After an amazingly busy and frustrating work week in Los Angeles, I spent much needed quiet time with my husband in an oceanfront luxury resort on the bluff above Pismo and Shell Beaches. A short ride away from home, yet far away.

These days, when the dollar is worth almost nothing compared to the euro, and fuel prices increase by the minute, who can afford to travel overseas?

During the current economic downturn U.S. residents get more for their money when spending it in the States. Flights cost 20% more than a year ago, yet the service has eroded tremendously. These days one can consider herself lucky if the airline does not run out of purchasable sandwiches by the time the stewardess gets to her row.

I started a quest of finding a great vacation deal. I searched for a place by the Pacific Ocean that had a pool for my morning swim, offered spa treatments and had a restaurant. All this had to be no further than three hours drive from Los Angeles. I stumbled upon the Cliffs Resort on the internet and booked a suite for our weekend retreat.

The Cliffs Resort far exceeded my greatest expectations. After our arrival, instantaneous tranquility overtook my work-drenched mind. I heard an unusual-in-Los Angeles sound -silence wrapped the Pismo Beach neighborhood that was only interrupted by the salty smelling waves.

From a chair in our private balcony, my eyes scanned the picturesque scenery. My mind stored the breathtaking panoramic view. On the right were majestic trees, sandy beach in the middle and giant rocks to the left. Small waves quietly moved in the background, and I felt my body relaxing.

I was sipping red wine with my husband, had a hand-knitted blanket on my feet to keep me warm on the chilly May evening and felt more and more content as the minutes passed.

We witnessed the splendid view of changing colors from blue through pink, orange and purple till the sky finally turned black over the ocean as the sun set for that day.

 The interior guest suite complemented the outside colors with sand tones. The huge window let in plenty natural light and offered a picturesque view. Understated elegance was the theme in the rooms and throughout the resort. It reminded me to European boutique hotels with its functionality and the great use of valuable space.

I booked a Couples Massage for Jack and myself to cast away muscle tension and mental stress we compiled over stressful weeks. We started our spa experience by loosening up our body in a Swedish wooden sauna.

15 minutes later, strong, yet gentle hands of my massage therapist stroked my tense back. She used an exotic sandalwood smelling cream that she bought at a local organic market.

I am addicted to massage. I try massages everywhere I travel. My Best of massages list winner so far is a blind man from the famous Wat Pao in Thailand, followed by a Lomi Lomi massage I received in Hawaii and a real Swedish massage in one European spa.

Nothing I ever experienced can I compare to what I felt lying on the table at the Cliffs. Their therapists combine different techniques and add their unique touch that result in one-of-a-kind treatments. Mine encompassed a bit of an acupressure, skull massage, hair pulling, warm lavender smelling eye pillows, stretching, aromatherapy, lomi lomi and deep tissue massage. "It was the best massage I ever had," Jack told me with great enthusiasm after our therapists left us alone in the room for further relaxation.

For dinner we chose a table overlooking the sea at the Marisol Restaurant, next door to the Cliffs. The cozy room was crowded with locals and visitors alike. On a Saturday night one better make a reservation if wants to indulge in the modern Latin flavors served at the popular Marisol.

Caleb Lemons, our server, turned out to be quite an entertainer. He told us the story about the current Chef de Cuisine getting his job while dining next door one day and wrote us a must-visit-wineries list for the Edwa Valley. Meanwhile, he elegantly poured crispy apple tasting Riesling into my glass to mach my Cilantro Lime Fish Tacos. The green apple, radish sprouts and ancho jam garnishing next to the grilled Ahi and guacamole gave a whole new meaning to fish taco.

Jack is predictable with food. He always orders the Filet Mignon when we are eating out, as I mainly cook vegetarian food at home. He needs protein, I guess. I enjoyed watching his face as he speechlessly savored the juicy, tender bites of meat on his fork mixed with saffron rice and market vegetables.

Neither one of us had room for desert after polishing everything off the dinner plates, but who could have resist to an artistically arranged tray of chocolate mouse, fresh fruits, vanilla ice cream, flan and a tiny cup of hot coco?

We agreed not going to bed after the hearty meal and headed to the beach for a midnight stroll under the stars. Nothing distracted our romantic walk. The rhythmical crashing of the waves of the Pacific provided great background noise to our conversations and laughs.

California's finest beaches can be found along the stunning Central Coast stretching from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The Cliffs Resort is located on the bluffs, right halfway between the two cities. It enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year.

This casually elegant resort has it all: a heated beachfront pool, fitness center, spa, restaurant and well-equipped meeting rooms. Adventures visitors can surf, hike, bike, golf, fish, while those looking for a less strenuous relaxation, taste wine in the nearby San Luis Obispo wineries along the coast.