The perfect Pacific Highway hideaways! Stunning hotels that'll ensure you get the very best from one of the world's finest road trips

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Driving down the Californian coast is one of the world's greatest road trips and features high on the must-do lists of thousands of Britons. 

But don't wreck your dream drive along the Pacific Coast Highway by staying in dreary motels. 

Instead, take a look at our essential guide to the hidden-away accommodation gems that will make your trip memorable for all the right reasons.

1. Pearl Hotel, Point Loma

At The Pearl in Point Loma the 1960s pool is still there and rooms have a cool, retro vibe

Tell me more: In 2007, this classic 23-room motel behind Point Loma's sleepy marina received a snazzy but sympathetic makeover. The 1960s pool is still here, as are the cool Cadillac-style wings either side of the main entrance. Rooms have a 1960s vibe, with G-plan furniture and colourful wallpaper. The bridal room has its own balcony overlooking the pool and a resident goldfish named Bruce Lee. Expect to run into a hip San Diego crowd on Wednesday nights when guests can lounge by the pool with a cocktail and enjoy classic movies played on the outdoor projector.

Cost: Doubles from £92 a night.

thepearlsd.com

2. Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla

Tell me more: This California craftsman-style marvel is just off the San Diego freeway near surfing hub La Jolla. The bellhops in Scottish-style kilts direct you to the two restaurants with balconies overlooking the pool, ocean and golf course. Rooms and suites are huge, with dark wooden furniture and ocean views. It's just a 20-minute walk to the 2,000-acre Torrey Pines State Park and its dramatic clifftop trails.

Cost: Doubles from £273 a night.

lodgetorreypines.com

3. The Inn, Rancho Santa Fe

Tell me more: Established in 1923, this 80-room ranch feels like a local hangout. Each airy cottage has firm, queen and king-size beds. Head to the cosy Huntsman Bar and have Dutch, the resident mixologist, rustle you up one of his smoked cocktails, then head to the Gatsby-esque dining room, with its stately leather booths and tasting menu. There's a spa with an alfresco copper bathtub, and the beauty of Solana beach is only a ten-minute drive away.

Cost: Doubles from £295 a night.

theinnatrsf.com

A map showing where the hotels listed are located along the Pacific Coast Highway

4. Venice Beach House, Venice Beach

Tell me more: Venice Beach has lost some of its hippy charm recently, but Big Lebowski fans will find plenty of that original free-wheeling spirit at this historic ivy-clad B&B. Known locally as the Oasis of Venice Beach, the nine- bedroom residence was a private beach house, built by millionaire tycoon Abbot Kinney in 1911. Laidback staff and lush gardens help retain that private-house feel.

Charlie Chaplin set up home here while filming The Tramp in 1914 (ask for the Tramp's Quarters room). Grab a smoothie at the nearby Cow's End cafe on Washington Boulevard and head to the Venice Beach canals, or zoom along the boardwalk on an electric scooter.

Cost: Doubles from £195 a night.

venicebeachhouse.com

5. Hotel Shangri-La, Santa Monica

Tell me more: Escape the crowds at this elegant Art Deco gem. The cruise-liner-shaped structure has had a major revamp in recent years, but the original 1930s lifts and Bakelite phones still exist and rooms have a self-contained apartment vibe, with balconies overlooking the beach.

Shop at the nearby farmers' market on Arizona Avenue and ask the resident hotel chef to cook you something in your private kitchen. Order cocktails at the only rooftop bar in Santa Monica, or ask for the romantic suite where Madonna and Sean Penn once stayed.

Cost: Doubles from £300 a night.

shangrila-hotel.com

6. Nobu Ryokan, Malibu

The minimalist interiors of Nobu Kyokan. The 16-room retreat is located on the beach with dreamy views of Malibu pier

Tell me more: It's easy to miss this exclusive 16-room beachside retreat, but behind the nondescript frontage you'll find a Japanese- inspired minimalist masterpiece. The best cabin-style rooms sit directly on the beach with views of Malibu pier. All feature luxuries such as iPads, remote-controlled fireplaces and heated loo seats. Nearby Nobu restaurant delivers fresh sushi to your door. Robert DeNiro is a co-founder, so expect a starry clientele.

Cost: Doubles from £1,567 a night.

noburyokanmalibu.com

7. Belmond El Encanto, Santa Barbara

An exterior shot of the former hippy commune of El Encanto, which is now a retreat spread across seven acres

Tell me more: Once a rundown hippy commune, El Encanto is now a retreat spread across seven acres of secluded gardens, with views over the American Riviera. There are 92 cottages, rooms and suites to choose from, all with elegant interiors and balconies. Take one of the hotel's electric bikes and head down the hill to the 1786 Spanish Mission with gardens and period artefacts.

