Travel Diaries: Staycation At Rancho Valencia Spa
A few weeks ago, Tony, Doug & I drove to a relaxing weekend at the beautiful Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe, California (it’s about 20 minutes away from us, north of San Diego). If you follow a lot of LA and San Diego based bloggers, you might recognize the resort from their Instagram & stories. Rancho Valencia also pops up in tons of wedding and event magazines & sites because of the gorgeous location and amenities. Lucky for us, it’s also the perfect spot for a relaxing getaway. I’m already planning a trip back for a girls spa weekend!
I thought it would be fun to share a few photos and highlights from our trip, and why I think it’s the perfect spot for a girls trip!
Rancho Valencia – Rancho Santa Fe, California
I booked our trip as a surprise for Tony for his birthday. We were so busy this year with home remodeling that it was really difficult to plan a giant birthday party – particularly because our house is upside down right now! With all of the home stress, I thought planning a relaxing getaway would be the perfect gift. It’s also really conveniently located and just a quick drive for us! Not to mention, they’re dog friendly! So Doug got to come and get pampered too!
The Rooms
My jaw literally dropped to the ground when we walked into our room. Our “room” aka 1300 square foot suite was insane. Beautiful is an understatement. After our stay, I was ready to call it a day and move in.
The hotel has 49 authentic, hacienda style suites – called “casitas”. They’re sophisticated, yet comfortable. As amazing as they are, you don’t feel like you’re not supposed to be there. Does that make sense? I hate being in hotels or restaurants that feel like you’re in a museum and about to break something. It reminds me of being a kid and not being allowed in the “holiday only family room”.
Each casita has it’s own private patio. Our’s had it’s very own fireplace and plunge pool/hot dub. Our room also had a beautiful living room with a fireplace, TV, sound system, mini bar & breakfast nook. I also have to take a second to note that all of their mini bar amenities are free! Most hotels charge you $10 for a candy bar or peanuts. Rancho Valencia’s mini bar and fridge come stocked with tons of awesome snacks and drinks — all free!
When we arrived, we were also greeted with an assortment of cheeses and wine! They know the way to my heart! The hotel also had a dog bed & bowls set up for Doug!
The bed was one of the most comfortable hotel beds I’ve ever slept in. 100% honesty. Most hotel beds are terrible and hard to sleep through the night. I was also appreciative of the blackout blinds – there’s nothing worse than waking up at 5 AM to a laser like beam of sun in your eyes.
The bathroom not only came stocked with full size (not those baby travel sized) toiletries – it had a FULL WALK IN CLOSET! Tony… if you’re reading this, I want my closet to be transformed into this one someday.
The Spa
You know I love a good spa moment. It’s kind of my thing. I don’t buy souvenirs when I travel, I get massages. As a spa connoisseur, I can say that the Spa at Rancho Valencia is one of the best in the world. The spa is totally zen, beautifully maintained & has a ton of options for services.
If you arrive early, you can lounge by their pool and grab snacks and drinks. I had a glass of wine to chill me out and was on the train to relaxation town. You can also use their sauna, steam room, plunge pools, jacuzzis & outdoor showers. The spa also has daily yoga and pilates classes, the studio is so picturesque and relaxing.
We got a couples massage – let’s just say it was so relaxing I actually fell asleep. Once they started massaging my head, I was out cold. The room was absolutely beautiful & the therapists were out of this world. Literally a perfect day!
The Food
When we arrived, we grabbed some champagne and sat outside at The Pony Room. We ordered some chips & guacamole. The highlight was definitely the fact that they had a dog menu, so Doug got the royal treatment (note his special bandana).
For dinner, I wanted to plan something special so I took Tony for a birthday meal at Veladora. The restaurant plays off of the hotel’s ambiance and is set in a hacienda-esque atmosphere. We had an amazing dinner, drinks & chocolate souffle (topped with a candle).
Veladora also serves breakfast. I got the avocado toast (because duh, Instagram) and it was next level. No, all avo toasts are not created equally. Restaurants, take note. I love the setting as well, it was so relaxing sitting, enjoying breakfast in their covered courtyard.
Plan Your Visit
Rancho Valencia is fairly remote. It’s the perfect spot to go to relax. I would recommend it for a romantic getaway, girls weekend or even a bachelorette trip. It’s also close enough to San Diego that if you’re traveling from out of town, you can drive to the beach and check out some restaurants.
If you decide to stay, there are tons of other activities like golf, tennis, fitness classes, croquet, bocce ball, bicycles, board games & so much more!
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