Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa

It's often the little things that make an impression, and the care put into the details at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa do just that. Besides being impeccably clean, small touches such as the artwork and sculptures in the rooms are what come with paying top dollar. It's often cited as the top hotel and Pismo Beach, but it's not a place a person comes looking for a party. Instead, it's a place where people come to relax in pure luxury and take advantage of the central location to explore the areas surrounding Pismo Beach.

The sleek, airy lobby has striped tile floors, brown leather seating, and wood beams, while the lushly landscaped grounds offer heat lamps, fire pits, barbecues, and ocean-view paths.

There's plenty to do in the Pismo Beach area, and Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa is an excellent home base. Golf, kayaking, surfing, wine tasting, and farmers markets are all easily reached from the resort by car. The immediate area surrounding the hotel has hotels and restaurants, and downtown Pismo Beach is just a five-minute drive down the road. But those who come to Pismo Beach looking for a hotel on the beach should know that while the resort does have beautiful views, there is no direct beach access. Shell Beach is accessible via staircase just north of the property and the larger beaches -- such as Avila and Pismo -- are within a five-mile drive. Hearst Castle, a major tourist attraction, is a 50-minute drive north.

Being that this resort was once condos, it makes sense the rooms feel like homes. Three buildings -- north, south and central -- comprise accommodations, with the pool in the center. The solid wood doors lead to one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or penthouse suites. No matter the size, all come with the homey amenities including a living room, dining room and modern kitchen with appliances and utensils. Each also has private laundry and walk-in closets. But this is very much a hotel with all the comforts, too, such as plasma flat TVs and high-thread-count linens. Some suites rooms have fireplaces, some have jetted tubs. All have private terraces or patios and free Wi-fi. Suites are tastefully decorated in soothing, neutral color schemes.

The bad news is there's a daily resort fee, the good news is it includes a lot, from free bike rentals to beach chairs to lawn and board games. There's also a modern spa and a fitness center, where guests can make reservations for private or group yoga classes (for an additional fee). Many guests choose to spend at least some of the day at the infinity-edge pool. And while there's enough for the kids to do, parents shouldn't count on the hotel to entertain the little ones -- the kids' club only meets once a week, on Saturdays, for four hours. After a day of exploring the area, guests can borrow a movie from the DVD collection and request the hot cocoa or popcorn the hotel offers guests.