Looking for a laid back, un-crowded alternative to Cabo? Hotel San Cristobal just outside of Todos Santos is the answer. The only traffic in Punta Lobos comes in the form of fishermen heading out to sea every morning and bringing their haul back in. The super chill 32-room beachfront property is surrounded by undeveloped land and feels removed from civilization. Yet it’s a very civilized place to spend a few days or unplug for a whole week—and even better, it doesn’t feel like you’re in a resort bubble, separated from the real local culture. Many efforts have been made to connect you to the community, be it through surf lessons with a local entrepreneur, cactus-lined bike paths leading into town or one of the many guided tours that can be booked through the convivial concierge who personally hand-picked every partner they work with.
This spring, I made my maiden voyage to Death Valley National Park with Four Points Adventures, a boutique outdoor tour company that specializes in camping excursions with an off-roading bent. The trip was led by owner/guide Todd Rogers, a search-and-rescue trained professional photographer and lifetime outdoorsman who made us glampers feel like we were in very safe, knowledgeable hands.
One of the perks of being in the travel industry is getting to experience phenomenal hotels. A couple weeks ago, I checked into a hotel I’d always dreamed of being a guest at: the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara. “The Biltmore,” as locals call it, is an iconic property in the drop dead gorgeous city of Santa Barbara, where I lived for a decade in my twenties and visited often throughout my childhood (and still do!). I’d been on property for countless brunches, lunches, drinks, dinners and events over the years, but I’d never stayed the night...until now.
Austin is a 100% chill and entertaining place. It’s a city break with country accents, and it’s the ideal destination for a long weekend or three-night escape. Given it’s such an easy two-hour flight from LA, I can definitely see myself returning sooner than later.
La Valencia Hotel in the heart of La Jolla Village is San Diego’s equivalent of the Royal Hawaiian. The iconic, pretty-in-pink hotel in this case skews a bit peachier in hue and is known as “The Pink Lady of La Jolla.”
