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31 reviews for Bernardus Lodge
My husband and I stayed here for a 3 night "relaxation getaway". I found the staff to be friendly and helpful (but a bit young...maybe inexperienced for this level resort?).
For instance, the valet, ground the gears on my husband's car because he was not proficient at driving a manual transmission and the concierge told us that if we wanted to play bocci ball we could make up our own rules especially after having lots to drink.
The guests were mostly middle-aged, for the first 2 nights we definitely were the only ones under the age of 40, but on the last night there was a wedding party, so some younger people were there and they even brought some children.
We stayed in room #58, a Santa Lucia room. It was at the back of the property and was an end unit (upstairs). It butted up against a gravel road and fence on one side, but awesome views on the others! There were llamas, goats, and other animals on the other side of the fence (I didn't hear them, and only saw them once).
The room was wonderful with vaulted ceilings and many amenities. Since I was there to relax, I really appreciated how quiet it was. The only thing I heard at night were crickets chirping and some weird knocking noise. I thought it was coming from the wine fridge and complained about it, it was sort of corrected, but I didn't have the interest in fighting to get it fixed, it was a minor annoyance.
The bed had a a feather bed and feather pillows which made for a mushy sleep, but firmer pillows were provided when I asked for them.
We ordered dessert from room service one night and it was decedent and delightful!
The staff were helpful, but if you saw the housekeeper and asked for anything like ice or extra pillows, she asked you to call the concierge. It was if they could not take directions from us, they needed it to come through one central entity. This could be annoying, but it may have also been a language barrier. I was able to get some more of the wonderful soap and shampoo by speaking in Spanish.
One morning we asked the concierge for info about the 17 mile drive and she told us that we would get a better map when we got there, however, we had a pass to get in, so we weren't going to be stopping at the gate to get a map. We stopped at the Lodge at Pebble Beach to get more info and the concierge there gave my husband lots of info and maps and we had a great time.
There was a lovely wine reception on the last night that we stayed, it was a nice touch and we appreciated the free-flowing wine, conversation with other staff and guests, and live piano music.
We didn't even try the spa or pool, but they looked wonderful. We did buy a case of wine at the tasting room (about 3 miles away from the lodge) and were offered free tastings.
I would definitely go back!
I really really really liked Bernardus. If I didn't stay at Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur immediately after leaving Bernardus, I would have given this place five stars. But that's neither here nor there.
It's beautifully landscaped and quiet but not quite as expansive as I originally thought it would be. The service was great, though. That's what pushed up the rating to this place, in my opinion. The rooms were clean and well-maintained, too.
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Bocce Ball courts are an uppity, bizarre novelty.
This place is, still, amazing.
1 Previous Review:
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12/5/2007
contemporary moderne mediterranean style in a rustic, wine valley setting.
Simply brilliant.People thought this was:
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If you've ever been to Auberge du Soleil in Napa, think of Bernardus as Auberge, but without the pretentiousness.
The staff is fantastic. Everyone here really seems to care about your stay, and whether or not you are enjoying yourself. There is plenty of the "right away, sir" crap you get at a high-end hotel. But there is also this undercurrent among the staff that makes you feel like you could easily just have drinks with any one of them, and hang out with them for the evening.
There is no front desk. You pull up, give them your name, and whisk your bags off to your room. As you walk in the front doors to the beautiful cozy lobby, you are greeted by a staff member who welcomes you and pours you a glass of awesome Bernardus wine (the hotel is a sister property with the Bernardus winery in Carmel Valley Village down the road). She or he escorts you to your room and you're checked in.
The rooms are large and beautiful. We stayed overlooking the bocce-ball and croquet lawn which is very nice, with a nice big patio. It is such a lovely, quiet and relaxing place. My only complaint about the rooms is a trend we have noticed in other places lately: these big thick down filled mattress covers, so you can "sink in" to the mattress or some such nonsense. I don't get it, but I must be in the minority. We took that thing off right away and there was a nice firm mattress underneath.
One of the things that really thrilled me here was the stocked minibar filled with goodies and two excellent bottles of Bernardus Wine. It's all yours for the taking, with no ridiculous mini-bar charge. I am not going to say it's all free, cause obviously we paid for it. But it's a very cool touch nonetheless.
There is a beautiful large garden adjacent to the property that fronts the vineyard beyond. It is really a stunning setting that will leave you relaxed and that much more appreciative of the wonders of Northern California.
If you aren't getting action from the wife/husband/bf/gf at this place, you may want to try counseling.
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If there were 6, 7 Stars for Bernardus Lodge. I would so hand them over.
