This was our second stay at the Post Ranch Inn. Our first stay was this same time last year, and it was exceptional / Five Stars. This is a truly special property, and that, combined with excellent service and food convinced us that the Post Ranch Inn was worth the (very steep) price. However, this year our experience was a little different.
For our most recent trip, we booked a Tree House, and it was first rate — gorgeous ocean and tree views, lovely, rustic decor and understated amenities. Where we had some bumps were with cleanliness and service. Despite advertising a special COVID cleaning protocol, the IPad that controlled the music in our room clearly had not been cleaned prior to our arrival (though cleaning solition and microfiber cloths were available). Similarly, we noticed at least two occasions when tables were not properly cleaned in the restaurant. We watched as the host tried to seat another couple at a dirty table, and then experienced the same thing ourselves the next morning at breakfast. (All seating was on the patio and set up very well for social distancing.)
On the service side, we received a warm welcome and were impressed that the staff knew from last year’s visit that we were celebrating a birthday. We also received wonderful service from Bryan, our dinner server for 2 nights. However, when we asked to have our mini bar area restocked while we were at dinner, we were disappointed to find that the staff had not cleared away the dirty dish ware on the bar in the process. We also asked if our stay could be extended for an additional night. When we did not hear back, I asked the woman at the front desk and she replied that she’d left me a voice mail. I checked both my phone and room voice mails, and if she’d left a message it was not delivered. In the end, we decided not to stay the additional night partly because of the tone of this interaction.
At checkout I told the person at the desk that our stay had been “good plus, but not excellent,” citing the cleanliness and service gaffes above. He said that he would “note it,” and also awkwardly applied a small credit to our bill. This was fine, but actually underscored the less-than-exceptional service experience this visit.
I understand that this is a very difficult and stressful time for all of us, and even more so for people who do front line work in the hospitality industry. In my judgement, however, the issues we had this trip reflect more on management than on the staff. Things felt a little disorganized and a little off for a hotel at this level. The Post Ranch Inn is an exceptional property, and when the service is on, it’s worth every penny. But in this trip, we were left a little disappointed, and so can give only four stars. We will likely return, but our enthusiasm is just a little dampened....