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    Bernardus Lodge & Spa

    4.3 (475 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Courtyard

    We had such an incredible stay that I'm honestly surprised by some of the negative reviews. From the moment we arrived, the property was beautiful, peaceful, and exactly what we were looking for. Our room was spotless, and the bed was hands down one of the most comfortable hotel beds I've ever slept in. The pillows were amazing, the bathroom was spacious, and I loved every detail. The complimentary spa bath products smelled incredible (lavender and mint), and we loved them so much that we ended up buying the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotion from the spa before we left. The staff even told us we could bring the bottles back to refill them on our next visit, which we absolutely plan on doing. The food exceeded every expectation. We had multiple meals during our stay, and every single one was excellent. The Caesar salad was fresh with perfectly crisp lettuce and delicious grilled chicken, the fries were simple but perfectly cooked with amazing ranch, and the pasta I had for dinner was unforgettable. Breakfast the next morning was just as impressive, especially the fresh pastries and the huevos rancheros with a delicious cabbage topping. Everything tasted incredibly fresh. We were also traveling with our Golden Retriever and appreciated how welcoming the property was to dogs. That made the trip even more memorable for our family.

    Bernardus is beautiful but...

    Disappointed. We've been coming here for years and loving it! Staff have been wonderful and the grounds heavenly. Now however, though it is still beautiful, it has become disappointing. 1. There is loud construction & traffic late into the night and early mornings. 2. Many staff were nice but too many were not, the last ones helping us and bringing our car at the end did not even say anything, just disappeared without anyone saying a simple goodbye or thanks for visiting. 3. Multiple/many rooms have very loud equipment you can hear from inside the rooms: large heating/air conditioning units and pool and spa heaters, pumps. We did ask to have a quiet room but were moved to a noisy one by the pool. We had to wait till the next day, then had to move rooms. No compensation. The second room we got however was nice. 4. Service Inconsistency: We checked before booking that we could have a mother-daughter spa get-away and were told we could but once there, were turned away rudely by Destynee. A mix-up is one thing but she was very rude: actually interrupted, talked over us raising her eyebrows and treating us like we lied. I felt awful, my daughter just wanted to leave and we both felt very uncomfortable: AND their sign posted by the spa states under 18 can use it with supervision (the website states nothing about age exclusions). My daughter is almost 17. 5. It is nice they ask if you're celebrating something special. We were but received a plate of dried fruit & a couple macarons with a lovely note but addressed to another guest for the wrong occasion, saying "Happy Birthday." 6. Peace & quiet, relaxation? We had specified a quiet room. There were multiple large equipment units buzzing loudly for heating/cooling rooms and one right below our balcony for the pool. Leaf blowers woke us early around 8 9 am around the pool which itself isn't quiet later with kids playing (though they are adorable). 7. Added fees on top of the usual such as $70 resort fee, $30 nightly parking fee (it's remote so you need a car) add $100/night which we were surprised by. Overall we left and though my daughter was a good sport and we always love our time together at Bernardus, we sadly have the memories above. Management moved us after a day but were not available the rest of the time and never returned my call. The rudeness of the spa staff was the most unfortunate part. Though the loudness, traffic, significant extra fees, service mistakes or lack of etc.. just make me wonder if this is the right place anymore, especially given so many other options.

    Mercedes convertible-free 2 hour check out!
    Mary C.

    It's a beautiful place but I hate how they nickel and dime you. Their resort fee went up to $70 a night. Parking was always free but now they charge $30 a night whether you use valet or self parking in their outdoor lot. Since it's so far off the beaten track you need to bring your car. That's an instant add on of $100 a night. The added parking fee and increased resort fee convinced me not to return a 4th time. On a positive note, the setting is beautiful and relaxing. The gardens are beautiful and fun to walk around. There are 3 pools, a full service spa on site and each room has lovely amenities like fresh fruit, beverages cheese and crackers. All rooms have fireplaces and outdoor patios or balconies. I tried their restaurant several times and have not been overly impressed. My experience has been that they keep their food rather bland. I recommend going into town for fine dining and many choices. You can borrow a Mercedes Benz convertible for a 2 hour drive in the area. That's a lot of fun. While there are many positives, I now prefer to stay in the town of Carmel. Preferably with an ocean view room.

