Bernardus Lodge and Spa

Our anniversary stay was comfortable. Check-in did not seem as friendly this time, got a little surly vibe. For the price and room level I was kind of expecting a little "happy anniversary" bottle of house bubbles or other acknowledgement which never happened. The room was spacious, clean, and lovely and I appreciated the easy-to-use fireplace as it was quite chilly. Dinner at Lucia was delicious (we have eaten here several times in the past and really love this place) but they really need to address whatever wine inventory problems they are currently having. At this price point, they should know whether they are out of a certain wine and not have you wait 35 minutes while they try to hunt it down, only to come back and hand you the wine list to start all over. Parking great, helpful friendly parking staff with easy EV charging which is a huge plus. Note: there is currently construction along CV Road with occasional long wait times. With the few tiny hiccups we had, this place still knocks the socks off the other resort down the road so if you are debating which one for a romantic getaway, there is no choice in my book.

Staying at Bernardus Lodge exceeded my expectations. The service exceeds Forbes 5-star standards. Everything about this property is well thought out. We had driven the Highway 1 reopening and after our adventure and long drive, settling into Bernardus felt like we won a "grand Prize" of some sort. The bed is extremely comfortable, and the in-room amenities are wonderful. I highly recommend staying here and we cannot wait to go back! A shout out to Chef Gus for the menu at Lucia and server Karrissa, GM Harmut for leading this incredible staff, and to Front desk agent, Esmeralda for her authenticity and genuine interest in listening about our experience.

I have had a wonderful experience, love everything about my stay, especially the Spa. It was like a nice retreat for us. The room in the lodge was clean and comfortable. Staff was very attentive, friendly and professional.. the location was great beautiful sunsets from Carmel Valley. Love the gardens from the property very peaceful. The food was very delicious , at the Lucia restaurant. I will come back for sure. Thank you!

The Spa. They sent a “pool closed” email the week of our visit—not when we booked—so we left no time to linger. Pool was open after all. Too late. We had commitments. They charged us anyway for the privilege of eating lunch on the deck, where the wine list categorizes crémant rosé as a white. Neither the color nor the bubbles. At check-in, I left the add-ons boxes unchecked. In the treatment room, the therapist upsold hot stones and CBD. When I set my water on the bench, she said, “I don’t want your water there. I want your robe there.” So: a sales rep and a micromanager. Then the massage. I felt like I was in trouble. She didn’t like where my arms were. Then my shoulders. Then she uncrossed my feet—while not working on anything requiring alignment. I could not shake the sensation of being at cooking school. As the item being prepared. Not bread being kneaded by Poilâne. Poultry on the work station, being handled. Every time she applied pressure, the table creaked. Tighten the screws—a metaphor for the whole experience. The walls are thin enough to hear every pipe flush next door. The lockers are implausibly small. Come in a tank top and flip-flops. Bring nothing. There is no way to secure a tote or purse while you shower. At. All. Which is why my Loewe bag was poolside when the waiter spilled an entire glass of white wine on it and my coat. I’m not naming names. This is a management problem.

We spend a few days at the Lodge & Spa every January; this is our 5th year in a row. From the moment we set foot on the property, everything and everyone project an atmosphere of serenity and relaxation. The rooms are very comfortable and well appointed, the staff is uniformly helpful and responsive, the spa is first rate, and the new chef at Lucia has brought the cuisine to a new level. We had a truly wonderful visit this year and would recommend Bernardus to anyone seeking a place to chill out and be pampered.