Paséa Hotel & Spa

But big certainly doesn’t have to mean bland. The look is SoCal chic: casual and cool, never trying too hard, with namedrop-worthy Frette bed linens and bath products by FRESH. Standard rooms come with state-of-the-art lighting systems, 48-inch LED TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, private balconies, walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Spring for an Ocean View Studio for extra square footage, or, if money’s no object, the Penthouse Suite with a full kitchen, a double-sided fireplace, and a dining room for eight.

After your surf class — or after lying around on the beach, as the case may be — check into the Balinese-inspired Aarna Spa for a massage or a facial, or just buy a day pass to relax in the eucalyptus steam room or the salt water whirlpool. Later, there’s the communal dining table at Tanner’s, Paséa’s signature restaurant, and drinks with water views at the Treehouse Bar. The next morning, get your coffee and pastry fix at Blend Café before hitting the waves again.

You could take advantage of the hotel’s dedicated Surf Butler, who specializes in arranging lessons and helping guests plan their excursions into the water. Or you could just rent a board and a GoPro from one of the many local outfitters in town — Paséa is happy to make recommendations, on this topic or any other. You didn’t come to such a legendary surf destination to stay inside the bounds of the hotel all day: sooner or later, you’ll want to hit the town for fish tacos with a local crowd.