The most romantic place on earth!!! My husband and I have been going here every year for the last 20 years. We started by reserving a tree house then moved to the ocean house. We always schedule a 90 minute massage in the room and always need more firewood for the fireplace. Just walking the grounds is special and often can hear whales in the night. This is our favorite hotel and when you want to get away, peace and quite this is it. The food in the restaurant is not great however the atmosphere compensates for it. read more

Post Ranch Inn - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

We did a two night stay here for our anniversary, and booked one of the coast rooms. The view is spectacular! 180 degree view of the ocean on a sunny day is magical. True, the rooms do look a bit dated, but the view is never old. Even at night on our deck, we could look up and see the expansive sky full of millions of stars. I've never seen so many stars before in my life. Food is a bit pricey at the restaurant, but you pay for convenience and its very delicious. High 5 for the well stocked fridge in our room. Overall very memorable trip and stay. read more

This is my favorite place on planet earth. It is very expensive, the cheapest room being in the $500 range in the off-season. I would do it again because it is worth the money. The pool is a little far from the rooms and I got embarrassed asking the staff for a ride back, but I couldn't do the nearly mile (mostly uphill) walk back. The service is AMAZING. I left my book in the car and I asked how to get it, since they take your car. The receptionist asked me where I left it, and I told her it was in the front seat. 5 min later a man in an Electric Lexus SUV shows up with my book in hand. The infinity pools that are placed on the edge of a cliff are a perfect place to watch the sunset. And don't worry about getting dehydrated, because there are bins with water all over the property. Post Ranch also has their own trails, which take you through some beautiful Big Sur landscape. read more

Post Ranch Inn - tree house - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

Pros: The property is situated on an amazing location with nice hiking trails and beautiful vistas. Cons: Unfortunately our unit, Fredericks, is a bit tired. We are just completing our stay and had maintenance calls for busted blinds, non functioning refrigerator, and the heater in our bathroom has been out for our entire stay. Most disappointing is that no offer was made to move us to another room, after we were told they had rooms available, nor any remedies by the staff. Keep in mind this is a very expensive property so customers should be able to expect better quality or for the hotel to take responsibility. Disappointingly It just didn't happen. read more

Post Ranch is unbelievable in almost every way... a beautiful sanctuary with unsurpassed service. My husband and I visited Carmel and Big Sur for our anniversary. Beautiful! HOWEVER, we were assigned the Meyrose room and unfortunately the room above ours had guests who were so LOUD from 9:30-11pm and again from 1:45-3am!! We called the front desk twice to complain and they were nice but had no luck quieting this guest. As result, we got very little sleep. The front desk gave us a $200 credit for the inconvenience - again, very nice (not enough though under the circumstances, and a personal call from the manager would've been nice). We expected that, at a luxury resort of this caliber, you would not hear guests above you (maybe a little, but NOT non-stop clomping around, slamming doors, etc). You'd imagine there would be solid flooring or insulation between rooms. Not at all! We had to drive 6 hours back home the next day on about 4 hours of sleep. I truly wished there was a stand-alone room available instead of ours. It would have been ideal. Again, gorgeous grounds and excellent service... we just expected overnight peace and quiet. read more

This place is one little diamond in the ruff. Simple beauty, understated elegance and fantastic service is just touching on how this place is special. The restaurant has a beautiful view and great food. Enjoyed the brunch. Loved the beehive tour, laid back and relaxed. I stayed 2 separate times and love the tree house room. Thank you post house employees for making our stay magical read more

damn this place is amazing!! I knew from the moment we checked in that this place was going to be awesome. you check in and get offered a glass of wine then they whisk you away to your room in a hybrid lexus suv. too lazy to walk somewhere, then all you gotta do was pick up the phone and someone will pick you up and drive you there and that is what i did to get to my yoga class. the only bummer was the ran out of yoga mats when i got there and i even reserved a spot the night before :( stayed here for a night and did not want to leave at all. So many things i loved about this place. Star gazing at night was cool, free mini bar snacks was nice along with a bottle of red and white wine. no tv, but who cares becasue the 24 hour infinity hot tub is all you need and some chocolate cookies in a glass jar as well. ohhh and sea salt for you bath. the views were amazing and the free breakfast was not that bad. I can go on and on about this place... I wanna go back.. i wanna just live there... read more

