Superlative Stay in Malibu!

Wow, Calamigos Guest Ranch and Beach Club exceeded all expectations and then some! It was a fabulous in every way, from the moment we arrived to when we (sadly) had to drive away. This is a pricey place, but the value is legit. We had such an incredible weekend and can't wait to come back!

The amenities are amazing. Not just the in-room coffee, snacks and bath/beauty products, but the activities, the beach club (more on that later), the nightly social hour, the immaculate grounds--the full resort feel of the place. And when I say "activities" I don't mean a nickel-and-dime, over-priced activity menu, which they don't have. What's on offer activity-wise is included. Example: I went to a coffee tasting that was enjoyable and informative and at no time was there an up-sell. So refreshing.

The dog-friendliness. Dogs could basically go everywhere but in the actual pools. This is so nice and worked well There were quite a few dogs, ours included, but everything was totally respectful and chill.
Service was great too. They didn't seem short-staffed. True, it was a winter weekend and not high season. But still, if they said they could do something, they did it. If they offered, they followed through. If we called to request something, it happened. People were friendly, approachable and responsive.

The Guest Ranch alone was great, but the fact that there is also a Beach Club was amazing. Malibu can be a scrum for visitors--parking, finding a place to eat, trying to get in and out on the PCH. With access to the Beach Club, all of this disappears. The beach itself is great and, again, dog friendly (which is not the case for much of Malibu). The club facilities are excellent and very relaxing. We were so impressed with the menu and service. We were planning on staying just long enough for our dog to run around on the beach, and ended up whiling away most of the afternoon lingering over lunch and relaxing.

In terms of rooms, we stayed in a single suite cottage, which was a good choice, since it had a fireplace and an amazing bathroom complete with huge tub. We considered the single bungalow, which also looked great. The bungalows do seem to have a bit more privacy, so we might try that next, especially if we come back during a busier time. But we were very happy with the cottage. The bed and furniture were perfect for relaxing. We only wish we could have stayed longer.

Feb. 14, 2024

Excellent If You Love French Food and Dogs!

We are longtime fans of Angele and returned recently for the first time since the pandemic eased. Previously, we had mostly been for lunch or brunch. We were thrilled to find that the food remains delicious, the service excellent, and the outdoor patio is still spacious and dog-friendly. The wine list at dinner seems to have taken a bit of a hit, especially the sparkling section. Only two pricy options by the glass, both from less well-known regions of France (Really? With so many excellent California sparkling wines available within a 30-miles radius?). The other wine choices looked a bit more robust with a mix of local and French offerings. The desserts were amazing (the homemade ice cream was to die for, and we also tried the creme brûlée)! Highly recommended if you're in the area!

Jun. 19, 2023

Beautiful and Newly Remodeled Winery--Still Dog Friendly!

Chandon has taken its already-strong game and achieved a whole new level of amazing with their recent (and currently ongoing) remodel of their Yountville property. We did their 4-pour terroir tasting on a beautiful Sunday morning. We loved their new outdoor seating spots nestled among the historic oak trees, which frame the view of the golden Napa Valley hills. The experience was informative as well as delicious with no hard sell of the wine club. Another huge plus is that they are still dog-friendly, as they have always been. The new seating arrangements leave plenty of room for leashed dogs to relax. Because they now do seated tastings (except on Mondays when the service is more casual), you do need reservations. We can't wait to go back!

Jun. 19, 2023

Gorgeous Getaway

Wow...we had a perfect two days at Senza in Napa. First of all, this was one of the loveliest dog-friendly properties we've ever visited. Sometimes, you get a beautiful property that's dog tolerant and sometimes the property is OK, but very welcoming. This was the best of both worlds! It was no surprise that almost every visitor had a dog (it looked like mostly couples and some families) and contrary to conventional wisdom, everything was super chill, not noisy and totally relaxing.

We stayed in a Cellar King, which was ideal since we took our travel crate where our dog sleeps. It was roomy with a nice seating area, comfy bed, big shower with excellent water pressure, coffee in the room (huzzah!), a useable fridge that easily stored wine, leftovers, etc. and even a microwave. The description says the patio is semi-private but it's certainly screened off from the main thoroughfares. Can I give the room 6 bones?

The complimentary continental breakfast was delicious and generous. Lots of fruit choices, local pastries, cereal, breads, yogurt, hard boiled eggs, cold meat and cheese, plentiful juice and both drip coffee and an easy-to-use espresso machine. The outside and indoor eating spaces are lovely. There was a sign on the door giving notice that a restaurant is moving in at some point, so I'm not sure how long the free breakfast will last, but it was a wonderful touch.

The location is excellent for exploring Napa Valley. It's on the north edge of the town of Napa, a quick 10 minute drive south to downtown, about 10 minutes north to Yountville and just a bit further to St. Helena and Calistoga with all the wineries in between. We got takeout at the Italian restaurant within easy walking distance, and went into Napa for dinner the second night.

We didn't try to pool, which looked nice though small, and the hot tub, which looked very large, or the spa (next time!). The check-in staff was wonderful and Karen was especially welcoming. We can't wait to come back!

Jun. 19, 2023

We had a blast at Arrive Palm Springs!

We found this hotel on BringFido after our plans fell through at a different property. Turns out, Arrive was the ideal place to stay with our two dogs! It is the most relaxed, dog-friendly hotel we have ever been to. Lovely rooms, a gorgeous pool (dogs are allowed poolside!), a great cafe for breakfast or lunch, and a chill weekday vibe. Based on reviews (but not experience) the vibe definitely picks up on the weekends, but for us it was an ideal vacation get-away spot. Highly recommended, even more so if you can swing a patio room, which provides outdoor space AND pool chair reservations (chairs are not hard to get, but it's a nice touch).

Nov. 18, 2021