say hi to the deers and wild turkeys on the golf course! the rooms are amazing. vineyard oak suite with a soaking tub is perfect for a weekend of romance and relaxation-- especially with a nice view and a outdoor soaking tub to soak your achy bones and muscles. the hilltop ranch suites are twice the size, with a grand view of the hills and golf course, offer a little more privacy, and a large bathroom with a sky-lit tub. the staff at the lodge are happy to assist you with finding your suite by guiding you in a golf cart, finding you a parking spot, and carting you and your luggage to your doorstep. excellent service, clean rooms, 5 star hospitality. the ranch grounds offer a ton of activities from pony rides to bee tours and garden tours and golf. our third stay was at the carmel suite-- boasting 2 floors, 2 bedrooms, a balcony soaking tub, and a fantastic view of the golf course. always excellent service-- even the gate guy remembers your face when you return. dave, the somm at the lodge restaurant was 5-stars. we popped a nice krug rose and enjoyed a few bites before heading off to bed. read more

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Found an eaten pepper in my food, burger was cold, roast beef was obviously made prior to my order and was around 36 degrees. For what we had everything was over priced and disappointing. There is 0% chance I come back. Chef needs to take a bit more time and care while preparing his/her food. read more

Stayed here a couple nights. The room was nice. But always housekeeping makes or breaks. Tub has hairs in it. There is a tub on deck and nice. Fireplace is nice. Room service breakfast was nice. Very expensive. Ever have a $75 breakfast? Yeah It's all location. And it was cold. Dinner at the lodge was ok and pricey. If it is nice service and good food ok. But this was service done by untrained people. It was not well done. My local taco shop has better service. Was horrible and rude front desk. We had a reservation and waited 15 minutes past. The whole time no one offered us a drink? Or reason. Ridiculous. What is the deal? Very disappointed. These prices are nuts and not worthy. They really need to train staff. The deer and turkey I can see at home. Not impressed. Go to Marin County and you see real animals and not these starving poor things. The salmon was $49. And it was salmon nothing else. Just ok. It is ok here but really expensive. All it takes here is a family with screaming kids to ruin it all why don't they put they families in one spot and leave the rest to peace. ? The resort fee is $45 a day. Whether you use it or not. read more

Best vacation. Ever! The rooms are modern, this place is very family friendly, and the views... ahhhmazing! Worth the three hour drive from the NorCal valley! Customer service on point, and bonus, they stock your room with tons of water, and yummm the rooms smell so fresh and so clean! Xx read more

After lengthy thought, I give Carmel Valley Ranch three stars. I debated giving them four stars. Here's why: Property/location: five stars. Amazing grounds, vineyards, deer, and pools. A little too far to use as a "base" for exploring other areas of Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur for more than a couple days, but as a place away from the hustle and bustle it is great. Lots of places to walk and hike. The estate suite had two huge rooms, nicely decorated with a great view and a kitchenette. Fabulous bathroom with rain shower and TV built into the mirror. When it was foggy and cold in Monterey, it was sunny and warm 10 miles inland at the Ranch. Restaurant: four stars: expensive, but very good. S'mores every night was a family favorite. The price was what you'd expect at a resort. The cafe near the family pool was good for lunch and snacks. Overall Service: three stars. We booked their signature activity, the bee experience, a month ahead of time. When we got there, we were told that there was no bee experience scheduled that week and that they had no record of us ever booking it. Really? It's still on their online activity schedule. Major fail. Second major fail: after going out for the day we returned at 3 pm and our room had not been cleaned. We called housekeeping and their response was "what time do you want us to clean?" How about sometime before we have to call you? Fail. Then we found on two occasions that they had failed to properly close the door and lock it after they had cleaned. The door was closed but not locked. Fail. To make matters worse, there was a convention group there the same week we were there. They basically took over the entire property. Receptions at the pool, lunches with loud music that we could hear from our room 1/4 mile away, overwhelming the bar area every night. So much for the quiet, serene, personal atmosphere. Upon discussing these failures with the assistant manager, his response, while polite, seemed forced and rehearsed. In fact, none of the staff seemed very sincere. They all seemed nice in a totally rehearsed way. Value: two stars. For what we paid, perhaps one of these failings would be acceptable. But there is no excuse for a property of this price point to have so many failings. Very very disappointing. This could be a great resort worth its high price, if they improved their service. read more

This was an expensive mistake! Our family reserved in advance for a birthday dinner enunciating over and over that we're all vegetarians. We asked what the kitchen would be able to serve us especially so near Christmas and were reassured that they can accommodate due to the seasoned chef who has his own veg patch outside. We perused the menu and came up with choices and ordered. People who came later were served first and we ate bread, then asked for more because we waited so long for our food. Finally our meal arrived very late and it was all wrong! One example of many was: one person ordered soft boiled egg on sautéed greens along with two other veg sides right off the menu as a veg platter entree. What arrived was 2 hard boiled eggs, dry and overcooked, the sautéed greens, and 2 very uninspired boiled veg just like the goop British airlines used to serve!: bland, no spices or even salt/pepper, no sauces just overcooked vegetables. The other diners experienced the same problems. We talked to them endlessly about being vegetarians and about celebrating a birthday both on the phone when we reserved, when they called us to confirm, and when we were seated, and with our waiter, over and over again. They were unable to handle it. read more