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Comments between my wide and I, the resort and room very very clean and orderly, refrigerator was stocked with goodies, wine and champagne when entering our room was a perfect touch. Bath tub was very big and a lot of fun with bubbles we made . Staff throughout the facility were very friendly and engaging. View was spectacular, natural wood burning fireplace with pine was fun and we used it all the time. Environment on the grounds and the style of the units was very upbeat and fun with exceptional architecture. You get great service at the resort, but remember your paying a premium so get ready for sticker shock. A few negatives were response time of amenities was a little slow, no staff at infinity pool, limited menu at the restaurant, and although ambiance was very good, at the restaurant the food was only ok. Overall we loved it and were extremely relaxed the whole time. read more

This is hands down my favorite view & restaurant in Big Sur. Many thanks to Jose tonight for making this birthday experience one of the most cherished experiences EVER!!! Jose suggested I try tonight's four-course tasting menu. GREAT advice....It did not disappoint!!! Began my culinary adventure w/ the seared Foie Gras & cheese stuffed squash blossoms...HEAVENLY!!! Duck was my entree. It was served sliced, medium rare on a bed of cauliflower coulis...nuff said. DELECTABLE!!! To finish, grilled strawberries paired with fresh ice cream & cream de AWESOME!!! Chefs here are to be COMMENDED...BRAVO!!!! If you're looking to treat yourself to a beautiful meal surrounded by the beauty of the California coast, Sierra Mar is a MUST STOP!!! I guarantee, no regrets :) read more

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You can see Hawthorne Gallery artists featured all around the Post Ranch Inn, it's safe to say we love the Post Ranch. You can eat off of Shelby Hawthorne original plates and then skip down to the gallery and see more! Love the "Three faces of Post Ranch" sign? We do too! Founding artist Greg Hawthorne designed it. Post Ranch Inn is a luxury stay in a notoriously gorgeous area. The staff are all phenomenal and we highly recommend the stay! read more

Outstanding...truly a 5-Star experience. Very high end, very pricey, but worth every penny...what a magical place! Post Ranch Inn is one of my favorites on the planet. Very few rooms (fewer than 40), and each one has a spectacular view. You cannot go wrong with either the ocean views, or the tree houses...both are sensational. The place is set up along the ridge, perched about 1500 feet above the ocean, with pristine, uninterrupted views of the amazing Central California coast line. Outstanding service, amazing staff, gorgeous accommodations, excellent food, great yoga classes, fun hiking trails, and the perfect atmosphere for romance and relaxed bliss. Fantastic jacuzis with amazing views of the coastline. Great sound system in every room, but dont count on TVs...none anywhere to be found, which was great. Take along someone you love, a couple great books and a camera! The experience is amazing and worth the pricetag for a very special occasion. Great for adults, but not for kids. Amazing 5-Star experience...and we will be back. read more

Mickey Muenning designed wonderful little tree houses and cottages along big sur that completely fit in with the natural environment. I love the materials he uses and the subtlety of his constructions. The Terra Mar house at 2,400 a night is surely not a cheap stay---vis a vis camping, for example, but if you can afford it with your family or friends that might be a night of peaceful heaven. I just don't think I would want to leave the room considering the price. Let's see how much would each minute cost after all?... I have eaten in the lovely restaurant and had a great time there. The views are spectacular and once again the architecture is awesome. The food is great too of course! read more

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When in Post Ranch Inn, time slows to Big Sur pace. It was a place to relax and unwind. We stayed in the first tree house (Boranda), which has a view of the Pacific Ocean. The "tree" house isn't exactly how we imagined, since it is nestled among the trees, rather than built into a tree. The decoration was rustic, basic and comfortable. We dined at Sierra Mar for both breakfast and dinner. The food was of good quality, and the chef is truly creative in terms of the use of ingredient and presentation. We had the Big Sur tasting menu for dinner. It was delicious and full of surprises, except the service was a bit slow and it took three hours to complete the meal We also ordered room service for dinner one night. We had Morrocan lamb shank dinner set (for two). Despite the two and half hour wait for our food to be delivered, it was delicious and worth the wait. The lamb shank was tender and well seasoned. The vegetables were fresh and full of flavor! LOVE! However, it was annoying that they automatically added 20% gratuity on the bill. Since we were charging the meal to the room, my husband didn't look at the bill carefully and handed the gratuity to the gentlemen who delivered the food. The gentlemen was kind enough to inform us about the automatic gratuity but it was awkward to take back the money. read more

