California Road Trip!
I was so lucky to spend a week in California with lovely fellow Travel Counsellors on the most amazing road trip. We flew with Air New Zealand and were treated to their amazing sky couches – well worth the extra money for the flight, food, service and seat pitch and we even had our own lovely Paul from Air NZ to accompany us on the trip!
California Dreaming was the soundtrack which accompanied us on our road trip. To say we packed in loads over our six nights is an understatement!
We collected four cars from Alamo – one of them a soft top Mustang – a must in California. We then made our way to our first hotel the Loews in Hollywood – a super five star hotel with super facilities which even has a Starbucks in reception!
Our day started off with checking out our views from our room – we could see the HOLLYWOOD sign! We walked to the W Hotel via the Hollywood walk of fame where we saw the famous stars on the pavements. Breakfast at the W was gorgeous, we were entertained by Chloe and Celia from the W then had a show round the various room types, and even dipped our toes in the roof top pool!
Our morning ended with a walking tour of Hollywood where we took in the Egyptian theatre and saw pavement hand prints of the stars outside the Chinese Theatre and the setting for the Oscars.
Next stop – Santa Barbara! The lid off the Mustang and we were off! We arrived just after sunset but it was still beautiful and we were treated to our own rooms with balcony and sea view at the lovely Harbour View Inn! A quick change, wine tasting on the pier then Italian meal before a few of us sampled the Santa Barbara nightlife!
Early up and a brisk walk to the Kimpton hotel for breakfast and a look round. As this was Thanksgiving the town was quiet and shops closed. We had a look at the top of the clock tower then a harbour boat trip, followed by quad bikes on the front (as in four to a bike, not off roaders)! What a laugh and a great way to see Santa Barbara. Thanksgiving dinner was courtesy of the Santa Barbara tourist board with the lovely Jen who had given up her family time to host us. It had to be a turkey dinner didn’t it?!
After a good nights’ sleep, we set off in convoy on the PCH – the Pacific Coastal Highway! Destination Santa Monica with a photo stop en route at Paradise beach near to Malibu. Our one night stay was at Le Meridien Definia, 20 mins walk from the front and a good position with fabulous facilities, even bikes you can use to check out the strip!
We were treated to a pier tour and Ferris wheel ride then super lunch at Rustys. Next was a four mile bike ride – we each had our own bikes this time for our ride along the sea front to muscle beach and Venice Beach. A great way to see the area and I would thoroughly recommend this mode of transport. It is a very family friendly resort too with lots going on for families on the beach and pier!
We made it in time for sunset – we had sundowners on the roof top terrace of the Erwin hotel in town, a particular highlight of the trip!
We then a look round the Loews hotel right on the sea front. There was no dinner planned this evening so impromptu pizza and hot toddies round the fire pits on the decking at the Loews – bliss! We finished the evening with a visit to the bar which features in the new drama Goliath – the one Billy Bob Thornton frequents!
A visit to California is not complete without taking in Beverly Hills. We visited Sprinkles the cupcake ATM then Only in Beverly Hills shop to satisfy our shopping habits. Would you believe you can park free for two hours in Beverly Hills! I can’t even do that in my home town!
Our final stop was Palm Springs and two nights at the Hyatt Regency! A very relaxing, spread out resort, great for golfers and if you like the great outdoors.
It was now time to say goodbye Mustang and LA, and as Arnie would say – I’ll be back!