Discover refined beachfront elegance at Hotel Casa del Mar, where stunning ocean views, luxurious amenities and timeless design blend perfectly for a memorable stay.
Nestled on the sun-drenched shores of Santa Monica Beach, Hotel Casa del Mar promises a memorable stay. From the moment you step into the grand lobby with its soaring ceilings and panoramic ocean views, you’re transported to a world of coastal elegance. Whether you’re here for a romantic getaway or a relaxing retreat, this beachfront haven is an upscale base for exploring Los Angeles.
Location
There’s nowhere better if you want a prime location in Santa Monica.
Hotel Casa del Mar is perched on the edge of Santa Monica Beach, offering uninterrupted ocean views and easy access to the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Located just a few minutes walk from the vibrant shops and restaurants of Third Street Promenade, this historic hotel is perfectly positioned for both relaxation and exploration. You’re also within reach of Venice Beach’s bohemian vibes and Malibu’s scenic coastline.
Style and character
Hotel Casa del Mar is a beautiful example of modern Mediterranean architecture. (Image: Lisa Romerein)
Stepping into Hotel Casa del Mar feels like entering an elegant Mediterranean villa by the sea. The hotel boasts high ceilings, opulent chandeliers and classic furnishings that nod to its 1920s origins. With a warm and inviting atmosphere, it offers a refined yet relaxed beachside escape, capturing the essence of Southern California living with a dash of European sophistication.
Facilities
The pool area looks more like a sculpture than a place to take a dip.
Hotel Casa del Mar’s amenities are nothing short of indulgent. The outdoor pool and hot tub overlook the ocean, offering a serene spot for sun-soaked afternoons. The hotel’s wellness centre features a full-service spa, complete with a range of treatments and a fitness studio for guests to keep up their routines. There are also complimentary beach bike rentals and easy access to water sports for those looking for a more active stay.
Rooms
The rooms are luxe and laid-back.
The rooms at Casa del Mar are elegantly appointed, with plush bedding, marble bathrooms and large windows that flood the space with natural light. Many rooms and suites boast sweeping ocean views, creating a serene atmosphere for guests to unwind.
I was in the Palm Terrace Room which had its own little patio with access to the pool terrace. The patios are pretty exposed, so don’t expect a private area. Thoughtful touches like Nespresso machines, Frette linens and in-room dining options elevate the luxury experience, while the coastal-inspired décor adds to the beachside charm.
Food and drink
Indulge in Mediterranean dishes at Terrazza. (Image: Lisa Romerein)
The hotel is home to three exceptional dining options: Terrazza, set against the backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, is perfect for getting a bottle and enjoying Mediterranean-inspired dishes; The Lobby Lounge is ideal for light bites and sipping cocktails; And Patio del Mar is your go-to spot for canapes and watching California’s stunning sunsets.
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Access for guests with disabilities?
The hotel is accessible for guests with disabilities, offering accessible rooms and public areas, as well as adapted facilities. Elevators provide easy access throughout the hotel, and staff are on hand to assist with any special needs or requests.
Family-friendly?
The hotel is a great choice for a trip to Santa Monica.
Hotel Casa del Mar welcomes families, with spacious rooms and suites that can accommodate children. The beachfront location is ideal for family outings and the hotel provides amenities like cribs and rollaway beds upon request. However, the overall ambience is more suited to couples and adult travellers seeking a tranquil escape.
Details
Best for: A luxurious beachfront escape with an elegant and timeless atmosphere Address: 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica Cost: Rooms start from $1000 per night, depending on the season and availability
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Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.
1. Route 66, the Main Street of America
Travelling with: Ricky French
Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)
Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.
2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)
You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.
3. Museum-hop in New York City
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)
Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.
4. The USA’s music scene
Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead
Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)
If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.
5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)
Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.
6. Cruising Alaska
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.
Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.
7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico
Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead
Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.
For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)
Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.
9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia
Travelling with: Katie Carlin
Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)
World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.
10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.
The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.
11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada
Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes
Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)
No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.
12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA
Travelling with: Carla Grossetti
The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.
Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.