    Villa living Room
    Greg C.

    This is just for Lucia Restaurant-- Maybe the best food in Monterey Peninsula. I've given "5" reviews and loved it. This is more of a "tip" -- had the lamb last night to celebrate wife's Bday. Food excellent- so why then"3l"--the lamb cost $60. I got 2 small ribs. Not two double ribs. About 4oz I'd guess. When dinner was over I asked our server if the portion was normal - Alex replied "yes"-- I am still a bit perplexed how two little but very tasty chops can cost as much as 14oz prime NY? Or 7 oz prime filet. Go to restaurants just don't order Lamb. No value for money spent.

    The garden
    Anja L.

    I stayed there for a race weekend because it had a serene garden and was dog friendly. Turned out that the race was cancelled and I had a full two days to hang out there. It was a godsend. One of the days they offered a tour with the person in charge of the gardens, so instead of hiking into a small car, I was walking the edible and flower gardens a on the property. The grounds manager was fantastic! I learned a few things and they offered some of Bernardus white and red to try. Gardens and wine? Sign me up. Later that evening we ate at their restaurant which was travel-magazine- beautiful and tasty Californian cuisine. The rooms were good. Fireplace, large patio for the pups to hang outside, and I think I remember some chocolates and pup treats too when we first got in. I'll definitely be back!

    Lobby- quiet and relaxing
    Jen D.

    Love the place! Much smaller than what I thought it was before coming into this property. It's sits on the corner or Carmel Valley and Laureales Grade Roads. It was a quiet Thursday winter morning. Staff was pleasant and helpful. There were other guests dining. Lucia has indoor and outdoor (covered and open) seating. Dogs are allowed in the patio seating area. I'm always in search of a good omelet so I ordered one. Although mine was made nicely, somehow the combination of ingredients (chicken apple sausage, onion, jack cheese, spinach) I picked didn't come out good. Hubby, on the other, loved and devoured his omelette (bacon, tomato, jack cheese). I did love how they cooked the potatoes. After brunch, we enjoyed walking our dog in the property. Would love to come back and try their lunch or dinner menu next time.

    T A.

    We had such an amazing weekend here. Shout out to the very cute young valet gentleman who had glasses and long hair tied in the back . He practically had to help carry me on our last night (too many martinis). The lunch and brunch are absolutely everything. Was not too crazy for the restaurant dinner menu. Spa was great. Facial 10 out of 10. And of course....the adults only pool. Kids were well behaved here though.

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    Stunning whimsical and breathtaking. Every angle of this place will leave you in awe. It's classic and new age, romantic and grounding.

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    We had an after dinner drink and dessert in the bar. It's a great location with amazing service and food. Can be pricey .

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    Bernardus Lodge & Spa Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Bernardus Lodge & Spa

    Hopefully not good for kids?

    Actually GREAT for kids! I saw many families with babies on up. They enjoy the pool, there are tennis courts, bocci ball, croquet and a small grassy area where a family was kicking around a soccer ball. If you want a very quiet room request one away… 

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Bernardus Lodge & Spa

    Each meal at Lucia was delicious and we loved both the outside and inside seating of this special restaurant.

    Mentioned in 59 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Carmel Valley Ranch - Guest suite

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    Enjoyed our experience here on a short Father's Day weekend getaway…read more Was greeted with wine and rubber duckies for the little ones. Also got free cookies and wine in our room. The room was spacious, we added a roller bed and BabyQuip crib. Signed up for the little rancher and was super cute. The kids got to feed the goats, per sheep, alpaca, donkeys and mini horses. Did breakfast buffet daily, as we had credit. We also went to the pool, and the kids loved it. Walked around the golf course and saw some deers. There was a wedding so it was kind of loud. Wished the in room dining had more food. All in all, good experience here.