The place is very true to itself. The property recently changed hands, and the new ownership has begun to turn the ship. This is all good news. The grounds and golf course are truly amazing. The staff is the best part. The rooms and buildings do need a little upgrade, I will admit. BUT, that is not because they are in disrepair or dirty, etc. It is actually very cool to see what a 1100+ sq ft suite was like back 'then'. They feel like a pimp suite in Vegas in the mob days. Fireplaces, honor bar with great quality offerings, crazy Turkish terry robes, all the trimmings, roman tub that looks up through a skylight into the trees.... very cool. Our generous balcony wrapped the room on two sides and we could see about the whole of the Carmel Valley at our feet. It was affordable too. I have experienced many resorts of this quality for much more than the rack rate. In terms of F&B: some of the best Foie, Duck Breast and Sweetbreads I have ever had. Fine delicacies, evenly and expertly prepared. Bravo! read more

This review is strictly for the Golf Course. So, the course wasn't at all what I hoped it would be. I had always wanted to play here but never had a good reason to until I was invited by a buddy and his friend to join them for a round. The course doesn't get many rounds of play at all. The Pro Shop is not as busy as most golf courses in the area. Despite the few number of rounds played the fairways, as a whole, were in dire need of some grooming. There are plenty of "cow tongues" in the fairways that the players don't seem to bother replacing. A few of the greens also were in need of seeding, as evident by the inconsistent putts I had made today. No, it wasn't my putting. It was the lack of care for the greens. The greens that were in good shape, however, rolled true, which I love. Another hiccup I have is the poor design of the place that runs all through Carmel Valley Ranch. I know you have to make good with what you have and situate a golf course around the houses and other buildings that encompass the ranch, but I never figured I would drive all throughout the valley like we did. There were a few cool views though which were pretty nice to see. Elevated tee boxes just make for a far more exciting round of golf, especially with such a short course. Well, the course is a 3-star for me, but the employees that work there deserve a solid 5-star review, so I compromised and gave them a 4-star rating. It's cool to have a limitless amount of range balls to hit if you purchase a tee time. On grass even! Incredible. Also the cart/bag attendants are super nice guys. They cleaned by clubs spotless after my horrid round - one of the worst in recent memory. The complimentary bottles of water inside the cart, the divot repair tools, ball markers, and tees are an added desire to come here also. Free is always good, especially at a pricey course. Thank goodness we got an incredibly good rate...shhh, I can't divulge the price. The clubhouse is pristine. Clean to the max! The restrooms also have a locker room atmosphere where they have toothbrushes, shaving cream, mouthwash, and other amenities to suit anyone's needs. Awesome attention to comfort for guest of the ranch which is why I'll probably come back even though I dislike the golf course layout. read more

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My friend and his bride chose the ranch as their wedding venue. I imagine this is a highly sought after wedding venue as every last detail seemed to be attended to by the staff and the ranch is ideally set up to cater to weddings. The views are incredible with rolling hills on both sides of the valley. The accommodations are excellent with modern suites that are nicely furnished. My only complaint is with the food served at the reception in the lodge. A venue like this sets expectations for itself and I'm afraid the ranch fell shy. The corn bisque was mediocre at best, but three entree that I was looking forward to the entire night was the long-line Pacific halibut. When it was served it was clearly dry. I checked with others at my table who got the same entree and everyone else seemed to be fine with theirs so maybe mine was the only one that was dry. The dry disappointing halibut brought the ranch down to a 4, and I would still recommend it. read more

Just stayed at Carmel Valley Ranch! What a beautiful place it was! I loved the room, I loved the views, I loved the people who worked there, the service was top notch. For all those reasons I will probably go back. (bonus! the dogs allowed is also a plus!) But there are some things I hope they change or improve on in the future: The FOOD: It was awful -- so disappointing to go to such a highly regarded resort to have mediocre meals. The first day we ordered room service breakfast and it was utterly disappointing. A fried egg sandwich that was dry and had no flavor, to the "continental breakfast" that was a whopping $20. For what I was paying I expected something a little nicer. I mean, I would have been much happier at McDonalds, honestly. Had lunch and dinner there as well, and again, just really disappointed in the food. No flavor, very bland all the way through. - The complimentary snacks: So nice of them to leave us snacks -- would have been even nicer to leave us more if we ate one. (like an odwalla bar considering our breakfast was disappointing). - The free bottled water was a nice touch, but would have been nicer to have more available. - It was really nice of housekeeping to turn down the sleeper couch in the evening, however the next day they tucked the couch away, but didn't put the rest of the furniture back so we walked into what felt like a messy room. - Please provide more options on pillows! the pillows were all way too soft! even the "synthetic" pillows you had housekeeping bring us didn't help at all. - The energy saver function is a little weird and wasn't explained very well. We couldn't get the temperature right in the room (either too hot or too cold) and then the TV's were confusing to work! I don't want to have to call maintenance to come and fix the tv for me! You should have it working for me prior. I shouldn't have to spend 30 minutes trying to figure that out. - There was definitely a layer of dust on the floor near the fridge... Sorry to be so nit-picky, but I notice those little details... things should be CLEAN. - Anyway, totally nit picking every single detail here obviously... but it's not cheap to stay here and I kind of expected things to be a little more in order. These are all of course EASY FIXES. I think the main priority here is to get better food! read more

