Summer Rates: Caneel Bay
#1 Carib. Tennis Resort awaits Rates: $395+ from May 1, 2010
www.caneelbay.com
Here's what others have had to say about Carmel Valley Ranch.
"Carmel valley tennis resort has outstanding suites with a fireplace in the suite,and even a magnifying mirror in the beautiful bathroom which has a huge tub and shower. The grounds are very beautiful with a magnificent landscape of fal colors and rolling hills, A shuttle will take you from the parking lot to your suite or to the tennis courts or the fitness center, to golf or to the restaurants.
The Rossmoor Tennis Group from Walnut Creek Ca. had 15 people who participatd in 3 hours of tennis daily and enjoyed every moment of it. Clark Corey was a wonderful pro who welcomed us warmly Laura in booking was available and sensitive to our needs. The valley is filled with wineries ,excellent eatteries, trails for hiking and horseback riding and Carmel. Monterey,Pacific Grove, Salinas and Pebblebeach are nearby."—B.G., Adv. Int., October 2009
"The scenery was spectacular.The service was impeccable. The room was spacious and well appointed. The courts are well kept. The bar and lounge are fabulous. The food was divine. Cute deer and skinny necked turkeys abound. The swimming pools are a little small but there are plans to enlarge them. I loved it."—S.B., Adv. Int., October 2009
"Our tennis group had a two night getaway at the Carmel Valley Ranch in October 2009. We were very impressed by the helpfulness and professionalism of the tennis staff and we were made to feel very welcome. Our group played from 8:30 to 11:00 each day and look forward to coming back again next year! Great views, beautiful accommodations, good courts in an outstanding setting and perfect weather."—B.B., Int., October 2009
"Tennis heaven via a four-hour purgatory drive from Bakersfield. Rick (warm, understated sense of humor) and Clark (effervescent, irrepressible sense of humor) complment each other so very well as professionals. Together they offer the best in tennis instruction. Each was able to demonstrate exactly what was explained verbally. Rick, in the three lessons we had with him, was excellent with hints and advice. My wife is looking forward to surprising her opponents with some of his secrets. All of the tennis staff were helpful and friendly in arranging matches, answering questions, and just in general.
The tennis population of the area made for well-attended clinics and drills. And other guests added to the overall quality of the experience. Everyone from rank beginners to 4.5/5.0 players will feel welcome at Carmel Valley. If golf is your thing, I think there is an OK course there as well (wry smile).
We shall definitely return and stay for more than four days at a time when the U.S. Open does not compete with playing time. The ONLY shortcoming of our stay was the somewhat dated CRT Phillips tv in the room. Flat screen and the tennis channel should be added. Maybe by the time we go back!"—G.L., Int., September 2009
"We just got back from our four day stay at Carmel Valley Ranch. It was such a pleasant place to stay, relax, and of course, play tennis! We took lessons every day when we were there. Both Clark and Rick were great professionals who observed and identified our points for improvement and gave us tips in such a manner that made it easy for us to understand and execute.
In addition to the resort being such a beutiful place to stay and play tennis, it is close to the town of Carmel-by-the-sea and other attractions just in case you don't want to spend all your waking moments on the court! We had fun shopping in Carmel, going to the aquarium in Monterey, and hiking at Point Los Lobos State Park while we were staying at Carmel Valley Ranch.
We would definitely consider going back there in the near future!!"—M.A., Adv., August 2009
"We just got back from spending 4 days at Carmel Valley Ranch, in Carmel, Ca. Beautiful setting, fantastic tennis facility. Very nice staff eager to please. My wife and I took lessons from Rick Manning and my daughter from Clark. Great instruction and above all they made it a really fun experience. Can't wait to come back."—J.P., Int., July 2009
"Make sure you check the weather - if you want to play tennis. You should talk to the pros ahead of time and let them know what you want to work on, so they can plan. We had a great time - pros were fun."—V.F., Int., May 2009
"I stayed here for a 5 days and played every day with the two pros. I was never bored. Both pros had numerous drills and helpful hints for me. I would like to add there was more playing than hints, which is pivotal for a player. I was treated like a VIP. I would totally return just for the tennis. Best tennis advice I have received in a long time. I did express interest in other team groups but that never did transpire. That was ok with me as I was very tired so I did not follow up on it myself."—E.M., Adv., April 2009
"My wife and I have visited Carmel Vally Ranch for extended stays twice in the last 2 years. It is a beautifull place beautifully and lovingly maintained and we found it to be a place where we enjoy peace and privacy while having easy access to the two wonderfull restaurants, each with its own distinctive elegance and excellently complementary quisines. The suites are wonderfully well and comfortably furnished with 2 fireplaces, great space, and every amenity one wants. With one exception; the removal, ( just since we were there in 2008) of really superbly functioning individual spa pools right on your private deck in amongst the woods is a severe loss to the perfection of CVR.
