We stayed at the Miramar for 3 nights in an Ocean Tower room. The service was excellent - on par with the service at the Ritz Carlton. After just a day, everyone knew our names and greeted us personally, helped us with our rental car, sent packages back home, gave restaurant recommendations, and assisted with a very easy room change. The rooms were well-appointed and fabulous views. The Koi Pond is lovely with live turtles. The rooms were not 100% quiet but were very relaxing. Only complaint is $14.00 charge for internet access. I would absolutely come back for my next visit to Santa Monica.

This place is so beautiful - we were upgraded to a bungalow and absolutely loved it! The hotel is located near the shopping and easy access to the path over the ocean.

The service was fantastic and the vibe is very relaxed and yet it makes you feel glamorous.

I would recommend staying at this hotel - we found it to be a wonderful respite from our dreary NYC winter!

I stayed there with my family for 2 nights. I got a reasonable rate through my company so I didn't find it too expensive. Yes they gouge you on valet parking. But great affordable dining is available walking distance for the hotel. Our room was large(425 sq ft) and well appointed. The service was outstanding. We were traveling with our 3yo boy and they brought us complimentary milk and cookies within an hour of arrival. The pool is really nice and the grounds make you feel like you are staying at a tropical resort not west LA. So, if you want a nice stay in Santa Monica seriously consider The Miramar.

We just returned from a 3 night stay at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and the whole stay was fantastic!
We arrived to the hotel in th evening and were checked in quickly with no problems. We got to our Ocean Tower room where the hotel had placed a bottle of champagne and a platter of chocolate covered strawberries that had "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate on the entry table. This was a very special and unexpected treat.....and deliciously divine!
We stayed on the 5th floor and while there was some noise from the road, it was minimal and we slept very comfortably in the plush beds.
We had dinner at the hotel restaurant one night and were again very pleased. We indulged in pot roast which "hit the spot" and the service was impeccable. Tim Kirby, the assistant Food and Beverage Manager, does a great job and made every effort to make sure our stay was perfect.
The location of the hotel, right on Wilshire Blvd is a perfect place for a quick walk to the beach or a stroll on the Promenade.
Another great quality of the Fairmont is their effort to be a "green" hotel. As another traveler posted, all hybrid cars get free valet parking which is a huge plus considering it is otherwise $35/day. We rented a hybrid from Fox Rental for less than it would have cost us to park it.
Kudos to the Fairmont Miramar for making our stay a most memorable and luxurious one!