My wife and I had a very unfortunate experience trying to stay at your place for three nights celebrating our anniversary. We arrived about 3:40 P.M. The lobby was very busy. There were two ladies at the front desk. The lady on the right, refused to look up from her computer and refused to acknowledge guest, even when the they stood in front of her desk looking at her for up to several minutes. The lady on the left (Alex) was overwhelmed with guest. I was informed that 100 guest had checked out and 50 guest had checked in. I waited patiently until my turn. When my turn came a new employee (young man, 1st day on the job) interrupted and informed Alex in front of me that a certain guest (who just walked in was vey upset). Alex looked at me embarrassed but I quickly instructed her that, "it was ok to address the guest needs." I would wait patiently. Upon Alex's return to me, another guest jumped in the way and had their needs addressed. By now it was 4:20 P.M. Alex informed me that our room was not ready but she was going to make it better for us by giving me a "generous resort credit and upgraded room." I was wondering how they could upgrade because I had confirmed a reservation on a "Hilltop Garland Suite." but whatever, I could wait a few. This would have been my 4th time staying at your hotel. She instructed me to wait in the lobby and she would find me. At 5:30 P.M. I went back and stood within disability of her, by the gift shop. When she saw me she called house-keeping and them came to me and informed me that "our room was not still ready." I was patient and showed no disappointment. She informed me that it would be worth the wait. 5:45 P.M. We saw that the restaurant was only half full and asked the receptionist if we could dine. She informed us that, "there was no more availably for the evening and we should have made a reservation." At 6:05 P.M. I was called by the other lady who was not Alex. The one who was disinterested in the customers. She informed me that our room was ready and it was a sure upgraded from our reservations. I thanked her and she told me if we were not absolutely satisfied to return to her or call. We showed ourselves tot he room and My wife and I were very disappointed. It was a downgrade room from the Hilltop Garland. Yes it had a tub outside, but it was not a Garlend, Had no view (unless the fireplace is adequate), and was a middle unit. I was stunned I had waited 2 1/2 hours for this... I called the office and requested Alex. She came on the line and I informed my disappointment. She asked if I could wait in the room and she would locate another. We waited 15 minutes. No word. Ewe decided to drive back to the office. Gathered our things and went to the office. Alex had to be called. She came out several minutes later and informed me, "I heard you want to just move on to somewhere else." I was a little put off, but decided right then and there that it sounded like a good idea. I said, "ok." Alex informed me that my money would be returned and gave me her card and said if I needed anything please call. LoL! We departed your establishment feeling rejected. However we drove uo the street to Barnardus (were we have also stayed several times). I explained our situation and they had sympathy. Within 5 m minutes we were checked in to our suite. read more

I attended the Lavender Festival last weekend and I really enjoyed it thoroughly. It was a warm perfect afternoon in the valley. The lavender plants looked beautiful, the music was great, the tacos were delicious as was the grilled vegetables. I loved the guy at the cheese stand and I enjoyed making my own lavender bunches. The only thing was that they ran out of the lemonade, but that was no big deal at all. I loved the garden tour. One suggestion I would have is to spread the food stalls around so that there are no long lines. All in all I had a lovely afternoon and will come back again. read more

Carmel Valley Ranch - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

I stayed at Carmel Valley Ranch over Christmas this year. I was planning to propose to my girlfriend in Point Lobos Reserve prior to checking in, so this weekend was going to be very special and CVR seemed like a gorgeous site to celebrate, but almost nothing went right. A couple of days before our arrival, I called the hotel to make arrangements for champagne, strawberries and a gift card for the spa to be placed in our room as a surprise for my new fiancee. We had a guaranteed check-in at 4PM. We arrived around 4:15 and were told that our room was still being prepared. I was fine with waiting because I assumed they were getting the champagne into the room, but when we finally got into our room around 4:40, there was nothing there. No champagne, no strawberries and no gift card. Unbelievable. After waiting for an hour, I called down and cancelled the order. Also, one of the major reasons we chose CVR was the fireplace in our room. Sounds really nice to spend a romantic weekend together by the fireplace, right? After the champagne debacle, I opened a bottle of wine we brought ourselves and prepared to share the bottle by the fireplace, but when I tried to turn on the fireplace, nothing happened. I called down to the concierge again to inform them that the fireplace was not working. They apologized again and said a repairman would be right up. We waited....and waited...and after another hour, no one had arrived. I called back down and told them that no one had arrived and we were still waiting. Finally, a repairman showed up after about and hour and half and informed us that he didn't have the proper equipment to fix the fireplace. Awesome. (Eventually, while we were out at dinner in Carmel, they did fix the issue.) The grounds of CVR are stunning. The golf course looks amazing. The restaurant, although quite pricey, was quite good. From reading other reviews it sounds like people typically have a great time here, but our very special weekend didn't end up being all that special. read more

