We received a media rate for our stay at the Hotel Irvine. All opinions are our own.
Last weekend Wendy and I ran away from home for 24 hours. We wanted some time to work in the same space without worrying about school pickup or dinner or anything other than where our next snack was coming from. We reached out to the Hotel Irvine, a fun neighborhood hotel with all of the amenities business travelers want without any of the stuffiness. Fun fact: some of my friends are regulars at the Red Bar – which has two fantastic female DJs on the weekends – and is how Hotel Irvine made its way onto my radar. Locals, take note!
We arrived just after check-in started and the lobby was busy. There was a conference and a wedding and a short line to check in, but within minutes I had my key in my hand. One of my favorite things about the hotel is that you can reach the concierge via text message, which is an absolute dream for those of us who are phone-averse.
Things to do at Hotel Irvine
The thing about the Hotel Irvine is that it is located in the heart of business travel central. Just a short shuttle to the airport it’s an easy choice for business travelers or anyone in town on a short stay. However, this hotel is far from buttoned-up bland business travel. Just take one look into The Backyard where you’ll find a pool, giant chessboard and oversized Jenga blocks.
These gorgeous outdoor spaces make the Hotel Irvine an easy choice for families who are here to take advantage of everything that Orange County has to offer. The Hotel Irvine is an easy drive to both the beaches and local theme parks, as well as shopping, dining, hiking trails and more.
Our goal for our short stay was to relax, soak up a little sun, eat, work, recharge and enjoy a getaway that doesn’t involve hopping on a plane or a long drive. It was a tall order, but we’re working moms who know how to maximize our time.
While we were there we put the finishing touches on our Video Basics course for creators – sign ups for that are live now and we would love for you to check that out! We also made sure to enjoy a leisurely dinner at EATS and you should definitely not miss this!
Where to Eat While at Hotel Irvine
We had a lovely chat with Chef Jeff Moore and learned that not only is the brown butter chocolate chip cookie absolutely worth saving room for, kids 12 and under eat free at EATS every single night of the week!
My top recommendations for the perfect meal at EATS are as follows: Blackberry Mule, Ahi Tuna Poke, Scallops, Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie. This is served with homemade marshmallows and is melty and delicious on the inside. Topped with a bit of vanilla ice cream and it’s perfection.
On our way back to our room we stopped by the Marketplace which is like no hotel shop you’ve ever seen. It’s open 24 hours and when they boast about their reasonable prices they aren’t kidding. We grabbed two iced coffees there on Sunday morning for under $5. I’ve been talking about that for three days straight!
Naturally we grabbed sodas, candy and I ooohed over the many flavors of cotton candy (but ultimately resisted the inevitable sugar crash.)
We worked for a little while longer until our early bedtimes called and we crashed hard. I’ve slept in plenty of hotel beds and have reached the age where I usually wake up uncomfortable in any bed that’s not my own. Anyone else? This was absolutely not the case here. I woke up feeling refreshed even though I slept in until…6:30am. Yes, I am also completely unable to sleep in anymore.
We had a quick breakfast on the balcony in club 12, headed downstairs for the aforementioned iced coffees and a little sunshine before headed straight back to our rooms where we buried our faces in our laptops. After even a few hours away we feel like we need to switch straight back into “mom mode” when we head home, so we wanted to make the absolute most of our time.
If we had more time in the hotel I would have loved to check out their Commit to Be Fit program which goes beyond a traditional fitness center (which they have!) and includes room delivery of items like yoga mats, kettle bells, free weights and exercise balls. They even have a Borrow-a-Bike program so you can hit up some of the local trails. Well done, Hotel Irvine!
By midafternoon we were throwing our things into our overpacked bags and headed for our cars. Another fantastic thing about Hotel Irvine? Valet parking costs less than self-parking so let them do the work and skip the parking lot!
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to check out this local hotel right in our own backyard. When I mentioned our stay to a friend she told me how great their holiday brunches are (bottomless mimosas!) and I love that this hotel is committed to the locals just as much as they are to providing a great experience for visiting travelers.
Also, even 24 hours away was so refreshing. Mark your calendar, Wendy because I think we should make this a regular thing!
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