The Corporate owners are planning an elaberate Resort Spa which they want you to use so they trashed all of the personal private spas to get you to do so. Personally I know the fancy new Spa will never take the place of what has been lost. A Pity. Practically the main reason we came to visit the CVR resort the first time was the prospect of being on a tennis court a lot of the time, and the beautifull tennis complex exquisitely set within Carmel Valley Ranch is a marvelous place to play. There are multiple courts plus a fine exhibition court, and they even have clay courts. The Tennis Program is world class, the tennis lessons that I took were time well spent and really moved my game forward. The Pros are first rate and like everyone we met at the resort they are nice friendly people who are truely happy to help you have a good time which is what we had!"—D.C., Adv. Int., April 2009
"Beautiful resort, great courts and excellent clinics. I can't wait to go back."—B.M., Adv., April 2009
"We had a great time. The courts were in great shape, the people were friendly, and they had plenty of lesson and clinic options."—M.B., Low Int., April 2009
Rate Carmel Valley Ranch
The Ranch is a 1,700-acre refuge six 
miles up the valley from the storybook town Carmel. Its 144 suites, all with fireplaces and outside decks, trail along the live oak-clad hillside made all the more appealing by bed after bed of petunias, zinnias, roses, poppies, iris, and snapdragons. This elevated perch overlooks the valley nine of a Pete Dye golf course.
Pro Shop: 831-626-2550
The tennis complex at Carmel Valley Resort is in transition. The sunken stadium court is history, sadly; however it's loss is part of a broad plan to significantly increase the amenities and appeal of tennis's corner of the resort. Director Clark Corey is excited about the changes. "The enhancements will be wonderful," he told me by phone, "with a 5000-square-foot fitness center, a large lap pool, a kid's pool, whirlpool, updated Ranch House Café (in the historic 1890s farmhouse), new locker rooms, and a great patio area here at tennis." Elsewhere, there are plans to renovate all 139 of the rooms and finally build the long-promised spa. The hotel remains open throughout, intending to complete this $25 million enhancement by summer of 2010.
Most of the courts are hard—this is California after all—however, two of the 11 are clay, both with subsurface watering, and one is Plexicushion, a type of carpet court.
Tennis Staff. Peter Burwash International pro Clark Corey has returned to Carmel Valley after a stint in Hawaii. He brings 30 years of experience worldwide to the programs. He is assisted by Rick Manning, whom many of you will remember from his days at the helm at the John Gardiner Tennis Ranches in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Carmel Valley.
Tennis Programs. Much of what takes place here is geared to the needs of the resort's 250 local members, individual resort guests, and corporate groups. With the various groups to draw on, the staff can usually find you a worthy opponent if you need one—and if they fail, they'll provide a pro for you to hit with. Otherwise, there are two mixed doubles round robins each week, weekly group clinics, private lessons, junior programs, and a variety of monthly social and competitive events.
Courts Fees. $25/hour for resort guests, but included in tennis packages.
Golf Course. Pete Dye designed the resort's 18-hole course in 1981. The front nine meanders along the Carmel River, but the back nine climbs into the forested upland, where holes 10-14 cling precariously to the hillsides and induce vertigo with drops as much as 350 feet from tee to green. To makes matters worse, heavy underbrush guard the margins of these back fairways. Length: 6,055-6,515 yards.
Fitness Center. The old farmhouse at the tennis courts contains LifeFitness weight machines as well as six Cardio machines and free weights. Staff conducts daily power walks. Massages, facials, pedicures, and manicures (optionally in your room) are also available.
And ... Hiking trail lead into the Santa Lucia Mountains and horseback rides start nearby.
What little there is in the way of children's programs are seasonal and geared more to locals than guests. There is a junior camp afternoons during July and August, but that too is mostly geared to locals, and another on-going program during the school year. The children of guests are welcome to participate.
There are 144 suites in all, draped along the top of a ridge. Spacious and well appointed—sizes range from 800 to 1,200 square feet—they all have living areas with wood-burning fireplaces, wet bars, and a private library plus a separate bedroom whose bath has deep soaking tubs. The color scheme runs to sage green, wild rose, lavender, and soft grays. Both rooms open out onto an expansive outside decks. The older (ca. late 1970s), larger, and somewhat more private units trail along winding paths through stands of oak trees, which may somewhat obstruct their views of the valley, while the most recent (1998), while somewhat smaller, occupy terraces on an open hillside that gives them more expansive views. Whether old or new, these are some of the most supremely comfortable rooms anywhere.
The Dining Room at the hotel has a well-established reputation for serving superb California cuisine inspired by the produce of Carmel Valley itself, the fresh fish caught off the coast, and herbs from the resort's own gardens. I wasn't able to dine there on my last trip, however, so I hope some of you can provide recent reviews. Otherwise, the other options are the Golf Club Grill or light fare and sandwiches at the tennis clubhouse.
If you like the sound of Carmel Valley Ranch, also check out:
See their web site for current rates.
Seasons.Year-round though the best time to visit is from March through November.
Travel Instructions. By Air: The nearest major airports are San Jose, 80 miles to the north and San Francisco, 117 miles north. However, there is also a small regional gateway in Monterey Peninsula Airport, 13 miles from the resort. By Car: From San Francisco or San Jose, take Hwy. 101 South to the Monterey Peninsula Exit and Hwy. 156 West. Follow Hwy. 156 or Hwy. 1 South to Carmel Valley Road. Turn left and continue for 6½ miles to Robinson Canyon Road. Turn right and that leads to the resort entrance.
General Tourist Information. Visit the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau web site or contact them at P.O. Box 1770, Monterey, CA 93942. Phone: 877-MONTEREY.