My 3 days and 2 nights there were absolute heaven. Room beautiful, grounds stunning, accoutrement magnifique ( go to france next month so i am practicing the turn of a phrase), dining highest quality and service out of this world.
In the Bay area and need an awesome vacation but don't want to fly?This is the place.
ONE MORE THING: Hotel spa massages are a hit and miss deal. Sometimes, you get a good masseuse, sometimes not. Well, can I just tell you that my massage at the Bernardus Lodge spa was one of the finest EVER.
Just found their Chardonnay at Costco so I can daydream every time I take a sip and transfer back to the room, the fireplace and ...
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Nothing but praise about Bernardus Lodge! Food, SPA, service and room are all EXCELLENT!
One thing that impresses me most at a hotel is when they surprise you with the little details. When my husband and I honeymooned in Bali, each hotel welcomed us with a cocktail. So when we showed up at Bernardus to celebrate our one year anniversary and they greeted us with a glass of wine, I knew it was going to be a good weekend.
The hotel is small and relaxing. The central area of the hotel is a large lawn with bocce ball and croquet courts - perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon. There are two outdoor fire pits and an indoor fireplace in the lobby - the perfect place to spend an evening chatting and sipping tea.
The rooms are lovely, good-sized, and furnished with high-end linens. Each room has a sitting area with a fireplace and an outdoor patio area. But of course, my favorite part of the room was the oversized bathtub. You simply cannot let it go to waste. Each room is stocked with a basked of snacks, and not one, but two (TWO!) bottles of Bernardus wine - oh, and did I mention you don't have to pay for any of the snacks or wine? I can't tell you how annoyed I get when I pay hundreds of dollars for a room and then the hotel tries to make a few extra bucks off you by charging you $10 for a Bud Light from the minibar. Well, the Bernardus people obviously felt the same way. It is a small detail, but in my opinion makes a huge difference.
The pool is very nice and heated to 80 degrees and open 24 hours, which is very rare. The spa was beautiful, and my massage was great, although my massage was not the best I have ever had.
Overall, it was an incredibly wonderful place to spend a quiet romantic weekend. I am looking forward to my next visit!
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This review is for the actual hotel at Bernardus Lodge and Winery. I have written a separate review for their highly acclaimed restaurant, Marinus.
I had the recent pleasure of working with Bernardus Lodge in planning a vacation for my parents. Every employee we dealt with was extremely helpful, friendly, and competent. The entire check-in/check-out process was seamless and efficient. We drove up, the valet boys took the car and bags, and we had a wine tasting. A few minutes later someone showed us to our room. No front desk or long lines. Perfect.
The surrounding grounds and vineyards are bucolic, peaceful, and well maintained. The guest rooms were large, clean, and lavishly appointed. All the items in the mini-bar were free, including a couple bottles of wine.
In summary, this hotel is clearly one of the better small hotels that exist in the United States. The establishment and grounds are beautiful and the staff are very helpful and friendly.
Absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend at Bernardus. It might have been the multiple bottles of Bernardus wine, or the extraordinary service, or the huge tuscan style pool open all night long with poolside service during the day. Maybe it was the huge room, with the private garden patio, and olympic sized bath tub... or the snacks, fruit, and more bottles of wine provided for your late night enjoyment in the room. The fresh local food, the huge fragrant roses, especially the yellow ones placed in my room, morning breakfast served bedside. Perfectly manicured landscaping. Natural wood fire pit outside, or private gas fireplace in room. Oh the spa!! the hot stone massage, the sauna, the smaller warming pool at 102 degrees.
I felt like a princess.
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Every time I come to Bernardus Lodge--and it's approaching 10 visits in the last four years--I am awed and inspired. Everything previously mentioned -- the feather beds, the gratuity-included policy, the restaurants, the spa, the comp wines (better than chocolates on the pillow any night!) -- it's all true. But my personal bias being what it is, I'll say the best aspect of Bernardus is the landscape architecture.
Designed by Jack Chandler, it is as timeless as it is tasteful... even as the plantings have been evolved over the years, it still retains a classic beauty. This is a testament to what a well-thought-out landscape should be: not so much a statement of ego as an evocation of place.
By some standards, the resort's rustic, neo-Tuscan design is conservative; but by mine, it's a perfect blending of ancient and contemporary--and most importantly, it is well liked and well used. As enamored as I am with the planting plan, the highlight of the architecture is the fireplace sited at the center of the social areas. Even when it's not in action, it's a gorgeous anchor; and at night, it is rarely enjoyed by fewer than half a dozen people.
