Along Highway 1 – A Hotel Where You Can Just Relax All Day… 🌿🏡

Belmond El Encanto is nestled against the mountains in Santa Barbara. The property is absolutely stunning—filled with beautiful Spanish-style villas. I originally considered staying at the nearby Ritz-Carlton or Rosewood, but the $2,000+ price tag quickly changed my mind 😅. Though Belmond isn’t right on the coast, the views are still breathtaking—both the room and the grounds completely exceeded my expectations. Sitting outside with a drink, soaking up the sun and just daydreaming… pure bliss. ☀️🥤 Property: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Spanish-style architecture with a touch of timeless elegance. The property is quite spacious, overlooking all of Santa Barbara. The restaurant and pool areas offer incredible views—half city, half ocean—absolutely magical. 🌅 Interior Design: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The quality and craftsmanship are outstanding—very “old money” vibes with aged yet refined wooden furniture, all beautifully maintained. It might not look flashy in photos, but in person, it’s impressive. Unlike many new luxury hotels that scream opulence, this one whispers it with understated class. 🪑✨ Room: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 The room is elegantly decorated with well-chosen furniture and tasteful material combinations. It’s one of the larger standard rooms I’ve stayed in across the U.S., and it even has a balcony with a partial ocean view. The bedding and amenities were very comfortable. Only downside: the walls are thin—you can hear everything from next door… 🙉 Service: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I stepped out of the car, handed the keys to the valet, and checked in effortlessly. The front desk offered tea and was very friendly. A staff member who delivered a toothbrush humorously said, “No English” — added a fun touch 😄. For the U.S., this level of service is quite impressive—it meets European luxury hotel standards. Location: 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Great for a relaxing retreat, but you’ll need a car to get around. That said, most restaurants and attractions are just a 10–15 minute drive away. 🚗 Cost: Around 1,700 per night (prices on the West Coast fluctuate a lot—sometimes it’s 1K, other times $2.5K!). Final Thoughts: This hotel may seem understated, but it’s truly wonderful. Belmond consistently delivers, and this stay was definitely worth it. P.S. I should’ve known there’d be a little hiccup—had a 7:45 PM dinner reservation but wasn’t seated until 8:30… classic U.S. hotel timing 😅 #HotelRecommendation #USA #Belmond #LuxuryRetreat #SantaBarbara #SpanishStyle #RelaxingGetaway #Highway1 #MountainView #QuietLuxury #TravelInStyle