Rancho Valencia Resort

The room was gorgeous! Huge, with a fireplace and jacuzzi. We were near the pool as well, which was likewise beautiful.
Went in for a couple’s massage at the spa as well. The experience was lovely — the relaxation room was great, and our attendants were friendly. Unfortunately, the massage itself was not the best — both of us had residual neck pain for the rest of the day.

So in love with their spa facility and the resort’s location. So tranquil and quaint. Every other few months I get spoiled with a full day spa session here. The relaxation amenities are phenomenal, luxury and chic. Great customer service and what I love about it most is that its co-​ed. That means enjoy all the steam and sauna facilities with your significant other. Not crowded at all.

This is a spa review – I called during the morning and booked a shellac manicure for 5:00pm that day. At 2:30pm I get a voice mail telling me they made a mistake and have to cancel my appointment because a shellac manicure takes 15 minutes longer and their manicurist can’t stay 15 minutes longer today. They offered to reschedule with a discount but can’t schedule me tomorrow. If you need a manicure, you aren’t going to wait 3 – 4 days to get it rescheduled. Thank goodness I didn’t have an important event to go to tonight. I need a reliable, dependable service provider and this level of service isn’t what I expected from Rancho Valencia.
The happy ending to this story is that the Spa at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe saved the day by accommodating me the next morning. Now, I’ll have nails for New Years Eve.

Can’t think of a more beautiful way to wake up than to a crate of freshly squeezed orange juice, every morning.
Our room was very spacious, and our private patio with hot and steamy jacuzzi was very relaxing. Kids had a blast jumping in and out.
Service was top notch, as expected. Restaurant near the lobby was pretty delicious.
Lost a star due to housekeeping «running out» of fresh sheets. Not possible. What would they do with new check ins? Leave old sheets? Either they were being lazy or they were being lazy. This isn’t a motel 8, their rates are pretty hefty, so the sheets should never be repeated.

Spent one night here for a short staycation. The property is stunning, the rooms are spacious and beatifically-​appointed, and the food and drinks throughout the resort are delicious and well-​priced. The Spa is amazing as well. We did a Pilates Reformer class, spin class, and played tennis — all of the instruction and the facilities were world class. Only slight criticism is that the young guys working the spa pool seemed a little disorganized and perhaps untrained (picking up towels when guests were still at the pool, asking to clear glasses that guests were still drinking from, forgetting to come back to take orders, etc.), but in the scheme of things this hiccup was inconsequential.

I got FIVE on it (5-​Star property that is)
Hey Tiff, how was…
The Location:
Far from ordinary (the hotel’s tagline) but close enough! The hotel is about 2 hours south of Los Angeles, and 30-​minute north of San Diego. Closet airport is ~ 20 miles from the property.
The Parking:
Valet parking
The Check-​in:
The hotel registration/​check-​in desk is interesting. The desk is in a room off to the right of the main entrance. Inside, the hotel guest reservation staff is behind this oversized desk with 2 chairs in front of each table. One perk, they have chilled champagne in the back of the room.
The Scene:
Rancho Valencia is an award winning property from that has the perfect odd inspired vibe of Mediterranean and equestrian. A true diamond in the rough. From the moment you walk in, you inhale this fresh SoCal air. The main restaurant and lobby area is outdoor (***photo bomb).
The Lobby/​Bar:
Open-​air lobby overlooking the lush grounds and property.
The Rooms:
Ranch style rooms large suite. The property is an all-​suite hotel with several villa areas. Ask for a room close to the main lobby or pool (splish, splash). If you’re not so fortunate, don’t worry the resort has golf carts to transport guests back and forth to their room. To my knowledge, most of the rooms have a back patio which is its own little sanctuary (***photo bomb).
The bathroom is EVERYTHING, like seriously. It’s bigger than my old NYC apartment (***photo bomb)! The shower alone has to be at least 6 foot wide in the center of the bathroom. If you plan to visit for a way, the bathroom has a walk in closet equipped with a mirror, hat and belt racks and endless other resources. Natura Bisse toilette products are available in the bathroom. If the shower is not your thing, you also have the option to enjoy a nice relaxing bubble bath in your jetted whirlpool tub.
The living room is a few steps down from the sleeping area. The space is very cozy especially with the working fireplace.
The Pool:
Gated pool area that is secretly open 24-hrs…(shesh it’s a secret). There’s a pool bar, several lounge chairs and Jacuzzi tub.
The Service:
Excellent as expected from a 5-​Star hotel. It’s the little things like calling room service in the morning and the operator telling me that freshly squeezed orange juice was already outside my door (***photo bomb).
The Dam$ge:
I did mention this is a 5-​star Forbes Travel, Conde Nest Travel… need I say more?$$$$
The Reason:
Weekend get-​a-​away
The D’Over?:
Without hesitation — now it’s going to be an annual trip!
The LeftOvers?:
A big smile and a bigger dent in your wallet #priceless.
***photo bomb means there’s a photo/​video that illustrates this point
**Tiff Tips**
Nice romantic weekend retreat. I would not stay longer than 3 days.
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I love eating here! Last night was my Mom’s birthday and they were so helpful with helping me decorate the table and they truly made her feel so special when she arrived! I eat here with my family often and we LOVE it!
The staff is amazing!!!
a Huge Thanks to our server Tyler who has served me and my family the past two weekends. He was so great. He didn’t mind that we sat and chatted for awhile before and after dinner on my Mom’s birthday. He didn’t rush us and we like places who are aware of the tables vibe.
Thanks Again to everyone who made it so special!!!

