As I parked, the GPS read almost 1,000 feet. I was still sipping the champagne I was given at check-in while the bellman drove me and my luggage up to my luxury, cliff-top bungalow in a Range Rover.
My wood-clad suite occupied one floor, with floor-to-ceiling glass facing the ocean. I could laze in the bath, gazing out through the picture window, or sit in the stainless steel hot tub on the curved veranda with a glass of red or white wine, kindly provided for guests.
All out of sight by anyone. Unfortunately, so was the Pacific. My visit had coincided with unseasonably bad weather, and it was pouring with rain. Clouds enveloped everything at times, we were so high; it was too cold even for the hot tub. So I lit the fire.
The normally-spectacular sunset view from the Sierra Mar restaurant, perched on stilts on the cliff edge, was also shrouded. But the sumptuous food made up for it although, being picky, the fixed-price $110 dinner was short on choice.
Thankfully, next morning, the sun broke through to reveal superlative vistas. A condor even languorously drifted past, dwarfing the skittish turkey vultures.
A unique eco-escape, the resort has 39 rooms offering either sea or mountain views, including triangular tree houses. There’s a spa, infinity meditation pool and activities including yoga, guided hikes and star gazing. Forget the weather – I’m still on cloud nine.
factbox
Post Ranch Inn
Big Sur, California
Tel: 00 1 831 667 2200
Rooms from $595 mountain view and $1,125 sea view B&B
Search availability via our partners Expedia
best for
- Stunning views
- Rustic luxury
- Escapism
could do better
- Limited menu
All prices and details were correct when published, please check before you visit.