Rancho Valencia ranked No. 1 in U.S.

Rancho Valencia, for the first time, has been named No. 1 hotel in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
More than two years after getting a $30 million makeover, the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa has catapulted to No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of top hotels in the nation.
Just two years ago, the 45-acre luxury resort in Rancho Santa Fe was No. 12 and last year moved up three places to No. 9.
The top spot is a realization of a goal co-owner Jeff Jacobs set out to achieve soon after he and his partners acquired the property in 2010 for more than $15 million.
“We certainly bought a spectacular property with great employees, but it needed some new energy, some tender loving care,” said Jacobs, who partnered with his three brothers and two other investors to purchase the resort. “It always bothered me when I traveled to get nickel and dimed in a hotel, so we don’t have any resort fees, we don’t charge you for the mini bar, after every fitness class we provide a cold pressed juice or protein shake. These are the wow factors that guests don’t expect.”