Rancho Bernardo Inn

The Rancho Bernardo Inn was a short drive east from the coastal highway in San Diego and a world away in style and pace. Relaxed and verdant, the property’s golf courses and gourmet restaurant were the center of attraction in an otherwise quiet residential neighborhood.Balmy evenings and toasty days made my September visit particularly pleasurable at the Inn. I especially appreciated my room’s expansive golf course view, in-room complimentary high speed Internet access, the friendly and helpful staff, spa treatment, fitness center and gourmet dining options the 265-acre property offered.I will recommend the Inn to travelers attending a business meeting or family gathering; and travelers yearning for golf and gourmet dining getaways with access to spa treatments, outdoor pools and hydro-spas in a spacious self service environment.

Overall Impression The Rancho Bernardo Inn was a short drive east from the coastal highway in San Diego and a world away in style and pace. Relaxed and verdant, the property’s golf courses and gourmet restaurant were the center of attraction in an otherwise quiet residential neighborhood.

Balmy evenings and toasty days made my September visit particularly pleasurable at the Inn. I especially appreciated my room’s expansive golf course view, in-room complimentary high speed Internet access, the friendly and helpful staff, spa treatment, fitness center and gourmet dining options the 265-acre property offered.

I will recommend the Inn to travelers attending a business meeting or family gathering; and travelers yearning for golf and gourmet dining getaways with access to spa treatments, outdoor pools and hydro-spas in a spacious self service environment.

Class Of Accommodation Luxury hotel

Concierge Karen Oberlander

Connectivity There was complimentary high speed Internet access in the room via an Ethernet cable (there was a cable in the desk drawer) and WiFi connectivity in the lobby and by the swimming pools.

General Manager John Gates

Handicapped Access Although there were steps in various parts of the property there were also elevators and ramps and ground floor guestrooms.

Length Of Stay Two nights

Location In San Diego North between the San Pasqual Mountains.

Owned-Managed JC Resorts (owners of Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach and Temecula Creek Inn in California)

Pets Allowed No

Size The Inn was set on a 265-acre property. It housed 287 guestrooms and employed 426 staff.

Year Opened-Renovated The Inn, opened in 1963, was in the process of renovating guest rooms. The spa was scheduled for renovation in November 2006 and a new lap pool was planned. A 10,000 square foot conference center with 18-foot ceilings and its own kitchen was underway.

Lobby And Common Areas Indoor touches we liked included wood beam ceilings and oriental rugs. There was a large fireplace near the entrance with a plant covering the grills and another at El Bizcocho, the hotel’s gourmet restaurant. The lobby seats looked comfortable and cozy although there was a slight musty odor. The early California design, featuring Mexican antiques, was meant to remind visitors of a country estate. There was a network of facilities connected through a series of landscaped sunlit walkways and bowered patios. There were gardens, Mexican sculptures, Mediterranean style fountains and benches throughout the property.

Bathroom The rectangular shaped bathroom was to the left of the entrance. It had twin sinks, a bathtub, timer activated heat lamp and separate shower. The shower and toilet area had a privacy door.

Room From my new looking 300 square foot Premium Room (Room 735) I had a prime view of the manicured golf lawn and the residential area beyond it. The room was decorated in pale earth tones. A king bed with night tables and lamps was comfortable with a medium hardness mattress and faced the large double doors and windows that led to the gold course. There was a small sitting area with a love seat, patterned wood armchair, wood coffee table and side table. On the other side of the room there was a 30” Phillips television, Sony CD player and Zvox speaker in a wood armoire with drawer space at the bottom. There was also a desk with armless chair and lamp. There were wood shutters over the windows to provide privacy and wall to wall carpeting. For decoration there were two oil paintings and a metal design wall hanging. The closet was at the entrance to the room. Next to it there was a small cubby hole with coffee and tea service and a mini refrigerator with cold beverages and Powerbars.

Food And Restaurants There were three dining options for guests. Room service was available until 10 p.m. Although the Veranda and El Bizcocho were open most nights the Veranda and room service were the only options on Sunday. There was also a lounge, La Taberna.

Amenities There were two cotton bathrobes in the closet. There were two packages of coffee and two tea bags next to the coffee maker and ceramic mugs. Toiletries were by Aveda: body cleanser, rosemary mint shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, moisturizing lotion, shower cap, shave and dental kits and a loofah.

Facilities Leisure activity options included two swimming pools, seven hydro-spas placed around the Inn, a stand alone spa, 5,000 square foot fitness center, neighborhood jogging trails, sundries area (next to reception desk), golf and tennis pro shops, El Bizcocho restaurant, Vernada Bar & Grill, La Taberna Bar, and 15 meeting rooms. There were 45 holes of golf onsite including an 18-hole championship course designed by William Bell.

Pool There were two outdoor swimming pools with wrought iron fences around them. A smaller pool was for adults only (3 to 6 foot deep) and a larger one for the entire family. Plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas were distributed around the pools. Each chair had a rolled towel for guests to serve themselves during their pool visit. There were no attendants or refreshment service the times I visited the pools. There were only two other people when I went for a swim in the adult pool. It was adjacent to a well trafficked area. Many people walked back and forth and wheeled equipment was transported through the walkway. This resulted in loud conversations and transport noises that reached the pool.

Fitness Center And Spa I entered the fitness center with my electronic room car/key. It was equipped with 12 machines, various weights, three treadmills, Stairmaster, Lifecycle and elliptical cross trainer. There were headphones for those who wanted to listen to video programs and television. A cold water dispenser and towels were available.

The Buena Vista Spa had his and hers lockers, separate sauna and steam rooms in each locker area, and Jacuzzi. A selection of treatments such as massages, body treatments and facials was available by appointment. Housed in a separate building next to the tennis courts and fitness center, the spa was quiet. Guests passed by the reception and locker areas on their way to and from treatments so I knew there were other people there but on the Sunday afternoon I was there they were hardly noticeable. It was as if I had the spa to myself. I had a Deep Muscle massage the afternoon of my arrival. Kate’s strong and temperate hands guided my muscles to a more relaxed state and I felt recovered from a long morning of travel after the 50-minute massage. Cheryl at reception was friendly, welcoming and helpful.

NOTE: The name of the spa has changed to “The Spa at the Rancho Bernardo Inn.”

Conference Facilities Meeting and banquet rooms could accommodate between 10 and 500 guests within 15 meeting rooms and 15,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space plus 30,000 square feet of courtyard and outdoor space. The main conference rooms were San Bernardo (5,000 square feet), Santiago Ballroom (3,612 square feet) and Santa Catalina (2,180 square feet).

Other The distance between my room and other parts of the Inn was the equivalent of a city block or two. Getting around the property required extra time and comfortable shoes. The hotel was populated by small buildings giving the impression of a much less dense property. Ample parking was available near my room ($10 per day for self parking, $12 for valet parking).

The Inn was a Member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award.

Cleanliness Very good

Date Of Review September 2006

ReviewersArticle and photos by Elena del Valle

Service All the staff members I interacted with were efficient, helpful and friendly. Yoko at the front desk saved the day by lending me a car charger briefly during a cell phone charging emergency.

Would You Stay There Again? Yes