Reading in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is one of my go-to places to get away from it all and immerse myself into a book.  This gorgeous seaside town has so much to explore and a variety of places to stay.  It is simply beautiful and a must see.

Just 100 miles north of Los Angeles, the scenic ride just flies by if you are driving up the coast.  Coined the America Riviera, you will be delighted with their stunning Spanish architecture and luxurious resorts.

The top three most luxurious places to stay in Santa Barbara are:

1)  Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara - (As a result of the January 9 flooding and mudslides, the Resort will be closed until April 1, 2018)

2)  Belmond El Encanto

3)  Bacara Resort & Spa

On my most recent trip I spent the night at the Bacara Resort and Spa which is now a Ritz property.   The transition was a great one as the experience was superb.  The resort excelled in service and expectations all around.  It was a lovely stay.

On this trip I picked up the uber popular bestselling non-fiction book of 2017 titled The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.  Hilarious and utterly entertaining, I highly recommend this book.  It's empowering and an easy read.  I enjoyed it and you will too.

Let me know if you pick up the book and your thoughts.  Also, if you ever get a chance to stay at the Bacara, come back to this blog to review the tips below.

Bacara Resort Tips:

1)  Check in is at 4 p.m. so take advantage of the pool and come early.

2)  Each stay at this resort includes a bottle of wine from the Foley Family Wines portfolio.  You can request to change the bottle if you prefer red over white or vice versa.

3)  Tip for checking in at all hotels is to request to see the resort map first.  The front desk receptionist may schmooze you and said, "This room was hand selected for you personally."  Instead of them telling you where your room is, take a gander at the resort map and show them where you'd like to be, if it's available.

For the Bacara, Villa's 17 & 18 are great and close to the main pools and for a higher category room try for Villas #9 & #10.  (Check the prices)

4)  If you forgot to bring a book check out Chaucer's Books.  These charming types of bookstores are slowly becoming obsolete with the invent of Amazon and Ebooks.  It's a darling store with a large variety of books.  It's definitely worth a visit if you are a true booklover like myself.

5)  Bacara also offers access to thousands of digital newspapers and magazines via the Press Reader App.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I couldn't think of a better place to visit than Santa Barbara.  Thanks for stopping by!

The Literary Babe