This was my first multi-family vacation and it was divine! 5 families, 14 kids, elegant meals, and 55 acres of fun only begin to tell the story of our 3 days in paradise. If I could have stayed another couple of days, I bet I would have never left! The spa facilities are fabulous. I had the Oxygen Infusion facial and left with cheekbones I hadn't seen in years! You want to leave a puddle? The massages are amazing and the lavender oil scalp rub leaves you smelling delicious for days! The kids camp in the evenings is great. They had a great time, we had a great meal, and afterwards, we all sat around the campfire making smores! :) Bring your hiking shoes, tons of great trails. I plan on working my way around all of them soon! And the Bee Experience! never again will I look at a bee the same way. Nothing like suiting up and opening up a hive of 65,000 bees to get the blood pumping! The little ones were captivated with the bees and have a whole new level of respect for them too! The place has been fully renovated and is amazing with more and more fun being added every month. The pool is great, both the languid adult pool up top and the oodles of fun family pool where we were tossing kids 10 feet in the air! No matter what your pleasure, I am sure you'll find it at Carmel Valley Ranch. I'm sure to be back every couple months! So relaxing. And a great find so close to home but feels like life is left an eternity away! read more

Absolutely divine. This is THE place to get away from reality. THE SUITES: They don't have "just rooms" here. Instead, they have SUITES, which comes with a living room, bathroom, bedroom with a fireplace, and balcony. The layout for each suite is unique; some even have bathtubs on the balcony (perfect for summer). The entire set-up looks like it came straight out of a West Elm catalog. The details put into the suite are impeccable. The bathroom slippers are FUZZY, not made from the cheap half-fabric, half-paper slippers you'll find at other hotels. The Ranch also harvests its own lavender plants, which are used to create their own signature lotion and body wash. Smells so heavenly. You also get (free) snacks in your room! Fresh fruit, Odwalla bars, water.. at $300+/night, I guess snacks are already "included" in the fees. AMENITIES: Amazing, well-kept amenities. Two gyms, one of which is 24 hours. Clean locker/showers and steam room at the gym. Three outdoor pools and outdoor jacuzzi. Outdoor basketball court. Tennis courts. A beautiful golf course. I could go on&on. ON-SITE ACTIVITIES: The only caveat is that while the Ranch boasts itself for offering so many activities, many of them are more appropriate/only available in the spring-summer seasons. Majority of them are also pretty pricey (ie. bee keeping tour, spa, horseback riding). The complimentary activities are the fitness classes, guided hikes, and nightly smore's pit. BUSINESS/CONFERENCE CENTER: I was here for a few days for a business function. The conference/events management team definitely took great care of us. The food was great and the overall service was A+. Definitely a place to impress customers. Would definitely consider CVR for my next business function. read more

Nice, but expensive, ranch/resort in Carmel. Pros: - beautiful property, and views - nice hiking trails - friendly, helpful staff - fun activities set up, good for kids - good food at restaurant - dog friendly Cons: - noise from nearby highway can be annoying. - you have to drive everywhere. For example, taking kids to the pool, playing golf, going to spa, etc., all require getting your car and driving, or ordering a shuttle. Resort is huge and not pedestrian-friendly. - restaurant service was so-so. - we didn't get turndown service one night, had to call, they came (finally) at 9:30 pm. Turndown service was important for us since it involved setting up pull-out beds for kids. Nice place, but I probably won't return. read more

Easily one the best vacation destinations in the USA! I have to be honest, I always thought of Carmel as a bit of a snobby place and never really had a strong desire to go back after my first trip there when I was young. I couldn't have been more wrong. Carmel Valley Ranch completely changed my perception of Carmel forever. A year ago, when surprise circumstances changed my plans to visit Napa, I happened upon the Carmel Valley Ranch and was amazingly surprised. The rooms are huge. They all have balconies and fireplaces and the accommodations are just wonderful. The resort feels like summer camp for adults. The service for both the hotel and dining are both impeccable. Ask for Anita, she is amazing!! She makes dreams come true! They have great activities throughout the day, and most of them are complimentary. Oh, and just one more thing...every evening they provide all the necessary ingredients to make your own smores by a wood fire pit. Perfection? Yes! I can promise that you will enjoy your stay there. Also, when staying in the Carmel Valley, be sure to visit Point Lobos State Park and walk through all the shops in Carmel-by-the-Sea. read more

