe breakouts—the worst my skin had seen in at least a decade. The room at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach had ample room for an in-room lymphatic drainage massage. Jessica Ourisman Lymphatic Drainage The property’s comforting amenities combine with Dana Point’s access to local resources, many of which were running specials for those impacted by the fires. To be sure, a more remote destination would not have granted me access to the specialists and integrative experts I was able to access in just a three-day stay. First, I was able to schedule an in-room massage from the lymphatic massage therapist, Makenna Bernadino, who is local to Newport Beach. The generous room size easily fit her massage table, which we placed in front of the sliding door to my pool- and ocean-view balcony. Lymphatic drainage is becoming an increasingly popular way to promote bodily detox. Models love it for its sculpting benefits, as it visibly reduces bloating and eliminates water weight from the body. But as health enthusiasts know, this effect is due to the therapist’s manual movement of toxin-filled lymph fluid via the lymphatic pathways. Without an innate pump, stagnant lymph fluid can lead to swelling and edema; but lymphatic drainage massage facilitates the more efficient passage of fluid from the lymph nodes, to the liver and kidneys, to be excreted from the body as urine. Besides the visible de-puffing effects of a before-and-after, one of the fastest ways to know that a lymphatic drainage massage is working is that you will need to go pee. Whereas I usually just go to the bathroom at the end of the session, I got up multiple times during my massage with Bernadino and continued to do so much more often than usual for the rest of the night. This, I suspect, was due to my body’s first meaningful detox since escaping the toxic cloud hovering over LA. Jessica Ourisman OC Skin Lab The severe inflammation on my skin was a direct response to the inflammation in my body, exacerbated by the difficulty detoxing from an added toxic burden. I booked an appointment with double board-certified dermatopathologist Michelle Hure, who graciously fit me into her schedule at OC Skin Lab, located just minutes away in San Juan Capistrano. As a beauty editor, this type of appointment was a priority—to treat the immediate inflammation and to get a long-term treatment plan underway for resolving what would become lingering discoloration, or post-inflammatory erythema (P.I.E.), on my complexion. First, Dr. Hure treated my acute inflammation with an injection of kenalog, which flattened my cystic lesion overnight. Dr. Hure then provided me with samples of Winlevi, a topical form of Spironolactone that would prevent my hormone-exacerbated breakouts long-term. With this guidance, osteopathic dermatologist Karan Lal prescribed me a compounded form of topical Spironolactone and Niacinamide, an ingredient which would also help to fade the lingering discoloration and improve skin barrier function. Because I knew it would be a long-term process of reversing the appearance of post-inflammatory discoloration, it was important to me that I interrupt the inflammatory response as quickly as possible. Dana Point’s access to local skin experts was imperative to getting my wellness back on track. Had I been in North OC, I would have booked with dermatologic Physician Associate Desirae Macias at Dr. Garrison Skin & Wellness in Huntington Beach, CA. Once back in Los Angeles, dermatologic nurse Amaju Amare of Amare Aesthetics would begin the long process of treating my residual dark marks and preventing future eruptions with a combination of chemical peels and the Aerolase laser. The no-downtime, melasma- and skin tone-safe 1064 nm ND:Yag laser is a perennial staple in my skincare regimen; I have had Aerolase sessions across the globe, from Beverly Hills to Barcelona. Kali Wellness is a functional medicine practice in Orange County, California. Kali Wellness Kali Wellness in Newport Beach The next day, I continued my detoxification journey at the nearby Hydration Lounge in Newport Beach. There, I opted for vitamin injections to help my body detox, containing free radical-binding antioxidants like Glutathione and Vitamin C. I also received a separate injection of NAD+, a coenzyme that is popular in longevity circles for supporting the cellular energy responsible for performing its functions. I notice that NAD+ aids with fatigue, focus and brain fog, and I take it on a daily basis as a nasal spray I was prescribed at Dripology MedSpa. Next I walked to Kali Wellness for my appointment with its founder, Katherine Poulos, a licensed cosmetologist and certified functional medicine coach. I had my first-ever treatment with the Lymphstar Aria LET Elite device. It is less hands-on than a typical lymphatic drainage massage, but it is extremely relaxing and supports the breakdown and release of lymph fluid, along with the toxins/cellular waste it carries, from the body. Poulos also happens to be a wealth of information on ways to integrate complementary modalities into your health regimen. Their multidisciplinary staff includes naturopathic doctors, one of whom is a certified functional medicine practitioner, an aesthetician and a Vedic astrologer. This gives them incredible scope—for instance, the practice could also have prescribed my compounded skin treatment or even a session of EBOO, a form of ozone therapy to purify the blood, which was being offered at a discount to first responders. Before leaving, I also stocked up on some essentials like Queen of Thrones Castor Oil for castor oil packs, Clearstem supplements and a gentle cleanser for my inflamed skin. The view from the balcony of a room at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach in Dana Point, California. Jessica Ourisma Is Orange County A New Wellness Hub? These are clearly just a few of the wellness opportunities to be had in Orange County, California. After all, there is a Goop Kitchen right in Costa Mesa. But there was no need to leave the property to dine elsewhere, with vast on-site options likeBourbon Steak and Aveo Table + Bar—including recognition-worthy pastries for gluten-free eaters. Meanwhile, the private Monarch Beach Club’s oceanfront bar and restaurant, accessible via a complimentary golf cart shuttle, almost feels like you are on the set of White Lotus. Yet a short stay at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach in Dana Point proved itself to be much more than a destination for luxury-seeking travelers in need of a “calmcation.” First, it interrupted the toxic stress cycle that the crisis in Los Angeles had triggered in a calm and nourishing environment. In the process, it proved that Dana Point, California is an under-the-radar wellness hub located in South Orange County. More From Forbes ForbesLED Face Masks Are Now A Luxury Travel Must-Have. But Do They Work?By Jessica OurismanForbesWildfire Smoke Impacts Health And Skin—Here Are Expert Tips To CopeBy Jessica OurismanForbes10 Beauty And Wellness Spots To Try On Your Next Trip To BarcelonaBy Jessica OurismanForbesSpain’s Industry-Leading Beauty Secrets For Scalp Care And Hair GrowthBy Jessica Ourisman ForbesThe Luxurious And Niche Facial That Every Skincare Lover Should TryBy Jessica Ourisman Follow me on LinkedIn. Check out my website. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades