For many years, Ojai Valley Inn was one of my favorite destinations. I have stayed at the resort…read moreseven or eight times and always considered it a special place to celebrate important occasions. Unfortunately, after my recent experience, I do not plan to return.
For Father's Day weekend, I booked what I hoped would be a memorable getaway for my husband and me. I prepaid $5,364.45 for a two-night stay in a Deluxe King with a View Room. In addition, I made dinner reservations at the resort's fine dining restaurant, scheduled a golf outing for two because my husband loves golf, and booked a couples massage. I was genuinely looking forward to a special and relaxing weekend.
On June 5, I searched for Ojai Valley Inn on Google and called the phone number that appeared online. Unbeknownst to me, I was connected to a third-party reservation company called Hotel Reservations rather than the resort directly. I received a confirmation email that included Ojai Valley Inn's name, a confirmation number, an itinerary number, and proof of payment.
After driving nearly three hours from Newport Beach to the resort, I was shocked to learn that Ojai Valley Inn could not locate my reservation. I presented all of my documentation and confirmation details, yet after nearly an hour of waiting, the issue remained unresolved. I contacted Hotel Reservations while standing at the front desk, and they confirmed that a reservation existed in their system. Unfortunately, the third-party company and the hotel were unable to reconcile the discrepancy.
What disappointed me most was not the reservation issue itself, but the hotel's response. The front desk associate assisting us was kind, empathetic, mentioned they will have a room available for us, and appeared genuinely committed to finding a solution. However, when the front desk manager, Morgan Giuseponi, became involved, I felt that very little effort was made to accommodate us despite our circumstances.
Given our longstanding history with the resort, our prepaid reservation, and the fact that we already had dining, golf, and spa reservations on property, I expected some attempt to help us remain at the resort. Instead, we were informed that the hotel was fully booked and were advised to seek accommodations elsewhere. Whether the issue originated with the third-party booking company or elsewhere, I had hoped Ojai Valley Inn would demonstrate the level of hospitality and problem-solving that luxury resorts are known for.
Rather than allowing the situation to ruin Father's Day weekend, we chose to stay at Rosewood Miramar Beach instead. Fortunately, the experience there was exceptional. From the moment we arrived, the service was warm, attentive, and proactive. The contrast in customer care was impossible to ignore.
Luxury hospitality is not measured by how a property performs when everything goes according to plan. It is measured by how it responds when something goes wrong. In this case, I left feeling that Ojai Valley Inn was unwilling to help a loyal, repeat guest during a difficult situation.
This experience was deeply disappointing and has permanently changed my perception of a resort I once loved. While the reservation issue may not have been entirely the hotel's fault, the lack of effort to find a solution certainly was. For that reason, I will not be returning.