Cost: Doubles from £360 a night.

belmond.com/usa

8. Eagle Inn, Santa Barbara

Tell me more: This has a charmingly retro English seaside vibe, thanks to its swirly carpets and cheesy, 1970s-style sunken Jacuzzis. Stroll two blocks to Santa Barbara's palm-fringed beach, however, and thoughts of a drizzly UK evaporate. Wine-lovers should head to the city's 'funk zone', where nightly tastings include locally grown pinot noirs and chardonnays.

Cost: Doubles from £108 a night.

theeagleinn.com

9. El Capitan Canyon, Central Coast

If you venture to El Capitan Canyon, located 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, you will find 162 log cabins and yurts scattered across a wooded creek 

Tell me more: Keen to get back to nature but without the discomforts of traditional camping? El Capitan Canyon, 20 miles north of Santa Barbara, provides 162 log cabins and yurts set within a wooded creek rich in wildlife. 

Most cabins have en suite kitchens and showers. It's quite remote but the lodge can provide ready-to-cook barbecue packages and bags of logs for the firepits. There is also a well-stocked shop for essentials. This is bear, raccoon and mountain lion country, so hide any food leftovers to avoid unwanted visitors. Grab one of the lodge's beach cruisers and head down to windswept El Capitan beach just the other side of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Cost: Doubles from £152 a night.

elcapitancanyon.com

10. For Friends Inn, Santa Ynez

Tell me more: It's a short detour off the PCH north of Santa Barbara to this family-run inn, on the edge of Santa Ynez, a small frontier town straight out of a classic western. Guests are treated like old friends, with informal wine tastings around the fire-pit, and home-cooked breakfasts. 

Choose from eight chintzy rooms and suites, some with balconies, then line-dance the night away at Santa Ynez bar Maverick, where cowboys come to strut their stuff. Look out for locals Jeff Bridges and David Crosby jamming along with the resident band.

Cost: Doubles from £215 a night.

forfriendsinn.com

11. Alisal Ranch, Solvang

Cowboy country: Get ready to saddle up for a spot of horse-riding if you decide to stay at the Alisal Ranch

Tell me more: Alisal is the local Chumash tribe word for 'grove of sycamores', and there are spectacular specimens at this 10,000-acre working ranch set in a valley near Solvang, a town founded by Danes in 1911. Airy rooms and suites are kitted out in rustic wood furniture and colourful Chumash fabrics. Ask for one of the original cowboy cabins by the pool, then saddle up with one of the ranch's wranglers and enjoy a hack through the glades. Keep an eye out for eagles, cormorants and hawks as you picnic by the lake. This place is perfect for nature-loving families.

Cost: Doubles from £485 a night.

alisal.com

12. Lucia Lodge, Central Coast

Tell me more: Perched on a narrow ledge high above the pounding Pacific, 30 minutes south of Big Sur, these precariously positioned cabins retain their pioneering spirit. They come with outdoor seating areas – perfect for whale-watching. Cabins 7, 8, 9 and 10 have 180-degree views of the coast. Grab a bottle of wine and follow the winding path behind Cabin 10 to an oasis of wildflowers on the edge of the cliff. Magical.

Cost: Cabins from £155.

lucialodge.com

13. Ventana Big Sur, An Alila Resort, Big Sur

Tell me more: Hidden within a glade just south of Big Sur, Ventana's architecture blends perfectly into the landscape. Choose from 60 wood-panelled rooms, all of them with open fireplaces, outdoor showers and hammocks. The Vista Hot Tub suite has its own indoor and outdoor Jacuzzi. Swimming costumes are optional at the infinity pool overlooking the forest.

Cost: Doubles from £529 a night.

ventanabigsur.com

14. Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

Golden glow: The sun sets over Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur

Tell me more: This ultra-chilled hideaway has 39 guest rooms perched 1,200ft along a dramatic promontory above the ocean, two infinity pools and five on-site sports cars for guests to use. The on-site Sierra Mar is one of the most beautifully positioned restaurants in California – the glass walls allow stunning uninterrupted views.

Cost: Doubles from £779 a night.

postranchinn.com

15. Glen Oaks Motor Lodge, Big Sur

Tell me more: Californians love the great outdoors but they also enjoy creature comforts. Built in the 1950s, Glen Oaks has well-equipped cabins to suit every budget. Perfectly positioned to explore the drama of Big Sur, guests can marvel at the arboreal wonders from the luxury of their own bathtubs. Choose one of the more remote cabins along the Big Sur River where the redwoods are awesome. Cabins to the east have a more rocking-chair, folksy vibe.

Cost: Doubles from £317 a night.

glenoaksbigsur.com

16. Carmel Valley Ranch, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Valley Ranch in Carmel is nestled in a green valley. It is a top spot for stargazing

Tell me more: This popular hideaway is set within a valley of cherry blossoms and Japanese oaks, 20 minutes east of Carmel. Suites have up to four bedrooms and the outdoor baths are great for stargazing. Check out the huge gym, outdoor pool and boules pitch.

Cost: Doubles from £235 a night.

carmelvalleyranch.com