    My husband booked this place for the family with good intentions but missed a few details that I'd…read morelike to share in the hopes someone else may be reading reviews for this place. Location: beautiful breathtaking views tucked away in a mountain valley, it is a perfect spot to get away from the hustle and bustle from city noise pollution and high populations. Customer service: there are only 1-2 check in desks, where they spend about 10-20 minutes with each customer explaining the property amenities, location of room, events, etc. when you've been traveling all day, every minute feels like a lifetime. Restaurant: there is only one full service, sit in restaurant that gets booked very fast especially for dinner. Plan ahead and make a reservation in advance for every night you plan to stay on campus and eat there, otherwise, expect to wait until 8 pm or drive to the nearby restaurants which include a Subway, pizza joint, or a small Vietnamese restaurant. Earthbound Organic Farm is a great alternative option for a small breakfast or lunch bites. There is another Mexican restaurant nearby. Clientele in the mornings consist of rowdy children and their inconsiderate parents. I recommend asking to be seated outside if you have well mannered children and want to eat in peace. Rooms: mediocre clean. For being a Hyatt affiliated hotel, I had higher expectations, rooms are carpeted with wooden floors and heavy rugs. This resort is pet friendly so if you have someone in the family that suffers from allergies or has a very sensitive nose, this is not the best place to stay. As most Californian hotels that have carpeting, you can smell odors in the carpeting and linen. When things got hot and humid in our room, I got a nice whiff of dog. Basically any pet friendly hotel means that your linens will be washed with dog poo or other animal fluids. Rooms are only dusted at eye level but if you're someone that is concerned about dust mites, be prepared to get a showering of dust mites on bed, where the headboards reach 6' high and hold lots of lovely layers of dust. Coffee pot is sad and comparable to a motel 6 version with blah coffee, and lastly the beds are super firm with no ability to adjust (like other Hyatt holidays offer), and pillows are huge and uncomfortable. Foam alternative is slightly softer but still too high for a back sleeper or stomach sleeper. Bathroom: limited. They do provide tiny handwashing bars of soap made of lavender, and provide a tiny sample sac of lavender salt to use in tub but for those with allergies, best to request an alternative if any. Shower corners contain black mold. Refrigerators: our room had a tiny refrigerator that could hardly fit anything and doesn't cool sufficiently so for those moms packing extra healthy snacks for your kids, consider your fridge useless. All the strawberries, yogurts and hummus we purchased made it straight to the trash. Room patio: dirty and useless. There was a couple of upholstered seats and one table on our patio that could not be enjoyed as they were filled with dirt, dust and leaves. Would I stay here again? No - due to the pet issue for me. Most Californians love their pets and don't mind staying in places that wreak of dog butts that they've habituated to. Like I said, my husband had good intentions but there were too many issues that made it undesirable for me.

    Villa Mara - Portola room

    Villa Mara

    (33 reviews)

    Love, love, love this beautiful boutique hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea!…read more Villa Mara is a gorgeous boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet seaside neighborhood. It blends so naturally into its surroundings that we actually drove right past it the first time. I imagine the town has strict design guidelines to preserve the charm of the area. We stayed here for the first night of our Big Sur vacation, and it was beautiful. When we arrived, we were greeted by a gentleman who escorted us to our room. He appeared to be handling everything himself that evening, yet every interaction was warm and welcoming. His hospitality made us feel genuinely cared for throughout our stay. Our room didn't have a microwave, which honestly suited the elegant aesthetic of the room. However, at night we needed to warm our 17-year-old Yorkie daughter's heating pad for about 30 seconds before bedtime, since she's a senior and warming her tummy helps her sleep comfortably. He happily heated it for us each night. We also needed to keep her food frozen, but the room refrigerator didn't have a freezer compartment. When we asked, he kindly offered to store it in their large commercial freezer in the kitchen. Because this is not a large, impersonal hotel, the warmth and personal touches made our stay especially comfortable and memorable. The service was so attentive that it felt less like staying at a hotel and more like being welcomed into a friend's home. In the evenings, guests were treated to complimentary slices of cake in the lobby along with a glass of wine. Our room had a lovely private terrace, and at night, when we opened the window, we could hear the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing as if the ocean were right next to us. It felt almost magical, and we fell asleep with the window slightly open, listening to the surf. The bed was very comfortable, and the TV was great--it had everything we needed. I especially appreciated the Japanese-made air conditioner, which made it easy to adjust the room to the perfect temperature. I was also impressed by the beautiful Waterworks shower in the bathroom--it was exquisite. Every corner of the hotel reflected impeccable taste and thoughtful attention to detail. Another thing that stood out to me was the scent of the hotel. When I first walked into the lobby, I noticed a beautiful fragrance that I believe came from L.A. Lab candles. It instantly created a luxurious atmosphere, and that same refined sense of style extended to the soaps and bathroom amenities as well. Honestly, we wished we could have stayed longer. On our second night we stayed at Alila Ventana, but next time we visit Big Sur, we'll spend both nights at Villa Mara instead. Finally, I accidentally left my white Japanese hair dryer in the room. When I called the next day, a staff member who hadn't been there during our stay immediately knew what I was talking about and kindly offered to ship it back to me. Less than a week later, it arrived safely at my home- thank you!

