Treatments between coast and forest
Post Ranch Spa offers treatments with separate bookings and charges. Included pool access and breakfast do not amount to an all-inclusive spa package.
Post Ranch Inn
Choose between ocean and forest, then settle in: king rooms, fireplaces and warm pools above the Big Sur coast.
A week here, month by monthPost Ranch Inn suits those who want the Big Sur coast with breakfast, the minibar, parking and 3 pools in the rate: one night taken alone starts at $1,690 from 3 to 7 January 2027, the lowest price any seller showed on Google. For children or a pet I would choose another address, as rooms sleep 2 and pets are not allowed.
Official rooms Post Ranch Inn pricesWould you go?
Keep it among your hotels and see it on the budget globe, month by month.Like a regular
The room to ask for
I would ask for the Cliff House, a freestanding room whose entire interior looks over the Pacific, with a private deck and soaking tub, a wood-burning fireplace and radiant-heated floors.
The weeks that cost less
For one night taken alone, the week of 23 to 29 January 2027 shows $1,696 to $2,700, read 13 October 2026, against $6,325 on 24 July 2027. Booked as 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the only seller Google listed asked $2,972 a night.
On top of the rate
Rates are subject to a nightly 10.5% occupancy tax, a California tourism assessment and a $7.90 daily Monterey County tourism tax. There is no resort fee, and a deposit of one night, tax included, is charged at booking.
The complimentary Lexus loan
The inn lends Lexus vehicles to guests free of charge with a valid U.S. driver’s license, which matters because Uber and Lyft are extremely limited in Big Sur and local taxis need advance booking.
What Post Ranch Inn is
The 40 rooms and private houses are scattered between coast, forest and mountains. The outlook shapes the stay: Pacific water from Cliff and Ocean House, trees and a skylight in the Tree House. Fireplaces and decks give you a reason to stay here between breakfast and dinner.
The tub is a decisive distinction: Ocean House Northern places it outside, Southern keeps it indoors; Pacific and Cliff have deck tubs. Tree House prioritises trees and a skylight, while the 2 private houses add kitchens and media rooms. All remain 2-person accommodation with one king.
Breakfast, the minibar, parking and 3 pools are included. Book and pay separately for a spa treatment: the redesigned space has 5 rooms, including Redwood Sanctuary, a wellness suite for 2. Sierra Mar serves lunch and dinner too, charged separately.
Fog can hide the ocean even from a room booked for its view; the policy offers no weather-related refund. Come with time to spend at the ranch and your transport arranged: Uber and Lyft are very limited in the area.
In the Lumina Guide
Lumina Guide 2027
Post Ranch Inn is a small retreat on the Big Sur coast: 40 rooms and houses between ocean, forest and mountain, with fireplaces, terraces and 3 pools.
How we choose the hotelsOur reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
The coastal setting is the clearest advantage; fog and road access can change the stay.
Character
Architecture spread between ocean, forest and mountains, with room choices distinguished by outlook and tub.
Room
Rooms and privacy earn praise: each room sleeps 2, with one king; Cliff and Pacific have a fireplace and an outdoor tub.
Staff and service
Many guests praise the staff; of the hotel’s activities they describe the yoga classes, the falconry and the stargazing.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included and served at Sierra Mar from 7.30am to 10.30am; guests remember the dining room looking out over the ocean.
The bill
Guests who find the price fair give the place as their reason; the rate covers breakfast, the minibar, parking and 3 pools, with no resort fee.
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do Post Ranch Inn’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
Nearly every guest who mentions it is happy with it. The hotel sits on the Big Sur coast, along Highway 1, between ocean, forest and mountains; fog can cover the view, and it is worth checking the state of the road before setting out.
Room
9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Of the rooms, guests remember the privacy, the wood fire laid ready and, in the categories that have one, the hot tub on the deck.
Staff and service
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Many guests write warmly of the staff, and describe the yoga classes, the falconry and the evening of stargazing.
Breakfast
Breakfast, included in the rate, is taken at Sierra Mar, in the dining room above the ocean, from 7.30am to 10.30am, or in the room.
Price
Guests who find the price fair give the place as their reason: the Big Sur coast. The rate covers breakfast, the minibar, parking and all 3 pools.
Where Post Ranch Inn leads
- Location
On location it comes ahead of the 4 other hotels it is compared with in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula.
- Room
On the room it comes ahead of the 4 other hotels it is compared with in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula.
