It is always a great pleasure to arrive at Bernardus...the promise of an extraordinary stay is intoxicating. The Lodge does many things well: the facilities are generally top-notch, the staff is skillful and friendly, the atmosphere is relaxing/soothing. We often arrive with the best intentions to spend most of our time exploring Carmel, or hiking in Carmel Valley or near the ocean...and instead can't bring ourselves to leave the Bernardus property. The rooms are great and luxurious, with many amenities. The inclusion of complimentary snacks and wines is a very nice touch. It's always great fun to play croquet and bocce ball with a glass of wine in hand. The restaurants and spa are really wonderful. The fitness room is inadequate for a Lodge of this caliber. We've generally visited during quieter times; I can imagine that the ambience would be very different if the Lodge was busier (we once had an unacceptably long wait for our reservation at Marinus). We prefer the rooms th
more