Children's programs: Although you may not at first expect Rancho Valencia to lure families, it does accommodate guests with kids by offering summer and holiday tennis camps for juniors. During the summer months, the Junior Ranchers Kids Camp, which provides organized swimming, crafts, sports and more, is also available to guests. In addition, there is a junior tennis academy for those ages 7 to 20 that although established for the children of members also welcomes the children of guests.
Dining: The Pony Room, which spills out on the adjoining terrace, stands out both for its locally sourced “Coastal Ranch” cuisine and its views of the valley. An inviting bar within specializes in craft cocktails and tequila. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all available here.
Spa & Fitness Center: At 10,000 square feet, the Spa at Rancho Valencia is very large relative to the number of rooms. Decor runs to hand-crafted European tiles and Italian fountains, while the treatments focus on using such local ingredients as avocado, grape seed, and natural healing agents from the ocean. The treatment rooms open onto private outdoor gardens. A saline pool is part of the complex, as is a yoga studio seasonally open to a reflecting pool with an island platform at its center. The fitness center has moved here as well, offering such wellness workouts as yoga, Pilates (private Reformer Sessions and group mat classes), spinning, TRX, and a suite of Cardio machines each with personal televisions. Remarkably all of these classes—some 75 in all—are free to registered guests.
Golf. Although it lacks a golf course of its own, the resort has playing privileges at several nearby courses, free loaner clubs, and the option of a golf package, which can include nearby Torrey Pines Golf Course, home of the 2008 U.S. Open.
Outdoor heated lap pool with adjacent Jacuzzi, complimentary mountain bikes, maps of walking/jogging trails in nearby hills.
182 Reviews on “Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa”
The best tennis resort Ive been to and one of the nicest overall resorts where I have stayed.
I am a avid tennis player, who plays 3-4 times per week in addition to a weekly private lesson and I would tell my tennis playing friends the following: Strengths: great location/climate in Southern California, fabulous setting in the hills that works with the rolling topography of the land; facilities are first rate with several hard courts and two clay courts; the four instructors that I had for three private clinics and one group clinic were very knowledgeable, provided great input on how to improve my game, personable, and had long tenures at the resort; the staff provided great service with smoothies or fresh fruit waiting for me after my morning clinics and scheduled a match for me with a local player; the spa and lodging at the resort have Forbes Five Star ratings. Cons: ????
I’m a picky vacationer, but it’s hard to find anything to pick on in this 3 days/2 night trip. Strengths: – Plenty of courts (even has 2 new clay courts) very well maintained. – Very easy to book court time, and flexible in last-minute schedule changes – Courteous patient coaches (I tried 2 of them, 2 one-hour sessions each) with spot-on insights – Nice court amenities especially for hot days – Excellent dining / quality of dinner food – 900 sq ft room is spacious, luxurious, and private – Enjoyed the spa treatment too, very relaxing facility Weakness: – Jaw-drop pricey for overnight stay, but you get the exclusivity and you get what you pay
Beautiful setting. Lovely courts. Great food. THE nicest Spa I have ever experienced.
The staff at Rancho Valencia is highly professional and warm. I’ve visited numerous times in the last 12 months and always have a phenomenal experience. Arturo, Josh and director, Robin White make the learning most enjoyable. The tennis concierges, Marie and Sandra know what they are doing in arranging lessons and match play. Trust their experience. Truly no place compares and with the new Red Clay courts coming in 2018 this will be premier spot in the country.
Rancho Valencia is tennis heaven! I have gone here 10 times over the past 8 years–first on girl’s trips, then with my husband, and then with our 2 adult children. The resort itself is fantastic. Beautiful casitas in a relaxing setting with every detail thought-out, including luscious Natura Bisse toiletries, turn-down with upscale chocolates, fresh-squeezed orange juice delivered each morning to your door, and a complimentary mini bar stocked with soft drinks, juices, candy, popcorn, etc. I can’t say enough about the tennis instruction led by Robin White. All of the instructors are outstanding and do a great job of making the clinics fun and instructional. My husband is a much better tennis player than I am (high 4.5 vs. low 4.0), but we were able to take clinics together and we both felt like we learned a lot despite our differing levels. The spa, Pilates, yoga and workout facilities here are also top-notch, as are the restaurants and bars. We plan to continue visiting whenever we have the opportunity. I honestly can’t think of any weaknesses or I wouldn’t keep coming back year after year!
