Hotels – global hotel system

Fairmont has an eye for vintage properties, and after many decades of looming majestically at the end of Wiltshire Boulevard, on top of the Santa Monica bluffs, the Fairmont Miramar knows a thing or two about pampering. Old-fashioned luxury begins with old-fashioned service, and in LA, genuine warmth counts for something. So does inconspicuousness. The staff is around, but not in your face. Good to know when you need a chilled cocktail while lounging by the pool or on the sun deck. And guests here do tend to know exactly what they want and when they want it. Pets, it might be worth noting, stay free — and receive their own beds, towels, and treats at check-in.

Extensively manicured grounds, including waterfalls and a koi pond, lead into the lobby, which looks as if it could easily hold a game of touch football. Of course, such antics would never fly among the heavy vases and silk-covered, color-coordinated furniture. Off the lobby are the accommodations, either the variously sized suites that make up the tower or the stand-alone bungalows. Opt for the latter, if possible, since nothing says Southern California like throwing open your French doors and hearing the beach, just four blocks away. Or resting your weary bones at the in-house spa. The more active might run or walk along the many trails of Palisades Park, across the street, or give their credit cards a workout at the shops along the Third Street Promenade, just a quick stroll away.