But don't get the idea the place feels crowded or cramped. This weekend, there were back-to-back weddings, and every room was booked. Yet the pool was never packed, the restaurants could always accommodate another short-notice reservation, and we never felt like there were more than 20 people at the entire place (there are, I think, fewer than 60 rooms). Again, I credit the layout of the place: great flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, lots of separate outdoor "rooms" to accommodate either intimate or large gatherings, and most importantly a gracious attitude that makes it just as much a pleasure to hang out in the lobby library as at the bocce court.
Pamper yourself one day soon: head to Bernardus, enjoy a glass of wine by the fire, and be inspired yourself!
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The lodge at Bernardus was simply wonderful. My wife and I arrived mid-afternoon and we warmly greeted in a very comfortable reception area, more like a living room that lobby. We were shown to our room, where snacks, wine, water and soda were provided at no additional charge. The rook itself was one of the best I have stayed in all the world. Very comfortable, spacious and clean. We left the resort once to play golf and that was it. We will absolutely be back.
Me and my husband recently spent a single night at Bernardus in one of their remote balcony rooms. Simply put, we never wanted to leave.
1. Valet service is fantastic. Friendly, helpful, FAST (the guy sprinted to my car like a bat out of hell) and complete with cold water waiting in each cup holder.
2.. FREE STUFF! The moment we stepped in the door, a concierge greeted us with a fantastic pour of the house Chardonnay. Then we got to the room... More wine, lots-o-food - which we were openly encouraged to steal - delicious fresh fruit, loofah, soap, bath salts...you name it we got it.
And then of course, to further laden our suitcases....the spa. We now have enough razors, make-up removing packets, tea bags, towels, combs, etc. to last through the next Great Depression.
3. I should take the time to mention the spa here... Most amazing steam room ever. I actually thought my husband had left me for iced towels, cucumber water and the rain shower. Then of course, we have in-house fire place (well, they were everywhere), outdoor spa, more free snacks and attentive staff.
Plus, nobody even complained that I was wearing my bra and underwear (matching, of course) having stupidly forgotten my bathing suit. Kudos for tact.
4. The view. Fucking breathtaking. Nuff said.
5. Bocce courts...croquet...gardens....grape vines (yummy)...general decor.... All incredible. Our server even comped us wine and chocolates for being slightly forgetful.
6. Brings me to the restaurant - Wicket. After being rudely - only low point of our experience - turned away by the stuffy, uptight, stick-in-ass Maitre'd at Marinarus, we decided to eat at Wicket. Excellent choice. Fantastic food, good wine...yada yada yada.
Overall, we wanted to move in. I am currently scheming on how to get a permanent position as their restaurant's taste tester... I am even willing to garden/pick grapes so that I might hang out there regularly.
To sum it up, we are now hotel snobs. Thank you Bernardus.
I spoiled myself with a mini getaway vacation right before I started the new job, and booked a two night stay at Bernardus Lodge via http://Hotwire.com. I ended up getting this five star resort for half the price!
The service is what you would expect from a five star resort, less the pretentiousness. The staff is very friendly, professional and top notch. Note, that you don't need to tip, because 18% is already included in your bill if you stay there.
There's the main pool area with the spa right next door. Surprisingly, there isn't a hot tub, but there is a "warming pool" that's inside the spa. The cool thing is you're allowed to use the spa facilities so long as you're a guest of the hotel. So we had access to the warming pool, sauna and steam room facilities, regardless of whether we had an appointment that day or not. The smaller warming pool area was a lot more private and relaxed, less the children at the main pool area. Even the room/pool side service is absolutely amazing as well. We ordered the roast chicken, and salmon butter lettuce salad with creme fraiche. The chicken was super tender and juicy and the salmon butter lettuce salad was the best I have ever had. All the herbs and vegetables they use are from their own garden.
As far as the room itself, the only thing is that it was a bit on the small side, but the room was very cute and comfortable. They use fine Italian linens, and the bathroom was huge with a separate shower and large oval tub. You even get two complimentary bottles of red and white wine, and free snacks in your room :-)
Overall, I was very happy that I chose this place for my mini retreat :-) You also have to try the five star Zagat rated restaurant onsite, just be sure to make reservations in advance. My favorite is the lobster with taragon sauce and souffle dessert (must order in advance when the waiter first takes your order since it usually takes 45 minutes to an hours to prepare) - to die for!
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Superb. The food. The lodge itself. The surrounding area.
Absolutely beautiful.
Went to a wedding here and it was stunning. Beautiful grounds, delicious food, great outdoor fireplace and seating area, cute cottage-like rooms, croquet/bocce ball grass areas, spa, pool, the works...truly a luxurious getaway in Carmel. Rooms are $350+/night.
