Luxury Hotel · USA
San Ysidro Ranch
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At a glance
San Ysidro Ranch is a five-star historic cottage resort on a 550-acre estate in the Montecito foothills, above Santa Barbara.
San Ysidro Ranch is one of California’s oldest resorts, open since the 1890s. Its history is the draw: JFK and Jackie honeymooned here, and Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier married on the grounds. Its 41 cottages line the creek, each with a fireplace, private hot tub, and outdoor shower.
Dining is all-inclusive. The Stonehouse, in a 19th-century citrus packing house, holds a Wine Spectator Grand Award, with the casual Plough & Angel and a speakeasy alongside. Spa treatments come to your cottage, and there is a heated pool, a putting course, and 17 miles of private trails.
It is famously pet-friendly, the kind of place people book to disappear. It suits couples, gay or straight, on a honeymoon or anniversary, and makes a romantic wedding venue. Santa Barbara airport is 15 minutes away, with Butterfly Beach close by.
Highlights
- Historic cottage resort on a 550-acre Montecito estate
- All-inclusive dining at the award-winning Stonehouse
- 41 private cottages with fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs
Accommodation
Romantic Garden Hideaway
The Romantic Garden Hideaways are around 475 sq. ft. They all open onto landscaped courtyards surrounded stunning gardens. Private hallways lead to each hideaway.
All Hideaways come with four poster beds, nespresso machines, stone fireplaces and 55″ HDTVs.
Romantic Ocean Hideaway
The Romantic Garden Hideaways average 575 sq. ft. and they come with views of the Channel Islands and the Pacific Ocean. You can also opt for the Romantic Canyon Hideaway – at 900 sq. ft. these are the largest properties.
Cottages
There are 42 cottages on that line the windy hillside creek of San Ysidro. These bungalow style properties are individually decorated in great style. They come with outdoor hot tubs, rain showers and hand picked antique furnishings.
Further information
Wellness
There is no large spa building; instead, treatments come to you, in your cottage or out on its private deck, from deep-tissue massage to facials. Each cottage already has its own outdoor hot tub. Elsewhere on the estate there is a heated pool, a fitness room, and a putting course, and 17 miles of private hiking trails climb into the hills behind. The setting, gardens, and quiet do much of the work.
Dining
Dining is included in the rate and is a destination in itself. The Stonehouse, in an 1889 stone citrus-packing house, is the flagship, with a Wine Spectator Grand Award, a 12,000-bottle cellar, and an ocean-view terrace. The Plow & Angel is the relaxed option, known for its mac and cheese and ribs, and the Speakeasy below pours 1920s-style cocktails as a Forbes Star Bar. You can also dine poolside or in your cottage.
Location
San Ysidro Ranch spreads over 550 acres in the foothills above Montecito, the wealthy enclave just east of Santa Barbara, with the Santa Ynez Mountains behind and the Pacific and Channel Islands below. The cottages are set far apart across gardens, citrus groves, and oaks, so the place feels private even when full. Butterfly Beach is about ten minutes down the hill, with Montecito’s village, Santa Barbara, and the wine country all close by. The airport is 15 minutes away.
USA
Getting Around The US is best navigated by a combination of air and ground transport. Domestic flights are frequent and reasonably priced, making them the practical choice for covering long distances, particularly between the coasts.
Our Experts
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.