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Our experience here at PRI was incredible...beyond 5 stars. My bf took me here for a 2 day weekend getaway a few months ago and we stayed in a Treehouse the 1st night and then the Cliff House on the 2nd. The Cliff House was literally overlooking the Pacific Ocean...sweeping views of the green/blue waters whilst sitting on the loo, taking a bath, sitting on the deck, laying in bed... Words really cannot describe the beauty and tranquility that Post Ranch has to offer. It's really quite magical. The smells of fresh cut wood and lush flowers, the views, the restaurant, and of course the stellar service...all were top-notch. Bf and I could only look at each other and mutter, " LG, baby" Life's Good. Thank you, Post Ranch. read more

Post Ranch Inn - One side of the Cliff House Deck overlooking the ocean. - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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Located upon the Big Sur cliffs that dive straight down to the Pacific ocean. Make your plans to arrive before sunset and endulge yourself in a fancy cocktail. The Post Ranch Inn is very exclusive. So exclusive that I have not stayed there yet. My friends and I took a different approach on our last visit to Big Sur. Camp on the other side of Highway 1 for about $800 a night less, and enjoy previously mentioned cocktail and sunset for around $10. read more

Post Ranch Inn - Post Ranch Inn - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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I go to terrifuc restaurants all the time. This was the worst restaurant I have been to in a very long time. The atmosphere is beyond spectacular but the food is awful. I had a Caesar salad with halibut and it was barely edible. Our server was fantastic but boy was it a disappointment. read more

We arrived here for dinner on a Thursday night as we had friends staying at the hotel. The dinner menu was prix fixe, at $125 per head, with a few options on the four course menu. Everything sounded good but the reality was very different. The issue for me was the quantities. Over the four courses, including desserts, it felt like an appetizer round. My starter was a squid salad with tomatoes. It was really a cherry tomato salad with a couple of slivers of squid, in a highly acidic dressing. Maybe 50 cents worth of ingredients. I had ordered a soup with potatoes that sounded interesting but it turned out to be warm potatoes with a pureed lettuce liquid poured over the potatoes. What are these chefs thinking? The main course I had, medallions of beef were tiny, four small bites, but worse was the order was for medium and the meat arrived very rare. I sent it back and it was returned five minutes later not any better. The desserts were the saving grace but by then I was pretty annoyed. The service was wonderful with several waitstaff attending to our table of eight but I was underwhelmed and left feeling ripped off. This kind of pretentiousness is so passe. Not recommended in any way at all. read more

Beautiful mountain scenery and friendly staff. My girlfriend and I enjoyed staying at their inn. We had ants in our room by the fridge that definitely detracted from the overall image of such an expensive, luxurious place. Only reason for 4 star review. Sierra Mar Restaurant on their property is a must it was very good and the food was divine. Not sure if we will be back. But I do recommend it to others. read more

The view of the sunset is breathtaking. We got there at 4:30 just in time for the sunset. The end of the sunset was at 5 PM. The reservation was at 5:30 so we were just in time for drinks before dinner. Food was very good too. read more

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Some places or things have to be experienced at least one time in life. The Post Ranch Inn is one of those. I finally returned to the Post ranch Inn this month... It hasn't changed. Dinner & service was impeccable. Time, rain and landslides didn't erode the quality and service. Thank you Tara for the booth. Thank you Trevor for taking such good care of us last week! Looking forward to be back in a week! read more

Post Ranch Inn - Sunset & Cognacs - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

Had the most incredible lunch here. Sitting outside is a must, the view is breath taking. The menu is limited but everything tasted fresh and balanced. The dessert were good as well. Service was attentive. Would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. read more

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My wife and I stayed here for two nights of our honeymoon. We stayed the the treehouse and had a wonderful time. The amenities in the room were incredible. The grounds were very enjoyable and the views of the ocean and the lighting on the mountains at sunset were lovely. We are glad we stayed two nights instead of one as we were better able to relax and enjoy the retreat that the Post Ranch Inn is. We ate at the restaurant, which was top notch!!!! All in all, Lovely, but pricy. read more

Post Ranch Inn - Window seat in the tree house. - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

We came for Thanksgiving dinner (yesterday). We had an amazing night. The view, the architecture, the service... fantastic. It's well worth the trip (and the $$$$). read more

Post Ranch Inn - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

Would give this 10 stars if possible. We've stayed twice for one night each time: once with an ocean view; and once with a mountain view. Each time was amazing. The infinity meditation pools are essentially huge hot tubs without the bubbles. The restaurant was excellent, and the free breakfast is 4 star. When we were there, we shared the pool with Marcia Cross of Desperate Housewives. And ate breakfast next to Campbell Brown. No one bothers the celebs, but just enjoys this amazing place. It ain't cheap, but for an anniversary or special occasion, it is well worth it. read more

Post Ranch Inn - Mountain View room. We sat looking at this while snacking on our complementary split of Pinot Noir and gourmet cheese and crackers. - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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I have never been somewhere more beautiful. If you love natural beauty, excellent food and great views, come here. Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces in your bedrooms, come here? I love love love this place with all my heart. It's costly but oh so special! read more

Very good facility, great deco, location, but I found the service could be more genuine and welcoming. The Food is good but the price could be more friendly to present the value! read more

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My new husband and I decided on a California coastal road trip for our honeymoon, and one of our friends had mentioned there were places where you could stay in a tree house - so we stumbled across the Post Ranch Inn! Typically this would be FAR out of our price range; none of the other hotels we stayed at were near this price. However, we figured it was our honeymoon - a once-in-a-lifetime trip, theoretically - so booked a Butterfly Room for a night in the hopes it would be worth it. And WOW, was it worth it!!! Not only was the valet and room service absolutely incredible, but the entire experience was absolutely amazing, even though it was only one night. All of the employees were accommodating, friendly, and kind; this was also our first experience with valet service at a hotel and I was so impressed with it. The Butterfly Room itself was absolutely gorgeous. The door opens up to a beautiful bedroom/living area with a fireplace, king-sized fluffy bed, desk, and window bench. All of the windows let you see the beautiful views, but with the angle they are set at, no one else can see into your room! But if you're worried about it anyway, the blinds can be closed automatically by pressing a button alongside the light switches. Neat! The bathroom is huge and the heated floors were amazing. I've never loved just standing on a floor until now! The big walk in shower was also beautiful and featured windows that opened up so you could shower while looking out at the redwood forest. We also had a cute little deck where we could sit and enjoy nature in complete silence and privacy. In addition to the employees and the room itself, the amenities are incredible. We spent time enjoying the infinity pool during the foggy night; watching the water at the edge of the pool spill off into what seemed to be nothingness, in the low garden light, was such an experience. We also ate dinner at the Sierra Mar restaurant, which, while it was expensive as well, was incredibly worth it. Delicious food and beer with excellent service. The next morning we got up and enjoyed a breakfast - included with the cost of your stay - which blew all of the meals I'd had throughout the entire honeymoon (including the Sierra Mar dinner) out of the water. I could eat their blueberry muffins all day long for the rest of my life. Then, we went hiking on their trails through the redwood forest and enjoyed the grounds. We got lots of exercise, saw a ton of flora and fauna, and overall were so sad when it was time to leave. Absolutely an experience of a lifetime. If you're on the fence because of the cost, I urge you to do it anyway. The worth of the experience far outweighs what you spend. If my husband and I can afford to do so in the future, we will definitely be back to Post Ranch Inn - OH, AND, if you are interested in seeing Big Sur and the mountains from horseback, I recommend Molly who owns Big Sur Majestic riding experiences. Molly, her husband, and their horses are incredible human beings and gave us one of the best experiences of our entire trip - and they're not even 5 minutes from Post Ranch. read more

We stayed one night at the Inn in one of the ocean facing rooms. Room was breath taking. Quaint but could use some updates. Our biggest problem was the aC that was not cooling enough. The staff was accommodating and discounted our rate by 10%. One night rental was almost $2000 per night We had dinner at the restaurant but found the cod to be less than fresh. Breakfast next day was awesome. I had massage there for $185. It was ok. The place is serene and beautiful but not sure if I will go there again. read more

We stayed at Post ranch inn for 2nights in a Coast house. Average night prices were over 2000 dollars, minimum 2nights stay. We travel all over the world, so I wanted have experience in Big Sur. Check it time supposed at 4pm but the room was not ready, we waited about 1 hour. It was already at 5pm when we finally got to room. The view was beautiful, but the cottage was a duplex, not single structure. I was so regretting that we choose downstairs because you hear anything from above us. Voice, footsteps, bathroom flush, open the door or close,etc.. There were no privacy at all. Restaurant Sierra mar was disappointed, underwhelmed. Four course prix fixe menu was 125 dollars. Dishes quality was bad, acidic and salty. I am wondering what kind of taste the chefs have..? Anyway, overall Post ranch inn is not recommended at all. read more

