Carmel Valley Ranch

I stayed here with a girlfriend for a weekend (3 days, 2 nights) to attend a wedding on the property, and we spent nearly all of our time at the resort. Overall, the setting was beautiful, the amenities were plentiful, and our room was one of the best I’ve stayed in. The weekend was so relaxing and restorative. We booked a “studio-style suite” with a king bed, and the room was spacious, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed. The two-way fireplace was a highlight, along with both indoor and outdoor seating areas that made the space feel even larger. The bathroom was huge, complete with a bathtub, and everything was spotless. The furnishings and finishes felt upscale, and the overall atmosphere in the room was very relaxing. The resort grounds were just as impressive—beautifully landscaped, clean, and clearly well-maintained. We especially loved the 24/7 pool, jacuzzi, and lodge fire pits, where we ended up spending both of our late nights lounging. The resort is dog-friendly, and we saw many dogs during our stay. All of them appeared to be well-socialized and friendly, which was great. We joined the “Beers and Steers” activity with the Highland cows, which was memorable but a bit tense. The cows themselves were cute, but the safety reminders from staff were so frequent and urgent—“Turn with them!” “Watch their backs!”—that it made the experience feel more unsafe than it probably was. While I understand safety comes first, it left me thinking that an experience with the donkeys or other more docile animals might feel more comfortable for guests. The resort offered a wide variety of activities, and we took full advantage—hilltop yoga was fantastic and something I’d highly recommend, and we enjoyed making s’mores on both nights. One drawback was the activity scheduling. It seemed like the activities were only updated a week or so out, and it was annoying needing to wait to see the activities to plan our weekend. Also, many activities overlapped, so unfortunately we missed out on several things we were interested in because we were at other activities. For food, we had lunch twice at the River Ranch Café and enjoyed the meals. We also played bocce ball and relaxed at the adults-only pool, which was a nice quiet spot. That said, for a resort of this size, the dining options felt somewhat limited. For a short stay it wasn’t an issue, but for longer visits, the variety might feel lacking. We had physically gone to the front desk earlier that day to make a reservation to the Lodge restaurant, but when we arrived that night, the hostess told us there was no reservation for us, no table available, and she was prepared to turn us away. Her response was unapologetic, which was disappointing given the cost to stay here. Thanks to Javier who was able to stave the day and find a table for us. Once seated, I had the steak which was one of the best steaks I've ever had at a restaurant. Overall, this resort delivers on comfort, scenery, and amenities. I don't get to see my friend that often since we live in different states but Carmel Valley Ranch was an amazing place to hang out & spend time together. I'll treasure the memories that we made here!

We stayed at Carmel Valley Ranch for two nights in a Bluff Suite (Suite 316) on a Sunday and Monday. While the property itself is undeniably beautiful, the overall experience fell far short in terms of hospitality, service, and room comfort. Room: We booked a suite with a soaking tub, hoping for a relaxing stay. Unfortunately, we couldn’t enjoy it the first night due to a loud wedding at the lodge, complete with Taiko drummers and a DJ whose announcements and music were clearly audible from our patio. While events like this are understandable, we didn’t expect such noise on a Sunday evening. The biggest issue, however, was the room’s location. It shares a wall with the hallway’s entry door used by guests accessing their rooms. Every morning, starting before 7:30 AM, the door would slam loudly, so loud it startled us awake from deep sleep. It was jarring and, frankly, unacceptable. We informed the staff after the first night, and while they said they would notify the manager, no one followed up with us. To make matters worse, the slamming door seemed to wake our upstairs neighbors as well, and we were unable to fall back asleep due to the sound of kids running overhead. Despite our concerns, the issues persisted the second night, and the lack of any communication from management made us feel disregarded. Pool & Food Service: The adults-only pool area is lovely, but service was extremely slow and riddled with errors. We ordered a Cobb salad (which the menu states comes with chicken), but it arrived without any. After notifying staff, a side of chicken was brought 15 minutes later for a now lukewarm salad. While the mahi mahi tacos were quite good, our drinks were forgotten entirely and had to be reordered after 30 minutes. To top it off, we were charged for the chicken that was originally missing. Additional Issues: We requested housekeeping at 10:15 AM, but when we returned at 3:15 PM, the room had not been serviced. Room service brought a pot of coffee but no mugs. Since housekeeping never came, I had to wash a used mug myself. Final Thoughts: At checkout, the front desk did comp our resort fee and provided a $100 food credit, which we appreciated. However, it didn’t make up for the disappointing experience. The lack of care from management, noise disruptions, and subpar service throughout left us feeling let down, especially considering the high price point of this resort. There are many other great lodging options in the area that likely provide a more relaxing and guest-centered experience. Sadly, we would not return to or recommend Carmel Valley Ranch.

Really nice family resort, but definitely not a five star resort. The land around the property itself is gorgeous. The river ranch is wonderful for children. The golf course is short but enjoyable and challenging. The room size is great, especially for families. The rooms are a bit dated, but pretty good. The service is ok, but not super proactive or responsive. The food is quite mediocre for a hotel at this price point.

Amazing experience, highly recommend if you are vacationing with children. There is so much to do, and the activities available are priceless.

The place is nice but outdated for the price you pay. Activitates are plenty but cost extra. The program with activitates is way to small to read and to much information - old school