California Central Coast getaway

December 5, 2021 10:08 AM

Can you recommend a lovely hotel in the Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo areas to have a working vacation for a few days? Looking for a place with great walkability (proximity to the beach or local hikes, or to downtown), and nice outdoors space in the hotel (or room itself) where I can work on my laptop for a few hours each day, possibly with food/drink service. Aiming to spend no more than $300/night.

This will be for the week before Christmas, if it matters.

posted by acidic to Travel & Transportation around Ventura, CA (5 answers total)

Avila Beach is nice. It is small and low key but relaxing and it has a few shops and some decent restaurants. Very walkable, and a nice beach. Also easy driving to other places along the Central Coast.

We like to stay at Avila La Fonda
posted by socrateaser at 11:20 AM on December 5, 2021

I had a really relaxing stay at the Inn at Morro Bay a few years ago. The area right at hotel isn't super walkable, but there are tons of great strolls and hikes within a very short distance, and the views from the hotel are spectacular.
posted by BlahLaLa at 11:33 AM on December 5, 2021

Cambria is super cute if you're willing to drive another 30-45 min north of San Luis Obispo. The Cambria Pines Lodge was nice. It is a large property with outside spaces and walking paths, and is about 2 miles from the beach.
posted by troyer at 1:18 PM on December 5, 2021 [1 favorite]

Asilomar. You can walk to the beach, walk to the dining hall. hang out with a coffee in the main lodge. It's not a fluffy-towel luxury hotel, but very tranquil and IMO perfect for a working retreat.
posted by dum spiro spero at 2:09 PM on December 5, 2021

We recently stayed at the Hilton in Santa Barbara and we loved it. We kept extending our stay. It’s close to the beach and is just super chill. It’s pleasant and relaxed.
We also stayed at 456 Embarcadero in Morro Bay and that was great.
posted by gt2 at 6:21 AM on December 6, 2021