It was my cousins wedding day and everything was decorated beautifully. I loved the live band, the lights hanging up in the air, the decorations, the rustic, yet sophisticated feel to it. It was absolutely amazing and magical.
Such a beautiful place to be at during the summer time. They have complimentary coffee, water, punch, and snacks in the front. Their registration area is in a different area than where all the rooms are at. So you park your car in valet first, check in, and the workers will guide you to your room.
The rooms are nothing like Vegas hotels that’s forsure. It’s a nice villa with high ceilings, pull out bed, outside patio, and a huge bathroom. I absolutely loved the room. At night they give you complimentary water and in the morning they you orange juice as well. Everything in the mini fridge was FREE for us! I’m not sure if it’s free for all the guests that stay here or if it was because it was my cousins wedding. Not too sure about that, so ask beforehand before you start pigging out.
Its a really pricey place to stay at, but it will be an awesome weekend getaway for you and the family.

Wow!!! What an amazing experience!
The staff here made us feel so welcome.
Everyone from the greeter at the front gate to the server, Steve, the concierge Julia, were just so friendly and accommodating.
Expensive but worth it! Can’t wait to return!!!

We just spent a beautiful Father’s day weekend at Rancho Valencia with our two dogs.
Don’t expect any ocean views, just lots of serenity and large grounds to walk including an orange grove, rose garden and olive grove.
The rooms are beautiful and spacious with jacuzzis on the patio and heated, multi-​purpose toilets.
There are complimentary snacks and fresh squeezed oj in the morning which was a nice touch. Plus you can make cappuccinos or espressos in your room and soy milk is provided.
I also enjoyed the fireplaces, high ceilings, and steam option in the shower.
Veladora, on of the main restaurants, was decent. I can’t say I loved it, but it was suitable.
The service was great and the free Porsche rental program was great fun, especially cruising around at night in a 911 Carrera with the top down.
I would say this resort is a similar experience to the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

Well played Rancho Valencia. My first visit here was a failure. The service and staff let us down on almost every request and need. I would have given them 0 stars if I could. Well, the wife and I came back for a celebratory weekend, and were put up in the Olive Grove suites, with our own private Jacuzzi. That didn’t suck. Regardless of either visit, this place has the best bathrooms ever. The showers and tubs are great. The toilet is all managed via remote control panel from opening by itself when you enter to flushing, whatever. Super cool. There is also a mini fridge/​bar that is fully stocked at no extra charge to consume any of it.
Big difference this time was the service was spot on, the room was perfect, and the spa was awesome. Great weekend away. Only complaint would be there was a wedding near our room so the reception music was pretty loud but they shut it down at 10 which was perfect. Didn’t eat at the restaurant so I can’t say if that was better or not but it was a great getaway.