Just got back from a relaxing stay for our wedding anniversary. Service was outstanding - from check-in, bellman, valet, bar and restaurant. So close to home but feels a world away. Will definitely be back. read more

we stayed in an 850 square foot suite with a separate living area with a fireplace. There was a whirlpool tub with a skylight and separate large shower in the large bathroom. The bedroom had another fireplace, which was fabulous! But the best part was the private, large wrap around deck with a jacuzzi!! imagine sitting with your honey in a jacuzzi under a blanket of stars with a bottle of champagne and total privacy. nice, eh? what can i say - we got a reduced rate because their main lodge was going through a renovation and thus some amenities (like room service) were not available. read more

I was hiking Garland Ranch with my Lab and missed the trail that lead back to the park headquarters and ended up at Carmel Valley Ranch. After a strenuous 8.5 mile hike, I knew there was no way I could hike back so I decided to have lunch at their Valley Restaurant as I pondered my situation. I had the most delicious salmon salad! The resort is extremely dog friendly and they brought my dog a water bowl. All the staff I encountered were friendly and accommodating. After lunch I asked one of the staff members for a map so I could try to find a shortcut back to the park and he offered to drive me back because he could tell we were very tired. This nice gentleman drove us back, and my feet were so happy! The Resort has a killer location adjacent to Garland Ranch Park. You can hike the trails on their 500 acres or venture into Garland Ranch which has 4,000+ acres of trails. The hiking opportunities are amazing! They also have an equestrian center and I looked at all the "dude" horses and they looked to be in very good condition with shiny coats and good weight. The Resort has a spa (boy do I need a massage after that hike!) and hourly activities like complementary yoga and fitness classes. On my next visit to Carmel Valley, I will definitely be staying at Carmel Valley Ranch! read more

Ah, I'm so conflicted. The property was beautiful, the room (especially the bathroom) was large and luxurious. We received the fourth night for free due to a special. Everyone was friendly. The adult and chidlren's pools were very nice. Even the food was pretty good. But, I just can't help feeling like the resort tries too hard to manufacture the quirkiness and fun of childhood - from the pet bulldog at reception, the s'mores experience, the organic garden, to the swings. All of which, I'm not going to lie, I liked, but it was a little much. read more

The only thing this place had going for it was the spacious room. We stayed in the Veranda Suite. I'm not really sure when the last time was that this place had a thorough cleaning. There were spiders everywhere. A large one sat in the kitchen sink and when I went to take a shower, I found 5 smaller spiders waiting for me in there. On top of that, not everything worked. Two lights were out in the front room and the phone in there didn't work. As soon as we arrived we were hungry and looked in the Guest Service Directory book for room service. It appeared that they offered room service, but that section of the book was missing from our directory. We called the front desk and asked for a menu. They said they would bring one over. We waited. And waited. And waited. And after an hour we called back asking for the menu again. They said they'd bring one over. And we waited. And waited again. After half an hour I was ready to eat the pillows on the bed, but finally decided to check out yelp for a nearby restaurant. We ate at The Fish House which was absolutely great and when we got back to Carmel Valley Ranch Resort, guess what. Still no room service menu! Somehow not surprising. My husband reserved the only space available for a private golf lesson which was the next day and offered at the resort. The onlytime available was 12:15. Check out was 12:00. We asked the front desk if it would be possible for us to check out as soon as his lesson was over, which was 1:15. They had no flexibility with us and said no. If we wanted to stay on hour longer, we had to pay $150 more. Come on now, the room was already $350 for one night. I guess for $350 I was expecting better service. Even "any" service would have been nice. The only reason why we came to this place was because it was one of the few places that had availability with such a short notice. All the other places were booked up, and now I know why. read more

This review is for the golf course and the restaurant. The Golf course is amazing. There are no holes out there to trick you or get you in trouble. Everything is displayed out in front of you but still difficult to maneuver. The bar/restaurant is better!!! Roman has amazing service and has trained everyone to his high standard of respect and hospitality. Danielle will make you a MEAN Bloody Mary. She knows how to pour! Great service by everyone. My suggestion is the blue cheese burger!! Don't get distracted by anything else on the menu... this burger is, hands down, the BEST BURGER I've ever had. Make sure to order it medium rare. I am coming back soon! read more