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very very nice. Great staff, great atmosphere, great location. Rooms are nice, pool is pleasant, my wife and I loved this place - and ps the weather is so much nicer than anywhere on the coast...
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Funny the reviews up to this point come from women. (Alex, I assume you could be... ha haa)
Went here 2 years ago and it is relaxation utopia to hide in the middle of nature in a cozy room, pool and/or some fancy dinner.
Thats right.
pay attention
We know how to roll.
The service was great. The staff were attentive and very friendly. The rooms were very cute; I almost felt like I was staying in a cottage and my view and back patio area were gorgeous. I got the le stone message at the spa. The spa facility itself was ok, nothing spectacular but the masseuse I had was wonderful and I felt so relaxed after the 80 minutes.
Where do I start?
I have stayed at quite a few places recently, and they have all been a dissapointment. In no small part due to my stay at Bernardus.
I have stayed in a couple of 5-star hotels before, but none of them compared to Bernardus. It helped that one of my favorite destinations bar-none is the Carmel/Monterey/Big Sur area!
Bernardus captures the area very well in it's setting and ambiance. The room my wife and I had was on the smallish side compared to what we payed, but still very nice. It backed to the garden courtyard where there were trellis' and an open lawn area. The view from our patio area was just gorgeous with the hills in the background.
The staff and service were SUPERB. I can not find one fault during our entire stay there in these areas. The housekeeping was very unintrusive and pleasant.
The free wine and other goodies were a nice touch. The only dissapointment was Wickets. It is what it is, I know. It's not supposed to be a dining experience like Marinus, but I think they can do better. We wanted to get a bite without leaving the grounds and without being 'formal' so to speak so we opted for Wickets. It was not impressive and the only thing not up to par that we could think of during our stay.
We more recently stayed at another 5-star property down the road, and trust me, there is no comparison! There is NOTHING in Carmel/Monterey that comes close to Bernardus Lodge. That said, we have yet to stay at one of the two nice ones in Big Sur, but they are probably a bit further than we would like to be from Carmel and Monterey - at least Monterey has a bit of nightlife.
In summary, if you are wondering, there is absolutely no question that Bernardus is one of the finest places to stay. Not only in CA, but worldwide!
Though I have been to Bernardus a couple of times, I have held off on writing a review until now. When we first went, the place had been open maybe seven or eight months. The landscaping was still getting completed and the spa was not yet open. The vines along the driveway were junior. The place was, and is, beautiful!
But the service was woefully lacking! Aside from all the little stuff, we once called housekeeping for an umbrella. We waited and waited, and then decided to stay in. The huge and beautiful tub was calling. So as the bath bubbles rise and the water temperature hits perfect, we hop in. Then there is a knock at the door. I am thinking that they will leave the umbrella hanging on the doorknob. All is good. Knock-knock-knock. Maybe if we ignore him, he will go away. Knock-knock-knock. Are his knuckles getting sore? Knock-knock-knock. So I get out of the beautiful tub, leaving my beautiful wife, put on a plush green robe. Knock-knock-knock. And open the door. The gentleman was entirely oblivious. The thought that he could have left the umbrella apparently did not occur to him. So I endure the frigid blast of cold air, thank the man, and return to the cozy confines of the bathroom. It turns out we did not even need the umbrella after all.
This all being said, the staff and management have got their act together. And this place is wonderful. It is beautifully designed for all seasons with fireplaces in many of the rooms. They have a wonderful outside fireplace for chilly evenings. The spa is really nice and has a lovely private (only open to spa patrons) warm-hot pool. My major complaint, however, is that if there is an event here, like a wedding, it may infringe on your enjoyment of the property. As the property is not huge, if the wedding is using the outside patio area, you will not be able to eat or hang out there, which frankly makes one feel entirely second-class. I would definitely recommend the place. If you are going in wedding season or during nice weather, you may want to ask if they are hosting any weddings or events that may interfere with your enjoyment of the property. Of course, there is always the bathtub!
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Of all the places I've stayed in the Carmel area, Bernardus Lodge is one of my favorites. Tucked in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley, flanked by beautiful oak trees and endless vineyards, the Bernardus Lodge offers spirit and soul time for reflection and relaxation. Feather beds covered in luxurious Italian linens are warmed by cozy fireplaces. Oversized bathtubs are difficult to leave but it is only a few steps to your terrace of sweeping views of the hills. Be sure to indulge with one of their wonderful spa treatments and get there at least a half hour early to enjoy the warming pool and meditation garden.