So a few months ago my wife and I visited Post Ranch for a second time! The trip was exquisite!!! From dining at Sierra Mar, to the massages, to our wonderful tree house with its amazing views, everything was wonderful!!! The only thing we disliked was that the tubs have been removed from the treehouse rooms due to plumbing issues. However the new large slate stoned showers help make up for it!!! Pro tip!! Eat a meal at the bar, the al a carte menu is available there and the bar tender grew up at Post Ranch do he has amazing insider knowledge of things to do!!!!! Pro tip#2 The staff is amazing!! Our Bell Hop Glen gave us some amazing g tips on things to do and see!!! read more

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Stayed 3 nights for a very special wedding of a great friend. The place, the service, everything was beyond words, beyond compare!! Perfect ocean view accommodation, excellent dinner menus for 3 consecutive nights, gourmet breakfast, a mini bar with FREE healthy assortment of snacks and beverages, outstanding service. I am blown away! I would definitely keep coming back!! read more

Post Ranch Inn - Infinity hot tub - Hotels Near Me - Big Sur, California

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The Post Ranch Inn is undeniably beautiful with its cliffside treehouses and infinity jacuzzis overlooking the ocean. Our treehouse - Grimes - was beautiful and serene. We loved taking hikes in the afternoon on the property and we enjoyed the dining. The biggest draw back of all is the hospitality. It feels like the staff has not been trained to serve customers at a luxury hotel. It really is too bad because it impacts the overall stay and you expect so much more from a very beautiful and expensive hotel. As gorgeous as it is, we enjoyed our stay at the Ventana (across the street) much more. read more

Wonderful experience. While too pricey for overnight stay, we have loved stopping here for a special lunch. Great food and a million dollar view. We always recommend to friends heading down the coast. read more

Yeah, anything less than a five would mean you are just bitter. This place, the property, the people, the staff, the guests, the wildlife, the vibe, the ambiance, the food = amazing. Nothing more needs to be said. read more

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The Post Ranch Inn is gorgeous, luxurious and rustic. It's also extraordinarily and, frankly, unjustifiably expensive. We paid full price ($845/night) for a treehouse for three weeknights, during their construction. The fact that they feel completetly comfortable charging their guests full price while the cliff-top restaurant (the biggest attraction of Post Ranch) and adjacent pool are closed should give you some clue of what to expect in the way of attitude. But that's not the main problem. The main problem is that, when you pay for perfection, you expect it. And Post Ranch Inn utterly failed to deliver in this regard. Oh yes, you get a nicely stocked in-room fridge with complimentary goodies. You get a beautiful room, beautiful views on the property (though not, as promised, from our room), and fantastic food at the relocated, but non-view, restaurant. You get generally terrific service. You expect all these things, of course, when you pay these prices. In fact, you expect all that when you pay half this price. What you do not expect is: 1. You are given a different, and less desirable, room than the one you were promised, and no explanation as to why this was done. 2. Undisclosed construction on the property. No, I am not talking about the restaurant construction, which they are taking pains to disclose because people have complained about their failure to disclose this in the past. I'm talking about three huge trucks and an enormous well drilling rig right smack in the middle of one of the highly touted hiking trails. As in right in the middle of the trail. As in, you have to climb through the muck and crud and around these rigs in order to get from one side of the trail to the other. Plus, the attendant loud machinery sounds and beeping throughout the entire day. When the big attraction of the place is the serenity and the nature and all that, the last thing you want to hear is construction equipment. I can sit in my office and listen to that all day long for free. Absolutely inexcusable, in my opinion. 3. More undisclosed construction. During the day, workers were replacing the large steel braces that support the stilts upon which the treehouses sit. Imagine for a moment the sound of enormous wrenches tightening and untightening 6"-or-more-diameter rusted nuts and bolts, followed by the crashing to the ground of said braces upon other braces. While you're about to get your in-room massage that you're going to be paying $180 plus tip for. 4. Obnoxious reception. When we arrived, we could not have asked for a nicer welcome. It was positively perfect. However, in subsequent visits to reception, we were greeted by the frosty woman described in other reviews. She is indeed frosty. An attitude adjustment is in order. 5. Uneven service in the restaurant. Let me first say that the food was generally terrific, and again, this really needs not be said. That's all to be expected. But, the first of our three dinners there was a joke. It took a FULL HOUR between the time we sat down and the time we got our first course. The food thereafter was good, but the meal dragged on far too long. No, this was not them attempting to provide relaxed service or whatever. Everyone else seemed to be getting their food just fine. It took about three hours to get through a 4 course meal. There's simply no excuse for that. At the end, wife's souffle was delivered in a completely fallen state. I don't know whether that occurred in the kitchen or during service, but that's not my problem. The server placed it on the table and announced "your souffle. Sorry it's fallen." And he left. Are you kidding me??? If it sounds like I'm complaining, well, again, at this price, you have to be perfect. I absolutely do not recommend that anyone go to Post Ranch Inn. It simply isn't worth it. You can go to many many other places that are nicer than Post Ranch Inn and far cheaper. Unless of course you pick your vacation spots by which stars stay there, in which case you deserve to have your money parted from you. read more