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 9.3 | 186 | 95% |
| Room | 8.7 | 114 | 88% |
| Staff and service | 7.7 | 208 | 76% |
| Breakfast | 7.1 | 16 | 69% |
| Price | – | 74 | 38% |
The scores come from 325 Google reviews with text, left from 28 September 2010 to 18 September 2026. The comparison extends beyond Big Sur; properties have different policies and scales. The Post Ranch listing can include restaurant visits. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 1 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against in Big Sur and the Monterey Peninsula:
- Alila Ventana Big Sur
- Bernardus Lodge & Spa
- Carmel Valley Ranch
- Highlands Inn
Price: for two on the night of 6 January 2027, from $1,690 (seen on Google Hotels on 13 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
One night taken alone for 2 adults costs $1,690 to $4,625 between 11 November 2026 and 17 June 2027, and $1,775 to $4,750 from 27 June to 6 September 2027. I would start with 23 to 29 January 2027, when one night taken alone runs from $1,696 to $2,700.
| Period | Dollars a night |
|---|---|
| 14 Oct–9 Nov 2026 | 1,713–3,612 |
| 11 Nov 2026–17 Jun 2027 | 1,690–4,625 |
| 18 Jun–26 Jun 2027 | 1,799–5,825 |
| 27 Jun–6 Sep 2027 | 1,775–4,750 |
The lowest price any seller showed on Google Hotels for one night searched alone, for 2 adults, read 13 October 2026; no room or meal plan is specified. The calendar stops on 6 September 2027, and 61 nights inside it have no price. Booked as 7 nights from 16 November 2026, the only seller Google listed that day asked $2,972 a night.
What to expect
Sierra Mar as the light fades
The restaurant is part of the coastal experience, but lunch, dinner and drinks have their own terms. Breakfast is included for guests; other meals do not automatically follow.
Good to know before you book
The view is chosen with the category: ocean, forest or mountain. Source: postranchinn.com
Every room has one king bed and sleeps 2 at most; no extra beds are added. Source: postranchinn.com
Check-in requires a guest aged 18; younger guests share an adult’s room, and the site discourages children because of the cliffs, the fireplaces and the pools without a lifeguard. Source: postranchinn.com
Uber and Lyft are very limited, because mobile coverage is thin: transport is arranged before arrival. Source: postranchinn.com
Ocean, forest and mountain are different room choices.
One king, 2 guests maximum; no extra beds.
No resort fee; lodging taxes are separate.
Spa for staying guests; treatments charged separately.
Policy does not guarantee clear ocean views.
Rooms and private houses
Getting to Post Ranch
Highway 1, Big Sur
| Address | 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920. |
|---|---|
| Check-in / check-out | 4pm / noon |
| Parking | Self and valet included; limited local transport. |
Road times vary; sources read on 1 October 2026.
Around the hotel
Bixby Creek Bridge
A scenic stop on Highway 1; check road access for the travel date.
Pfeiffer Beach
Beach reached via Sycamore Canyon Road, with access separate from the resort.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
A coastal reserve in the Carmel area: a drive out, rather than a walk within the hotel.
The hotel and its surroundings
Verified positions; no measured journey times.
Loading map…
Recommended for you
A day at Post Ranch
7.30am
Breakfast at Sierra Mar
Breakfast at Sierra Mar is complimentary and served only to hotel guests, daily from 7.30am to 10.30am.
The morning
Join a guided nature walk
Daily resort activities include yoga, outdoor meditation, guided nature walks and garden tours.
12pm
Lunch at Sierra Mar
Lunch is served daily from 12pm to 2pm, to hotel guests and to the public.
The afternoon
Book the spa
The spa is open from 10am to 6pm, and treatment times are requests until the reservations team confirms them.
Late afternoon
Swim or soak
Access to the infinity pools and the lap pool comes with the room.
5.30pm
Dinner at Sierra Mar
Dinner is served daily from 5.30pm to 9pm as a prix fixe menu.
Post Ranch Inn reviews
The listing can include Sierra Mar visits as well as stays.
Google · 1 October 2026
Guest voices
Paraphrases of Google reviews; some predate the spa reopening.
GoogleSetting, staff and spa
A guest describes attentive staff, trails, a good spa experience and meals in the room or restaurant; falconry is a highlight.
Google · 2026-08-03Read the review
GoogleFog and the view
A guest reports fog throughout both nights and maintenance problems, finding poor value. Views remain weather-dependent, as current policy states.
Google · 2026-06-16Read the review
GoogleThe Coast House rooms
A guest likes the property and room but reports sound from neighbouring Coast House rooms at night and in the morning. The guest describes perceived noise; acoustic levels were not measured.
Google · 2025-10-14Read the review
GoogleSleep and breakfast
A guest praises staff, the pillow menu, mattress, snacks and breakfast, describing quiet and darkness during their stay.
Google · 2026-06-13Read the review
Post Ranch Inn questions
What does a night at Post Ranch Inn cost?
The Google Hotels calendar read on 1 October 2026 shows $3,246 on 2 October 2026, $2,171 on 1 November 2026 and $1,722 on 1 December 2026 for 2 adults. The calendar quotes each selected night individually; the calendar does not specify room category or tax inclusion. Official policy adds 10.5% occupancy tax, a 0.195% California Tourism Assessment and a $7.90 daily Monterey County Tourism Tax. There is no resort fee. Breakfast, minibar, parking, pools and several activities are included; treatments and dinners have their own charges. Source: Google Hotels · Post Ranch Inn
Which rooms have ocean or mountain views?
