Ojai Valley Inn

I want to start by saying I think Ojai Valley Inn is an A+ resort. That probably goes without saying, but my wife and I absolutely loved it. I actually came into the stay wondering why it was so expensive, but after a couple of days, I totally got it. It really feels like you’re stepping into a different world. The restaurants were all fantastic (especially Olivella—it’s a must). If you’re there on a Sunday, definitely try to make the brunch as well. The spa is top-notch, and we spent a lot of time relaxing at the adults-only pool down there. I could spend all day down there. One of my favorite things about the property was the atmosphere in the evenings. Walking around the grounds at night was one of the highlights of the trip. There were families, couples, and groups everywhere, and everyone just seemed genuinely happy. It’s a really special place. Finally, almost all of the staff was A++. Morgan, one of the front desk managers, was incredible. He went out of his way to help make our stay special, and we really appreciated it. The assistant front desk manager, on the other hand, was really the only person we interacted with who came across as unfriendly. I only mention it because it stood out so much compared to everyone else, who was genuinely warm and welcoming. We’ll definitely be back! One tip: If possible, avoid rooms 411 and 412. They’re beautiful rooms, but they’re beside some staff entrance and they starts setting up around 6:30 a.m., and the carts are extremely LOUD. You’ll also hear them again around 11:00 p.m. when they’re wrapping up for the night. If you’re a light sleeper, I’d request a different room.

There is a lot to like about Ojai Valley Inn. The scenery is gorgeous, the grounds are immaculate and the rooms are spacious and up to date. I also found the servers and staff to be friendly and polite. And yet, for the high price of this place there are bumps that prevent it from being a 5 star rating. The weekend we visited it was over run with too many guests and kids. I love kids (have two) but my husband and I expected this place to be more tranquil and sophisticated versus a hub for kids running everywhere, including the golf course lawn at night and in the restaurants. The pool was so crowded we had to wait 1.5 hours for chairs on one of the days. The tennis desk also made mistakes on my court reservation twice. These issues just took the glow off the place a bit. If we return, we would do so off season to avoid the crowds. Lastly, with a place this nice the extra fees of charging for a s'more pack at night or requiring quests to rent a tennis raquet for tennis/pickel seems cheap and unnecessary. We did appreciate the free use of bikes to ride into town for lunch each day which was fun as well as the really nice gym.

We stayed at Ojai Valley Inn for our anniversary and, overall, had a wonderful experience. The property is beautiful, the service is polished, and several aspects of the stay felt genuinely special. Our initial room in the Wallace Neff building was lovely, but the air conditioning was not working. The hotel handled the issue very well and moved us to a room in Casa Loma, which was exceptional. It was spacious, beautifully appointed and felt like a meaningful upgrade. We appreciated how promptly and graciously the staff resolved the problem. Dinner at Olivella was another highlight. The service was warm and attentive, and nearly everything we ordered was delicious. The steak was the only disappointment. It was perfectly fine, but not especially memorable compared with the rest of the meal. The spa treatments were fabulous, and the food at the spa was also very good. The pool experience, however, did not quite match the level of luxury we expected. The “Tranquility Pool” is really more of an attractive resort-style pool, with a large square pool and guests lounging around it, rather than a particularly quiet or secluded spa pool. It was completely full at noon on a Monday, and there were not enough seats available for spa guests. Given that we had paid for spa access and services, it was frustrating not to have a place to relax by the main spa pool. Instead, we were relegated to the Energy Pool at the spa, which lacked energy and people, was a lap pool, and had leaves in it. It was also too cold for me to use and did not feel particularly inviting. One other unexpected issue was a noticeable urine-like smell in the lobby when we arrived. It was strange and out of place for a resort of this caliber. Despite these misses, the overall stay was excellent. The Casa Loma room was spectacular, the service throughout the property was very strong, and the resort made our anniversary feel special. We would return, particularly for the accommodations, dining and spa treatments, but would hope for a more elevated and reliably relaxing spa pool experience.

This has always been a very special property for us, which is why this visit was so disappointing. We have stayed here approximately ten times, yet the experience felt surprisingly impersonal and inconsistent from beginning to end. The arrival experience was extremely poor. It was nearly 100 degrees outside, and there were at least 20 frustrated guests waiting to check in. Only three of the four stations were being used. Offering bottled water or a glass of champagne to guests waiting in the heat would have been a simple hospitality touch that could have softened an otherwise chaotic first impression. When we finally checked in, we were asked whether this was our first stay. After so many visits, it was disappointing that our history with the property did not appear to be recognized or readily available to the staff. The first room we were given had a strong mildew or mold odor. Perhaps the summer weather contributed, but guests should not be placed in a room with that kind of smell, especially at a hotel of this caliber. Rooms should be thoroughly inspected before being assigned. The manager moved us, which we appreciated, and the replacement room was satisfactory and met the standard we had expected in the first place. Unfortunately, being placed in a moldy-smelling room initially tainted the image we had always carried of this being such a special destination. The bell service was equally disappointing. The bellman who greeted us appeared disheveled and possibly hungover. Upon departure, the employee loading our luggage did not seem capable of safely lifting it into our vehicle. He struck the suitcase wheels against the back of my luxury SUV three separate times before I finally had to intervene. Guests should not have to worry about their belongings or vehicles being damaged by employees assigned to assist them. The greatest issue appears to be inconsistent training. At this level, every employee should receive the same hospitality training so that the guest experience feels polished and uniform, regardless of who happens to be assisting. The arrival and departure experiences, in particular, fell far below what we have encountered at comparable luxury hotels. There are still many things we love about this property, and we are grateful that management corrected the room issue. However, this visit did not reflect the level of care, recognition, and professionalism we remembered. We sincerely hope management addresses these problems, because we would hate to see such a special place lose what once made it exceptional.

This resort is exceptional & among the finest resorts we've stayed at. The majestic location, well manicured grounds, highly professional & attentive staff and outstanding food & beverage earns Ojai high marks across the board!