Restaurant: Great view, decent food. Piece of SH!t service. The absolute worst service possible. The people here are absolute snobs. Sadly, I have been here quite a few times for the view as it is the best. I don't know if they are racist or they just treat everyone equally crappy. Today was the worst. I drove up to the valet in my Honda, and the attendant kept on telling me about the self parking option. I was already getting out of my car and giving him my keys. And he still is trying to tell me to park some where else. I had to explicitly tell him that I wanted the valet parking. I asked him if my car was too ugly. He just mumbled something. They also have some nice corner table that they just refuse to sit me at. No one is sitting there. This despite the fact that when I called for reservation this time, and asked for a corner table, they said they do not offer table reservation. Well, they sure did last time I called. Some how this time they did not, and still refused to give us an empty table. If I can give a NEGATIVE 5 stars, I would. read more

Are you struggling to justify staying at Post Ranch? Wondering how it compares to other places in Big Sur and if the BIG price tag is really worth it? I went recently and stayed for 2 nights, then moved across the street to Ventana for 2 nights. I've also stayed at Glen Oaks and Esalen. All are very different of course, but I'm at your service with the scoop! And here's the (somewhat surprising) truth... Post Ranch in many ways is not worth the money. Really, what you are paying for is the service and the rare opportunity to be right on the cliffs overlooking the Ocean. The view is incredible, but you can experience it from the restaurant. Go, have a drink or a meal (they let you do so without being a guest), but I'd lean towards staying elsewhere. Why? The rooms and facilities are outdated. In reading the other reviews that said they were, I didn't want to believe them... but it's true. I felt like I'd time traveled back a few decades. That said, lets focus on the positive for a moment. Service was impeccable, I loved taking the Lexus convertibles out for a morning drive, and the setting is one of the best in the world. But getting back to the rooms (which is what I care about most when I pay to stay somewhere), I like both Ventana and Glen Oaks better. If you want a resort with full amenities, Ventana is my recommendation. It still has a gorgeous setting (yes the Ocean view is more distant, but I still had a gorgeous full horizon view of it from my room), costs less, and felt much more indulgent to me in all the right ways. read more

Ahhh... now this is living. Post Ranch wins my vote for favorite resort experience to date. Of course the highlights are the well-documented ones: the magnificent location here on the Big Sur cliffs, the inspired eco-modern architecture and the serenity of a resort with only 50-60 guests. They also won me over with nice little touches like the well-stocked complimentary mini bar, the XM radio playing quietly in the corner and the iced champagne with "happy anniversary" card (yes, it was our 9th - time flies) waiting for us on arrival. A couple tips for those planning a visit (things we'd do differently next time): 1. Consider ponying up for a seaside room. There is a big difference in cost between the various rooms here... but you get what you pay for. We were in the "cheapest" room, Fleemore, and while it was great, it's nowhere near as isolated or inspiring as the cliff-side ones across the path. 2. Bring a jacket. You'll want to be outside, and the nights and mornings are cold here even in mid summer. 3. Bring a swimsuit. The cliff-side soaking pools are magical and you'll want to be able to get it. 4. If you're at all budget conscious, put your massage money into a better room. (The in room massages were super relaxing, but pricey and medium quality relative to others we've had. If you've got no budget restrictions, however, go for the view and the massage!) read more

