My wife and I just returned from two weeks of vacation, about a week of which was spent in Morro…read moreBay. We stayed at my friend Art Dyson's "Main Street Cottage" (which is rented through Horizon Realty). Art is, in my opinion, among the best architects in the world and this cottage is a reflection of his talent. While he did not build this from scratch, you can see his influence throughout the house and yard. It is an absolute feast for the body and soul to get away from Fresno and find yourself here. It is also close to the beech, stores and restaurants, so you can park your car and walk everywhere. If you are thinking about going to the Central Coast for a getaway, do yourself a favor and stay at Art's Main Street Cottage. Rental information (cost, availability etc) can be found here: https://horizoncentralcoast.com/vacation-rentals/main-street-cottage/ Mike Rhodes (559) 978-4502 mikerhodes@comcast.net www.mikerhodes.us PS: We had a couple of opportunities to talk to Max and Kelly at Horizon (which is located right next to the cottage) and each time it was a pleasure.

Bunch of assmunchers who sit around and play soggy crackers. They sit around sticking their thumbs…read moreup their crack and sniffing it

Note - this is regarding the spa, not the hotel:…read more Made couples massage reservations for my wife's birthday. The reception was easy - the usual stupid liability forms to fill out - otherwise its nestled in a grove of trees and surprisingly quiet given how close to the road it is. The massage quality was on the higher end as one would expect, but what set it above and beyond was the 30-45 min soak in an outdoor private hot tub before your massage as part of the package. Definitely relaxed us before the relaxing massage and a relaxing hot shower afterwards. You just didn't want to do anything after that. A great experience and well worth it.

I'll start with the positives. We booked the Hillside…read moreOne-Bedroom King Suite, and it was excellent. The suite was incredibly spacious--more like a small apartment than a hotel room. The private hot tub was already filled and heated upon arrival, which was a nice touch. There were plenty of towels, a refrigerator in the room, and a large, comfortable couch with a sitting area that was perfect for enjoying breakfast. Unfortunately, the service did not match the price point. At nearly $600 per night, I expected a much higher level of hospitality. Room service took over two hours to arrive, despite placing the order an hour in advance specifically to avoid delays. To their credit, the staff comped the meal, which was a gracious gesture, but I would have preferred receiving the food on time. What was most disappointing was the complete lack of personalized service. For a resort charging premium rates, I expected touches such as evening turndown service, robes and slippers prepared by the bed, or other details that make a luxury stay feel special. None of that was offered. At $600 per night. I would've rather spent my money at The Four Seasons four seasons or the Peninsula hotel. At least at those premium hotels we actually get the service we pay for. The check-in experience was also unpleasant. The front desk staff came across as overly rigid and unwelcoming, which set the wrong tone from the start. This was my second time giving this resort a chance, and unfortunately, I regret doing so. While the accommodations themselves are very nice, the service falls far short of what should be expected at this price level

Note: this property has two different Yelp sites, this and Hilton Vacation Club San Luis Bay Avila…read moreBeach (Hilton acquired it some years back). I've written the same review for both. My late husband and I purchased an every other year timeshare, directly from another owner here, years ago. I love visiting Avila Beach and this timeshare continues to serve its purpose. Some years back it was taken over by Hilton. As far as the property itself, the ownership change hasn't had a noticeable impact. I've always viewed this place as a bit outdated. However, it's maintained very well and is very clean. A majority of the room offer views of the ocean plus there are area on the property that you can relax outside with an ocean view. It's also a short walk from here to the oceanfront restaurant/shop area and the spectacular Bob Jones Trail! On this trip, I was very pleased with the new ceiling fan over the bed. In addition, they've replaced the terrible polyester bedsheets with cotton ones. I really hated the polyester ones, so I'm extremely happy about this! It seems to me that the housecleaning staff doesn't deal with recycling but I did notice recycling containers in the club. A tip, for those that would like to come for a week, but not purchase a timeshare, is to look at the RedWeek website. Here you'll find timeshare owners renting out their week. It can be an affordable way to stay here. I've included balcony view photos from a couple different rooms I've stayed in these last years.

