3 years ago
Get out your popcorn and find a comfy place to sit...
Get out your popcorn and find a comfy place to sit, this is going to be a long review!
Our family visited The Alisal for the first time in July of 2019. We had a large group with family members of all ages. Our family needed four rooms. Our room (pictured) was a king suite, which we enjoyed very much. The couches in our room turned into twin sized beds. The mattresses were very comfortable. Our room was really clean and fully stocked with amenities including candles, a battery operated lantern, fan, safe, fresh water, a bottle of wine, iron/board, and refrigerator. Our suite had wonderful bathrooms with amazing towels and bath robes. Although we didn't miss having a television, the resort lacks microwaves and room phones (which did cause some issues). The wifi and cell reception were very spotty. Our room got really hot midday as well (despite leaving windows open all night), which wasn't great for naptime. Our family has a ton of allergies, and if you fall into this category, bring a Costco sized container of antihistamines. If wool is not your friend, I'd skip this resort. It's literally everywhere which made for a really hard week for my daughter.
Our family members had smaller suites than we had, and the floor plans were unique. There were large sink/vanity areas next to a bed, which felt kind of like the second bedroom was a part of the bathroom.
The housekeeping staff was wonderful. They offered a turn down service which is unique to the ranch.
The Alisal offers scheduled events daily for all ages, and we took advantage of many of the choices. We were disappointed at the nickel and diming of most activities and because of that we didn't go horseback riding or bike riding. The art room charged $15 to make a candle, which we thought was alot. Some of us did the ropes course which was really, really fun. It was HOT though and we weren't prepared for the swarms if bugs everywhere. Bring bug spray and water if you plan to go. The pool is wonderful with lots of shade, a poolside bar/restaurant, and towels to use. The billiard room was neat. Aside from the weird smell, the kids enjoyed ping-pong, foosball, and billiards. My son also enjoyed playing corn hole in the evening.
We thoroughly enjoyed dining in the main dining room. The breakfasts and dinners were delicious. Don't miss the banana stuffed french toast. The chef and restaurant crew were amazing. I did notice that the dishwashers could spend some time washing both sides of the plates, when I picked up a clean plate at breakfast the entire bottom was covered in old squishy food .
We really enjoyed the BBQ on the front lawn and at the rodeo. The buffet style food spread was vast. The rodeo was fun to watch and they offered caricature drawing (get there early to reserve the limited spots), cotton candy, snow cones, and a magic show. We also had a lovely family photo taken.
We have had some wonderful family vacations eating at restaurants which have taken food allergies seriously. The Alisal seriously lacked in this department. Many of the wait staff were unable to answer questions about ingredients. Frequently we ordered dairy free pancakes and they were served with butter. Luckily, we didn't have any severe reactions, but we would have if we weren't savy with this.
Alisal lake was nice. Many members in our family enjoyed the paddle boats and fishing boat. The dinner at the lake was hot though, and not a favorite for many. My son put cups of ice down his back because he was so hot. The "shuttles" to the lake are either by van or sitting in the back of a truck on hay, which felt ridiculously unsafe (even with the slower speed) as a mom with littles. The car seat technician in me cringed at this, and I didn't allow my youngest kids to go.
Overall, we enjoyed our family vacation. Because of our vast allergy issues, we won't make a return trip. However, I do recommend the Alisal as a fun family vacation spot.