RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIFORNIA – I have the privilege of staying in a LOT of wonderful hotels and resorts. Few of them offer the tranquility of the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa in southern California.
Simply driving into the property, which is roughly a half-hour north of downtown San Diego, put my wife and I into a relaxed state of mind, as we wound our way up a small hill past thickets of dense trees and traffic signs that said “24 MPH.” (Why 24 versus 25, I don’t know; maybe it’s supposed to get your attention, in which case it worked.).
We had checked in with a security guard before entering the property, and of course he relayed our names to the valet desk. When we pulled up, we were greeted by name and told to leave the car where it was so we could check in to the only Relais and Chateaux property in Southern California.
We entered a hushed, beautiful lobby area and were greeted by a young man (I have, alas, forgotten his name) who was as professional as can be. When we was taking down our information, the phone rang. “Hello, Rancho Valencia Spa and Resort. I’m dealing with a guest at the moment. Would you mind terribly if I put you on hold for just a moment? Thank you so much.”
Okay, that’s a little thing. But it’s important. And there were a million little things to notice about the resort. Our casita, number 153, had a massive bathroom with a shower big enough for the starting infield of the Toronto Blue Jays and a lovely soaker tub. There was a small wooden try next to the tub with soap and other amenities; all neatly arranged. In one corner of the living room was a lovely set of tall vases, perfectly lined up. There were two deep orange cushions on the sofa, and a beautiful, miniature, old-style suitcase on the end table in a suite that was around 1,000 square feet (pretty much the average for their 49 casita units).
A casita at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. PHOTO COURTESY RANCHO VALENCIA RESORT AND SPA
Our casita had wood floors and a pretty, blue-grey rug in the bedroom area with calm, wavy lines. They even bring fresh orange juice to your room in the morning and leave it outside your door in a wooden box.
Our room had a lovely fireplace framed by Spanish tiles, a walk-in closet in the bathroom, double sinks in the bathroom, an espresso machine, a wet bar and a mini-fridge with free snacks and free soft drinks and juice.
The resort also has some fine, high-tech touches. Our toilet seat was warmed, and the lid rose up automatically when we walked into the room. We had one of the few rooms that has a special bed that can be programmed for temperature and even firmness. That’s something new to me, and quite useful.
High-tech is great, but to me one of the best things about the property is the natural surroundings. The resort sits on a sizable 45-acre parcel, and the landscaping is divine. Our casita had a large patio with terra cotta tiles, several chairs and two loungers with super-soft cushions. I laid in the dappled sun on one of the loungers and admired tall palm trees, shorter, leafy banana palms and a variety of desert foliage, including palo verde plants.
The main pool was just a short walk from our casita, and was great for swimming laps and soaking up the sun. It’s a pet-friendly resort, and someone had brought a lovely golden retriever to the pool, which barked when I first went in the water but quickly settled down. There’s also an adults-only pool at the spa, which is sensational. We had a fine lunch of lobster tacos and Hawaiian poke at the spa pool.
Both swimming pools are kept at 83 degrees Fahrenheit and use salt water, so there’s no worry about harsh chemicals.
The spa at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. PHOTO COURTESY RANCHO VALENCIA RESORT AND SPA
The spa has a series of special treatments. The massage they offered was a perfect blend of relaxation and stimulation; just what tired muscles and old bones needed most, complete with a rose-scented aromatherapy option, pillows for your head and back, a warm robe and a nice relaxation area with fruit and tea and other healthy options. The relaxation room looks out onto a small pool/fountain that’s surrounded by greenery; a lush California oasis.
The Spa at Rancho Valencia offers an expansive treatment menu of results-oriented skin care, facial, body and sensual massages, coupled with Natura Bissé, ISUN skin and body care products and an innovative facial line with Biologique Recherche. Indoor amenities include seven beautifully tiled, vibrant treatment rooms with private patios; five with outdoor, deep soaking tubs and rain showers. Two couple’s rooms include fireplaces, private patios, outdoor showers and tubs for two.