Rancho Valencia offers top notch tennis instruction (experienced, tour level pros) and high quality a.m. clinics (2 & 1/2 hr) in an amazing setting. Friends and I have traveled and experienced several of the highly ranked tennis resorts accross the US and have consistently felt the instruction and setting are just award winning.
Phenomenal Resort! Most impressive staff
I have visited Rancho Valencia with mu family over the Spring Braak. The tennis facilities are superb, all courts in perfect condition, surrounded by blooming citrus treas. Water and clean towels available by each court. I took some lessons from Eduardo Sanchez. He was very focused on body mechanics and proper technique. My local instructor back home couldn’t believe how much I improved in such a short time.
excellent teachers/pros on the court
Rancho Valencia and the tennis facilities, pros and staff are simply amazing. For anyone passionate about tennis there is nothing better. My son and I play a lot of tennis but my wife and daughter do not. They love Rancho Valencia just as much. They love the spa, yoga, pools, restaurants, atmosphere and everything else Rancho Valencia has to offer. It’s our home away from home.
Just beautiful! Loved all the amenities. First class, everything.
Beautiful resort! Extremely courteous and friendly staff!
this is easily the best tennis resort i’ve ever been to, and i’ve been to all the top ones. the amenities, instructors, setting, food, etc beats everything else by a mile. i’d be shocked if this wasn’t on your list of top tennis resorts.
Beautiful courts and location! Everyone there was very friendly and helpful in arranging various tennis activities for me including lessons, clinics, and a competitive match. Aturro who I took a lesson with was great. I’d highly recommend!
Beautiful resort
Beautiful resort, we loved staying there and the tennis program was fabulous.
It is a beautiful resort. We didn’t stay on the property but attended tennis clinics for 4 days. We were able to use the pool and have lunch after tennis too! Amazing facilities and tennis instruction was very good. I left with so much to work on and it was just the right amount of time. I like that we switched instructors during the clinics. That way we all got different perspectives on our games. Everyone was so nice and pleasant.
I organized a girls tennis week Rancho Valencia in October 2017 and we had a fabulous time at this tennis resort. We were a group of 8 women traveling from Baltimore MD. While I was organizing the trip, the staff at the resort were helpful and always quick to answer all my questions and needs . Once we arrived and started our mini-camp, we couldn’t have been happier. The pros were excellent! Each day of tennis we focused on different things – strokes and/or strategies. They were flexible to our needs and level of play. Our group of 8 women had a blast! Can’t wait for a chance to go back .
I have visited Rancho Valencia on four separate occasions now and each visit I fall more in love. The setting is serene and lovely, the tennis is spectacular, the spa is divine, the restaurants are delicious, the service is top-notch and it feels just like home, only better! I give the resort a 10 out of 10 on every level. I can’t wait to go back soon.
Excellent facility! I spent most of a week here at the end of April to play tennis and get private coaching (the tennis package). The courts and tennis staff are excellent, and coaches Arturo and Eduardo were extremely helpful and friendly. I couldn’t have enjoyed my stay any more, and have recommended it to several friends in need of a getaway. The room was very comfortable and quiet, and the housekeeping staff took care of me like a king. Also loved the spa and gym facilities. I look forward to coming back soon and hope it stays exactly as it is.
Both my children really enjoyed taking lessons at the Rancho Valencia. Pro Shop was very helpful and aided in finding matches and pros. Robin and Arturo are both very good tennis coaches. My son really enjoyed the tennis camp for kids.
