November 20, 2008

Possible Perfection at Pelican Hill

A shiny black limousine pulled up outside my home and the sunglasses-wearing driver tapped gently at the door. "May I take your bags?"
Thus began our 24-hour pamper-fest at The Resort at Pelican Hill, the new five-star luxury resort that comes with its own world-class, 36-hole, Tom Fazio-designed golf course, not to mention uber-dramatic views above Newport Beach's Crystal Cove.
Half an hour out of L.A. and we started noticing shiny yachts and "McCain/Palin" signs, indicative of the neighborhood's wealthy, right-leaning resident population. We gasped as we pulled through a giant stone gateway marking the entrance to the resort. "Yes, it's amazing," said our driver, who seemed almost as excited as we were to arrive at the new property, a California-Tuscan hybrid of 5,000-plus square-foot custom homes.
Owned by the Irvine Co. (a real estate management company that also owns the nearby Island Hotel and Resort, formerly the Four Seasons Newport Beach), "The Possibility of Perfection" is Pelican Hill's motto and we did, indeed, receive the full star treatment.

Upon stepping out of the limo there were men in uniform, one to greet us, one to hand us steaming face towels, one to open doors, one to welcome us—all attending to our most trifling needs like the ultimate team of doting mothers.
It was a little overwhelming at first. For instance, when asked if we would need a ride to our villa, we accepted, not knowing where our villa was. We got in the car, and were driven approximately 50 feet across the road—a three-second car journey that underlined the near-obsessive level of service were were about to receive.
Inside the villa we met our personal butler, (he comes with the villas, and never sleeps, apparently) who offered to draw an evening bath for us. Earlier, we had been told by management that our butler could take care any of our needs whatsover. "That's good because I'll be needing a baby grand piano in our room tonight," I joked. The manager looked me in the eye and said, "If you want it, we will get it."
With its 204 bungalows and 128 villas, the resort has the feel of an exclusive gated community, and if that's your bag, you'll be in OC heaven. Our three-bedroom villa was an exercise in understated luxe living. Amid the muted beige and cream furnishings were plasma TVs (one in each bedroom, plus in the lounge area), lofty wood-beamed ceilings, and a limestone fireplace. The giant marble bathrooms featured deep tubs and separate rain showers, and the stainless steel kitchen was kitted out with the latest in Wolf appliances.
We lounged on the sun patio for several hours, marveling at the sparkling ocean view ahead of us. At sunset we donned swim gear and splashed in saline water infinity pool as the sky glowed crimson and peach along the PCH.
It was, truly, a perfect sunset.
We followed it with a fittingly decadent dinner at the Pelican Grill where a lively crowd of locals (always a good sign) was tucking in to the hearty cuisine (creamed spinach, champagne and filet mignon for me, please.)
In the morning, we took a yoga golf class on the course, rated in the nation's Top 100 by "Golf" magazine.
Yoga golf?
It's a fascinating concept, whereby a golf instructor observes your swing and a yoga instructor designs a class designed to work on your weaknesses. If I were actually a golfer, I'm sure it could have provided the missing link to better my game.
This resort is not for the intrepid. It is, rather, for those deserving souls who wish, for a weekend or even longer, to absolutely lose themselves in the womb-like comfort of Pelican Hill, a place where the azure skies never end, and where the possibility of perfection means you can finally stop thinking...and simply relax.
The Resort at Pelican Hill Resort debuts on November 26 with room rates starting at $695 a night.
See the resort for yourself here.

November 20, 2008 in OPENINGS/LAUNCHES | Permalink

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