Bandy Canyon — Hotel in Ramona

I recently had an experience at Bandy Canyon Ranch that left me disappointed with the level of hospitality and customer service. While the location itself is beautiful, there are areas where improvements are needed to enhance the overall guest experience. We stayed at the ranch, but had our wedding at another nearby venue. During our stay, we encountered several incidents that fell short of our expectations.

There were miscommunications regarding guest arrival times, and we felt that the staff could have done more to ensure a smooth check-in process and set clear expectations for guests. Guests were turned around at the gate for arriving 2 hours early instead of being allowed to in to park and explore the ranch.

It would be beneficial for the staff to receive training on verifying the freshness and expiration dates of consumables before distributing them to guests. We even found mold on the bottom of one of the bread bags in the breakfast baskets. The front desk was informed about this and a replacement bread bag was given.

We also experienced a lack of coordination and timely communication regarding amenities and services. For example, there was a miscommunication regarding the availability of fire pits, which resulted in us not being able to enjoy the s'mores boxes we had purchased. We were informed by the office staff that they would not turn on the fire pits despite other staff members stating that the fire pit is open until midnight. This left us feeling disappointed and as if we wasted money on purchased s'mores boxes.

Furthermore, the gate guard consistently asked, "What company do you belong to?" instead of providing a warm welcome or requesting names or reservations. This approach created an unwelcoming experience for guests. It would be beneficial for the gate guard to receive training on hospitality and effective communication with guests, vendors, and maintenance vehicles.

I even overheard a guest complaining about a staff member who responded with, "that's not my jurisdiction," when asked about turning on an outdoor space heater. Staff members should receive training to respond positively and respectfully to guest inquiries, and if they are unable to assist, they should find someone who can.

One significant incident occurred on the day of our wedding when an electrical fire caused a water outage in all cabins. The lack of timely communication and failure to inform all guests promptly about the situation and provide alternative sources of clean water was a major letdown. We were not notified until two hours after our guests noticed the issue, and only my wife received a text about the incident. Communication and transparency are crucial in such situations to minimize inconvenience.

Moreover, we faced challenges during the checkout process due to the office being left unattended and scheduling conflicts, resulting in a delay and inconvenience. It is essential for the office to be staffed during business hours, especially during check-in and checkout times. Scheduling conflicts should be resolved to ensure a smooth and positive guest experience.

Finally, our attempts to address our concerns and request a partial reimbursement have been met with slow response times and a lack of follow-up. Despite promises to speak to the CEO and get back to us, we have not received any further communication. This lack of responsiveness has been frustrating and disappointing.

While Bandy Canyon Ranch has the potential to provide a pleasant experience due to its beautiful location, improvements in communication, staff training, and responsiveness to guest concerns are necessary to meet the expectations of guests seeking a high level of...

