VIP SERVICE
Nestled in the Montecito foothills of Southern California’s wine country is San Ysidro Ranch, a Californian icon, that has been providing sanctuary to discerning travellers for over a century.
Famed for its natural beauty, romantic heritage and classic luxury, the multi-award-winning Santa Barbara hideaway occupies 200 hectares of coastline between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, with dazzling views and fabled gardens, perfumed by magnolia and orange blossoms.
Built in classic bungalow style, San Ysidro’s forty-one individually decorated private cottages and hideaways wind their way along San Ysidro’s hillside creek and tree-lined paths. Each offers plush king-size beds, the finest linens, elegant furnishings, fireplaces and patios opening onto gardens. Some also offer private outdoor hot tubs and rain showers.
The enchanting Kennedy Cottage is our pick. Famed as the location of John and Jackie Kennedy’s honeymoon, the 185-square-metre hand-carved stone cottage boasts sumptuous furnishings and antiques, four-poster canopy king size beds, polished oak floors, Persian rugs and fireplaces.
Opulent bathrooms feature crystal chandeliers, free standing claw foot tubs and heated tile floors. Classic French doors open onto a private deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands, and there’s a landscaped courtyard filled with whimsical sculptures. An upper deck features a sunken hot tub and rain shower.
San Ysidro offers a selection of dining settings, each showcasing produce grown in the resort’s own organic gardens. The Plow and Angel offers regional cuisine served in casual style, while at The Stonehouse, named one of the 50 Best restaurants in America, you can dine under the romantic gaze of Southern California’s stars on the ocean view deck.
Active travellers can explore the resort’s 27 kilometres of hiking trails or swim in the hillside pool, whilst those in search of rest and relaxation can enjoy in-cottage spa treatments or soak up nature’s restorative beauty.
Four-legged guests are also welcome, with amenities for both feline and canine family members including chew toys, sirloin burgers and pet massage. There’s even a separate dog registry for paw sign-ins.
