California's Central Coast Holidays

Elegant hotel in the hills above Santa Barbara.

A waterfront hotel at the heart of Monterey's famous Cannery Row.

In a ‘blow your own trumpet’ location in downtown Santa Barbara, hacienda-style Kimpton Canary has a Mediterranean mood and a rooftop pool and terrace that spark a golden state of mind.

Luxurious retreat for nature lovers

Deep in the forest with spectacular ocean views.

A leisure-focussed resort with a golf course, pools, tennis court, and spa. The perfect spot for downtime on a Californian road trip.

You get the Gucci of all views at Monterey Bay Inn. The Pacific Ocean dominates this peachy little place where the Cali way of life is all footprints in the sand, orcas in the water and rugged coastline paths.

Turn off your emails and leave the glad rags at home; Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay cruises the coastal way. Think stylish indoor-outdoor spaces, natural materials and feel-good maritime vibes.

Need a reason to try out ranch life? Carmel Valley Ranch will give you ten. With plenty of noteworthy add-ons, this sultry and sustainable escape is all at once a holistic hideaway and a wild card of adventure.

An everything-you-need-nothing-you-don’t kind of hotel where the prime oceanfront location does all the convincing.

California beach bliss awaits at this oceanfront beauty that’s right on Pismo Beach. It has everything you need to stay put for a few days, but the California coast might just tempt you out to play.

A Santa Barbara oasis with a typical hacienda style.

Get a front-row seat to the Pacific coastline at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, a modern resort in a prime position for exploring this gorgeous stretch of California.

A small package it might be, but Riviera Beach House has artsy edge, swift passage to the shore and plenty of local flavour. Hit the beach, the breweries and the artisanal shops.

Feast by the beach, cruise the coastline and kayak by the pier. Sprinkled with all the shades of summer, Hotel Milo is a charming little place to sleep, swim and savour those oceanfront views.

From tots to teens, California has something for every kid. There are theme parks like Universal Studios and Disneyland and world-class attractions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium to dazzle and entertain in equal measure, and the chance to head out on Pacific waves for whale watching, paddleboarding and kayaking. Brilliant museums, including San Francisco’s Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences, are impressive and unmissable, but this trip also allows plenty of downtime on gorgeous beaches. Plus, with family-friendly hotels from start to finish (often with fantastic swimming pools, nightly s’mores toasting, and as much pizza as they can handle), this truly is a family trip of a lifetime.

You’ll start in San Francisco and then hit the open road where the driving is part of this all-American experience. Weave through the wine country and check off Yosemite before the coast calls. Mooch around Monterey and get all the Cali-Med vibes in Santa Barbara before La La Land steps forward for the grand finale.

Drive south from San Francisco to Los Angeles on a coast-hugging trip that scores all the big sights. Take your time on the Slow Coast, then pause for a few nights in Monterey. Feel the sunshine on your face and the wind in your hair as you head south via the incredible Big Sur to stay in Santa Barbara before the final leg of your road trip brings you to the incomparable Los Angeles.

You’ll start on the sidewalks of San Francisco, drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma’s fields of green and sip your way around Napa’s world-class wineries. And it doesn’t end there. Carmel’s tasting rooms delight with Cabernet Sauvignons and in the cool cradles of Santa Barbara’s valleys, buttery Chardonnays are the stars. Drive the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, landing on golden sands and dining in farm-to-fork restaurants before winding up in starry LA.

You’ll start on San Francisco’s steep streets, end in Las Vegas’ neon lit glow and in between lace up your boots and face the natural elements in some of the USA’s most jaw dropping National Parks. You'll be fronting Yosemite’s waterfalls, wildlife and granite peaks, embracing the silent wilderness of Sequoia and trekking across Death Valley’s dramatic desert layers. This is a real ‘hit the open road trip’ designed to give you enough time to soak up two laidback southern California cities, stopping in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles along the way.