millsy5

Hello and Help!
I am planning a trip from LA to San Francisco with family of five (24, 19 and 18) and hoped to make Santa Barbara our first night out. NO ROOMS available at all. Is there a town near there that is charming and might have a unique place to stay?
Next stop, Pismo (Fogcatcher Inn) with a visit to Hearst castle and then on to San Francisco! Might book the next night in Carmel? Then on to San Fran~ Have read other posts but would welcome any suggestions/comments, etc...
Thanks!

janisj

If there are no rooms in Santa Barbara -- then I'd just press on to Pismo Beach or SLO.

november_moon

The Fogcatcher Inn is in Cambria, so if you stop in Pismo Beach looking for it, you'll probably not be able to find it

I would probably opt for 2 nights in Cambria rather than stoping someplace overnight on the way to Cambria. Otherwise Pismo Beach would be my choice for an overnight - although it is only about an hour from Cambria.

The Monterey Peninsula would make a great overnight stop (or longer if you've got the time). I would choose Monterey or Pacific Grove over Carmel though, esspecially with teenagers/young adults. Carmel is pretty, but it is upscale and romantic. PG and M are better suited for families, teens, and young adults.

MFNYC

I remember years ago we did a coastal trip and spent a night in Solvang. It was our 1 and only unplanned overnight stop. It was a pleasant a little town to spend the night in and I remember the hotel we randomly picked, being spacious and inexpensive (can't remember the name but we had 2 connected rooms).

DiscoverSB

There are plenty of other places to stay in Santa Barbara County than in the city of Santa Barbara. Visit http://www.discover-santa-barbara.co...modations.html for more options.

Hope this helps!

Christina

I used to live in that area and visit now and again and can't believe there isn't any place to stay in the general area. The entire coastline isn't that desolate from LA to at least San Luis Obispo. There really aren't any rooms at all in all those motels along 101 near Santa Barbara? Like Golega Carpinteria, etc.

Maybe the problem is with wanting some place charming and unique, I'm not that picky about where I stay for a night. I assumed you really wanted to see Santa Barbara, in which case lots of places nearby. HOw about Ojai. If you want somethign special, I guess maybe move on to Morrow Bay or San Luis Obispo.

tomfuller

There might be rooms here. No guarantee on quality.
http://www.sbhostel.com/

kleroux

Try Vacation rentals by owner... www.vrbo.com and then add the city you are looking for. We've used that in Europe and the USA. Much better than a hotel.

Jean

When is your trip? Are you going through SB June 10-12? That's commencement weekend for UC Santa Barbara.

FYI, Highway 1 is still closed 13 miles north of Big Sur.

november_moon

We like using VBRO too, but I haven't found many owners that will rent for less than a few nights at a time - just not cost effective for them.

millsy5

Thank you ALL for your great advice. Actually graduation is that weekend and there are absolutely NO hotel rooms any where near Santa Barbara unless we want to pay $1450 a night for the Four Seasons! No. I did check VRBO and a new site I found AirBandB which is good. I am moving on. We will head on to Cambria (not Pismo) and then - thanks to good advice find a spot in PC or Monterey.
Thanks again everyone for your helpful suggestions! I love it.