Cliff House, Pacific Suite, Ocean House and Coast House face the Pacific; Post House and Castro are private one-bedroom houses with ocean views. Peak House faces the mountains, Tree House the forest, Mountain House mountains and forest; Butterfly has forest and mountain outlooks. Pacific, Coast and Mountain have Upper and Lower variants; Butterfly has Upper and Middle rooms. Each has one king bed and policy limits occupancy to 2. The consulted category pages and official floor plans do not state floor areas; ask the hotel for the internal floor area. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
Does every category have an outdoor soaking tub?
Cliff, Pacific and Peak have outdoor tubs; Ocean House Northern has an outdoor tub and shower, while Southern has an indoor spa tub and double-sided fireplace. Post House and Castro have outdoor tubs. Coast House and Tree House list showers; Mountain House lists an indoor tub. The current Butterfly page lists no soaking tub; choose another category if a tub matters to you. Source: Post Ranch Inn
Is it adults-only, and are there televisions?
The stay is designed around couples and quiet, but current policy does not ban every minor: it requires age 18 to check in and allows younger guests accompanied by, and sharing a room with, an adult under specific conditions. Occupancy remains 2, with no extra beds. The hotel discourages children because of cliffs, fireplaces, balconies, tubs and pools without lifeguards. Sierra Mar welcomes all ages for lunch and dinner. Standard rooms have no TVs or alarm clocks; Post House and Castro are exceptions with media rooms and 60-inch TVs. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
What does the new spa offer, and can outside visitors use it?
The redesigned spa has 5 treatment spaces: one individual room, 2 couples rooms, a facial room and Redwood Sanctuary, a private wellness suite for 2. One couples room has a private tub and shower; infrared sauna sessions are paid additions to selected treatments. The current menu lists massages from $285 for 60 minutes and Redwood Sanctuary experiences at $2,400 for 180 minutes. The spa is for overnight hotel guests; lunch at Sierra Mar does not grant entry. The consulted current pages do not publish a total area or verifiable daily opening hours. Book a treatment to use the spa. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
Are the pools heated, and can guests swim?
Jade Pool and Meditation Pool are 2 infinity soaking pools: the hotel lists 95–102°F by season, about 35–39°C. The lap pool is for swimming and is listed at 85°F, about 29°C. All 3 are included for staying guests and have no lifeguards. They are separate from room tubs and are not public pools. The fitness centre opens 24 hours. Those are the temperatures the hotel publishes. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
Is breakfast included, and can non-guests dine at Sierra Mar?
All reservations include breakfast, served exclusively to hotel guests at Sierra Mar from 7:30am to 10:30am. Lunch runs noon–2pm and dinner 5:30pm–9pm, also welcoming the public by reservation. Prix fixe menus change seasonally; dinner is charged separately. The wine list states more than 3,200 selections. Corkage is $55 per 750ml equivalent, with 2 bottles per reservation. In-room dining is listed noon–9pm, with breakfast described separately on the same page. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
How do guests arrive, and are parking and cars included?
The address is 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur. The hotel gives roughly 30 miles from Carmel and 50 minutes from Monterey Airport, estimates affected by road conditions and traffic. Self or valet parking is included. Complimentary Lexus use lasts 4 hours, subject to availability and a valid US driving licence. Uber and Lyft are described as extremely limited by cell coverage. The site read on 1 October 2026 says Highway 1 is open from north and south; travel depends on conditions on the day. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
When did it open, and are seasonal opening and ocean views guaranteed?
Post Ranch opened in April 1992 with 30 rooms; the current site describes 40 rooms and private houses. The new spa is already presented as reopened. The consulted calendar supplies prices from October 2026 to January 2027; missing prices do not establish closure. The consulted current pages do not provide an annual closure calendar. Policy warns that fog and sun can change quickly and does not guarantee sunsets or clear ocean views, or offer weather-related refunds. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn · Google Hotels
How many people can attend a wedding?
Current packages list 2–3 people for Elopement, up to 8 for Tiny, 12 for Intimate, 20 for Post Ranch and 35 for Grand, all including the couple. These are ceremony counts, not room capacity, which remains 2. A minimum 2-night stay is required; accommodation is charged separately from the package. Post House weddings with 12 or more guests also require booking Castro. The site does not publish fixed package prices or one capacity for every private dinner. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
Is a 2026 New Year’s Eve gala dinner already announced?
The offers, dining and wedding pages consulted on 1 October 2026 do not publish a specific 31 December 2026 package with menu and price. Ask the restaurant for that evening’s programme, price and any inclusion in your room rate. Source: Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn · Post Ranch Inn
How should guests read its star rating and reviews?
The consulted Google Hotels listing classifies Post Ranch as 4-star; the official site promotes MICHELIN Three Keys, a different distinction from hotel stars. Google Places reports 4.6/5 from 494 reviews on 1 October 2026. The listing can include restaurant visits as well as stays, so the overall rating does not measure room comfort or cleaning alone. Source: Google Hotels · Post Ranch Inn
Can I travel with my dog?
Post Ranch does not admit pets; trained service animals are welcome. Its policy does not equate emotional support animals with service animals. Source: Official resort policy.
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