Santa Barbara’s only Forbes Five-Star resort is an enchanting hideaway for those who
cherish privacy and serenity.
Belmond El Encanto sits high in the hills amid lush gardens, offering a dazzling view over
Santa Barbara and the sparkling ocean beyond. An icon since the 1920’s, its original
architectural features have been lovingly brought back to life, while modern additions
include an expansive outdoor swimming pool and beautiful boutique spa.
True to its Californian roots, this is a luxury hotel that combines glamour with laid-back style.
Belmond El Encanto
Santa Barbara
Quintessential laid-back retreat in the hills of Santa Barbara
Located right on the beach, and with views over Santa Monica
pier, Shutters feels very much like a grand private residence. It
seems to blend old and new with ease, juxtaposing dark wood
floors and old leather sofas with light, whitewashed rooms using
sand and sea colours to give you that beach house informality.
A seat in the hotel lobby is one of the most sought after spots
in Los Angeles. If you'd prefer, skip the sand and soak in the sun
by the poolside where spectacular ocean views await you at
the largest beachside pool deck in the city. Stylish and spacious
guest rooms and suites have newly redesigned interiors by the
freshly appointed Obama White House designer Michael Smith
- understated luxury with the feel of a private beach cottage.
Shutters on the Beach
Santa Monica
Los Angeles favourite beachside hotel
Discovering Southern California
20
much to see and do across LA you might be wise to consider
basing yourself in not one but two key locations - Beverly
Hills and Santa Monica, home to two of LA’s most cherished
hotels.
Once LA is bottled its time to cruise. Perhaps a jaunt up the
rugged coast, past the star-studded hideaways of Malibu
Beach and the famous Hearst Castle, to the elegant seaside
community of Santa Barbara, one of the world’s prettiest
coastal cities, with red-tiled roofs, mountain backdrops and
sea views that earn it the nickname of “The American
Riviera”. Visit in October and you will discover a month-long
food and wine festival, Epicure. And herein lies one of the
region’s charms, the vineyards of Santa Barbara County,
located less than an hour north from the city in the Santa
Ynez Valley. Some reckon that the best wines in USA are now
being made here! Tucked in the hills behind Santa Barbara
you will find another treasure, Belmond El Encanto.
Originally opened in 1918 this much-storied, iconic hotel
has hosted Hollywood luminaries going back to Silver
Screen stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.
Escaping LA seems to have been a pre-requisite for the stars
of the silver screen and the emergence of the desert city of
PalmSprings owes much to the patronage of showbusiness.
Her most famous resident, Frank Sinatra, spent 50 years of
his life enjoying the striking and contrasting natural
landscape, and it is not hard to appreciate his enthusiasm.
