Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 - (Page 45)

GUEST ROOMS (left) open to terraces to let in the California sunshine. THE SPA GARDEN AND POOL CABANAS (above and right) lure clients into booking full days at the facility, rather than just singular treatments. climate; many guests are making use of the spa for a full day, rather than a single treatment. The Spa at Rancho Bernardo features a new menu of treatments and services that reflect the resort' s culinary offerings. The signature treatment at the spa is ª Made Fresh Daily.º The resort chef works with Spa Director Bree Lewis-Pritchard to create seasonal treatments that utilize fresh herbs and plants, such as watermelon and cucumber in the summer, or pumpkin scrubs in the autumn. Also popular is ª Taste of the Spa,º which pairs six 30-minute treatments with six seasonal dishes. If you' re booking a group, we recommend a team activity that' s unlike anything we' ve seen before: The resort' s chef de cuisine, Jason F. Peck, will arrange a number of salsa-making stations on the restaurant terrace. Guests then pair up with a teammate, and the salsa-making competition is on. What' s so fun is the amazing variety of ingredientsÐt omatoes and onions are a givenÐsuch a s mango, walnuts and kiwis, that encourage creativity. Samba music on the terrace and ice-cold mojitos made it even more pleasurable, and an alfresco lunch topped off the affair. Rancho Bernardo Inn, a member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, comprises 287 guest rooms and 15 suites set within eight buildings. The best rooms to book are those in the 700 building with great views of the golf course. Rooms in the 600 series are also lovely, with views of both the golf course and pool. A Zen-inspired design element that got our attention is the planters brandishing an array of purplish salt cedar sticks. We also like that everything was hidden away behind panels, creating a streamlined look. The inn has two restaurants and two bars and is home to the Music Room, which of- fers Afternoon Tea. The main restaurant, El Bizcocho, serves nouvelle American cuisine with a French accent. For an over-thetop dining experience, suggest the eight-course Chef ' s Collection Menu with a wine pairing for each course. Our favorite dishes included risotto with myre lemon and asparagus, and brioche flavored with ginger and pomegranate. Meeting groups or guests whose visit includes a special celebration can take advantage of the new Aragon Ballroom, another result of the Inn' s improvement plan. Additional meeting rooms are open and airy, with direct access to a terrace. A thoughtful touch for quick computer needs, Rancho Bernardo Inn offers complimentary e-mail in its lobby. Contact Jodi Vogt (jvogt@ jcresorts.com; 858-675-8533), transient sales coordinator, or concierge Karen Oberlander (koberlander@jcresorts.com). Ð Mark Rogers www.luxuryta.com May 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 45 http://www.luxuryta.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Park City Riviera Maya Italian Castles Rotorua China Villa Retreats The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt Rancho Bernardo Port Ghalib Dead Sea Spas Silversea The Professor The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008

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