Sunny and warm Santa Monica! I had the pleasure of traveling recently, a real trip in an airplane and overnight booked in a luxury hotel The Huntley Hotel . I was excited! Excited to pick out travel clothes, excited to see people other than my family (sorry!), and excited to get my travel on again. While I’ve been to Santa Monica and many places in Southern California in the past - SoCal always feels like it’s much further away and so different from my home town in NorCal.
Upon arrival, my first rookie travel mistake was walking all the way to the newish Uber stand at LAX to find out if you order an upgraded Uber they will pick you up curbside vs. the stand. Other than that it was an easy 30 minute ride from LAX to The Huntley. Before check-in I had the chance to walk to the Third Street Promenade just a short walk from The Huntley, a fun and lively street scene with open air restaurants and trendy shopping. Once checked in I was delighted to see a beautiful, clean, spacious deluxe room with white and grey tones, sun splashed by yellow accents, and a solid view of the Pacific, and yes... Bvlgari Bath Products, to me the scent of travel and luxury hotels that I missed. After swirling around my room like a hotel newbie I was craving the warm beach and mask free time. Santa Monica Beach is a few blocks away. The Huntley, with 204 guestrooms and suites, is well known for the gorgeous rooftop restaurant and bar - The Penthouse, with it’s breathtaking Pacific Ocean views and lavish breakfast. It does not disappoint in either category. Lucky for me I was able to meet with the lovely Elisa Dadian, Director of Corporate Sales, an 18 year veteran of this iconic hotel.
My favorite Santa Monica activity is renting a cruiser bike and making my way from one end of the beach to the other, sunglasses on, sunshine on my face and the most exceptional people watching. I rented from Perry’s Beach Cafe which has several locations along the beach, super easy, beach cocktails are extra.
Santa Monica is perfect for outside strolling with a scenic 26-mile coastline and year-round weather to eat and enjoy life outdoors. Lots of open air restaurants, shopping, scooters and bikes to rent, and grassy parks. I had read about this nearby hip spot, The Bungalow with it’s laid back California and Moroccan inspired indoor-outdoor spaces, open from 5pm - 2am, except Sunday, it’s a party scene that is diverse and lively, a DJ starts at 10pm, excellent for a private event with many creative spaces. After sunset cocktails at Bungalow, and being edged out by the younger set I walked to North Italia for handmade pasta.
A few more hotels to see on this quick trip including The Proper Hotel tucked away off Wilshire, while not close to the beach action the rooftop views of the city are quite impressive, it’s a a super posh exclusive hotel including a Surya Ayurveda Spa. Not surprisingly this Kelly Wearstler designed gem was Voted on T&L’s “It List for 2020 and the #1 City Hotel in LA. It’s an eclectic mix of 1920’s era Californian and modern Mediterranean design, with 271 guest rooms and suites, many with terraces - a very private rooftop pool deck and 24,000 sq. ft of high-design meeting space. Calm and serene. The staff all wearing spa like uniforms by Finery.
I visited a few other favorites including the stylish 162 guest room boutique hotel Viceroy Santa Monica with it’s edgy art, colorful and light filled lobby, spacious new pool cabanas and pool bar at The Palm just across the street from the beach. Loews Santa Monica continues to be one of the busiest meeting spots, for groups and regulars with beachfront access, lively lobby bar, best for larger groups with 370 guest rooms and ample meeting space, some guestrooms offer fire pits and ocean views, perfect for s’mores at sunset.
Travel is fun again especially in easy, sunny, Santa Monica. Next trip - Las Vegas!