Luxury Along Calf. Coast
 

Planning a 10 day drive from Napa Valley to L.A with stops In S.F,Carmel,Big Sur and Santa Barbara.I would appreciate opinions on what are considered "luxury" hotels and inns in these areas.Thanks for responding!<BR><BR>June

Depending on what you're looking for, I would start with the Sonoma Mission Inn or maybe Silverado in the Napa/Sonoma area. Then in SF I'd stay at the Palace hotel. There's always the Inn at Pebble Beach, but I prefer the Inn at Spanish Bay. Ventana Inn is a great spot in Big Sur. I can't help you out with Santa Barbara.

If money were no object to me, I'd stay at the Four Seasons in SF and Santa Barbara.

Big Sur - I would try Ventana Inn. Post Ranch Inn is also considered a luxury inn. <BR><BR>Carmel - I've stayed at Carmel Valley Lodge and Quail Lodge, both luxurious, but in Carmel Valley. Both are geared more towards golfers, but have the same amenities as a resort with spa services, rooms with hot tubs, etc. I've also stayed at La Playa Hotel in Carmel, but didn't think it was super luxurious. We were upgraded from their smallest room to the Presidential Suite, and neither really struck me as the end all be all in luxury. You might want to try staying in Pebble Beach if you want to be by the ocean. The Inn at Spanish Bay is always one that i've wanted to stay at. I hear it's really nice.<BR><BR>Santa Barbara has Bacara. It's pretty new but gets raves. The 4S is always a good bet as well.

It's pretty hard to do better than the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, just next to Santa Barbara. JFK and Jackie spent their honeymoon there. Old and romantic is El Encanto in Santa Barbara and Charlie Chaplin's Montecito Inn.

S.F,Carmel,Big Sur and Santa Barbara<BR><BR>In San Francisco, the Sherman House or the Mandarin Oriental.<BR><BR>In Big Sur, definitely the Ventana Inn.<BR><BR>In Santa Barbara, the Four Seasons Biltmore or San Ysidro.

June, I once stayed at The Fess Parker Resort in Santa Barbara and it was quite lovely...I stayed in a junior suite with an ocean view, but they also have presidential suites that offer more amenities...it's a full service resort and I recommend it.

June - If you are planning on driving from Big Sur to Santa Barbara in one day, understand that you will be driving non-stop the ENTIRE day. The northern California coastal drive is something not to be rushed - especially the Highway 1 route through Big Sur to Carmel. My suggestion, stop for lunch at "The Phoenix" in Big Sur to take in the beautiful ocean views, then drive to The Cliffs Resort at Shell Beach - it is a wonderful resort located right on the cliffs! If you check out by 11:00am you could be lunching in Santa Barbara by 1:00pm, well rested and ready to enjoy Santa Barbara!

In Santa Barbara we love the Harbor View Inn.

I did not think the Cliffs resort in Shell Beach was luxurious. The decor was old, and staff rude.