What did he do? His nibs stayed at the Post Ranch Inn, a 30 room resort high on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean.

What’s it like? A very pretty, very expensive hotel that aspires to be a private retreat, but unfortunately feels the need to let the public on property — the restaurant, Sierra Mar, is a spectacular glass aerie practically falling off the cliff into the ocean. It also accepts walk-ins for lunch and reservations for dinner. While the Jacuzzi and pool next door have wonderful views, it isn’t very romantic to have looky-loos parading around checking you out.

Find out more, after El Jump.

Post Ranch Inn (website)

Treebones Resort (website)

Should I stay? Depends. If you just want to hang out alone, the rooms are spectacular. Each one has a fireplace (wood-burning), a Jacuzzi, a deck and a 45-channel digital music system and CD player (no television). The mini-bar (wine, no liquor) is complimentary. You also get free breakfast. But when you’re paying as much as you are, we think you deserve to not have to deal with the Highway 1 road-trippers defying the loosely-enforced no-cellphone policy, who ruined a perfectly relaxing lunch one afternoon. Also, the staff seemed to be casual to the point of disinterested.

How much is expensive? From $550, but that’s low-season, for the smaller rooms. The best units cost nearly $1,400 a night.

Anything cheaper? Definitely. Stay in a yurt at the cool Treebones Resort up the road, which also has a clifftop location (complete with outdoor hot tub!) and rates from $129. If you want to experience Big Sur as it used to be, this is it.