Score 85/100 · Order: All-suite resort with spa · $800–1,400/night
Rancho Valencia is a Relais & Châteaux property with 49 suites, a serious spa, and tennis courts that host pros. It is 25 minutes inland from the coast, which is the trade-off for the quiet and the service level.
Local tip: Suites include private patios with outdoor fireplaces — request one facing the olive grove.