Stayed for a week. Raining all the time were there and sunshine came out on day we were checking…read moreout. Front desk friendly and accommodating. Had interaction with cleaning staff by asking for extra towels from their cart. Very polite and helpful. Elevator service -- small capacity and slow. Service staff should use the big luggage elevator instead of the guest elevators. The wait for the elevator door to close is irritating, even if the close door button is pushed, the car just sits and waits. Like the free laundry facilities a bit hotel has to provide detergent. Except for the vending machines for snacks and sodas, no food source in the vicinity. Maybe a sandwich or pastry automat would be useful. An ice machine in the coffee room will be useful. Nearest ice machine is in third floor aside from the ref in the room. The drinking water dispenser was "recycling" when I was getting water to drink. Front desk said a resident filled up his jug of water and emptied the machine. Only one drinking water dispenser in the whole hotel? Front desk apologized and provided a bottle of water. Room - we can hear all the heavy footsteps of the residents in the room above ours. Are the floors very thin that footsteps sounds can be heard? Maybe the floors should be carpeted to deaden the noise. The bathroom counters feel sticky. Wiping numerous times did not help. Not sure if hotel allows pets but I saw a guest walking her dog in the hallway. Overall the stay was pleasant.

Built in 1922, this place operated as a small jazz age hotel. In the 1960's the upper floors were…read moreconverted to residential housing and the bottom floors were used by small businesses. One of the renters Kimberly Walker opened up a small bistro and wine bar in 2009 and called it the Granada as the original sign was still hanging. The following year the property was slated for demolition. Kimberly partnered with three friends to restore the property to its original use and save the bistro. They picked everything out special to compliment the hotel. It is now home to 17 guest rooms, The Bistro restaurant and the speakeasy Nightcap. We had been wanting to come in for brunch and made a reservation for Saturday morning. It was a beautiful day to sit outside on their gorgeous patio to dine. This place is timeless and I love all the history. Sylvia was our server and she was fantastic. She made sure our experience here was top notch. For starters we went with two Mimosas. So refreshing and delicious. From there we enjoyed their deviled eggs. My main entree was the eggs Benedict. The hollandaise sauce was so perfectly made. We loved everything about dining here. Service was great, food was tasty and drinks were delightful. Parking is on the street and can be a challenge. If you can, you may want to walk here from wherever you might be staying.

Decent food, great atmosphere really slow poor service. It's amazing how poor service can ruin a…read moregood meal. We sat at the bar in an empty restaurant and had to ask to be served. Everything we ordered we had to stop somebody and ask if we could order it. Can we order a drink? Can we order an appetizer? I'm sorry can we order our dinner when I came time for dessert we gave up and went somewhere else. Next stop is Hotel SLO

The owners Ara and Sara Elena know everyone and think of everything! You get discounted coffee,…read morebaked goods, wine tastings, etc. just by being their guests. Their suggestions of how to spend daytime and evening hours are excellent. They've really taken the time to get to know the other businesses and guest experiences providers and to quality check them. My wife and I brought our two-year-old daughter to celebrate her birthday and Ara and Sara Elena had a pack-n-play, toys, and treats ready for our birthday girl. It's extremely rare as a parent to really relax when you have a wound-up toddler running around, but my wife and I feel so happy and rested after just a short stay here, we are already planning our next trip to this five star bed and breakfast, perfect 10 paradise!

I have been going here since a kid in the 90's and it definitely still has some of the charm. So…read morelet's go over the pros and cons. Pros: Coffee bar always open Clean smell throughout Pool clean and nice Quiet calm environment Cons: Some cleanliness issues in the room itself, there was a dried contact lens stuck to the bathroom floor, a wrapper behind the chair by the window and some cleanliness issues in the room for sure. Small things nothing I'd say never again staying here. WiFi... the wifi here was lacking. It was almost non existent in my room. Otherwise it's a beautiful place, obviously quieter than back in the day without the full running restaurant and gift shop but things change as time goes by so can't fault them there.