We’ve taken a girls’ tennis trip to Rancho Valencia annually for 5 years and look forward to it every year. Marie in the tennis shop is very accommodating in setting up round robins with local players and clinics. The staff is extremely pleasant, the weather perfect, the setting is beautiful. I don’t know why you would go anywhere else.
We loved this resort. Best tennis instructors my 17 year old daughter has ever experienced bar none! We have stayed at several top notch tennis resorts in Florida , Hawaii and Caribbean and this was the best. Also great for my husband and I as we look for 5 star hotel experience. The rooms, food and service all great!
Really fantastic location and team of professionals! Rooms are terrific, location is lovely and tennis is great! My only request is that they install some clay courts as it rained a fair bit while I was there and it took forever for the hard courts to dry. Also, practicing on clay is preferential to hard courts and juniors and active adults.
The service is exceptional and the courts are well maintained. They have a mixed bag of pros. The older pros are personable, helpful and energetic. The younger one has low energy and is condescending.
The resort was beautiful. The accommodations, pool, spa, restaurant and tennis were all top-notch. We couldn’t have picked a better spot for our annual ladies tennis getaway. The tennis staff were very accommodating and went out of their way at every turn to be sure we had what we needed and were treated like royalty. The teaching pros treated us like athletes, which was refreshing. We’ll definitely be back!
Beautiful facility, courts, resort and spa. Excellent coaching staff with a variety of different personalities and strengths to work with. Would definitely visit again.
Playing tennis at Rancho Valencia was one of the highlights of our year. We could not stop talking about how the intelligence, experience, creativity and good humored nature of the teaching pros. We learned so much, got a great workout in a truly beautiful environment, and it made us want to redouble our efforts to excel at the game. And it was just really fun!
I play a lot of tennis as well as travel to play a lot of tennis. That being said, and having played at many tennis resorts, Rancho Valencia is hands down my favorite. There Pro’s are as good as they get. Robin White, the pro I play with, is the best teaching pro I have ever worked with. So much so that I take a “me only” trip every year and fly from Miami to spend a few days with her at the club. As well, the courts and facility are fantastic and all the support staff couldn’t be nicer. A+
Outstanding tuition and coaching. After four lessons I left Rancho with a stronger backhand and great topspin on my forehand. The pro shop service was also excellent. They set me up for a couple of matches with local members, at my skill level. But the most significant service tribute was the team helping me with a racquet purchase. They sourced where I could buy the racquet, then on their way home from work, stopped in and picked it up for me.
Great
Rancho Valencia gave us all the tennis we wanted. An excellent clinic with a break with juice and fruit. They offered us a mixed doubles match as well. The instruction lifted up our game. We enjoyed a yoga stretch class later that day and an afternoon at a quiet pool. Great instruction and facilities.
Wonderful facility One complaint need to use newer balls Hit to many dead or flat balls. Every there has plenty of money replace balls at least every other week and if you have to charge more It no fun and hard on players with hand or arm injuries to hit bad balls
What began as a birthday tennis get away has become an annual trip! RV is my favorite spot to vacation. It’s the perfect mix of casual luxury. The tennis pros are amazing, love playing tennis with the local ladies & the food and spa are exceptional. Can’t wait to get back next summer for our 6th annual girls tennis weekend.
Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa is one of my all time favorite places to visit!! The place is amazing with a fabulous staff and food that will blow you away!! The tennis facilities are by far some of the nicest I have ever visited. And then you add the tennis staff and it’s pure heaven!!! The pros are encouraging, knowledgeable and fun!! Hands down, after visiting 6 times, this is my go-to vacation spot!!!
I cannot express how much I have enjoyed visiting Rancho Valencia. This is my fourth year returning and with each year, I haven’t been disappointed at all. When the visit comes to an end, I am already planning for the next year. The tennis is wonderful, the food is delicious, the atmosphere is beautiful, the spa is refreshing, and most importantly….the staff is professional and courteous.
