The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe

I had the pleasure of staying here for a wedding over the weekend and was blown away by my top notch experience. Everything was stellar from start to finish. I'd visited the property before and knew how gorgeous it was but never had stayed there so I was very much anticipating my visit and the resort did not disappoint. I stayed in one of the newly renovated Rose cottages and was delighted that the hotel could accommodate my early check-in request (despite having a full house the night before) as there were many wedding details that needed to be tended to and the ability to check into my room ahead of schedule was much appreciated. Jenny at the front desk made a terrific first impression and bent over backwards to make sure we were happy. The room was fantastic. Loved the amenities like the robe & slippers as well as the yummy smelling shower gel and the enormous bathroom with the giant tub. The beds were incredibly comfortable and the entire atmosphere was peaceful. The pool was great--small but serene. Really enjoyed my time there and wish I could've been there longer. David brought us food and drinks on back-to-back days and also delivered room service on a few occasions. He is terrific! So personable and welcoming. The fitness center looked nice although I didn't bring tennis shoes so I wasn't able to enjoy. Was planning on doing drinks at the Huntsman that night because it looked so cool but ended up in their onsite restaurant, Morada, instead which was still fantastic. Loved the decor and my Paloma was superb! As a wedding venue, the Inn is absolutely stellar. The bride and groom could not have chosen a more spectacular backdrop for their big day. All of the wedding guests seemed so impressed by how gorgeous the surroundings were. Claude and Tim from banquets were consummate professionals, tending to everyone's whims. The food was absolutely delicious and the staff was helpful at the end of the evening (I needed the assistance of the golf cart more than once during my stay and they were happy to help). I'm very much looking forward to returning and next time I'll be checking out the spa. It looked very tempting. Special shout-out to Alma in housekeeping for being so wonderful and friendly. She's definitely an asset to the Inn. All in all, phenomenal property. No complaints.

Spend your $ more wisely! I have stayed at the Inn twice in two weeks due to construction issues at home. My family had been coming here for 26 years, since I moved to Rancho Santa Fe. We've seen many changes (both good and bad) at "The Inn." Sadly, since the Tribute acquisition, it is a "lipstick on a donkey" property (the Covenant of Rancho Santa Fe is equestrian) with some good things about it like central location, but mostly bad. Spend the $$$$ on Rancho Valencia or spend $ on Morgan Run, the Hilton, Marriot Courtyard, etc. Or drive 10 min to the Sheraton La Jolla if you're a Starwood loyalist. First: the good. The restaurant is quite decent and well-priced for the area. The patio area looking out at the village is lovely. It feels like a resort. Now for the bad: The hotel itself is a dog. (Well, they are friendlier to dogs than people so maybe that's a poor description.) As a Starwood Lifetime Platinum, the first time I visited I was upgraded to a very nice, sort-of-renovated, large cottage suite. Great! However, the front desk support was so awful I had to complain to an SPG concierge. Ironically, when she called to check out my experience, she experienced the same level of abuse! The front desk person I spoke with was condescending and rude when I asked for a 4pm checkout and said that Tribute was really not part of Starwood. Later, the floor manager called to apologize and fact-find but was defensive and sounded like a fossil--my guess is that her last customer service training was in the '80s. However, due to construction delays, I needed to book a room the following week. On my second visit, I was upgraded to different, smaller cottage. This one reeked of mold and was dark as a tomb--dowdy, too. My allergies kicked in big time from the dust and mold. Frig was well-stocked with others' half-drunk beer, wine, and water. Yuck. I left a note with the detritus for housekeeping since the front desk is/was useless. During check-in on a Sunday afternoon, I inquired about a late check-out (4pm) on Monday and the possibility of extending, if needed. I was reassured that it would not be a problem. But it was. Note: "Officially," there is no 4pm check out for Platinum "at Tribute properties." The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe's staff is hit or miss. They are either super sweet or super b_ _ _ _ y. They are also under-staffed. The poor woman who is the hostess at the restaurant also fields all room service calls and cannot juggle all effectively during peak hours. For two days I watched her take at least 12-hour shifts with no support. The technology in the place is non-existent. Room decor is pretty 70ish. However, the grounds are gorgeous and the proximity to the golf course walking trails and town can't be beaten. This feels like a poorly run local VRBO with an expensive price tag. For out-of-towners, it might feel exotic. For locals, it's the same "old Inn" dressed up but going nowhere. My decision to stay here it was all about location and the proximity to my home that was being remodeled. I'd hoped that it would have been charming and lovely--a "staycation." It was a rip-off and depressing. The pool does not have food or cocktail service and there is no way a $25/night resort fee can be justified in an area with free parking everywhere and few value-added amenities in the facility (unless you consider water with lemons available at check in a big deal). Check Trip Advisor or other resources for better inland San Diego alternatives. But, if you're in Rancho Santa Fe, definitely consider eating on the Inn's patio. It's lovely. Or go across the street to Thyme in the Ranch for a real local experience.

It is a pretty resort with lots of flowers. The staff was friendly and helpful. We had a large room with a fireplace on our patio. The bathroom was surprisingly large and the whole unit was plenty large for 2 people. We stayed for 6 nights and never felt crowded. I was a bit disappointed with the pool, though. It is not as fresh looking as the pictures implied. It is a bit run-down and crowded. The restaurant, there, had perfect service, but it was expensive and the food was mediocre. We found ourselves eating elsewhere a lot. Otherwise, I would have given the resort 5 stars.

I was so looking forward to staying at this historic spot but it was very disappointing. Don't stay in the Magnolia cottages - the noise from the road is horrendous and the quality of the rooms is sad. Torn screens on windows, peeling paint, dark, dank, awful entrance to the front door - you feel like you've been relegated to the basement. The maid service was iffy at best - they left garbage around and didn't take the towels on the floor (where we were instructed to put them). The shabbiness of the place was a real disappointment because the location is lovely and grounds were beautiful. The restaurant was very, very good. But I wouldn't stay here again - it needs a desperate upgrade.

We booked a brunch for 15 on the Upper Lawn area of the Inn. The setup was perfect, with marvelous views, and the food was fresh, delightful, and welk- displayed. We had fruit, pastries and breads, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, and bacon and sausages. A very attentive server poured coffee. We did have to bring in our own cakes, as none were on the catering menu. There was also a snafu with the credit card, as I was told at the last minute that Discover was not accepted- WHAT? Poor planning by the catering manager. But the event, deep in the land of the pampered 1%, was a treat and greatly appreciated by the honoree.