My family spent a few days here recently. Highly pleasant experience. Beautiful drive-up and the entrance has a guarded gate. Feels very secure. Especially if your children are old enough to head down to play basketball on their own. Not worried. The gate called ahead to let reception know we would be arriving in a few moments and they greeted us warmly by name. A trio of turkeys were also on hand to say hello. This was a big hit! Got some funny photos of us with the turkeys that will forever make us smile! Even the concierge stepped out to introduce herself. Our bags were loaded onto a golf cart and we were whisked up to our room. Actually calling it a room doesn't feel right. It felt like a private apartment. Lots of square footage, vaulted ceilings, living room, large immaculate bathroom, beautiful bedroom. Floor to ceiling windows, wrap around deck, green view with lots of deer sightings. Two large flat screen televisions and two flip a switch easy roaring fireplaces. One in the living area. One in the bedroom. HUGE points for this. It created a fabulous atmosphere. It had a design feature that I wish more properties would employ - Lots of surfaces to place your things on. Tables, console height dressers and ottomans. Even the surface around the bathtub had ample room for toiletries and sitting down to put lotion on legs. I really appreciate that. Add a few more hooks for hanging towels and bathing suits and they would have reached perfection! I found the decor of this property appealing. A fusion of rustic and soft contemporary. Every vista made us sigh and relax more and more. Hard to explain the aura. Stress melts. Judging by the parking lot there were plenty of guests at the ranch but the way it is laid out made it feel like you had the place to yourself. There are three facilities. Main lodge - This is home to the spa, adult pool, nicest restaurant and gift shop. I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to get a much desired facial appointment. Note to self: book in advance. We spent a small fortune on products in the gift shop. The bath and body lines are delightful and the honey is possibly the best I've ever tasted. More on that later. The golf lodge - Not sure if that is what they call it but it feels appropriate. It is in the middle. We stopped in here at an odd end of the day time to have a look and the one bartender was wrapping things up. He could not have been kinder to my son. They bonded over a shared love of basketball. Patient and indulgent. The family lodge - Kid friendly pool, great work out facility with an impressive fitness schedule and a large natural light filled space to do them in. Lots of Pilates, yoga and body pump options. If thats your thing ask about it at check in. While some of the classes were listed in the thoughtfully provided activity sheet in the room, I found that quite a few more options were available when I went down there and saw them posted on the studio door. Kudos! Nice ready to go bocce ball set up and the much loved basketball court. The kids were delighted to find other kids to form a small game with. Favorite activity - The bee experience. I cannot emphasize enough how special this was. The story will be affectionately shared with our friends for quite some time. You get to do the whole shebang! John is a lavender farmer and bee keeper in Carmel and keeps several hives at Carmel Valley Ranch. We started with an interesting discussion about all things bee while strolling through the beautiful grounds. He is such a thoughtful and intelligent person that the conversation rolled in perfect rhythm and everyone felt included. Then it is time to suit up. Awesome! He was so sweet about taking photos of our family in the suits so that we could all be in it. This one might make the Christmas card! Then we got to hold the parts of the hive and examine everything. Their society is fascinating. Then we took the suits off and tasted the honey while continuing the discussion and asking questions. STELLAR is the best word to describe it. read more

Carmel Valley Ranch - Part of the welcoming committee - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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I stayed here for 2 nights. It was okay, not great. The property is so big that you have to hike to get where you want to go. They will pick you up in a cart, but who wants to bother with that. The restaurant was very good. Nice sized portions and well cooked. We asked them to split some dishes in the kitchen which they did. Good service in the restaurant. The first night, the restaurant didn't have our reservation although we had made it far in advance when we made the room reservation. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate us. Also, a weird thing is that the prices were different on the restaurant menu when you were there compared to the on line menu. The price differences were small but I still thought it was weird and the staff couldn't explain it either. As far as the room, it was very large but the furniture was old and not well maintained. They didn't give any amenities even like a pen and writing paper or any type of snack. Typically these expensive hotels will give something, but here it was bare bones. Hotel was expensive and I didn't feel we got our moneys worth. read more

The rooms are large, with two fireplaces. Most have sweeping views of the tranquil Carmel Valley countryside from the decks of rooms. The hotel staff is friendly and outgoing. They've done an amazing job with the remodel, but more than that, have focused on making stays FUN for guests! We came down from Palo Alto for the weekend. I worried the trip would be too short, but had one of the best Saturdays of my life. We began the day early and joined Bjorn for a few hour hike on one of the Ranch's trails running through the hills. The hike culminated with stunning views of the Bay, Carmel Valley, and Big Sur forests. We spent the rest of the day down in Big Sur, having brunch at Deetjen's, reading the paper at Henry Miller library, and ice tea overlooking the Pacific from Napenthe (appropriately, Greek for "without sorrow"). We took in the sunset over oysters and wine at Post Ranch Inn, followed by a wonderful four course dinner. We headed down to the Fernwood hotel to listen to live music for a couple of hours and headed back to the hotel. The night concluded with me and my sweetheart listening to the music on the iPod dock in front of the fire. read more

I just stayed here for a company retreat, and I was pretty impressed with the rooms, well...whenever you can find them. It's hard enough to locate your room with their little fold out map during the day, now imagine after you've had a few drinks in you from their lounge bar! But when you finally get there, the size alone is pretty amazing. Their one bedroom suite feels larger than the size of my house. The beds are super comfy and relaxing, as evidenced by me oversleeping and missing a few minutes of a meeting I was supposed to be at simply because I wanted to just lie down and "rest my eyes." When I came back at night, they had left little chocolate chip cookies, how nice! But when I woke up the next morning, a swarm of ants decided that they wanted to enjoy some sweet goodness as well. I thought this was just an isolated problem, so I didn't mention it to the hotel staff, but now that I see the other review, maybe I should have. As for Kristina R's complaint of not getting tipped, they charge us a $25 service charge each day, and explain that it's to compensate the staff so we don't have to bother with tipping individuals. Buying undies may be a bit out of scope, but that might be why they didn't tip - they already felt like they did! Luckily my company paid for my room and charges, or I'd probably call up the shuttle driver and make them drive me around in circles so I could feel like I got $25 worth of tipped services! read more

