Travel alerts straight to your inbox:

Back of the Envelope Travel Guide : Santa Barbara International Film Festival

January 3, 2008 at 1:05 PM | 0 Comments

Come for the lush landscape or the cadre of bold-faced names--the Santa Barbara International Film Festival has both. Running January 24 to February 3, the festival's program is jam-packed with indie, world, short and local films. We think the real draw for this year's festival-goers, however, might have something to do with the 2008 festival's honorees: Angelina Jolie, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Cate Blanchett and Ryan Gosling.

Of course, the adage holds true: Fame comes with a price. To watch the honoring of Angie at the city's Arlington Theater will set you back $75. Even the "cheapest" pass for the festival's movie screenings totals $297. There are two ways to do the SBIFF: Going for all-out extravagance, or sating your pop culture obsession.

One guess as to the one we'd prefer.

Where to Stay: The New York Times reported on the Four Seasons' Biltmore Santa Barbara, which has a three-night, $19,960-per-couple package coinciding with the festival. (The cost includes things you never knew you needed like after hours shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue). We'd rather trade the Biltmore for three nights at Santa Barbara's Bacara Resort, and be part of The Hills pop culture history.

Though Bacara's average room price is still steep (about $500 per night), it's pennies compared to the Biltmore's. Not only that, but it has the Speidi stamp of approval, and what more do we really need?

For about $100 less, the Inn at the Spanish Garden is also worth checking out: It's ranked number one on TripAdvisor.

Where to Eat: We'll leave this one to the locals. Head over to John Dickson's Santa Barbara Restaurant Guide for an up-to-date list of the critic's favorite restaurant of the month. We're eyeing up Milk & Honey's coconut mojitos, the family-owned Italian restaurant Giannfranco's Trattoria and the environmentally conscious--they won the first 'Green Award' in Santa Barbara--Spiritland Bistro.

Related Links:
· Santa Barbara International Film Festival [Official site]
· Bacara Resort Reviews [HotelChatter]
· Inn of the Spanish Garden Reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Santa Barbara coverage [Jaunted]

Where: 1317 State St [map], Santa Barbara, CA, United States

: / /

Author Photo: laurenuta by laurenuta

0 Comments

Return to » Back of the Envelope Travel Guide : Santa Barbara International Film Festival

Leave a Comment

Not yet a member? Click here to become a member.
Already a member? Login below:

Nickname:

Password:

Send us a tip