This past year my teenage daughter met a boy through a friend who had taken a cruise. The boy lived in LA.  After countless hours and months on Skype, she came to us one day and asked if she could fly to California to meet the boy face-to-face.  As a mother, my first reaction was “Are you crazy? No!”   After giving it more thought, my biggest concern was that she would get on a plane without our consent and go without us.  So my husband and I agreed to take her to California on Labor Day weekend.

I searched for a luxury hotel near “Thousands Oaks” where the boy lived.  The closest hotel in the area was the Four Season Hotel Westlake Village.    So I got on my computer to see if we could stay at the hotel using points.  Luckily for us, we had a lot of points on American Express.  I cashed some in, made some flight reservations and we were off to the Golden State of California.

The drive from LAX to the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village is around 40 minutes.  The hotel is located conveniently close to the 101 freeway but you cannot tell because of how the property is situated.

Once we arrived at the property, we were struck by the array of luxury cars parked out front.  The valet service raced up to our car and assisted us with getting our luggage out.

The moment we stepped foot inside, we were greeted with a glass of champagne and a truffle pop. They had truffle pops sitting next to the reception deck and since we were starving, we might have had more than our share.   Each of us must of eaten at least three as we waited to be checked in.  I was little embarrassed.

As we walked through the walkways to our room, I was admiring some of the artwork on the walls and painted murals.  The hallways are lined with plush oriental rugs.

We had reserved the Deluxe One-Bedroom Suite with a connecting double room.   The living room had a nice layout with a soda and chairs by the window facing the TV.  On the other side of the room, there was a round table with four chairs.   The curtains throughout the room were controlled by switches that allowed you to open/close them remotely.  Next to the dining area was a door which lead to another room.   To the far left was a walk in closet, followed by a very large bathroom with a shower on one end and a bath on the other.  In the center was a vanity equipped with a makeup mirror and a small TV which would have been convenient in case I wanted to watch the news or my favorite program while in the bathroom.  Down the walkway was the bedroom with a king size bed, and small deck, and chair.

My daughter’s bedroom door was located on the other side of the room near the TV.  Her room had two double beds and a lavish bathroom similar to ours.

After settling in our rooms, we went back downstairs for a bite to eat.   The hotel has several restaurants on the premises.   We decided on having a late lunch at the Lobby Bar Lounge.  It had a comfortable and casual setting to it with views of the hotel waterfall and gardens.   It was the perfect place for a quick bite.  I ordered the sliders which were actually an appetizer.  They were the best sliders I have ever had.

After lunch we walked around the grounds which are very well maintained.   One of the main focal points is the huge waterfall.   It’s one of the most popular backdrops for wedding pictures.

On the lower level of the main hotel is a pool area, spa and fitness center.  The hotel has a world class spa but we didn’t get a chance to use it.  Maybe, next time.

After our walk we went back to our room to relax and freshen up.   That evening we decided to go back to Lobby Lounge which was transformed into Mercato Italiano.  An Italian marketplace, featuring a selection of bruschetta, antipasti, sliced-to-order meats and a chef-attended pasta station.

I went to hang my Louis Vuitton bag on the back of my chair, and they showed up with a little floor stool to put my purse on.   We ate Italian food, and tried some of the ice creme from the dessert station while we waiting for the big moment.

This boy that my daughter considered to be her boyfriend, although she had never met him face-to-face, was about to walk through the lobby doors.   The emotion and anticipation got to all of us.       He showed up with his dad and a small bouquet of roses.  It was cute and romantic and surprisingly, not so awkward after all.

We went outside to “The Lookout” an outdoor lounge patio and sat on outdoor lounge furniture around a firepit.  The kids went for a walk in the gardens to be alone and the adults sat around getting to know each other and laughing about the whole situation.  The Lookout was a great place to order a glass of wine and have some little bites.   It was a chilly evening so being around the fire pit was very welcoming to me.

The meeting was a huge success and we enjoyed the rest of our stay in the CA area.  One of the nice things about the Four Seasons Hotel is that is really close to the beach and Malibu.

We love the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village and will return again some day. It offers a great location from which to enjoy all that this area has to offer. This place has so much to offer that it may take you a few stays to discover it all.  Most importantly to us, the hotel’s beautiful setting served as the backdrop for the beginning of my daughter’s first great love affair. I’d highly recommend it for your own romantic get-aways and weddings.