Banyan Tree Veya, Valle de Guadalupe

This is one of the worst hotel experiences I have had. We checked out quickly because we had to catch a plane from San Diego and get through the Mexican border. When we got home I realized that I never was given my Virtuoso room credits (I had 2 rooms). The hotel owed me $200. They finally gave me $100 after I appealed the bill to Amex who did give me an additional $100 credit on Amex. Also I couldn't figure out how they charge the room and it looks like I was overcharged $300 but they never gave me a bill detailing what I was charged on a daily basis for the rooms. Horrible. Buyer beware!

Our stay at this hotel was amazing the staff are super friendly and will do anything to make your stay great this hotel has amazing clean room and great views. I loved our stay here the only recommendation for the hotel is to put Mexican beer in the mini bar refrigerator. If you plan to vist wineries book a driver ahead of time as there no other way to get to them. Our driver picked us up from the border dropped us at hotel the. The next day he drove us to the winery. His link is below he is great and has great local knowledge https://www.instagram.com/chofer.privado.ens?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

Here’s a tightened version that keeps the substance but reads more like a polished review people will actually read: 1 Star – Massive disappointment and not what we expected from the Banyan Tree brand We stayed at Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe over a holiday weekend and left extremely disappointed. We paid a premium expecting the level of quality and service we have experienced at Banyan properties elsewhere in the world. This was nowhere close. The good: The property itself is architecturally beautiful. The rooms are visually stunning and thoughtfully designed. The included breakfast was genuinely good with solid variety, and the location is convenient—about 15 minutes from most wineries and restaurants in the valley. Staff were always kind and, when directly asked, genuinely helpful. The biggest issue: the sleep experience was terrible. The beds were extremely hard and painful as side sleepers. Sheets were not cotton and slept very hot. Pillows were flat, shapeless, and uncomfortable. The ceiling fan rattled all night, small LED lights remained visible throughout the room, and the blackout curtains would not fully close. The result was multiple nights of poor sleep at a luxury property charging luxury rates. The fitness room was also shockingly neglected. It appeared to be restocked with water daily and otherwise ignored. Dust everywhere, dirty floors, often only one towel available, and because the A/C does not turn on until guests arrive, workouts started in an uncomfortably hot room. Food was another disappointment. Dinner at the main restaurant had limited choices and was mediocre at best—even the tacos were bland. The taco truck by the pool sounded great when we booked but was never open during our stay. The winery restaurant and prix-fixe option were also never available beyond early evening hours. The pool area felt underwhelming for a resort at this price point: very limited seating, only two partially shaded daybeds, no pool towels available, though the bathroom facilities were nice. The most surprising moment came Monday evening when we discovered the main bar had closed with no notice and the reception lounge area was suddenly under construction and being refloored. Two major amenities simply disappeared while guests paying premium rates were staying on property. Service was largely nonexistent unless actively pursued. We repeatedly had to call for assistance despite communications directing guests to use WhatsApp—which was often ignored. Parking is also inconvenient. It is located off-property down a steep hill. Staff shuttle guests using Can-Am vehicles, but you must wait for them. The final stretch to the property consists of rough dirt roads passing trailers and run-down homes—not at all the arrival experience we expected from Banyan Tree. Overall this stay was a massive disappointment. Beautiful architecture cannot compensate for poor sleep, inconsistent amenities, absent service, and closed facilities. We expected a world-class luxury experience and instead left regretting the premium price. We would not stay here again.

Last weekend my girlfriend and I stayed here and had the most incredible experience. Initially we were only going to stay for one night, but we were in heaven and decided to extend it for another. I’ve stayed at a decent number of 5 star hotels, and many don’t quite live up to the rating -- Banyan Tree in Valle definitely does. The room was beautifully designed, clean, and offered tons of privacy. We especially loved the plunge pool -- it was set to 32 C, so you can just relax in there forever. The room also had all the little amenities that I find lacking these days, an iron and ironing board, a good TV that’s easy to navigate with your own show/movies, a great Bluetooth speaker, plenty of towels, etc. The service from the hotel staff was very impressive. We were running a bit late arriving and were in a rush to check in and get to our room to get ready for our reservation at Fauna, but the staff was incredibly accommodating and helped us make it all work. Whenever we needed a ride to and from the parking lot (or other parts of the property), we were picked up within minutes. All of the drivers we had throughout our stay were awesome. At one point we ran out of towels, and when I called the front desk they were delivered almost immediately. I wish I had kept track of the names of the staff we interacted with most so I could give them a proper shoutout -- but if you were working last weekend, we appreciated you! We really wanted to stay a third night and explore the property more, but had to get back home. From what we did see -- the winery, and the restaurants Aldea, the bakery, and Jardin Botanica -- everything was beautiful and the food and drinks were excellent. We will definitely be coming back as soon as possible and hope to stay at Salvia Rosa (104) again to try to recreate the weekend. It truly was the best birthday weekend of my life, and I want to thank everyone at the hotel who made it happen.

Excellent stay through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts. The service was exceptional from check-in to departure, and the property exceeded expectations. The amenities and attention to detail made it a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend.