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 Sitting in the great room of The Resort at Pelican Hill, curled up on an oversized chair with my nose in a book and sipping an Italian cocktail, I could have been a thousand miles away. Actually, I was just a 30-minute ride from home and loving every minute of it. With the dismal economy, high gas prices and the threat of a killer flu changing the way we travel, more people are sticking closer to home. So my husband, Greg, and I thought it would be a good idea to check out Newport Coast’s newest luxury hotel. We pulled into the Italian Renaissance-inspired resort on a recent weekday for a two-night stay and immediately knew we were in for a treat. The main building is distinguished with archways and columns, a 200-year-old tapestry, rotundas and marble flooring. The resort, which opened last November, is built around the 36-hole Pelican Hill Golf Club, so guests in one of the 204 bungalow terraces are treated to cool breezes and sweeping views of the South Course overlooking the Pacific Ocean. We were awed by the landscaping and meandering pathways that wound through the grounds with gardening inspiration galore. The Coliseum Pool quickly caught our attention. How could it not? At 136 feet in diameter, it’s the largest circular pool in the world. We stopped for lunch at the Coliseum Grill, which overlooks the pool area and serves everything from seafood to spaghetti. The next night, we had dinner at Andrea. It was a full house, which I thought was surprising on a weeknight. We dined on ravioli filled with ricotta and spinach with a sage sauce and a pan-seared filet. The staff was there with more of anything we wanted. After our espresso tiramisu we headed to the bar for a nightcap. This is perhaps our favorite time — primarily because bartenders are usually chatty and we like to get the inside scoop. Turns out the staff at Pelican Hill is happy with the new resort — and tight-lipped about the guests. If there’s been an A-list celebrity who’s stopped by, you won’t hear it from the staff. Though it’s tempting to hole yourself in your luxurious digs, there’s a lot to check out at the resort. Enjoy a glass of Chardonnay and a lavender-and-honey foot scrub at the full-service spa, take a walk through the European-style garden perched on top of the parking structure, participate in an early-morning sun salute stretch at the pool or enjoy coffee in the Caffé, which also serves homemade breads and smoothies. Touring the property, I got a sneak peek behind the gates of the exclusive enclave of 128 two- to four-bedroom villas — a resort within a resort. Here, guests have their own 24-hour butler, fully equipped gourmet kitchen and a private garage with washer and dryer. Before arriving, you can arrange for your bags to be picked up at your home, delivered and unpacked at the villa. Guests also can have the kitchen stocked with their choice of groceries from Bristol Farms. There’s not much the resort doesn’t provide, whether guests are staying for a couple of nights or indefinitely. Resort at Pelican Hill Location: Newport Coast, just south of Newport Beach. Vitals: The resort is on 504 acres just above the Pacific Ocean. Luxurious accommodations are available in either bungalows, bungalow suites or villas. Check the website for special offers. Amenities: Two immaculate golf courses designed by Tom Fazio were recently restored to reflect the exquisite nature of the property. The elegant Spa features 22 treatment rooms. Five restaurants and cafes are available, including Andrea and the Pelican Grill. More on golf: The clubhouse features a full-service pro shop. The range features state-of-the-art synthetic turf stations and the Pelican Hill Golf Academy, headed by PGA Director of Instruction Glenn Deck. Phone: (800) 315-8214. Website: pelicanhill.com. |
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