Customer service (from lobby to valet to dining and management) is wonderful. Five stars. The Ranch is heavily geared toward weddings and events––and if I'm not in attendance, this is not my fave experience. That said, as a guest on staycation from nearby L.A., I was treated with great care, and every need and concern was met gracefully and promptly. The property is lovely––similar to the Ojai Valley Ranch & Spa. Chandeliers hang from trees, small vineyards are lit up at night, and there are several well-maintained cold AND warm pools. The actual beach property is a 15 minute drive away, and it's not the nicest part of the Malibu coastline (I recommend nearby Escondido or Zuma instead) but, again, the beachfront service is very strong. I wish our accommodations matched the coziness of the environment for the price tag. Estate Rooms are $1K/night (with taxes) and yet they overlook the least-inviting pool on the property, they are furthest from the full-service Lobby pool, they are nearest to the wedding/event spaces, and they are behind the valet parking lot where all the party buses and wedding guests disembark. If I stayed again, I would book a different room. PROS: The king-sized beds are comfortable and firm, and the rooms are well air-conditioned. They are also pleasantly scented with an individualized complimentary candle. The rain shower is spacious and refreshing (though a tub in this setting would add to the relaxation). The gratis bottle of wine is also very good. The glass doors were effective at blocking noise. CONS: Given the sprawling property and the cost, the resort did not deliver the privacy I was expecting. The "patios" refer to a shared deck that is minimally divided by planters. If you rent the block of 4 Estate Rooms with a group for an event, it would be perfect, but otherwise the rooms are tightly packed. Most surprising was that the tall glass doors lacked proper blackout curtains and instead feature four separate linen panels that do not adequately block the morning sun, which was a big problem for a sensitive sleeper like myself. (The hotel was generous to comp our breakfast, though I wasn't trying to get anything for free.) As a staycationer, I was hoping the interiors would have more charm (and more outlets). More table lamps and reading lights would give the space a more cozy glow, similar to other nestled properties like Ventana Inn or Ojai Spa. But I appreciated how the front desk fielded issues (thank you, Connor), and this is an ideal spot for out-of-towners discovering Malibu.…
I was invited to a wedding at the Calamigos Ranch, so I decided to turn the trip into a short staycation. The Ranch has strict guidelines regarding ceremonies held there during the pandemic. Our wedding even had on-site COVID testing. I was unfamiliar with the Ranch prior to the wedding announcement. Located in the hills above Malibu, it has been owned by the same family since 1937. It's a sprawling multi-purpose 250-acre property capable of hosting weddings, events and retreats on at least 9 different locations on-site. Plus it has overnight lodging, a dining venue open to the public (Malibu Cafe), and a separate Beach Club off Pacific Coast Highway. There's a stable, cow barn, vineyards, carousel and ferris wheel. Note that using GPS to get you to the Ranch may direct you to an entrance off Latigo Canyon Rd that is now blocked off. The proper entrance is off Mulholland Hwy just west of the intersection with Kanan Rd and Kanan Dume Rd. The road then divides (there was someone taking temperatures here) and you can head towards the Guest Ranch motor court or towards the events/Malibu Cafe parking area. All parking is valet ($38 for overnight guests). The event/Malibu Cafe parking lot can get VERY crowded, but the valets seemed accustomed to this. The Guest Ranch Lobby is a lovely pavilion with glass walls that fully open onto a shaded deck. There are many seating areas, and off to one side is a counter (it may have been a bar or concierge area) where house-made infused waters are offered. In the evening, this same area offers hot chocolate, hot toddies and sweet treats, including s'mores kits. You are given 2 maps of the property upon check-in, which I found ESSENTIAL to navigate the Ranch and all its offerings. Just beyond the Lobby is the pool area complete with food and beverage service, chaises and cabanas, plus 2 event rooms and a Pizza Bar (closed). Beyond the pools are the cottages and bungalows. Beyond those is the Spa Calamigos and Fitness Centre (closed), the Spa Pool and hot tub (open), and the Ranch Club restaurant, set up during the pandemic on an open lawn for Ranch guests only. The cottage/bungalow area is the sole reason for my 4-star rating. It's basically a trailer park, albeit a very well landscaped and maintained one. It was clear on the Ranch's website that most of its accommodations are pre-fab trailers, both single and double-wide. However, I was a bit taken aback at how close together they are set. Some seem to have private patios beyond their entrances, others have non-private porches. Some staff seem to live here also, based on items I noticed on some of the porches. The property map was not accurate here--paths that I thought would lead me somewhere were dead-ends. I came to realize there's really only one main path down the centre of the complex, plus one partially around its periphery. My accommodation was a "One Bedroom Suite Bungalow". It was a nicely decorated single-wide trailer with , in succession, a porch ("patio"), living room ( sofa-bed, TV, table and 2 chairs), a large