While planning a trip to northern California we knew we wanted to cover wine county and San Francisco and was brought to our attention that Carmel is not to be missed. We are so happy we listened and wrote this place into our itinerary because the moment we arrived we were taken aback by the beauty of the grounds of Carmel Valley Ranch. The ranch sits on 500 acres of land and they don't waste an acre. I started a Carmel Valley Ranch savings account so I can come back again and again Top seven favorite things: 1) Hilltop yoga - incredible experience and view 2) Organic garden - simply amazing 3) Adult only pool - sip on a cocktail poolside uninterrupted 4) Hiking trails - spotted a deer and fawn 5) The rooms, duh! - One issue is that the walls are thin; I could hear the people next door clear as a bell. Only had this issue once in the morning so not sure if they were just extra loud talkers that day. 6) Free snacks - because things taste better when they are free 7) Professional staff - wow these people are no joke and take their job seriously. They will go above and beyond to ensure your stay is immaculate. read more

A bit pricey but incredibly private. I was seeking a room with a fireplace. I think the bathroom with whirlpool tub, steam shower may have been bigger than my kitchen at home. Our room overlooked the resorts golf course. We kept the fireplace on all night and woke up to valley fog and wild turkeys running through the fields. It felt like we were the only people in the valley. Rest of the place nice but we didn't leave our room too much. Nice breakfast buffet. read more

Carmel Valley Ranch - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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Our family had such a great time visiting this property. Upon check-in, kids activities, food, market, and everything exceeded our expectations! We hope to come back again soon. Amazing time! read more

We were looking for a nice place to stay for a weekend near Carmel. Our friend's second house unfortunately was not available so we looked into Bed and Breakfasts in Carmel by the Sea, but with most of them costing something between $400-500 a night, including an "extended continental" breakfast only, we kept on looking and I happened upong the Carmel Valley Ranch. The price was much more reasonable, at a little over $200 a night (plus a "resort fee" see below), and we got a great room at the top of the hill overlooking the valley. The gas fireplace and huge bathtub were nice for a romantic getaway, and we loved the breakfasts at the golf clubhouse. The view there is pretty idyllic. They only got docked a star for a couple of things - when we arrived at the room, the air conditioner was running full tilt, so the temperature was just slightly warmer than a meat locker. Second, the sliding glass door was left partially open so a couple of the local bugs flew in and froze to death (well, okay they were still flying and crawling around). I also was not crazy about the resort fee that takes care of all gratuities except restaurant tips. I understand that in some ways, but if you're not a golfer tipping your caddy, and just want to stay in the room and eat at the restuarant, that is not a good value (it's way more than the standard tip for housekeeping). Overall though a great place to stay in the Carmel area and we will likely return. The other nice thing about the location is even though it's only a few miles away from the shore, the weather is quite different inland, and we enjoyed a beautiful sunny weekend there, while during our time at the coast we were in the foggy marine layer. read more

Everything was wonderful. Our room - with a nice living area, fireplace, great tub for a soak. The shuttles and golf carts that picked you up and whisked you around the property. The big hottub. The steam room and relaxation area in the spa that guests could use. And, last but not least, the complimentary s'mores set out near the fire pit at night. Other bonuses: the resident English bulldog who is absolutely adorable. Oh! The hiking trails and the fact that people can bring their pets are also very nice touches. read more

Carmel Valley ranch is a getaway from a getaway - Carmel. My first visit there and I've got to say, both the city and the ranch (20 minutes from downtown) deliver a unique experience in spades. Some of my initial thoughts as I return to San Francisco after an idyllic stay in Carmel: - the service is impeccable. Extremely polite, friendly, accommodating. That's how all service should be but you'd be shocked I how often basic etiquette is flouted. - the pool and the jacuzzi. The best hot tub experience I've had in California, one overlooking a beautiful view of the hills and lush golf fields. Also, it's open 24 / 7 so a night time experience with your girl or guy is mandatory. - pet friendly. A tad expensive at $150 per pet, I did find them lower that for the 2 tiny Yorkies we headed there with, very kind and understanding of them. - shuttle service. many reviews point out the long walks that a 500 acre ranch affords but frankly we were shuttled on a whim and there's valet parking if you're just chilling. Either way, there's no reason to complain. All said, we stayed at L'Auberge in Carmel downtown and the ranch and the experience at both places was epic. Highly recommend them both. Also, Thomas at the front desk is exceptional in providing a warm, welcoming customer service experience. Thanks and count us in for our next Carmel visit. p.s. Also if you're at the ranch and choose to factor in a visit or two downtown, bear in mind Uber isn't common here and getting a cab back (especially late at night) might be a hassle. But trust me, Carmel-by-the-sea is worth any hassle. read more

