The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara is the Santa Barbara coast's full-scale resort, the place to stay when you want the hotel itself to be the destination. It spreads across 78 acres on the ocean bluffs at 8301 Hollister Avenue in Goleta, about twenty minutes west of downtown, where the city gives way to the open Gaviota Coast. The architecture follows the region's Spanish Colonial Revival tradition at grand scale, with white walls, red-tile roofs, courtyards and fountains, and the setting is the real luxury: two natural beaches below the bluffs, ocean views across lawns and gardens, and the Santa Ynez Mountains rising behind. There are 358 guest rooms and suites, many with terraces or balconies facing the sea, plus signature suites for celebrations. Three saltwater infinity pools give space to spread out, and the 42,000-square-foot spa and wellness center is a reason in itself to book. Multiple restaurants and bars cover everything from casual poolside meals to destination dinners, and the resort runs a busy events calendar, including a Michelin chef series that brings acclaimed guest chefs to its kitchens. It became a Ritz-Carlton in 2017, bringing the brand's service standards to a property that was already a local landmark. Rates sit at the top of the market, and the location means you will drive or ride to downtown and the Funk Zone. For a resort holiday of beaches, spa days and long dinners, it is the coast's best choice.

The appeal is space and seclusion. Downtown Santa Barbara's best hotels are about walking to everything; the Bacara is about not needing to. Its beaches are reached by paths down the bluff, quiet enough for long walks at low tide, and the resort sits beside the Ellwood Mesa and Sperling Preserve open space, where monarch butterflies gather in the eucalyptus groves in winter. The spa, with its treatment rooms, fitness and wellness programming, is the heart of many stays, and the pools are large enough that families and couples rarely get in each other's way.

Booking strategy: ocean-view rooms and suites justify the premium here, since the view is the point; garden-view rooms deliver the same facilities for less. Look out for multi-night offers in the autumn and winter shoulder season, and reserve spa treatments and dinner tables when you book the room. Seasonal events, from chef dinners to a European-style holiday market, are listed on the resort calendar. Santa Barbara Airport is only a few minutes away, which makes the Bacara convenient for short escapes.

Who should stay: couples on a milestone trip, spa lovers, families who want pools and beaches without the city, and travelers combining the coast with the Santa Ynez Valley, which is closer from Goleta than from downtown. Those wanting to walk to State Street restaurants every night should choose a downtown or waterfront hotel instead, or split the stay.