bathroom ( 2 sinks, shower and lots of counter space), and a bedroom (king bed, bench, another TV and an armoire housing a small closet rod, a few drawers and a safe). There was a Nespresso machine and complimentary snacks and beverages, including a bottle of wine. Minifridges are available upon request. The Bungalow was quite dark. The living room and bedroom each had small windows that looked onto the wall of the adjacent trailer 3 feet away. Each also had 3 small square windows above head level. The most natural light came from the frosted glass windows in the entry door and in the bathroom. Despite the close proximity of accommodations, it was relatively quiet. I suppose 3 feet between trailers is better than a shared wall between standard hotel rooms. In contrast, the bride and her immediate family stayed in Estate Suites. The Estate Rooms and Suites are in a not-pre-fab building in a totally separate area from the trailer park, close to the prime wedding venues and Malibu Cafe. There is a separate pool here. Their Suites were laid out similarly to my Bungalow, but on a much grander scale. Semi-private patio with chaises. Ceilings about 20 feet high. A shower big enough to fit a dining table for 4. One Suite had a freestanding circular tub. Large walk-in closet. Split-level bedroom (which was also on the dark side). The Beach Club is a charming venue about 15 minutes away off PCH, for Ranch guests only. There usually is a shuttle, but not during the pandemic. The nicely decorated Club offers a variety of seating options both indoors and out. There's a fireplace, firepits and heat lamps Being PCH adjacent, there's a lot of traffic noise. Off the parking lot, there's a stairway to a tunnel that goes under PCH to a quiet stretch of beach where staff can set up beach chairs and also offer food and drink. I tried 5 items off the menu and all were delish. Back at the Ranch, I did not try any of the dining venues (Ranch Club, poolside, room service, Malibu Cafe). I can say the food at the wedding reception was excellent. For in-room dining, it seems that the front desk staff take the orders. I noticed in the morning when there are a lot of breakfast orders, this can cause a back-up waiting for staff to you check-out or what not. Aside from the shortage of staff in the morning, service was excellent, always friendly--valets/bellmen, front desk staff, wedding staff. The concierge staff texted me a few days before arrival for any requests. I was texted at 11:30 am on my check-in day informing me my room was available. During my stay there were texts about various activities available. And lastly I was given an offer to stay another night at about a 40% discount. The bride was given the SAME offer and rate for her Estate Suite, over 80% off! I declined, she accepted. Overall a lovely staycation and wedding, and a new discovery for me. I'll try a different type of room next time.…
I wanted to getaway from all the pain, bad news and pandemic drama before starting a new job...I knew I wanted to go to Malibu and also wanted a change from my usual go-to locations like the Malibu Beach Inn (overpriced) and Surfrider...(small and you have to drive or walk to change your scenery)...so I tried something new and totally unexpected! Calamigos is like a camp resort for adults! Totally serene, tucked in the mountains with beautiful cottages.I chose a suite with a balcony and fireplace--my absolute favorite new place to escape! Calamigos Ranch and their sister restaurant Calamigos Beach Club probably has the kindest and most accomodating staff I've ever had. And I've traveled around the world extensively. My room was spacious,cozy and private and I love the extra touches of yummy wine and your own candle in your room.The food was tasty and I give them lots of credit for managing during tough COVID-19 restrictions. I didn't want to leave.It was the perfect escape! Three extra cheers for the front desk and concierge/parking staff!!!…
This beautiful, quaint place that’s only 20 min away from home has been our refuge for the second time in the last six months! From the quiet surroundings, to the cozy cottage , not to mention the delicious food , the staff, it all makes for the perfect getaway! Cassandra in Guest Relations and Kristin at the front desk , they were more than accommodating and made our stay once again unforgettable! We will absolutely come back again and again!
The grounds are beautiful and very dog friendly! But our room is tiny.... think New York City small and uncomfortable! No closet, no fridge, no windows, no bathtub, zero room to even put your suitcases. We have to keep them closed and upright against the wall. Now put two people and a dog in this room and all we can do is sit on the bed. Not even close to being worth over $800! When I made the reservation, I asked for the room that was better with a dog and this is what they put us in. We were able to upgrade to a larger room for one night, which was much nicer. It had a living area with sofa, coffee table and fireplace. But as they were full the next night, we had to switch back to the uncomfortable room. If you’re like me, I hate feeling disappointed with my vacation accommodations as we don’t get many vacations, then please do your homework before you stay here. Several of the rooms are literally mobile homes with a tiny walkway down the center of them. I will end on a positive note- our dog is having the time of her life, the people who work here are very nice and the service has been great at every meal!…
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