Author Assistance

[cyrano]

Call out to locals, or folks who know the local area. I've been enlisted to try and find an inexpensive hold out where somebody could go and revise their novel in peace. Someplace with trees and water (river or ocean), preferably.
I've looked around San Luis Obispo and Lost Coast, but haven't seen a whole lot that I like--mostly it seems like spas and resorts and $300 per night price tags. So if you like cheap holidays, or your sister wrote some sort of travel guide, feel free to offer me some advice. (:

Comments

[miss-electra.livejournal.com]

Crud. There was a place I went in Santa Cruz that was walking distance from the beach that was around $95/night. It wasn't exactly 5 star, but it was pretty decent. And of course, now I can't remember what it was called.

Have you tried the SC area much?

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Not a lot, but I will now. I did look at Monterey briefly.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Depends what you consider inexpensive. Asilomar in Monterey is rather nice and peaceful, up next to the ocean, and rates are around $100 a night (if you buy through orbitz or whatever.) How long are they looking for? If it's more than a week or so, might be sensible to rent a condo or something.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

$100/night was our hoped for baseline. I've heard of Asilomar and expected it to be spendier, even in the winter. It'd be about a week, from my understanding.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I've been to conferences at Asilomar. It would be a great place to finish a novel, but I'd expect it to be expensive, too.

[tavella.livejournal.com]

Hotels.com and Orbitz are both coming up with $97 weeknights and $119 weekends.

Though be warned, it really does not have much in the way of amenities. Very basic rooms, no fridges or whatever in rooms, no wireless, no TV. Beautiful grounds, great for taking a walk on the beach or sitting on a porch revising, though.

[zdashamber.livejournal.com]

I grew to hate Asilomar this year when I was sick there at another frigging work conference and it was dingy and there was no internet and there were like 7 things broken in my room (like the shower sprayed water over the curtain all over the bathroom) and all the lightbulbs were 40 watts and there was no internet and the battery in my door was dead so every single time I needed to get into my room I had to go to the front desk and wait and then wait for a maintenance guy. Eff that place.

...Eh. I guess it's alright if you're going for the summer camp feel. With no internet. ;)

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Well yeah, but at least you had internet.

[zdashamber.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I guess in the end, it was the internet that made it all worthwhile.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

There's a Super 8 on the highway just north of Monterey that's right on the beach. That's a good spot.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

That does sound good. Do you know if there's much in the way of tree-age?

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

None. It's right on the beach.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

Wow. I'm in California now. (:
Back in Oregon, we had thick evergreen forests that would run straight up to the sand and then stop dead. I'll adjust in time.

[phillipalden.livejournal.com]

Unless they could get a cabin in Big Sur, (with power for a laptop I assume,) I have no idea of anything inexpensive on the coast.

There is a Hostel at Pigeon Point Lighthouse, but I don't think you could get the kind of peace you need in a place like that.

having a sister who wrote a travel guide....

[miss-friday.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how far you want to get out of town is but here are some options from Liz's book*:

Lost Coast (Ferndale)
Hotel Ivanhoe ($95-145)

Lost Coast (Shelter Cove)
Shelter Cove Beachcomber ($65-105)
The Tides Inn of Shelter Cove ($95)
Inn of the Lost Coast ($150)

outside Mariposa (near Yosemite)
Highland House ($127-165)
Poppy Hill Bed and Breakfast ($137-165)

Monterey
Monterey Bay Lodge ($134)

Big Sur
Deetjens Big Sur Inn ($80-200)
Big Sur River Inn ($125-150)

Cambria
Olallieberry Inn ($145)
Her Castle Homestay B&B ($127-170)

If none of those appeals, I'll ask the author on your behalf.

*We've got to hook you up with a copy.

Re: having a sister who wrote a travel guide....

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely start.
(And if you remind me of the title, and it's not too dear, I would happily contribute my $0.015 in royalties to the author.)