I booked a cabin at Bandy Canyon to celebrate my niece’s 18th birthday. We made the three-hour drive from the San Fernando Valley to Escondido, excited to relax and enjoy this special occasion. Sadly, what we encountered was far from what was advertised and the experience left us deeply disappointed.|We arrived about an hour early, and while I understand check-in wasn’t until 3:00 PM, the way we were treated was unacceptable. I went to the front desk while my daughter and our dog waited in the car, and was immediately met with a cold, unwelcoming attitude from the staff member, Zina. However, the person who walked in behind received exceptional service!|I kindly asked if there was somewhere we could sit or get a bite to eat while we waited, as we had just come off a long drive. Zina stated flatly that there was no restaurant (despite one being advertised on the website), and the only food available was hot dogs at the pool—but we weren’t allowed at the pool yet because we hadn’t checked in, and dogs were not allowed in the area. Even when I offered to pay upfront so we could get something small to eat outside of the pool area, I was turned away.|To make matters worse, we were left sitting outside in 100-degree weather while waiting for our room. Zina made no effort to offer us an indoor space or even a shaded area. It wasn’t until Ferran, one of the employees, saw what was happening and took pity on us that we were allowed to wait in the recreation room with air conditioning, something that could and should have been offered from the beginning.|Because of how remote Bandy Canyon is, there were no nearby restaurants or convenience stores to turn to. We had to settle for buying Pringles just so we could have a small snack. By the time we were finally allowed to check in, the hot dog service had ended, and we had to wait several more hours for a taco vendor to arrive.|Unfortunately, when we got to our room, the issues continued. The bathtubs and patio were dirty, and the refrigerator didn’t work. This was particularly frustrating because Bandy Canyon advertises BBQs on site. My niece and her mother-in-law brought food with them when they arrived later that day so we could grill on Sunday but when we went to use the BBQs, they were disgustingly dirty, like they hadn’t been cleaned in months.|The pool wasn’t heated, and the jacuzzi was barely warm, despite advertising that suggests otherwise.|To be fair, there were two amazing employees who genuinely cared: Letty and Ferran. They went above and beyond to try and improve our experience, and their kindness didn’t go unnoticed. But unfortunately, by that point, the damage had already been done.|One of the most concerning things we noticed was that Bandy Canyon is incredibly understaffed. The same people working the front desk were also acting as maintenance, housekeeping, bell staff, and even entertainment. It was clear that the team is stretched far too thin to provide the level of service guests are led to expect.|This place has so much potential it’s beautiful and peaceful but the disconnect between what’s advertised online and what guests actually experience is a serious issue. I truly hope management takes these concerns to heart and invests in better staffing, hospitality training, and basic cleanliness...

My stay at Bandy Canyon was such a relaxing and well needed stay. As someone who has worked in the service industry for 7 years, I am sometimes a tough critic when it comes to the service and I am being given, and my stay at the ranch was ABSOLUTELY hands down THE MOST accommodating and pleasant stay of my life. I had my eyes set on this place for a while and decided to finally book my stay and I was not disappointed in the slightest.

Despite what some of the previous reviews may have said, my experience was nothing close to that. I felt as though everything was made and communicated very clear about my stay prior to my arrival. I, of course, also did my own research before booking and arriving.

The staff was AMAZING. Kate and Emma made it their mission to make sure I was comfortable and well taken care of during my stay. Debbie and Denise were the sweetest as well! I can’t say enough good things. I truly don’t know if I will come across such good service like that again.

One thing to keep in mind is that although they are currently renovating and planning to open a restaurant on the site soon, the staff was very helpful in suggesting places for me to eat and even making me aware of doordash and other food delivery places that can be sent to the ranch. They even provide complimentary breakfast baskets, depending on how many nights you stay, and it was one of my favorite highlights of my stay. The basket had goodies from Trader Joe’s, which I shop religiously from. (They must've known I was coming). There are also local wineries close by, no more than 10-15 minutes away, and it was an easy drive. I had the most absolute best fettuccini I ever had in my life from the winery. And I can’t over exaggerate it. When I wasn’t snacking on my free breakfast basket or the delicious food from the winery, I ordered a charcuterie board from the front desk to be delivered to my cabin. They made it so good I had ordered it TWICE. (And they were both all for me).

I even got s’mores to make to sit by the beautiful fire pit and have a nice small chat with the others guests at the ranch. I got myself two bottles of the Ranch’s own brand of wine which is displayed at their front desk, along with some incense and all the other cute goodies that they have. I made sure I took a bottle home to keep in my wine cabinet to remember my stay.

I enjoyed my time at their GORGEOUS pool surrounded by the greenery and luxurious pool furniture, and was able to have it all to myself. One thing I did make a mental note of was they have water out for guests to drink after taking a dip or just sunbathing. Little things like that, 11/10.

Overall, everything was absolutely AMAZING. From the staff, accommodations, great views, gorgeous drive to the location, and the comfortability of my cute room. I was sooooo sad to be leaving and I will definitely be coming back. I will not stop telling people to book their stay here and have already convinced...