After 6+ months of quarantine, my travel bug was starting to get a little out of control and I’ve been in desperate need of an escape. So last week, my husband and I headed up to Malibu for a quick road trip (just 2.5 hours north of San Diego!) and some much-needed “VitaminSea.” We stayed for two nights at Malibu Beach Inn, a boutique hotel located just off the iconic PCH on Carbon Beach – about as close as you can get to the Pacific Ocean without being on a boat.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The hotel has just 47 rooms, giving it an intimate and personal atmosphere, as if you were staying at a friend’s grand oceanfront estate. Every single guest room is just above the sand, with incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. We stayed in a King Premier Oceanfront room on the 3rd floor which was perfectly appointed in warm woods and coastal blue tones to match the dramatic backdrop. The bed was incredibly comfortable and we woke each morning to the sounds of the waves just below. We made great use of the terrace (every room has one!), enjoying several drinks and meals there (hotel robe and all!). I was so impressed with the privacy of the balcony; the rooms are situated and constructed in such a way so that while enjoying time outdoors, you cannot see or hear any other guests on adjacent balconies – just the ocean in front of you.

The rooms are also filled with some truly unique and fun features: from the self-opening (and seat warming!) Toto toilet to the bedside binoculars (to check on the surfers outside or whale watch!), a gas fireplace for cozy evenings, a Smeg tea kettle (my favorite!), a Bose speaker and even a backgammon set. You have everything you need and want right at your fingertips. Oh, and don’t get me started on the warm chocolate chip cookies for turndown service.

While I felt we had plenty of room in the King Premier, for those staying a bit longer, you may want more living space. In that case, I’d recommend one of the Junior Suites, which have a pocket door separating the living and sleeping areas, or splurge on the One Bedroom Suite.

DINING

The on-site restaurant, Carbon Beach Club, which has both indoor (when COVID compliant) and outdoor seating and features fresh local ingredients from the Malibu Farmer’s Market, is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Or, if you’re so inclined, opt for room service on your balcony. For those looking to venture out, Malibu offers some incredible dining from Malibu Farm Restaurant to Duke’s to Nobu to Geoffrey’s, each with amazing oceanfront locales.

AMENITIES

We came to Malibu to relax, and so we loved spending time watching the US Open in our room, having sunset cocktails on our terrace, and just walking the beach. The tides were fairly high while we were there, but in lower tides, the hotel offers beachfront lounge chairs and service. During our stay, we just grabbed some beach towels and walked two minutes to the other side of the pier to enjoy swimming and lounging on the public beach there.

While the property does not have an on-site spa, they do have a partnership with nearby CURE Daily Spa and offer a variety of CURE’s services in a specialty spa suite.  Valet parking is also available to hotel guests for $35 per night so no need to worry about finding parking on the PCH.

COVID PRECAUTIONS

In these times, there are so many other things to consider when selecting a hotel, and Malibu Beach Inn has been really thoughtful about how to make guests comfortable in the midst of a pandemic. For one, this is a small property so right off the bat there are fewer people than at a much larger hotel. While there is an elevator to the 2nd and 3rd floor (with self sanitizing buttons!), it is easy enough to take the stairs to avoid other guests if you choose. The hallways between rooms are all open air (a nice perk of California) and there are few shared spaces besides the dining terrace and lobby check-in.

As we spend more time in our hotel rooms while traveling these days, I have been looking for larger rooms with separate seating areas and private outdoor spaces, and Malibu Beach Inn checks all those boxes! Of course, all employees are wearing masks, face shields, and often gloves. Guests are also required to wear masks in all public places and hand sanitizing stations are well placed throughout the hallways and lobby. For more details on Malibu Beach Inn’s COVID protocols, review their live safety document here. All in all, we felt incredibly safe and would definitely recommend Malibu Beach Inn for a socially distanced getaway.

VIRTUOSO AMENITIES

Part of the Leading Hotels of the World portfolio, Malibu Beach Inn is also a member of the prestigious Virtuoso network, so ATLAS + VALISE guests receive the following Virtuoso amenities with their booking:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• $80 breakfast credit per day, per bedroom to be used in dining room, room service or beach
• $100 USD Resort/Hotel credit to be utilized during stay
• Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

This was truly a special and romantic hotel. I live just a short drive from the beach, but nothing compares to being right there on the ocean. After months of stress and staying home, this nature therapy was just the boost I needed. If you too feel like you could benefit from a change of scenery (trust me, it did wonders!), I highly recommend a weekend getaway, a road trip or a staycation. Please contact us and we’d love to help.