In addition, the spa offers a dedicated salon space, offering finishing touches with shampoo and blowout options, as well as a LAWLESS Beauty clean makeup bar and two manicure and pedicure rooms.
We enjoyed a fine meal on the patio at the Pony Room restaurant, with a gurgling fountain, fireplace and a very good singer crooning James Taylor tunes and other mellow songs. I had a very good bucatini pasta dish with California spot prawns and nduja (an Italian sausage paste) saffron and peas, while my wife had a truly sensational miso-crusted sea bass that was as thick as Conan O’Brien’s hair. I also had the La Pinata margarita with mezcal and charred pineapple for a fine, smoky flavour.
Lobster tacos at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. PHOTO COURTESY RANCHO VALENCIA RESORT AND SPA
In the morning, back at the Pony Room, we had an excellent Acai bowl with granola and fruit, and terrific lemon souffle pancakes. I wasn’t crazy about the chicken apple sausage, but we had good coffee and a lovely table with morning sun and a temperature of about 17C in late September.
We were only at the resort for a night and couldn’t experience a lot of what’s on offer, but Rancho Valencia has an indoor-outdoor yoga pavilion, 13 tennis courts (including three new clay surface courts), four pickleball courts and a luxury bicycle partnership with Electra. The resort has been named the as the best tennis resort in the U.S.” by Tennis Magazine since 2008.
There’s also hiking, croque and bocce. Off property, the concierge can book tee times at five nearby country clubs, or make arrangements for you to try paragliding, hot air ballooning or surfing lessons. (Come on, you know you want to try.)
The resort opened in 1989 and has attracted such well-known figures as Bill Gates, Michael Jordan and Rene Russo. Also some guy named William Jefferson Clinton.
Tucked away on the property is also a 5,000-square-foot Hacienda, with three bedrooms with wood-burning fireplaces and private baths, a full kitchen and a large backyard garden and pool area with an enclosed cabana, outdoor grill and historic wooden table for eight.
A casita at Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The property also unveiled two new guest residential-style accommodations with The Spa House and Casa Valencia. The Spa House is designed with families and small groups in mind, delivering space, luxury and privacy, with access to all of the resort amenities with four bedrooms accented with soft, luxurious neutrals, custom furnishings for a refreshing residential feel. The event-driven home of Casa Valencia offers a five-bedroom private residence that combines Mexican-Moroccan styling with incredible space and impressive amenities for entertaining.
And here’s something cool: Rancho Valencia offers guests an opportunity to drive luxury Bentley models during their stay at the resort. Resort guests are able to take the luxury vehicle out complimentary, at any time, for up to four hours a day. Rancho Valencia’s esteemed concierge can make recommendations on where to explore, whether it be down Highway 101 to the beaches of La Jolla, a leisurely drive through Temecula’s wine country (quite nice) or a couples’ night in the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego.
With more than 12,000 square feet of newly designed indoor/outdoor meetings space, Rancho Valencia caters to groups of all sizes in custom-designed spaces. Wedding also are easily accommodated.
The patio at the Pony Room restaurant. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Nestled between the resort’s casitas and olive groves, guests can experience the property’s Culinary Garden in a private intimate dinner, casual family stroll, or ‘Green is Gold’ Master Culinary Class led by Executive Chef Alex Bloom and Master Gardener Casey Woodall, creating versatile dishes using just-picked garden ingredients in the resort’s stunning Culinary Garden and greenhouse. Guests are offered to visit the property’s very own ‘casita coop,’ home to their new chickens for sustainability sourced eggs. Woodall works closely with Bloom to custom-grow produce for use in Rancho Valencia’s signature restaurant The Pony Room, focusing on bringing hyper-seasonal produce to the property’s food and beverage program.
There is a $60 per day resort fee. There’s also free Wi-Fi, free orange juice and a newspaper of your choice (hurray), daily housekeeping, nightly turndown, free parking and the previously mentioned free snacks (chocolate bars, nuts, popcorn, etc…) and soft drinks/fruit juice.
NOTE: My stay at the Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa was complimentary. The resort did not see or review this article prior to publication.
