Carmel Valley Ranch

CVR was highly recommended to my by my cousin as we were going on vacation for the first time with our two very young kids (just turned 2 and 4). Booked room 3 months before arriving and requested the following items to be in the room (sofa bed made up with blankets/pillows, set of 2 bowls/plates/utensils, starry night projector, ice). Also requested early 3 pm check in but was told to call that morning as there were no guarantees. Fast forward to arriving. We got there right at 4pm which was standard check in. The room was not ready and we were told we would get a text when it was ready. Decided to go to river ranch pool since kids were antsy/hungry after being in car for 3.5 hours. Ordered food from river ranch around 445pm. Got a text just before 530pm that the room was ready. Food took a while to come and we had to change it to a to go order since room was finally ready. When back to lodge for room key. When we got into our room, the sofa bed was not set up (still in couch form), prior guests clothes were in drawer, sticky window toys on ground by sliding door, cushion on deck had something spilled all over it, and table had food residue on it. Had to go back to lodge to share this info and request someone come help us. Sat at the table to have dinner and my husband's salad was missing the dressing/cheese/bacon. At breakfast the next morning we ran into some friends traveling with their two little kids. The host asked us if we wanted to sit together and I said sure if there's a big enough table or we can just sit next to them. She said no problem that they had a large table. We did the buffet. We were surprised to see a 20% "large party fee" added to the check. If we had known we definitely wouldn't have sat together. Other disappointing thing was the major lack of vegetables/fruit with the river ranch and clubhouse. I don't think any of us got a vegetable or fruit unless we ordered a side of it the entire 3 nights. please offer vegetables/fruit as an alternative to french fries with everything. They were also out of 3 items we tried to order while staying there. The good - the resort itself is gorgeous. We loved the s'mores at night. Such a great offering. We also loved the organic garden tour and feeding the chickens. That was super fun for my kids. We also did the Little Ranchers which was a highlight of our stay. Salvador was wonderful with the kids and it was overall a super fun experience. I hope our experience was just a blip, but for the price of the rooms you'd expect the room to be set up as requested (I called a week before and a day before to confirm everything), more fruit/veggie options with the meals, and for them not to be out of so many items. I also had to ask about 4 times for a set of bowls and plates to be sent to the room, we finally got them the night before we left.

The crowds and being woken early to a screaming baby was the opposite of what we hoped for our trip. We wanted to sleep in, relax and get serviced when needed. There was never enough staff and our relaxation was disrupted by the lack of preference in placing older couples next to a room with a young baby. We might as well have been in the same room.

Our stay at Carmel Valley Ranch was absolutely incredible, and the standout was the amazing team—Chef Andrew, Pastry Chef Molly, and Salvador. Dining at Valley Kitchen was a highlight of our trip. Chef Andrew’s farm-to-table cuisine was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every dish felt thoughtful and elevated. Pastry Chef Molly’s desserts were stunning—creative, unique, and absolutely delicious. Salvador made our experience even more special by introducing us to the sweetest baby goats on the ranch—such a memorable and personal touch. What truly sets this team apart is their passion, pride, and genuine hospitality. They made us feel so welcomed and cared for—like VIPs from start to finish. We are so grateful for this experience and would absolutely return just because of them. They made our stay unforgettable.

We love CVR and it's one of our favorite semi-local stays. It's proximity to Monterey and Carmel is excellent, and we love that it provides for a large, beautiful, and peaceful property that is very dog-friendly as well. The amenities are very nice, rooms are comfortable, and the spa is lovely. Taking a break at the adults-only pool is a perfect refresher, as well: love that it's centrally located. All the staff are helpful, friendly, and patient. The activities are always a hit --- with both the adults and children in our travel groups! We've had a picnic with their mini-donkeys, we've done the Little Ranchers for kiddos, A Bee's Life (educational and interesting), and the Organic Farm meet & greet (feeding chickens was a hit). I think most families are great and most people respectful, but it would enhance the experience for everyone if there were more stern instructions for the parents whose kids are not being gentle with the animals or fail to follow the rules (i.e. parents should be advised that the staff can remove participants if they do not follow staff instructions, and the staff should actually remove those participants). Nevertheless, this is probably less of a criticism of the Activities and more so of the participants.

Second visit was as magical as the first. This property is gorgeous and rooms and activities are perfect for our family. We will be back!