My husband and I really enjoyed having our wedding at Carmel Valley Ranch and hosting our guests here. We really wanted both indoor dining and an outdoor ceremony in the same place, lavender - my requirement and a place for our out of town guests to stay. Carmel Valley Ranch is the only place that met all these requirements. We enjoyed working with Rachel who organized a lot of aspects of our wedding from food to our ceremony and even an extra s'more session at the end of the evening. We found her very helpful, accommodating and extremely organized. We really enjoyed having our wedding weekend here and our guests always remind us of how much they loved their experience here as well. That's as good as it gets. read more

Wow. We stopped by here for a few nights following a Disneyland trip and it was just what we needed after the chaos of Disneyland. The rooms are amazing, modern and cozy, huge bathrooms, comfortable couches...all the amenities you need to be comfortable. The service is world class. Every employee strives to make guests feel at home and they exceed expectations. The valet, Ryan, was so helpful when we arrived late at night. My son had gotten sick on the windy drive on HWY 1, and Ryan went out of his way to make us feel comfortable and quickly get us to our room. It's a large property, but a golf cart or house car is never far away to drive you to a restaurant. the pool, your room, the golf course...or anywhere else. There are tons of activities for adults, kids or the whole fam. Morning yoga and bar, sports and craft workshops, geo-cashing, message and spa treatments, golf...a full schedule everyday. They also have a smores cookout every evening by the main pool. The on property food is delicious. Locally sourced and great quality ingredients used to make delicious meals. The breakfast buffet is great and so is room service. Yes it's pricey, but it's worth every penny. We will definitely be loyal and regular customers. read more

We were given a trip to this place from our kids for Christmas. They gave us $500 ! Sadly that didn't even cover one nights stay!!! The rooms are nothing fancy, like any other decent room I've stayed in, the bathroom floor was dirty too! The biggest thing to be aware is on top of the room cost ($540/night) there are resort fees and taxes that totaled over $100 for one night!! All toll for one night cost us $650!! I've never paid that much for any room anywhere!!! Not worth the price!! read more

Loved this place! I recently stayed in one of the Hilltop Suites with my husband, sister and her boyfriend. We decided to share a suite to save a little money and the room was plenty big. Huge bedroom, beautiful bathroom, and great living room with a queen size sofa bed. Plus, a huge deck with a few nice lounge chairs. They didn't charge us extra for having 4 adults. Big plus. What I loved most about this place is the layout. They got it right. The Lodge is where most of the action is (restaurant, bar, fire pits, spa shop, etc) and I love that they put the pool area right outside. Even when it's cloudy you'll still want to spend time at the pool. It's heated just right, has really cozy lounge chairs, 3 fire pits, outdoor restaurant seating.. soo nice. One of the mornings we walked all around the property.. winery, organic garden, golf clubhouse, fitness area, tennis, basketball. Really, this place has it all. The jacuzzi is not to be missed. Beautiful beautiful view overlooking the golf course. Restaurant was great. Good, solid American food. We had breakfast there both mornings, one lunch, and one dinner, plus many many drinks. No complains. On top of all that, they do DIY s'mores on Friday and Saturday nights! Such a nice treat. There were plenty of people there (of all ages) but the place never felt too crowded. If you're going to Carmel, go here. read more

This is a fabulous resort down to the smallest detail. The room was incredibly nice, with a fireplace and bathtub in the bathroom and on the deck. I loved the soaps and other bath products in the room, and it always smelled great when we returned from turndown service. There are cars to take you around the rest of the Ranch and the yoga classes are complimentary. We went for a wedding but already are talking about going back with the kids, as this seems like a really family friendly resort. read more

CVR is a sketchy and unscrupulous establishment: don't enter into any contracts with them, unless you like having your painstakingly negotiated agreements fall through in every which way imaginable. Caveat: I hear they've been acquired by another hotel group, so maybe their less-than-desirable ways have changed. read more

Making a 5-member family vacation a five-star experience is next to impossible, but hats off to the CV Ranch Resort for making it happen for us. We stayed four nights and managed to make use of the 500-acre facility's charms: - Spacious, tasteful and well-appointed rooms with good views - Great pool and gym facilities - Quality golf with no waiting for a good price - Quick and complementary shuttle service - Neat Bee experience my daughter is still talking about - Great food and a nice sit down bar - Lots of complementary coffee in your room, plus snacks -Top quality hiking trails -Good selection of complementary DVDs - Random tree swings -Nightly smores and real-wood fires (eat your heart out AQMD) -Tips are woven into your rate, so no guessing! -Helpful concierge Nearby are some memorable restaurants, including The Wagon Wheel for breakfast, Organic pioneer Earthbound Farms, and an amazing Pizza joint whose name I wish I could remember. Bottom line- if you are a cheap ba@#ard like me but consider yourself a cut above Ebeneezer Scrooge and want to show your family a good time, bite the bullet and make the trek to Carmel Valley Ranch. read more