    Villa Mara is pure California luxury, and easily one of the nicest boutique hotels I've ever stayed…read moreat. Opened in 2022, it feels brand new yet already timeless, with design that's both elegant and warm. The rooms? Incredible. Heated bathroom floors (yes, heated floors), a complimentary snack bar and fridge stocked with goodies, a sleek Dyson hairdryer, and even a fancy bidet -- every detail has been thought through. Our patio looked out toward the ocean, and at night you could hear the waves. But the real star of the show is breakfast. The coffee is excellent, the quiches are light and flavorful, and the almond croissants... wow. Hands down the best croissants I've ever had. I would come back just for those. Service was top-notch from start to finish. The staff made us feel so welcome -- kind, attentive, and genuinely happy to help. Add in the location (just steps from the beach), and this place checks every single box. If you're looking for a Carmel getaway that blends luxury with charm, Villa Mara is it.

    Mission Ranch - Outside on the patio (with candles and heat lamps)

    Mission Ranch

    (1.3k reviews)

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    Lotte is a rock star in the managing of restaurants!…read more The Sunday buffet is excellent and well presented!! There are enough servers making sure things are covered. I'm a one plate guy and the staff was explaining that I could get more. LOL...Now thats funny! The views are great and very chilled. Great place for a Sunday breakfast.

    Extremely disappointing experience at Mission Ranch…read more We were genuinely looking forward to eating at Mission Ranch while visiting Carmel, but the way we were treated completely ruined the experience. We arrived with our child and were told the wait would be about an hour and a half. We understood that the restaurant was busy, so we decided to wait. Two hours later, we still hadn't been seated. What made the situation especially frustrating was watching the woman at the front seat people who had arrived after us, while repeatedly seeming to look us over and pass us by. After waiting well beyond the time we'd been quoted, with no meaningful explanation or acknowledgment, we'd had enough. We left. A long wait at a popular restaurant is understandable. What isn't understandable is giving guests a 90-minute estimate, leaving them waiting for two hours, seating later arrivals ahead of them, and failing to communicate what is happening. For a place with Mission Ranch's reputation, location, and prices, I expected a much higher level of hospitality and professionalism. Instead, we walked away feeling ignored and unwelcome. We never even got the opportunity to find out whether the food was good, because the front-of-house experience was bad enough that we weren't willing to give them any more of our time. Two hours wasted in Carmel. There are far too many wonderful restaurants in the area to spend an evening waiting around somewhere that doesn't seem particularly concerned whether you're there or not.

