Carmel Valley Ranch

Data aggregated from FlyerTalk and various blogs, tallied to give a rough idea of your chances at an upgrade.

10 stays reported, newest first

• Globalist · Jun 2021Blog

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Suite, offered without asking

  Room

  Vineyard Studio (points, 25,000/night, Category 6) → Ranch Suite, Forest View

  A Globalist redeemed 25,000 points per night for two nights in early June at this Category 6 resort, where peak cash rates for the base Vineyard Studio can start well over $1,000. At check-in he was confirmed upgraded from the Vineyard Studio to a Ranch Suite thanks to his Globalist status, but later judged the upgrade unnecessary: the Ranch Suite was only about 100 square feet larger, its Forest View balcony overlooked a parking lot, and it lacked the base studio's vineyard views and outdoor soaking tub, though it cost nothing extra. Service was solid but not personalised for a $1,000-a-night resort, there were no service failures, and the grounds, farm-to-table food and activities impressed him, while the country-club atmosphere with resident and member families made the resort best suited to families.

  Read the post on Blog ↗
• Globalist · Oct 2020FlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  One-bedroom suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard room → suite

  Breakfast

  À la carte only

  Second stay, cut short when a nearby fire and an evacuation warning shut the property down. Shorter breakfast menu, many activities suspended.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• Globalist · Jul 2020FlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  One-bedroom suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard room → suite

  Late checkout

  Honoured

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  A notch below Ventana on hardware, ahead of it on staff recognition. Wine in the room and 2pm checkout.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• Globalist · Mar 2020FlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  One-bedroom suite, offered without asking

  Room

  studio → suite (hilltop ranch with balcony bathtub)

  Breakfast

  À la carte only

  A March stay, extended until the Covid closure, with better treatment than at Highlands Inn. Only gripe: lots of kids at events.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• Feb 2020Blog

  Upgrade

  One-bedroom suite, offered without asking

  Room

  Junior suite (cash, slightly over $300/night via Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts) → One-bedroom corner suite (King Forest Suite)

  Breakfast

  Restaurant or F&B credit

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  A couple stayed three nights in February in the off-season at slightly over $300 per night booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, receiving early check-in, a $100 property credit, a $60 per day breakfast credit and a room upgrade, with a $45 per day resort fee including parking. They had booked a junior suite and were upgraded to a large, comfortable one-bedroom corner suite, captioned as the King Forest Suite, whose deck looked only at trees and other units. Because they had told the resort about a major anniversary, a bottle of the resort's own Swing Pinot Noir was delivered as a welcome gift, and a small bag of chocolate chip cookies arrived unannounced on the second day. Dining was excellent but pricey, paid activities included a $20 whiskey tasting and falconry at $135 per person, and the reviewer said he did not know what Hyatt elite benefits would have applied because the Fine Hotels & Resorts benefits were used instead, but he would stay again.

  Read the post on Blog ↗
• FlyerTalk

  Upgrade

  Specialty suite, after asking

  Room

  Santa Lucia Studio King (Amex FHR) → Hilltop Ranch Suite King with Outdoor Tub

  Moved to the suite after ants turned up in the first room. Room-service and to-go breakfasts cost extra, and Valley Kitchen felt slow.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  One-bedroom suite, offered without asking

  Room

  Santa Lucia Studio (points) → Ranch Suite

  Breakfast

  Full: buffet and à la carte

  Late checkout

  Honoured

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  The Ranch Suite was worth about $1k, but a further bump was declined with premium suites showing open. Cookies and fruit waiting, and 3pm checkout.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  None

  Room

  standard room

  Late checkout

  Declined

  Welcome amenity

  Not given

  Probably the last visit, now that it costs the same points as Ventana. Upgrade refused outright, and the salmon came undercooked.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Specialty suite, offered without asking

  Room

  standard room on points → Hilltop Ranch with King Bed and Outdoor Tub

  Late checkout

  Honoured

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  A dinner service issue ended with the whole meal comped. Charcuterie on arrival, an electric fireplace in the bedroom, and 2pm checkout.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗
• GlobalistFlyerTalk

  Status

  Globalist

  Upgrade

  Specialty suite, with a suite upgrade award

  Room

  standard room (Prive rate) → Hilltop Ranch with King Bed and Outdoor Tub

  Breakfast

  À la carte only

  Welcome amenity

  Given

  Preferred to Alila Ventana Big Sur in the offseason for the reasonable cash rates. Loved the activities and already booked a return trip.

  Read the post on FlyerTalk ↗