FIRST AND FOREMOST: You have to know this place is way beyond our pay grade. I mean, we're no strangers to luxurious, refined places. But ZOW! These guys don't blink. THAT SAID: You get what you pay for. IMPECCABLE SERVICE: Friendly, efficient, doting but not intrusive. Reception was welcoming without being a bit officious. The dining room servers were perfect. The bellmen didn't ask if they could help, they just helped. The Sunday yoga teacher was great. Top notch. World class. LOVELY GUEST ROOMS: The rooms are airy, clean, well considered and comfortable. They are a little dated, but whatever. When you have stunning views of ocean and mountains, who cares about porthole windows -- which were apparently quite popular when the place was built. GOURMET DINING: Our Saturday dinner -- which was a special event -- was more than excellent food prepared by a skillful chef. It was truly aspirational. The chef was going for it ... and he got it. I did wonder about the lobster; why import lobster when you're towering over the Pacific? But oh that lobster. It was tender and still firm, caramelized in butter, set on a little bit of cauliflower risotto and garnished with uni foam. Did you get that? UNI FOAM! Delicate, ocean-y, exotic. The dish was spectacular. STUNNING VIEWS OF THE PACIFIC FROM INFINITY HOT TUBS BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS: It's about 160 acres that are beautifully landscaped ... like summer camp for rich kids. IN FACT, IF THE HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL HAD SUMMER CAMP: This would be it. Everything is sort of woodsy and laid back, but unambiguously upscale and a little clubby. Men wear jackets and collared shirts to dinner. This is not a bad thing unless, like me, you happen to travel without a dinner jacket. I wore my leather car coat and all the swells thought I was a bit of a rogue. I'll take that. EVERYTHING IS ... RIGHT: I read they're LEED certified so they have that going for them too. I SAY SPEND 'EM IF YOU GOT 'EM: If you like the best and can afford the cost of admission, you won't be disappointed. We met a couple that spends 10 days each year at the holidays. That's about 4 years of my retirement. Will we be back? It'd be nice. read more

Our visit to the Post Ranch was sublime from check in to check out. Beyond expectations; a flawless experience. The staff was friendly, full of aloha and made us feel like family. The GM Tim Lee welcomed us in with exceptional style as did the beautiful ladies at the front desk who really took their time to get to know us and share the resort's benefits. It was my birthday, and we found a half bottle of champagne to kick off a celebration in our room overlooking the sparkling Pacific. The fully stocked refrigerator, the in room hot tub, the fireplace, gorgeous king bed to die for with 600 count sheets and the wildly perfect lanai eased us into the Big Sur landscape with all the right feels. The crashing ocean down below immediately put our bodies into relax mode. The building architecture blended into the beauty of Big Sur in sheer perfection so Nature was the main event, and we could taste the flavor of the unreal coast all around us. We sat still enough to have the wildlife come out and say hello: the hummingbirds, the turkeys, the deer, the hawks. We walked redwood trails, the Secret Meadow, the ridge and discovered sculpture and artwork that complimented the healing land, rich with soothing energy. The Spirit Nest was one of my favorites, transcendent and the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Did I mention the fantastic cuisine? A four-course prix fixe dinner awaited us. From the palate cleansing handmade grapefruit soda, smoked mussels, amazing in house baked bread, just from the chef's garden pea salad, fresh pan seared fish of the day (I think Halibut?), and decadent pomegranate cheesecake, every bite was heavenly. The dining room staff was perfect, attentive, and helpful, unintrusive and friendly. The wine list was extensive and deep. The omelet cooked to order the next morning for breakfast was equally magnificent-I ate it in our hot tub! We chose our veggies and beverage of choice. The gift of dining kept on giving. Romance was on full volume for my husband and me. The two eternity hot tubs and heated pool offered privacy when alone yet respectful folk when sharing the space. Again, the eternal Pacific begged us to just stare endlessly. I also saw how this could be used as a retreat, for solo souls searching and tapping into the powers of the land. The Post Ranch really has it all. The fireplace in the room was divine, we got lost in the flames. The Spa Director Monika was key to our stay with an effervescent personality, providing the best possible encounter, taking her time and making sure we were well taken care of at every turn. A tour of the massage rooms in the redwoods looking out into the Ventana Wilderness/Double Cone and the overall tranquil demeanor of the building and staff put us over the top like a sigh. Basically, the Post Ranch is the ultimate understated elegance and luxury in a serene coastal redwood forest that brings peace to your bones the moment you step foot on the land. Do not miss it. read more