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Just gorgeous! They offer a plethora of fine dining, superb customer service and scream class. Wicket's is my favorite resturant offering most of their wines and depending on the season I order their Niman Ranch Stew.
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Absolutely Phenominal! love this place - came here for lunch and a wine tasting, all the wines were great i especially loved the marinus and the reserve chardonnay, and for lunch i had the mixed salad which was very light and refreshing, then i had the steak tartare which was so tasty but a new experience for me since the only thing im used to eating raw is sushi! and for the main course we had the salmon, chicken and the steak - all were great especially the chicken with risotta- id love to stay here some day if i can only afford it- and the staff is definatly 5 stars
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The Bernardus does pretty much everything to perfection. The Carmel Valley location is gorgeous and every room makes it feel like you are the only one there. My mom has been going for years under some special weekend, spa treatment package. I spent most of the time sitting by the pool, which was amazing, especially with a cocktail charged to Mom's room. It's the little things that make this place so special from the heavenly robes to the gratuity included policy that means that you never have to tip individually.
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I just went to a wedding here and it was an amazing venue. Beautiful gardens and hotel. Impeccable and friendly service. Actually, best service I've ever had anywhere. I could barely take a sip of my wine without it being instantly replenished. Delicious filet mignon, crab cake, and salad. Oh and the appetizers were soooo good too. All that cheese and chips and guac and strawberries. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Since it is on a winery, they have their own wine, which is quite tasty actually. I guess this is the type of stuff you get for a lot of money. I have no problems there. Absolutely an amazing area.
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I only walked in thinking that the wine tasting was here but it was already closed by 5:30pm. Inside the courtyard with perfectly groomed lawn for bocce ball. The rooms up the stairs from the bocce ball area seem really nice. It was a cool evening so I didnt venture farther in. I'd like to come back to try the wine.
My husband and I just returned from a wonderful weekend at the Lodge. I wish I could give it 4 1/2 stars. This is our first time staying at the Lodge and it was perfect. We started with lunch on the patio, then had our massages. The spa is just a wee bit showing it's age, but it was clean and the service was super.
The rooms are huge and very very clean. The bed is very comfortable and the bathroom is perfect for a romantic respite. The tub is enormous and comes with bath salts and soothing lotion.
From when we first arrived, with the on-site manager showing us our room with the complimentary snacks and three bottles of wine, to the complimentary wine tasting at their winery which is located just a few miles down the road, to breakfast in our room, we couldn't have been happier. ONE suggestion, if you can, get a room upstairs, the only complaint was that we could hear the person upstairs stomping around at 6 am !
Service: excellent
Room: clean and spacious, with great amenities
Price: a little high, but worth it
Food: great, also expensive
Spa: Tiny locker space, but clean with great service
Extremely quiet at night, beautiful location.
patio was facing the pool, a little too public for us to eat in our PJs for breakfast, we opted to eat inside our room.
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Beautiful property! Awesome service! Great spa! Only bad thing I can say is that there was no chocolate on pillow during turn down service :-(
We spent a lovely weekend here. Excellent service and attention to detail. I forgot my contacts case and solution. Someone drove to Safeway to bring me emergency supplies in the middle of the night. A lovely place!
Loved it. Wife and I went for a long weekend this past week as a quick escape from reality. It did the trick. Great service, comfy room, with nice amenities including 2.5 bottles of wine and some snacks included! Spa was nice though the massages we got were a tad average. The hotel overall though lived up to or exceeded all expectations. They were running a 3 night for the price of 2 special which made it even better, but I would pay full price and go again.
Excellent for a mini vaca and spending quality time with your honey! Upon arrival, we were greeted with wine and had a chance to sink in their comfy couches in the lobby to relax and look around. Decor is tasteful and comfortable and not old country, which is good for us because we are a pretty young couple. After finishing our glasses, we were greeted by someone to take a short tour of the lodge and show us to our room. Inside the room, we had a few bottles of wine - which all were excellent - and had some snacks to get us through the night - which all were complimentary. Fireplace, patio and oversized tub for two inside the room were all put to use and nice amenities to have. I really enjoyed the fresh flowers, fresh fruits, and lavender smells of the room. We also got a full body massage at the spa and it was one of the best massages I've gotten. Bocce ball and pool is available if you're looking for some activities. Only thing is that I wish the pool was warmer - was really looking forward to a swim, but it was too cold to enjoy. Dinner at Marinus was above average. Excellent presentation, very fresh ingredients and tasted good, but it was elf food - very small portions -haha, welcome to fine dining! If you plan on staying here, look on their website for package deals that suits your needs. Overall, a great place to stay in the valley with great views and perfect for a relaxing quick getaway from city hustle!
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