Santa Barbara's fabulous BACARA RESORT & SPA (Great Hotel w/o)
Written: Jul 01 '03 (Updated Jul 01 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Wonderfully relaxing, casually elegant.
Cons: A short drive from town, but is that a "con"?
The Bottom Line: Tranquility and elegance are at your beck and call.
|
|
|
| gaelkm's Full Review: Bacara Resort And Spa |
My siblings and I had been wanting to "treat" my parents to a room at the BACARA RESORT AND SPA since they had just celebrated Golden Anniversary. The recently stayed here and they absolutely loved it. This is a resort of luxury done California style, which is relaxed and casual.
STAFF & LOBBY
The professional staff really make the effort to be of service. They are very polite and helpful in every way. The staff was also very well-dressed with navy blue suits, or skirts and white blouses. We had no problems whatsoever with checking in or checking out. Very smooth transaction. The lobby is gorgeous, with dark wood counter-tops and tables, fireplaces, numerous quiet grouped sitting areas, and big bowls of apples everywhere you look! In the center of the lobby is a beautiful live flower arrangement. When we were there, hundreds of white calla lilies were featured as the centerpiece.
BAR
At the far end of the lobby is located the Bar. The Bar area is a spacious circular room which offers sweeping views of the lovely Pacific. Booths are located around the perimeter of the room with the bar in the center. We indulged in a glass of wine (from the resort’s own wine cellar) and good conversation here before dinner one evening. The Bar area is surrounded by a lovely circular staircase, with shops below on the lower level. Also located on the lower level are large meeting rooms catering to every type of gathering or meeting.
We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Bistro Cafe. Fare featured here is the ultimate in Mediterranean cuisine. We were seated under an umbrella on an outdoor terrace with both the pool and the ocean in view. Believe it or not, we all ordered rather ordinary food! My Dad ordered a regular cheeseburger, but expressed that it was quite tasty. Mom and I each ordered a BLT (bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich), with avocado added. It was yummy. The service was excellent and our wait-person was quite attentive as well as congenial.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We found all the comforts of home and more in our room! We were informed that we could take advantage of 24 hour room service (which includes concierge service), luxurious soft linens, robes, and even comfy slippers.
The room my parents stayed in was simple, but with an understated elegance. We all commented on its tasteful décor. One thing that initially surprised me was the fact that the floor was terra cotta tile, such as some of the hotel rooms in Mexico I have seen. However, here at the Bacara, in the center of the room, was a beautiful area rug. The beds looked "tall" (high off the floor) to me, and had wonderful quilted comforters on top of them. I didn't think the room was overly large, but my Mom disagreed saying she found it to be quite large. Go figure. All I can say is I've seen larger (without getting my yardstick out!). There is also a spacious desk with two chairs and of course, the ever-becoming-more-standard high speed internet hook-up. An armoir houses the television and refrigerator.
The view from our room was overlooking a beautiful garden area and walkway with lush greenery abounding. (In all, there are 360 luxurious guest rooms including 49 suites; 225 of the rooms have fireplaces.) Another plus: everything was very quiet, very calm.
Needless to say, the bathroom was immaculate with every amenity imaginable. The toilet and shower area were separate from the sink area and was quite large also. Elegance is carried out in every detail, even in the bath.
SPA
One of the things that really struck all of us was the spa. Fantastic! Everything under the sun (no pun intended) is offered here! Facials, waxings massage, exercise classes, steam rooms are just part of the luxuries to pamper yourself with. The Spa Café, overlooks the Spa Pool. This is a completely tranquil place. If you can't relax here, you probably can't relax!
POOLS
My bearings were a little bit turned around at first, because it seemed everywhere I looked there was another pool! This resort is so expansive. I counted three pools and two hot tubs. I couldn't wait to jump into one or all of them! There are cabanas alongside the pool area, so reminiscent of European style. Indeed, there is something about the entire Bacara "village" that conjures up a quaint seaside village in Italy. Small white stucco buildings with red tile roofs in groupings intertwined with walkways and pools make up the Bacara Village.