What a gracious gift! My husband and I were invited guests for a formal dinner and night’s stay at this incredible resort. Everything was top notch, but the service was ABOVE & BEYOND.
I drove up to the front gate and when I introduced myself, the female gate guard was incredibly friendly and excited for my stay (Wow). They put a removable label on my car with my name on it (yes, it was already ready for me) and provided me directions to check-​in.
When I drove up to registration, a valet immediately took my car and pulled it aside, while another walked me to registration. Upon check-​in, the clerk was again, incredibly friendly and offered me a glass of champagne. She was very informative and took the time to show me where everything was on the map (I wanted to know everything because I had such a limited time to enjoy the premises). Although, I had arrived early (1:30pm), our room was ready. My husband arrived at registration a few minutes after me and when we returned to the entrance, the valet had our cars right there for us and he jumped into a golf cart to show us where to park for our room. Once parked, he grabbed our bags and drove us in the golf cart to our room. He took us inside the room, put our bags away and showed us all the features of the room. Again, he seemed to love his job and enthusiastic to help us. (I think his name was Robert)
We stayed in the Agave Suite. 900 sq ft and a Deluxe King bed. Huge Spacious bathroom with walk-​in closet, vanity area, double sinks (a must for me), deep soaking tub and shower. 3 flat screen HD tv’s, sofa, fire place, private patio with lounge chairs & table. The mini-​fridge was filled with waters, juices, etc at no extra charge. They also had a basket full of treats ranging from granola bars to M&Ms at no extra charge. An illy espresso machine with a milk frother (YAY!!!). Did I mention the bathroom lotions, etc are Natura Bisse. NICE.
We walked the peaceful grounds and there were plenty of tennis courts. There are 2 pools. The spa pool is adults only. You can get drink service at the pool and we were told by the server that the Hacienda vodka drink is refreshing. He was right. We LOVED it. Both pools are saltwater and 82 degrees.
Fitness center was on the smaller side, but I had no problem getting a treadmill (there are about 5). They had free classes, but I couldn’t get myself up at 7am for the spin class. haha!
The spa was fantastic. I loved the Citrus-​A-​Peel facial therapy.
The dinner was excellent but was in a private dining room for about 50. Again, service & food were top notch.
My favorite unexpected surprise was the turndown service. We got back to the room about 11pm, to find the curtains had all been closed, fireplace turned on, robes on both sides of the bed, slippers on both sides, placed on towels, water bottle & glasses on either side, soft music playing and are bathroom all organized. And on the pillow, incredible Dallman Fine chocolates. That’s turndown service!
In the morning, at the door was freshly squeezed orange juice and the newspaper of my choice.
And that’s what stands out for me, are all the little details. For example, in the walk-​in closet, they provide an umbrella and shoe horn. All those little details is what makes this place exceptional.
I wish I didn’t have to leave!

This is an update to my recent stay at RVT and review. Note that they are now getting a 2 star rating and I debated giving them a 1 star rating due to a billing issue. About a week after I returned home I noticed a charge from Rancho Valencia Resort on my credit card. It was odd so I called the resort and left a message for someone in the accounting area. They called back several days later and discovered that the charge was an error and I was told that they might not be able to reverse it because my folder had been closed out. What — it was their billing error! She promised to look into it and also promised to call me back.
Never had a call back but another week later the charge was reversed. Did not receive an apology. Will not be returning.

Amazing.
Gorgeous grounds, day spa, and private villas. Two great restaurants overlooking the property. I couldn’t stop taking pictures, it’s that magical.

My favorite resort in San Diego is located a few miles from my home! Naturally, I visit this resort monthly, or more often. The reason this place is at the top of my list is because of their amenities, grounds, restaurant offerings, gym/​pool, and spa. I’ve been here multiple times to meet co-​workers or friends at Veladora or Pony Room for drinks, brunch, or dinner. It is outstanding! The brunch at Veladora features a beautiful brunch buffet in addition to an above average brunch menu.
The spa is probably one of my favorite places to visit and take a personal day. I tend to visit when I need a massage. I have never had a bad massage here. The grounds are quiet, and the rooms are simple and peaceful, slightly reminiscent of Hawaii or Baja. The day pass (included with any service) will get you access to the small, but awesome gym and the lovely lap pool. Laying out by their pool is one of the most relaxing things I can possibly think of doing after a crazy week at work!
I highly recommend visiting this local resort, especially if you’re in need of a daycation!

