We know that a home for your holiday is much more than just a place to sleep. Genuine rest and relaxation for the mind and body starts with how you wake up in the morning. The sounds that greet you as you stir from your slumber, the views that inspire you as you wipe the sleep from your eyes. I personally love a good breakfast when I’m on holiday, since I don’t always make time for it in my day-to-day life. Here we’ve considered all these things and more in order to compile a little list of dream places to stay in California.
On the doorstep of Cavallo Point Lodge, is Golden Gate National Park (Image: Michele Anzidei)
CAVALLO POINT LODGE, SAUSALITO
Just across the Golden Gate Bridge, in the heart of the Golden Gate National Park lies Cavallo Point. Once an army base, the colonial red-roofed officers’ residences and surrounding buildings were converted into a stunning lodge which boasts LEED Gold certification for its eco principles and practices. Most of the rooms have breath-taking views over the Bay area and all rooms have a fireplace.
Murray Circle (the popular Michelin-starred restaurant) features fresh local ingredients with an impressive wine offering from its cellar while the on-site Healing Arts Centre features a meditation pool, hot tubs and a firepit. Package deals start at £330 a night. I love the Fire & Rain deal, which includes an in-room bartender serving a selection of aperitivo and cocktails as well as an amenity pack with playing cards and adult colouring books for when the weather turns ugly.
Venice Beach Pier (Image: bmalarky)
VENICE BEACH ECO COTTAGES, LOS ANGELES
If you are looking for a unique, environmentally friendly place to stay then this is an absolute win. Just a few blocks from the gorgeous Venice Beach you’ll find Venice Beach Eco Cottages. Just 2 blocks away from the hip eateries of the famed bohemian-chic shopping district of Abbot Kinney Boulevard, these cute cabins are perfectly located. It was once voted the Coolest Block in America by the editors of GQ magazine.
Each cottage is individually decorated to the highest standard and features a bedroom (with a double bed) as well as a small kitchen complete with appliances. That means this solar-powered self-catering option doesn’t break the bank (around £150 a night) while still allowing you to indulge in guilt-free glamourous comfort.
Evening time over ethereal Napa Valley (Image: Abe Kleinfeld)
POETRY INN, NAPA VALLEY
Imagine a place where nature’s serenity, privacy and the highest level of hospitality come together. This is the Poetry Inn. Nestled on a hillside amongst the vineyards in Napa Valley, every room boasts postcard perfect views, a wood-burning fireplace, indoor and outdoor shower and the finest Italian bedding. It’s the extras that set this boutique inn apart from the rest; Ross loves the complimentary (very well-stocked) minibar, while I love the fresh flowers. Save this one for when you deserve a treat because of course the finest things in life don’t come cheap. You can expect to pay around £600 per night, although that includes a $100 spa credit and a 3 course gourmet a-la-carte breakfast for 2.
The high-end shops of Rodeo Drive are not far from Mr C Beverly Hills
MR C BEVERLY HILLS, LOS ANGELES
Located next to Century City, conveniently close to the exclusive shopping on Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard is the chic hotel known as Mr C Beverly Hills. Featuring a combination of rooms and signature suites which marry modern amenities with old-world simplicity, this is truly delightful accommodation in the heart of LaLaLand. Everyone loves the welcome Bellini while the pool area with the private cabanas is an oasis of calm. You can relax completely while you lie back, surrounded by lush, beautifully landscaped gardens. Rooms start at about £300 a night for 2 people, and discounts are available for stays of 3 nights or more.
The beautiful sweeping coastline of Big Sur, which the Post Ranch Inn overlooks (Image: Pradeep Sawlani)
POST RANCH INN, BIG SUR
Nestled along the central part of the California coastline, the Post Ranch Inn is one of the region’s most awarded accommodations. Just 30 miles south of Carmel, this is a slice of heaven on earth. Magical not just because of it’s stunning views over the ocean, but also for the unique and incredible types of accommodation it offers.
Whether you prefer to be in a luxurious cabin with a deck suspended over the cliff (think heated floors, outdoor hot-tub), or whether you want to sleep in a circular room that offers sweeping ocean views from the bed, soft leather couch and oversized bathtub, there is something here for everyone. I love the treehouses, which are built on stilts 9ft above the forest floor. Despite the setting, each tree house still features a fireplace, as well as a partial glass roof for stargazing. Not for those with a flat wallet, package deals (although inclusive of a 4 course evening meal, a massage for 2 people, as well as various other activities) will set you back an eye-watering £1000 a night.