I would say that the only thing that might be a turn-off to some guests of this fine resort is the fact that it is so spread out and you do have to walk a bit. The walking is not bad at all, but it is rather hilly, so if you have a knee or foot problem, you might not want to tackle the hills here. But, let me hasten to add, they do have the little golf-type carts everywhere and drivers are always available to pick you up and take you and your friends to wherever you might want to go to.
For example, the lighted tennis courts are located at the lower end of the resort. If you enjoy a tennis match, or tennis lesson with one of the house pros, but are too tired to walk back up to your room, you can request a cart to come fetch you, and in a matter of minutes it will be at your disposal.
MIRO RESTAURANT
Miro is located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Need I say more? Yes! This Bacara Resort restaurant, beyond boasting of it's relaxing views, also creates the unique combination of California and French cuisine. Indeed, we walked past many of the organically-grown herbs used in the restaurant. They smelled wonderful growing under the wide blue sky!
When I was first here to check out the resort some months back, it was a rainy day. The Bacara offers large, white umbrellas to guests upon entering or exiting their hotel. Very handy!
Exactly WHERE is the Bacara Resort?
I'm glad you asked that question! The Bacara Resort is tucked away between the beaches of the Pacific Ocean on the Central Coast, and the Santa Ynez Mountains. To get there by car, you drive north of the City of Santa Barbara about 12 miles. It is located on the northern most end of Goleta, the city that is neighbor to Santa Barbara. The Bacara Resort and Spa is pretty much set apart from everything else and you do need a car in order to get anywhere, away from the property. The closest shopping area to the Bacara Resort is the Costco Shopping Center, which is approximately 1-1/2 to 2 miles away, back down the road in Goleta.
When you drive up to the resort, which is a long driveway, tastefully landscaped, you first pass the Sandpiper Golf Course, (a beautiful golf course, in itself, also overlooking the ocean) which is adjacent to the resort. The next thing you pass, believe it or not, is an old gasoline refinery plant, still in operation, which is partially hidden with fast-growing plants and shrubs. Next, there is an entrance to Haskell's Beach on the left, which is a popular hangout for locals and surfers. At the end of the parking area is a "beach shack" (run by the Bacara) for buying burgers, hot dogs, and drinks while you are enjoying your day at the beach. (When I inquired, I was told that the burger shack is only open on the weekends.) As you drive on, you will come to the main entrance of the Bacara Resort and Spa. As I first entered, I was struck by the huge stone fountain in the center of the circular driveway. Valet parking is optional.
I remember watching this extravagant place as it was under construction about three years ago. Before it was there, there was nothing but open land. It was totally undeveloped land on the northern most side of town, a few miles outside of Goleta. Watching it being built was an adventure it itself, and as it took shape, it seemed to be taking on incredible proportions. The saying, "larger than life" comes to mind. As it stands today, in it's magnificence, on this same subject, the Bacara Resort resembles an elegant, and at the same time, quaint, seaside village. It stands alone, at the cliffside of the Pacific Ocean, with nothing in it's way to mar it's beauty. ("BACARA" is a name which combines two words: (Santa) Barbara and Anacapa (Island) which is within view.
The Bacara Resort is definitely for the rich and famous. No doubt about it. I have toured the grounds. It is not a place I could afford to come to regularly. One night with a "garden view" is $300. Buying one room for my parents was really a rare "treat." I noticed that the resort is also not crowded at all, which is understandable given the prices.
As a side note: A few years ago, shortly before the Bacara opened, when they were hiring, I remember seeing an ad in the newspaper for help wanted in all facets of employment for the Bacara. I went out to see what it was all about. I could not believe the lines of people wanting to be hired there. The lines wrapped around the corner of the building where applications and interviews were being held on that weekend.
If you have an extra $300 burning a hole in your pocket and want to completely indulge yourself, I highly recommend the BACARA RESORT AND SPA!
For more information:
Bacara Resort and Spa
8301 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117
805-968-0100
24 Hour Toll Free Phone: 877-422-4245
Fax: 805-571-3111
email: info@bacararesort.com
URL: www.bacararesort.com
Thanks for reading!
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.