California Hotels Archives - Brad A. Johnson

Hotel Review: Azure Sky, Palm Springs

The team at ACME Hospitality (a group that operates some of the best restaurants in Santa Barbara) has ventured into the desert and opened a charming 14-room micro hotel in the heart of old Palm Springs. Bring your bathing suit.

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Closer Look: Del Rey at Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 2)

Del Rey is a sexy little speakeasy and tapas bar tucked inside the beautiful estate of Villa Royale in the heart of Palm Springs. Both the drinks and food are very good.

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Hotel Review: Villa Royale, Palm Springs (part 1)

Villa Royale originally opened in 1947 in the heart of Palm Springs and became a magnet for Hollywood stars of the era. New owners brought it back to life in 2018. Although not exactly 5-star quality, it is rather fabulous.

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Review: AutoCamp Joshua Tree

AutoCamp redefined the American campground several years ago with its Airstream "hotel" campsites. Opened in 2021, AutoCamp’s third location was this roadside trailer park five miles from the West Entrance of California’s Joshua Tree National Park, 40 miles northeast of Palm Springs.

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Quick Look: Pendry, San Diego

Pendry is the less-expensive, next-gen offshoot of ultra-luxe Montage Hotels & Resorts, and this location in San Diego's Gaslamp District is where the brand debuted in 2017.

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Motel Review: White Water, Cambria CA

The central coast village of Cambria is a popular overnight pitstop on California’s fabled Highway 1. The priciest (thus presumably the nicest) place to stay here is White Water, which debuted anew in October 2020 following a major renovation that included the annexation of a neighboring property.

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Motel Review: Cuyama Buckhorn, New Cuyama, CA

The 21-room Cuyama Buckhorn is a mid-century motel redux in the boondocks of California’s high desert, midway between San Luis Obispo and Maricopa. Nobody travels to this remote hideout by accident. You really must make an effort to get here.

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Quick Look: Hotel Cerro & Brasserie SLO, San Luis Obispo

Although its debut was inauspiciously timed (coinciding with the beginning of the pandemic), the 65-room Hotel Cerro and its beautiful Brasserie SLO have breathed new life into downtown San Luis Obispo on California's Central Coast.

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Closer Look: Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito

I don’t believe there’s a better restaurant in Santa Barbara than Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch. The food is truly outstanding. The service, impeccable. The wine list, world-class. And the…

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Hotel Review: San Ysidro Ranch, Montecito

San Ysidro Ranch is a world unto itself. It’s that unique place on the outskirts of Santa Barbara where Southern California merges with the European countryside. It’s where John and Jaqueline Kennedy honeymooned...

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