    Stilwell Hotel

    Stilwell Hotel

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    For me, a 5-star rating is perfect so I don't give many 5-star ratings. Well, the place isn't…read moreperfect, but it's pretty close. It's a new place. It's a very nice place. It's in downtown Carmel and has a good location. It's clean and comfortable. The staff was always friendly and helpful. We'll probably stay there again. That said, here are the few areas we didn't care for. 1) There are lights under the bed that come on when you get out of bed. We don't want lights on in the middle of the night if we need to get up for some reason because that disturbs our sleep. We asked them to disable that after the first night, which they did. 2) The thermostat doesn't seem accurate. It seemed to be 2-4 degrees warmer than the reading. For example, we set it to warm to 68 which is normally cool and comfortable for us, but when it heated the room to 66, it seemed on the hot side for us. We dealt with this by just turning off the heater. 3) There were literally 4 people standing there checking us in. Sometimes between two of them they even asked us the same question twice. We just want to check-in, park our car, and get the key to our room. We don't need 4 people to do that.

    Small but gorgeous hotel. I want to give like a 3.5-3.8, but am doing a 4. While it has an intital…read morehigh end appearance and price point, the Stilwell Hotel lacks the some of the essentials of a true luxury stay. - Staff: during check in, we were helped by a tall blonde young man with a deep voice . He has 0 customer service skills and should not be customer facing. He had minimal eye contact, cold demeanor as if we were bothering him, mumbling, and just overall unpleasant. He had the demeanor of a bro cashier at a GNC. There was a guy next to him which I assume was IT or something since he was messing with something at the front. There was a woman who brought us a welcome glass of champagne, and Angel - who gave us a brief tour and brought our luggage to the room. Angel and the woman were nice. Champagne was good, however I wish they offered non alcoholic options like a juice or sparking cider. Throughout our stay, we encountered many staff on the property in passing - not a single smile from any of them. Even the housekeeping staff at a BestWestern are nicer than the staff here. - Room: gorgeous but small. Booking a room for 2 does not just mean having a big enough bed, but actually room for 2 humans to move around. There is not enough room to lay your luggage out anywhere, and the bathroom was narrow. I would've liked to have a towel bar by the sink instead of having a silly rock be what holds the towel up. The room is aesthetically stunning and the bed was very comfortable. I loved the ambient lighting options and motion activated under-lighting. I liked that we had a balcony. I enjoyed the soaps / lotions, as well all the nespresso in the room. Air conditioning worked well. Room was very clean. - Parking: parking was easy in the day. We lucked out at night but guests arriving after 8pm had nowhere to park, which we witnessed first hand. We saw a guest told the staff "the lot is full", and the staff said "just take the EV spot". What about your guests with EVs who need to charge their cars for the night? On another day, a large car was parked in the entrance into the hotel (not the street) and stayed there for 15 min which blocked entry for everyone else - i wish the staff came out to inform the guest that they couldn't leave their car the. The main lot is very tight with slim spots and awkward parking angles, but the back lot was good . While this wasn't an issue for me, I can imagine coming off of a long flight, finally getting to the hotel at night, and being frustrated at the lack of available parking. - Breakfast: this is the main reason we wanted to stay here. The breakfast itself is good, not great. The French toast, juice, chia pudding and eggs are best things - everything else is okay as I found some things to be stale such as the waffles and muffins. I did enjoy how the food is displayed, and there lots of variety. Staff is constantly refilling items so you never have to worry about things running out, regardless of when you arrive for breakfast. Breakfast is much later than it is at other hotels, and with a small window (8-10am), which can be an issue if you are planning to eat early prior to a hike. 2 staff stay in the area however they just stare at you from the corner of the room. No smile, no good morning. The first day, I felt like we were being stared at as if we were freeloaders sneaking in for free breakfast. It was very uncomfortable. Not sure if they were staring because we're younger than a majority of the other guests but there really is no excuse. I think they should do a wrist band system or something if they insist on eyeing people. Property- they have a cafe by the breakfast area where you can order hand crafted pizza. We didn't do this but it smelled great. The location is convenient with lots of restaurants within walking distance . As a hotel guest, you get a discount at the Foray restaurant, which is closed mondays and Tuesdays Overall: Beautiful, but I don't think I'd stay again. For the price point and all the amenities, I expected to be in love with this hotel. At other hotels with this price point, I'm usually like "I don't want leave!", but not here. It wasn't a bad stay, but the experience didn't match the price point. I hope they get better staff or else I could see this hotel failing in the future.

    Bernardus Lodge & Spa - hotels - Updated September 2026

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