El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara

The romantic bungalows with hardwood floors, fireplaces and private patios are the stuff of Golden Age getaways… Welcome to the Belmond El Encanto, a hilltop eyrie with fairytale views over the Pacific Ocean. A stay in this century-old property, spread across seven acres of landscaped gardens with winding pathways, a lily pond and a wisteria arbour, is a Californian experience as classic and exotic as it gets…and that’s before we get to details like the telescopes on its terraces for star-gazing, and the handmade chocolate truffles left by your bed. For more wow factor, the holistic spa with treatments that draw from the surrounding landscape- and the Santa Barbara wine country- is a dose of decadence. The Pinot and Cabernet Sugar Crush body scrub will leave you feeling like a better version of yourself, and the deep sea marine facial is the rejuvenation you need to turn back the years for a beaming look. The hotel also has a swanky restaurant with a farm-to-table ethos, and sweeping views of the ocean. For a holiday of laidback cosiness, the Belmond El Encanto comes with our highest recommendation.