6 West Coast Cities Where You Can Still Enjoy a Luxury Vacation for Cheap
From Washington’s Puget Sound to Oregon wine country and California’s famous coast, a West Coast vacation can look expensive on paper.
But a trip can still feel like an occasion without the marquee price. A great hotel, waterfront dinner, spa afternoon or vineyard-filled day can make time away feel special. The key is choosing a destination where the setting does much of the work. Here are six West Coast cities where travelers can enjoy a luxury vacation for less.
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1. Santa Rosa Wine Country
Santa Rosa, California, delivers the vineyard views, excellent food and spa-hotel atmosphere people associate with Napa without making the whole trip feel like a financial event.
“Santa Rosa, California, is one of the most underrated destinations on the West Coast for travelers who want to feel like they’re splurging without actually breaking the bank,” said Caitlin Sandberg, owner of Poppyseed PR.
Sandberg recommends a midweek stay in April, May, October or November. At Hook & Ladder Winery, a tasting starts at $15 per person. The Luther Burbank Home & Gardens is free, leaving room for a great lunch or spa afternoon.
2. Tacoma’s Artful Waterfront
Tacoma, Washington, makes the case for skipping a car and spending that money on the trip itself.
Hotel Murano charges $30 a day for self-parking or $60 for a two-night stay. A couple taking four T Line trips each would pay $16 total.
“Travelers can plan a two- or three-night cultural trip around Puget Sound without staying in Seattle,” said Andrés Serra, trip planner and head of operations at Optimise Travel.
The payoff is a free walk across the 500-foot Chihuly Bridge of Glass and $18 admission to the Museum of Glass.
3. Laguna Beach Beyond Resorts
California beach-town glamour is often in the view, not the room rate. In Laguna Beach, California, coves, tide pools, coastal walks, public art and sunsets cost nothing.
“Some of Laguna’s greatest assets are completely free including its beaches, coves, sunsets, scenery, hiking and public art,” said Scott Roby, president of Parable Hospitality.
Roby recommends a smaller hotel a block or two from the ocean, then putting the splurge toward an oceanfront dinner, cocktails or a spa treatment. On weekends, visitors can park at Lot 16 for $5 and take the city’s free trolley downtown.
4. Portland’s Food-First Escape
September is Portland, Oregon's version of a shoulder-season splurge.
A $22.50 visit to the Portland Japanese Garden sets the tone, then farmers’ markets and a Willamette Valley tasting day can fill out the rest of the weekend.
“The food scene is where Portland really punches above its weight,” said Ayanna Alleyne Grant, a travel expert with TrustedHouse sitters. “You can have a genuinely exceptional meal at a James Beard-recognized restaurant for what you would spend on a mid-range dinner somewhere else.”
5. San Diego’s One-Day Splurge
San Diego puts the splurge at the end of the day, not in every line of the itinerary.
Balboa Park gives travelers free gardens, trails, fountains, architecture and public art before a sunset walk in La Jolla.
“You can eat well for $30-$40 a person at the casual spots overlooking the water instead of the resort restaurants,” said Jeanine Bobenmoyer, founder of theCityMoms, a parenting media brand.
Bobenmoyer recommends staying in Mission Valley or Pacific Beach and riding downtown for the day.
“You save meaningfully on the room rate, often get free parking, and that one swap alone can save a family a few hundred dollars over a long weekend,” she said.
6. Mendocino’s Quiet Splurge
Trade guaranteed sunshine for a quieter coastal escape in Mendocino, California.
Doni Belau, founder of Girls’ Guide to the World, said a late-September stay at Nicholson House can cost under $300 a night.
The day can begin with a coastal trail or a redwood walk, then end with local seafood and California wine at the inn’s Café Beaujolais. The luxury is in having a beautiful place to slow down, not in booking activities from morning to night.
“We went to Mendocino in October and although we did experience some rain it was still remarkably beautiful,” Belau said. “It’s a refreshing spot that is worlds away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles or San Francisco.”
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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