He’s back! Independence Day actor Randy Quaid and his wife Evi landed up in jail (again) in the case of an unpaid hotel bill at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, CA.

This time, the Quaids were thrown into the slammer by a judge mad at them for skipping previous court dates and flashing a golden globe award in court. They posted bail after spending 3 hours in jail.

It all began in June 2009, when Randy and Evi Quaid stayed for a week at the posh San Ysidro Ranch, and then allegedly skipped out without paying a $10,000 bill.

The Quaids say it was all a big misunderstanding. The hotel’s management didn’t see it that way and filed a complaint, based on which the Quaids were ‘apprehended’ and charged with defrauding an innkeeper.

The bill has since been settled, and the hotel says it doesn’t have anything more to do with the matter. But the case drags on, and the Quaids have made it worse for themselves by repeatedly failing to appear in court. This is the second time (third overall for this case) that they have been arrested for skipping court dates.

The San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara is a well-known celebrity retreat – Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier got married there, and it was also the setting for Jackie Kennedy and JFK’s honeymoon. The Kennedy cottage bedroom is shown in the picture above.

Guests have a choice of 41 cottages and suites, with hot tubs on private outdoor patios, outdoor rain showers, radiant-heated bathroom floors, hand-cut stone fireplaces and antique furnishings. Amenities include a heated pool, fitness center, in-room spa services and Yoga instruction.

Photo courtesy Rosewood Resorts

Info: 900 San Ysidro Lane Santa Barbara CA 93108; (805) 565-1700; www.sanysidroranch.com/

Related posts:-
San Ysidro Ranch – Forbes Top Hotel In America
Randy Quaid and His Lovely Wife Making Reality Show About Stiffing Hotels

The recently released Meryl Streep & Alec Baldwin starrer It’s Complicated devoted plenty of footage to the oceanfront Pacific beauty and the red tile roofs of Santa Barbara. 

It's Complicated

To make the most of it while ‘it’ is still complicating viewers, the Santa Barbara Visitors Bureau has a list of hotel packages to give you a taste of Jane’s (Meryl Streep) enviable Santa Barbara lifestyle, and underscore the point that Santa Barbara hotels offer a great refuge for romantic getaways.

Bath Street Inn: Package name - “It’s Complicated Made Simple at the Bath Street Inn.” A glass of good wine and chocolate amid natural beauty can untangle most complications.

In addition to the bubbly and hand-crafted croissants, they’re also offering free tips for experiencing Santa Barbara like a local. Mention the It’s Complicated Special while booking.

Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort: Package name – “It’s Complicated – Room with Benefits.” Includes luxe accommodations in spacious guestrooms and a delicious breakfast buffet for 2 each morning in Café Los Arcos. Use promo code ITS.

Hotel Corque: Package name – “When It’s Complicated…ESCAPE to wine country!!” Includes one night stay, $120 food credit for Root 246, a restaurant by Bradley Ogden, and $50 free play at the Chumash Casino. Sign up for the special offers, or call 800.624.5572.

The Uphan Hotel & Country House, Santa Barbara

The Upham Hotel: Package name – “It’s Complicated, Unwind at the Upham.” A plate of fresh baked cookies along with a bottle of local wine welcome you. Enjoy the sights and wine country trails in Santa Barbara, and come back to a wine and cheese reception. Here’s a list of their specials.

There’s plenty more It’s Complicated specials, including by Hotel Oceana, Hotel Santa Barbara, Inn of the Spanish Garden, Old Yacht Club Inn, and Secret Garden Inn & Cottages. More details from the Santa Barbara CVB.

In case you’re wondering about any hotels featured in the film, you’ll have to go all the way over to the East Coast. The lobby and Jane’s room at the fictional Park Regent Hotel in New York shown in the film were actually filmed in Jumeirah Essex House on Central Park South.

Photo courtesy The Upham Hotel

Four Seasons Bora Bora

In my next life, I want to come back as a rich teenager. They get awesome cars for their 16th birthdays, star in hit reality TV shows, and get to indulge in special beauty pampering treatments, designed just for them at luxurious spas like the these Four Seasons properties around the world.

I have to say, even though I’m a bit past my teen years, I would love to try out some of these hip and cool treatments (plus visit some of these Four Seasons properties!) like:

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Are you one of the lucky rich folk who have so far remained unscathed by the economic downturn? If so, then you practically owe it to yourself to celebrate with a stay at the best hotel in the country.

And what great timing! Forbes just announced this year’s winner of the official bragging rights honorific “Top Hotel in America”: the San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California.

San Ysidro Ranch Resort, Montecito, California

The grounds are simply gorgeous. The Ranch is located in Montecito, in the wine country just south of Santa Barabara in the Santa Ynez Mountain Range foothills. It’s so romantic that John and Jackie Kennedy chose the resort for their honeymoon.

Cottage at San Ysidro Ranch

The property is made up of 41 suites and cottages, each with a king sized bed, luxury linens, robes, slippers, baskets of goodies, maid service twice a day, private entrance, fireplace and/or patios.

The Stonehouse Restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch

As you would expect from the Top. Hotel. In. America., the restaurant is world-class. Chef John Trotta uses vegetables and herbs grown on site, and (as all good hotels should) The Stonehouse has a full bar.

Interesting side note: Billionaire owner Ty Warner is the guy who owns Ty Inc., the company that makes Beanie Babies. So in a way, this hotel is supported by children who collect stuffed animals.

What about rates? Well, it’s a luxury resort, so brace yourself. The lowest rate I saw was $650/night, when you book for multiple nights. Single nights in the suites were in the $1,000+ range, but again: this is The Best.