Hotel Bel-Air: An Oasis in the City
I’ll be honest. Even for a seasoned traveler like myself, I was a bit nervous the first time I left my little bubble of La Jolla during Covid-19. By the time the summer had rolled around, I’d been grounded for longer than I had in years, and for good reason. But for someone whose personal and professional life revolves around travel, it simply wasn’t going to be possible to stay at home much longer and I was anxious to get out and see what travel during the pandemic was really like.
My husband and I had planned to celebrate our 10th anniversary in June on the Amalfi Coast. While we were disappointed to have to postpone our trip to Italy, we were determined to celebrate, so I reserved 3 nights at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the property, it’s part of the Dorchester Collection, a small but prestigious group of some of the dreamiest hotels found around the world. The hotel is truly a sanctuary – hidden among lush gardens inside the gates of one of LA’s toniest neighborhoods. It’s decidedly low-key, but incredibly elegant. Truly an oasis in the city.
As we approached the property I must admit I felt a little strange – it was hard not to after being house-bound for so many months. When we pulled into the drive, we were greeted immediately not only by the valets, but also by the manager on duty. Even under their masks, their warm welcome was palpable. She walked us into reception and very clearly and easily explained their current health and safety protocols for guests and staff. Nothing too tough or any different than what we’d already been practicing at home – social distancing, masks, etc. Then we were whisked into our suite and the months of stress just melted away. Our suite was not only gorgeous, but also immaculate and filled with lots of surprises designed to put us in a relaxed and celebratory mood… champagne and balloons, charcuterie, a wedding photo of us that they’d magically obtained. We popped the champagne and the weekend began!
LA is one of the greatest cities in the world and there is always so much to see and experience. But due to the current restrictions in the state of California, we decided to spend all of our time on property, which proved very easy to do. The pool! Oh how I adore the pool at the Hotel Bel-Air! Sooooo relaxing, with enough distance between guests to afford privacy and an opportunity to go mask-free. Lunch (and wine) were enjoyed poolside daily – what a treat after months of cooking and cleaning three meals a day for my family! We ate breakfast and dinner each day at the hotel’s fabulous outdoor restaurant – Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, and truly everything that we ate was absolutely sublime – from the amazing avocado toast at breakfast to the pasta with lobster at dinner.
When we weren’t lounging, we spent time walking around the property which is stunningly beautiful and romantic (hello giant swams a-swimming!). There are lots of little spaces tucked away throughout the property which makes it feel very private – a little bench under some vines here, a couple of comfortable chairs tucked next to a fireplace there. Just the sort of place one dreams about after spending months and months with their beloved children attending school at home. 😊 At night the property takes on an almost magical quality – like something out of Avatar. I half-expected to see fairies (see champagne and wine above). There was also a full moon that weekend, and given the kind of bespoke service found in all Dorchester Collection hotels, I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that it had been arranged by the staff.
I am a self-proclaimed spa aficionado, a true tri—bathelete, and so I made a point to also enjoy the spa during our stay. Of course it wasn’t exactly the way it would have been under normal circumstances (remember normal?), but even so, it was absolutely glorious to be expertly massaged and pampered from head to toe. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Alas, all good things ultimately come to an end, and before we knew it we were heading back to La Jolla. But we came home better than when we’d left – well-fed, well-spoiled, well-romanced, well-connected. It was a good reminder that whether our travels take us far from home or not, they have the ability to transport and transform us. That’s what I call well-traveled living.