Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa

This review is mainly about the Spa but I will start with the resort first. We stayed in an Agave Suite and it was beautiful, very clean, and amenities were great! Minor detail missed on our third night - we got truffles on our pillows the first two nights with the turn down service but not on the third night for some reason? And I missed it because the truffles were really good! Room service was also mostly prompt and staff were mostly helpful! Now about the spa... I have gone to multiple spas (not an expert but well traveled and have some experience). For the price paid for the services I got the overall impression I left with was subpar (what I would expect from an average spa). When I arrived at the spa the first day the lady that greeted me took me on a very brief tour after finding out that this was my first time at this spa. She left out a lot of important details that another guest was so gracious to help me out. When I was out by the pool that first day I was seated at my lounge chair and given a menu but nobody stopped by to ask if I wanted anything. There was a group of three ladies that were sat next to me after me that got waters, drinks, and great service immediately. Lastly, the day that I had two treatments I took a shower and it was very cold. When I exited the spa I informed the gentlemen at the front desk to the spa that the shower was very cold (not even close to warm after 10 minutes of running it) and he acted very nonchalant about it and diverted me by stating "but the treatments were great?" He completely minimized that I spent a lot of money ＞$1500 (a lot for me anyway) that I had a cold shower in a 5 star spa and did not offer any kind of amend or rectification for the experience. Then he asked me if I was with another person (stated the person's name) because they had not checked out yet?? He acted like he was annoyed and wanted to get out of there - very rude. So that was the last impression I had as I left the spa. Lastly, the spa is beautiful but needs some restoration work - it looked a little run down and there were plumbing issues along with the cold shower. The massage I got was average. I have had better massages but the girl who did it was very sweet and otherwise did a great job.

Rancho Valencia is more than a getaway- it's an experience. With it's breathtaking grounds, world-class spa, exceptional accommodations and impeccable service, it redefines luxury. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or seeking a romantic retreat, or simply indulging in a well-deserved escape, this resort delivers an unforgettable stay.

We visited Rancho Valencia to celebrate our friends’ 26th wedding anniversary and arranged with the reception team, specifically Calvin, to cover the meal as a surprise. Unfortunately, the restaurant team was not informed, and a bill was presented to our friends, who ended up paying for their own dinner. I had to leave the table to resolve the issue, which took 15 minutes and disrupted the evening. Despite assurances that the charge would be reversed and a goodwill offer to remove the champagne cost, neither was handled properly. I had to follow up multiple times, only to receive conflicting information and inconsistent billing. For a luxury property, this lack of communication and accountability was disappointing. What should have been a memorable evening became a frustrating ordeal. Sadly, I cannot recommend Rancho Valencia based on this experience.