Yes– do it. Just splurge and book it. It IS that nice. Nicest villa I’ve ever stayed in. Best fitness center machines ever Complimentary snacks and beverages and gorgeous grounds… plus. yes, 4 Porsches. Unfortunately I never got to drive it and never got to the free pilates and yoga classes or spa treatment I had planned. But I can 100% say it is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in in my life. and I should know. Sadly as my luck goes lately, the one night I book at a 5 star resort, I spent just about my entire time here in this bed due to food poisoning (can’t speculate how I got it, not fair to the resort but always be careful with non-​chilled milk sitting out by a fireplace too long at a spa and unwashed looking grapes!). I want that bed. And that bathroom– the size of my apartment. Made being sickest I’ve ever been, more tolerable.
Hope to return as a healthy person. if fate allows!

5 star experience from top to bottom. The rooms were spacious, clean, and meticulously designed. Rarely am I this impressed with accommodations, but the RVR really hit the spot. Even when checking into high end hotels, they are at best comparable to home. RVR exceeded my expectations. Everything from the chic living room, the upgraded and modern bathrooms (heated toilet seats… I admit. are cool), the private jacuzzi, complimentary mini bar/​snacks to the friendly staff are top notch. Yes it is pricey, but you pay for what you get and it’s well worth it.
We also did a 2.5 hrs tennis clinic with Steve (6’6″ tall, lefty). Great instructor and recommended. We’ll be coming back again.
Highly recommended Unilocalers!

I absolutely love their spa! I’ve tried quite a few of the more luxury spas in San Diego and this one is my favorite so far. There’s no detail left untouched! The grounds are beautiful and I enjoyed the fact there were multiple jacuzzis and that they were coed (which is perfect for couple treatments and massages). The locker rooms are pristine and the shower amenities are high end. They also have great snacks like homemade banana bread and your choice of keurig coffee and then specialty teas.
I’m also obsessed with the fact they offer 60 minutes Swedish massages! It really annoys me that so many places over 50 and then 90. Ugh! Just give me 60! Massage room was beautiful, the massage tables were fancy and my masseuse was excellent. I have no complaints and since I typically only get massages for special occasions, I would definitely splurge a little extra and come back here.

This is not a review for the spa.
Came here for a nice buffet style memorial dinner held indoor and outdoor on their patio. Valet was free excluding tip which was a nice surprise considering I came prepared to pay.
I sat outdoors near a lovely fireplace where lighting was nice and cozy. Sorry Unilocalers, I wasn’t able to take pictures of the setting discreetly. Service/​Hospitality was excellent. Susan is seriously the bomb and goes above and beyond! She was extremely attentive and gave off a sweet down home vibe which is a nice treat if you’re here surrounded by any stuffaluffagusses. Gratefully, I wasn’t tonight. Yes, I just made up that word.
You would think coming here I would rave about something other than the hummus, right?! Nope… the hummus and flat bread were soooo good. Rave worthy, really! I could have eaten it all night. Best hummus I’ve tasted! The carved prime rib looked amazing but was unfortunately waaaay to rare for my liking (and many others). Kind of gummy… eek. Even after Susan carved personal slices to have the chef cook them a bit more they were still too rare. Everything else was decent.
I love a nice restroom, and that they have. It’s actually quite simple yet elegant in it’s décor. Gave me great ideas for a fun DIY project.
Restaurant staff is nice and will escort you versus pointing, which I appreciated. There seems to be staff actually just standing around in white waiting to be beckoned by a guest. I thought the white looked very classy and it was nice to see something other than the typical all black. I’m sure it’s hard to keep clean working in a restaurant, but nice angelic touch guys! Someone digs it!
I don’t believe it’s like a country club where membership is required to dine or enjoy amenities here, but there are of course discounts and perks for those who are members.

This is the resort I recommend to my out-​of-​country friends that want to enjoy all the best of the California lifestyle. It is simply stunning, great décor, atmosphere, activities, the spa is magnificent, landscaping very well taken care of and all those mosaics and tiles everywhere reminds me the Spanish revival style. In many occasions I had the feeling I was in my native Spain visiting an old luxurious mansion.
Staff is wonderful as well, what a nice group of people, they make you feel very welcome, even if you go only for drinks there or for a spa day and not a guest. I am looking forward coming back soon. If you are into pretty photography, you will have many Instagram opportunities here, even at the bathrooms!