Was it possible to have a safe COVID staycation? It turns out it was — and totally the recharge we all needed.
With two kids Zoom schooling and a toddler who can only be entertained 15 minutes at a time, we were all losing our minds. San Luis Obispo up the California Central Coast was far enough away to make it feel like we weren’t home, but with a just under 3 hour drive there, not so far that driving a long distance with three kids would feel like a big mistake. And like many families around us who haven’t been anywhere in what felt like forever, we wanted to get the most out of our first venture out — and make safe decisions while doing so.
Enter the Hotel San Luis Obispo, a stunning 78-room modern hotel that truly helped take care of every need. As a working parent whose brain has just been overflowing with needs/wants/to-dos during the pandemic, organizing a full on trip was not something I had the mental capacity — or time — to do.
In sum: The Hotel San Luis Obispo is simply gorgeous. Being one of the only places we’d been outside of our own four walls, it did not disappoint. When we arrived (in the early fall, pre-surge) it often felt like we were the only guests there. Check-in was fast, seamless and felt completely safe. Masks and social distancing were required in all common spaces and the lobby had basically transformed into an open air-type feel with all of the walls “open” to the outside.
Once we entered the gorgeous room, we never wanted to leave. There was more than enough space for our family of 5 in the suite, everything was new and highly stylized and the beds were beyond comfortable (which is key as exhausted parents know). The best part was, we were there during weekdays and would have to simultaneously Zoom school and work from the room. The two balconies allowed for us to split up into spaces and each do our own Zooming (not to mention the lovely views) — which was key. And at a time when we stay in more than go out, having the place you stay “in” be so spacious, light-filled and lovely is only an added bonus.
There was even a sleek coffee bar in the lobby that we zipped down to in the mornings before Zoom school to grab freshly made breakfast burritos and caffeine for the grown-ups — which was a huge plus for me. (Yes, Starbucks is great and convenient and all, but sometimes it's nice to feel like you're somewhere else than the norm, amirite?) The location couldn’t be beat as the property was literally steps away from a cute downtown area making it a breeze to run down to grab some take-out to eat on the many tables on their massive outdoor patio.
We also didn’t want to be spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to do in the down times, so we were thrilled to learn the hotel had partnered with a new concierge service company, Arcadian Adventures. I’d never heard of such a service before and let me tell you, it’s 100% worth it. If you want a customized activity plan that will meet all family members needs, but don’t want to spend hours upon hours researching and trying to figure out what’s actually open when right now (and safe), this is for you. Especially as it was the only trip we’ve taken in over year, it seemed well worth the extra expense.
After a quick pre-trip call to get information about our families’ ages, likes, dislikes, nap times, safety requirements, etc. we received a customized itinerary for our stay in San Luis Obispo. From beach cave exploring, to electric bike rentals that we rode to a local farm with animals the kids could look at, to a sunset boat rental to see sea lions and seals, each experience was so carefully thought out and well organized that the kids still talk about it to this day and keep asking when we can go back and do the same things. The itinerary even included much appreciated details like what everyone should wear. Families can even add on activities like surf lessons or whale watching.
Our personal guide, Davey, was there to see us off at every point to make sure we didn’t run into any snags. They can even make meal reservations at local restaurants based on your family’s food preferences and allergies.
We packed a lot into our brief 3-day staycation and came back with a lifetime of memories and just the renewed energy we needed to tackle (yet another) week of Zoom everything from home. In times like these, even the small things become the big things and this opportunity for a beautiful change of scenery was no exception. We already can't wait to go back.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
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Connect with Arcadian Adventures at least two weeks before your trip to give them ample time to go back and forth with you on the best itinerary for your family.
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While the suites at Hotel SLO are obviously huge and gorgeous, the rooms are generously-sized too, so don't worry about not having enough space.
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If you're planning on working and remote schooling from home, pack a hotspot just in case (sometimes having too many Zooms going simultaneously on the same network slows them all down).
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There are lots of comfortable outdoor spaces on the property, so don't be afraid to take your learning/work into the fresh air!
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Don't forget to check out the infamous gum wall in downtown SLO, just a short stroll from the hotel.
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Make sure to head to the beach (about a 10 minute drive away) and check out the Pismo Caves and tidepools. Little (and big) kids could easily spend half a day there.
Hotel San Luis Obispo is currently offering a special Learn, Play, and Explore package, available to families eager to take distance learning and remote working on "vacation" during the work week which includes a daily dining credit for breakfast, box lunches, or an evening meal, a guided tour of downtown SLO and a visit to the delicious Docs Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab, among other things.
Disclosure: Hotel SLO provided partial press accommodations and activities for this trip. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.
