The Rancho Bernardo Inn Provides a Unique Experience

 

We had a chance to check out the Rancho Bernardo Inn last weekend as part of their INNfluencer program and was delighted to spend my (forever 28) birthday weekend there!  Located in San Diego in a rather quaint neighborhood (you drive through several neighborhoods to get to the serene resort), you are immediately put at ease by the warm and welcoming vibe of the resort.  I had visited Rancho Bernardo Inn for the first time last November for a work-related event and vowed to come back as I truly fell in love with the place!  On their website they state It’s a place to visit again and again, each time experiencing something different – each time finding a new favorite secret spot to call your own, and it is so true.   My husband’s former boss has been coming here for years to play golf and enjoy the facilities.  It is a place that locals can come back to again and again, and travelers will want to visit again!

Here are some of our favorite aspects of the hotel I want to share with you:

 

The Rooms:

The rooms are very spacious and have been updated since the place was built in the 1960’s.  Each of their 287 Guest Rooms and Guest Suites  comes with a large 42″ flat screen TV, custom furniture, refrigerator, Wi-Fi, and adorable bath amenities, sunken tub and gorgeous showers, and private patios and balconies.  The views from the rooms are absolutely amazing.  That last morning I sat on our balcony watching the rain and could hear the birds chirping and even heard a frog or two singing along.  It was quite nice.

 

 

They Offer Wonderful Service and Hospitality:

They treated us with extra love and had chocolate chip cookies and milk in the fridge waiting for us in our room.  This type of personal attention and attention to detail is something you will find throughout your stay.  They really do think about making your stay as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

 

 

They Make it Special for Kids:

They even put up a tent, sleeping bag and a new stuffed animal, night light and s’mores kit for our daughter (though she stayed home for this trip).  We did end up bringing back the s’mores kit and had our own little camping experience in our living room. I love that Rancho Bernardo Inn offers this for families!  I have never experienced that at a resort and think it is quite genius!

 

 

 

The Spa:

To top off the birthday celebration, I was treated to a Made Fresh Daily Sugar & Spice massage and scrub treatment.  Again, this experience is quite unique in that they use only fresh ingredients and customize it according to the seasons.  My massage therapist, Geri, explained that in the Fall they will use pumpkin and other spices and in the Winter, they use persimmon, brown sugar and ginger. I felt like a million bucks after my treatment and took some time to enjoy their hot sauna and Jacuzzi as well.  There are lockers to put your items in, fresh white towels and robes, lemon water and herbal tea to enjoy while waiting for your treatment.

 

 

And I fell in love with the spa gift shop!  They offer some reasonably-priced jewelry and knick knacks that make great gifts.  It is always fun to pick up a goodie while traveling to remind you of a trip and The Rancho Bernardo Inn gift shops offer great merchandise without the high price tag!

 

 

The Pool:

After we enjoyed our treatments (my husband received the Signature Massage and said it was fantastic) we headed to the pool.  Yes, I know the rest of the country is experiencing some chilly weather – but all the more reason to plan a trip next year for January or February! The Rancho Bernardo Inn offers outdoor cabanas, a 2,500 sq. ft. saline spa pool, spa garden and a fitness center.

 

The rates are great AND you are pretty much guaranteed good weather!  We ordered some food and I must say, the food alone is reason to come for a visit.  I looked into who the chefs are at the resort because I am so impressed with the quality of the food – from the pool to room service.  All of them have very impressive backgrounds and no wonder they have such good food here at Rancho Bernardo Inn! I ordered their Salmon BLT and must say it is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had – they even had homemade potato chips.

 

 

The Fountains:

There are over 25 fountains that can be found throughout the resort and really are quite amazing. Artfully selected and carefully placed throughout the resort, each water feature adds to the resort’s tranquil ambiance. We had a chance to check out a couple of them.  The one featured above can be found outside the Rancho Bernardo Spa area and can be seen from many of the rooms.

 

 

This water feature can be enjoyed while getting an outdoor massage in your own private bungalow.  I am defiantly doing that next time I visit!  How surreal is that!  And the price is the same whether you get it outside in a bungalow or in the spa area.

 

The whole resort is filled with greenery to your hearts content!  I found tons of lavender bushes throughout the resort and just sat and admired them for awhile.

 

 

The Restaurants:

We dined at The Veranda Fireside Lounge & Restaurant that first night and had breakfast in the morning on our last day. Again, the food is reason enough to come for a visit.  You can tell the chef’s spend a lot of time working on the menu’s and offer unique drink and food selections.  For dinner, I ordered the shrimp with grits (interesting combination that was delicious) and for breakfast I had the La Jolla healthy breakfast omelet that included arugula, shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes and grilled vegetable hash. It was delicious!

They recently opened up fine dining at AVANT and their menu looks amazing.  They offer eight beer selections on tap, six wines on tap which means they utilize re-usable wine casks, skipping the need for bottles, corks, cases and labels.  Whether by the sip or by the carafe, the first time oxygen touches the juice is when it hits your glass.  Plus, they are the only restaurant in the US to have house-made mustard on tap. Next trip I will have to try it out!

Image courtesy of Rancho Bernardo Inn

And make sure to check out the bar. We were able to see a live performance by Mike Myrdal who was quite entertaining and had some great song choices!  We even got to make some song suggestions and my husband and I had fun writing down on a bar napkin our favorite Top 10 All-Time Bands (though it is tough deciding on only 10!). Who would you select?

One of the many things I like about Rancho Bernardo Inn, is that it offers you a chance to relax and refuel with your husband or weekend-away with some friends.  But it is also a great family destination as it is located near many San Diego’s Top Attractions, that include Safari Park, Legoland, Sea World, San Diego Zoo and Southern California Beaches.  The golf course is absolutely amazing and my husband is itching to try it out next time.  Their 18-Hole Championship Golf Course, is Resort Golf at its best! Their Southern California Spa and Resort has hosted both a PGA and LPGA event and the first tee is just steps from the lobby!

So next time you need to plan a trip in the San Diego area, I highly recommend stopping off at Rancho Bernardo Inn for a stay.  You will love the gorgeous greenery and the food is amazing!  Lots to do for the kids and makes for a perfect get-away with your husband and/or friends.

You can read more about all that Rancho Bernardo Inn offers here and see why it received the 2014 Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor and 2014 Family Vacation Critic Winner for Favorite Hotel and many other awards!

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Note:  We were selected to be part of the #INNfluencer program and provided accomodations, spa and dining experiences for this review, but all opinions are my own.  We are fans for life! This is my kind of place!

And GREAT NEWS!  I am so happy to share this with a lucky lovely dandelion mom since the nice folks at Rancho Bernardo Inn are offering one night stay plus lunch for two at The Veranda for a lucky winner!  Some restrictions and block out dates apply. Good luck!

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