Luxury California Coast Holidays

Overview

Take the iconic Route 1 to discover the best of California’s Coast. Start in the groovy city of San Francisco before heading to Big Sur with its gnarly surfing waves, beloved beach towns like Monterey, the elegant Santa Barbara and Hollywood. On luxury California Coast holidays, you'll experience the state’s laid-back charm and outstanding natural beauty.

San Francisco is known for its hippy vibes and Northern Californian appeal. Built on a series of 43 hills, old-fashioned cable cars are one of the best ways to get around. Make sure to check out attractions like the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, infamous Alcatraz Prison and stunning vistas at Coit Tower. San Francisco is also within easy travelling distance of California’s internationally renowned vineyards in Sonoma Valley.

Head south to Monterey Bay and Santa Barbara. Monterey Bay is home to a world-class aquarium which overlooks a national marine sanctuary. Here you can see local aquatic animals like sea otters, giant sea bass, sharks and sturgeons. The bay also has traditional adobe buildings and the historic Cannery Row. A little further south is the elegant Santa Barbara with its beautiful historic buildings and gorgeous beaches. It’s the ideal place to relax before heading to Los Angeles.

Travel south to Los Angeles, California’s creative centre. You can visit the iconic block-letter Hollywood sign, see the home of movie stars and maybe even bump into your celebrity crush. Make sure to check out the stars lining Hollywood Boulevard and take a behind the scenes tour of a film studio. LA also boasts some of California’s, if not the nation’s, best restaurants and bars.

When To Visit

California is a fantastic luxury holiday destination at any time of year. Regardless of when you visit, you’re likely to see plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. As California is a relatively large state, temperatures vary by about ten degrees between the north and south.

Winter temperatures are pleasant, so you can sightsee and enjoy a spot of the Californian sunshine when the weather back home might not be so good. If you want a beach holiday, though, May to October is an especially good time to visit.

Food & Drink

At your luxury hotel, you’ll find innovative California-coastal cuisine. As a largely agricultural region, California produces some excellent fresh fruit and produce including regional favourites like artichokes, avocados and grapefruit. Most menus also feature plenty of fresh locally-caught seafood like mussels or mahi-mahi.

California also produces excellent world-class wine and is home to over one thousand wineries. You can visit boutique vineyards throughout California’s coastal region. Nearly every luxury hotel will have an extensive wine list including popular grape varieties like cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, merlot and pinot noir.

Passport & Visas

British and EU nationals don’t require a visa to visit California’s Coast in the USA. For more information about visas and general travel advice go to GOV.UK.