Practical room notes: check-in, occupancy, TV and accessibility
Check-in at Post Ranch Inn begins at 4:00 p.m. PST and check-out is at 12:00 noon PST. Rooms are adults-only, limited to two persons per room (one king bed each), and guestrooms do not include televisions or alarm clocks to encourage disconnection.
In this guide
Check-in, check-out and payment
Check-in begins at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time and check-out is at 12:00 noon Pacific Standard Time. Guests typically receive an email with check-in instructions within about two weeks of arrival and are greeted by front desk staff when they arrive.
Rooms can be guaranteed with major credit cards (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diner's Club or Discover). The remaining balance, including tax, is charged to the card on file 14 days prior to arrival per the property's policy.
- Check-in: 4:00 p.m. PST
- Check-out: 12:00 noon PST
- Payment: credit card guarantee accepted; final balance charged 14 days before arrival
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Email with instructions | Usually sent ~2 weeks before arrival |
| Balance charge | Card on file charged 14 days prior |
| Valet & parking | Valet or self-parking included |
Occupancy, room types and minimum stay
Post Ranch Inn is an adults-only property: the minimum age to check into a room is 18 years old. All guestrooms are limited to two persons per room since each room features one king bed.
There is a two-night minimum stay requirement for guestroom reservations. Room types include suites and cottage-style rooms; examples of room names are Upper Pacific Suite, Lower Pacific Suite, Ocean House Northern, Upper Coast House Ocean View Room, Tree House, Upper Butterfly Room, Middle Butterfly Room, Castro Room, Peak House and the private Post House.
- Adults-only: minimum check-in age 18
- Occupancy: max 2 people per room (one king bed in each room)
- Minimum stay: two nights
| Sample room name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Upper Pacific Suite | Ocean-view suite (one king bed) |
| Ocean House Northern | Cottage-style room (one king bed) |
| Tree House | Forest-set king room |
TVs, clocks and in-room features
Guestrooms at Post Ranch Inn do not include televisions or alarm clocks; this is an intentional policy to encourage guests to disconnect and focus on the natural surroundings. Rooms do include an in-room mini-bar and complimentary Wi‑Fi.
If you need device charging or entertainment, plan to bring personal devices and chargers; the property’s free Wi‑Fi is available in guest rooms and public spaces.
- No TV in guestrooms
- No alarm clock in guestrooms
- Complimentary Wi‑Fi throughout the property
- In-room mini-bar included
| Amenity | Availability |
|---|---|
| Television | Not provided in guestrooms |
| Alarm clock | Not provided |
| Wi‑Fi | Free in rooms and public areas |
Accessibility and mobility considerations
The property is wheelchair accessible in key public areas: accessible parking, accessible path of travel to the concierge/registration desk, accessible access to the spa, pool and Sierra Mar are provided. However, Post Ranch Inn has no elevators, so guests with mobility limitations should confirm specific room locations and access details with reservations before booking.
Given the cliffside, hillside and forest setting with many pathways and steps, ask the reservations team to identify accessible rooms and routes on arrival. Service animals that meet the ADA definition are permitted; pets and emotional support animals that do not meet service-animal criteria are not allowed.
- Accessible parking and public paths available
- No elevators on property — confirm room accessibility in advance
- Service animals allowed; pets not permitted
| Accessible area | Notes |
|---|---|
| Spa & pool access | Accessible |
| Registration/concierge | Accessible |
| Guestroom access | Confirm specific room accessibility when booking |
Pools, spa and wellness access
Post Ranch Inn has three outdoor pools: two cliffside heated 'basking' infinity pools and a separate lap/swimming pool in a meadow. Pool access is available 24 hours a day for registered guests.
The Post Ranch Spa is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; it includes five treatment rooms, a couples 'Redwood Sanctuary' suite and a menu of signature treatments such as the Post Ranch Signature Massage and Sound Healing Journey. Many treatments can be scheduled in-suite or on private decks in some cases.
- Three outdoor pools: two cliffside heated pools + one meadow lap pool
- Cliffside 'basking' pools reported near 104°F
- Pools open 24 hours to registered guests
- Spa hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; reservations recommended
| Facility | Access / Hours |
|---|---|
| Cliffside basking pools | 24-hour access; heated (~104°F) |
| Lap/swimming pool (meadow) | 24-hour access |
| The Post Ranch Spa | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; reserve in advance |
Practical arrival logistics and local travel
The inn is located at 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920, about 1,200 feet above the Pacific on Highway 1. A rental car or pre-arranged private transfer is strongly recommended: public transport and rideshare options are unreliable along this stretch of coast.
The nearest regional airport is Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY); drive time varies by source but is commonly cited around an hour. Highway 1 can close occasionally for landslides or roadwork; check Caltrans or local travel notices before driving.
- Address: 47900 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
- Nearest airport: Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) — plan about an hour’s drive
- Highway 1 is narrow and can close — check road conditions before arrival
- Valet and self-parking included with stay
| From | Typical travel note |
|---|---|
| Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) | Roughly an hour by car (confirm current drive times) |
| San Francisco / San Jose | Longer drives — several hours; rental car recommended |
| Highway 1 | Scenic but narrow; check for closures |
Dining, breakfast and extra charges
Sierra Mar is the inn’s signature restaurant and serves complimentary breakfast daily for overnight guests (hours listed on the property's site). Lunch and dinner are available to guests and the public; dinner typically requires a reservation. Breakfast is reserved exclusively for overnight guests.
Room rates include daily breakfast, resort activities, valet parking, access to pools and fitness center, an in-room mini-bar and complimentary Wi‑Fi. The property does not charge a separate resort fee; standard occupancy and local tourism taxes apply to stays.
- Complimentary breakfast for overnight guests (served at Sierra Mar)
- Sierra Mar open for lunch and dinner; dinner reservations recommended
- Room rate inclusions: breakfast, activities, valet, pools, fitness center, in-room mini-bar, Wi‑Fi
- No separate resort fee; taxes apply
| Meal | Notes / Hours |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | Complimentary for overnight guests; typically served in the morning |
| Lunch | Available at Sierra Mar (check current hours / reservations) |
| Dinner | Sierra Mar — reservations required due to limited seating |