Cute, but with some serious flaws. SIGNAGE within the main building is horrible and in my opinion…read moreunsafe. 1). Elevator is painted the same color as the walls and easy to walk right past it without finding it. 2) Rooms are off hallways that are not at right angles to each other, and signs to the rooms by room number seem haphazard and lead me to several wrong turns. No clear signs that say which way to your room number. 3) Inside the room, the sign to find emergency exit is not on the door but rather, behind the door on the wall at a low height, very darkly colored and in small print. Pretty useless. 4) Bathroom in the lobby entrance? "Just to the right"...OK, I went to the first unmarked door to the right and it was someone's office. I recall finding the bathroom on the third door around the corner. Also: TV: forget it.. Impossible to figure out how to get to a station . After two phones to office got someone who spoke poor English who showed me a two page stapled instructions that was ridiculous. Also, the light switch to the room revealed a weak light bulb that turned on one lamp. No overhead lighting. Really overall an irritating experience.

My nephew got married at this venue and it was so amazing! This is a large estate with three homes…read moreand a large barn that can all be rented out. My sister and I stayed in the 2 bedroom cottage. The bride's family stayed in the large house and the studio unit was used to stage the hair, makeup and bride's dressing area. The homes are old but are kept in excellent condition. The grounds are immaculate and beautiful. I am attaching photos because you have to see this place to understand its beauty and functionality.

My cousin got married in SLO and the the bride/groom, wedding party, and parents rented out all 3…read morehouses on this drop-dead gorgeous, sprawling estate. From Website: "The Flying Caballos Ranch was originally owned by the Gaxiolla family in the early 1900's and encompassed several hundred acres. The Gaxiolla's were Swiss immigrants who operated the ranch as a dairy farm; the original farmhouse was built in 1905 for the entire family. In 1952 the guesthouse and studio were built to accommodate one of the brothers who got married and wanted some privacy from his bachelor brother who lived in the main house. The Gaxiolla's grew their own vegetables, vineyard, and orchard. They hunted deer and fished for salmon, all on the ranch. Currently the ranch consists of approximately 100 acres with horse and cattle grazing, a year round creek and unobstructed views of Edna Valley and Islay hill". The property has been completely restored to its original glory. Its a breathtaking vacation rental & special event venu. There are three rentals available including the main ranchouse, the green guest house, and an adjacent studio apartment. We spent the afternoon here the day after Saturday wedding for a family BBQ. I truly didn't want to leave.

I went to Pismo Beach to experience the annual car show. The Vespera was right in the heart of the…read morefestivities. Valet service for the car was great, as there isn't really anywhere else to park unless you're interested in a long walk. Every staff member I came into contact with was professional and more than friendly. The room was well appointed and very comfortable. I had a direct view of the ocean right out my sliding glass door to the private balcony off my room. There was a great outdoor sitting and entertainment area between the hotel and the beach. It was loaded with seating and fire pits and sun umbrellas and was a great place to sit and chill with a drink and good friends. The price was extreme, but I chalked that up to car show gouging. The hotel restaurant was okay. Nothing special and featured mostly Hispanic styled dishes. In the evenings they sell Smores kits so you can make them while you sit by the fire pits. There was a pool and spa and a workout room. The surrounding town is loaded with (mostly) surf shops and good restaurants. I highly recommend this hotel for any special occasion.

I had an extremely disappointing experience at Vespera Resort on Pismo Beach, and it was one of the…read moreworst customer service interactions I've ever had. When I asked about room availability, the front desk agent told me there were no rooms available. However, while standing there, I checked Marriott's website and found multiple rooms available to book immediately. When I pointed this out, she claimed the online booking inventory didn't match the hotel's actual inventory, which made no sense and felt dishonest. Rather than trying to help resolve the situation, she came across as patronizing, offering unnecessary explanations about hotel hours as if that addressed the issue. The interaction felt dismissive from start to finish. To make matters worse, she offered a 2:00 p.m. late checkout because I'm a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum member, but then made a point of telling me she was not offering the 4:00 p.m. late checkout because she wasn't required to honor that benefit for Bonvoy members. It felt unnecessarily confrontational and came across as though she wanted to emphasize what she didn't have to do rather than provide good hospitality. Great hotels are remembered for exceptional service, especially when something doesn't go as planned. Unfortunately, this experience was the opposite. I've stayed at many Marriott properties, and this was one of the poorest customer service experiences I've encountered. I hope management reviews how guests are treated, because no one should leave feeling dismissed and misled.