My wife and I celebrated our 25th anniversary here. Although more expensive than other places we checked out, at the end of our 4 days, we felt the value was great. We enjoyed great tennis, from clinics with Todd, to arranged mixed doubles matches with same level players, and even some singles play with local members. The environment was welcoming and fun, and our accommodations were fabulous. The food at the property restaurants was very good as well. The tennis facilities were nice, with the only knock being the absence of a clay court.
Rancho Valencia is a world-class Relais & Chateau resort, not just a tennis resort. We stayed for 4 nights and 5 days – it’s expensive, so make sure to maximize your time there by requesting early check-in and late checkout. The resort is small, only 50 suites plus villas. But there are 18 tennis courts (all hard courts). The pros are fantastic, both excellent players and teachers, and it’s easy to reserve time and a pro to hit with or get a lesson. The pros can also arrange matches with local Rancho Santa Fe local players who are tennis members. The suites come two per casita. We stayed in a Valencia suite, about 1,300 sq ft. Absolutely beautiful interior, and very livable, not overdone and not underdone. The suite has a private patio and jacuzzi in back with a gorgeous view. The zen spa is tranquil, calming and beautifully designed. You wait for your spa treatment in a lovely waiting room in your bathrobe with a murky green-colored drink that’s quite tasty. By the fireplace is a basket with complimentary reading glasses. This is to say, they think of every little detail. Open your front door in the morning and a newspaper and bottle of fresh-squeezed orange juice awaits. We stayed in April when the weather is blue sky and the temperature is typically in the low to mid-70’s, but it was 10-15 degrees hotter due to Santa Ana winds. Really great time of the year to visit. Just a wonderful, relaxing vacation with lots of tennis.
GreattTennis camp with tailor made instruction. Small group size, very qualified staff.
Absolutely loved it! The staff was so wonderful and knowledgeable and I really enjoyed each professional. The food, however, at the restaurants was just so/so. For such a beautiful resort the food needs to be revamped. That was the only downside. Accommodations were top notch
Beautiful resort, tennis courts and amenities. Staff are top notch and professional.
I travel from Washington DC for the tennis here. I’ve been to all he resorts in Florida, (which is much more convenient for me) and Rancho Valencia is by far and away the best all around tennis facility.
Would be great if the resort had a few clay courts! That would send it over the top.
Tennis clinic was a bit low in energy, probably due to the particular pro we had that morning. Private and semiprivate lessons with 2 other different pros were fantastic. The room was spectacular: spacious, comfy beds, huge bathroom with dressing room and very private with its own large backyard. The resort setting is beautiful, well worth it’s number one ranking!
Rancho Valencia is a beautiful and intimate resort with a world-class tennis instruction and spa and fitness facility. The setting is such, the lodging is beautiful, but what sets this resort apart is the incredible level of personal service and attention paid to every guest. This is NOT a factory – they can only accommodate fewer than 100 guests so between the local tennis members and tennis guests the tennis facility will never seem over-crowded. Within a day the tennis staff knew me, and my instructor was fabulous throughout my stay. If you want a huge tennis “social” experience this is probably not for you.
The location, accommodations, grounds, restaurants, food, personnel, and tennis experience opportunities are WORLD class. We’ve had several stays now, and cannot wait to go back.
Marie Deitz is the main reason for the high marks I have given. She is outstanding, both professionally and in personality.
Best tennis resort I’ve been to, and I have been to a few. 18 clean, hard courts in good condition in 3 different locations on the resort grounds. Court speed is fair, not too fast or slow. Weather is great for tennis. Pros are friendly and knowledgeable. There is generally a court available for play at any time. Tennis complex is quiet. Resort is expensive, but tennis is FREE, unlike other facilities where there is a charge.
Vacationers and club members were friendly and competitive. Clinics and social games were exactly what how I envisioned. My only complaint is the surface (hard courts) took a toll on my aging body and I was not able to play more than a few hours a day. On a Har-Tru surface I am able to play all day.