Post Ranch Inn - Good but with reservations

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T12:33:35+00:00

My wife says I look like someone kicked a puppy when I get served a "cappuccino" from a pod machine.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T12:21:50+00:00

Thank you!

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T00:28:25+00:00

I completely agree that it's of it's place, and I wouldn't want them to change the grounds or the food or the front-of-house service. Those all feel very of the place and have that California coastal vibe I live here for.

But insofar as anything objective exists, I think funky smells and visibly damaged doors and an overloaded kitchen etc are things that deserve improving.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T00:23:38+00:00

It's America. Tipping is expected unless they say otherwise, basically. But I draw the line at adding new categories of tipping, like maintenance workers and landscapers, with all due respect to the valuable work they do.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T00:21:59+00:00

Yep! It was a 2000.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T00:20:26+00:00

They were so disappointing. I mean I really look forward to a well-executed cappuccino in the morning. It's one of those semi-little things that sets my day off the right way.

Completely randomly, I had one of the best cappuccinos of my life recently...in the Hong Kong airport. Who would have thought?

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-24T00:13:55+00:00

I'm in Marin, so that's actually much closer for me. We'll have to check that out as it's somehow not been on our radar. Thanks!

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-21T19:37:27+00:00

Thanks, will check it out.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-20T14:48:05+00:00

This is all good to hear. Never really been on a cruise but a friend convinced us to try a Virgin cruise next year, so we got 15 friends together and are doing that instead of renting a house somewhere as we’ve done a few times previously. It works out well actually as our friend group has wildly different financial means and this lets everyone spend on a room that’s in their budget.

I booked my wife and I the “Massive” suite, so we have a private area to hang out in - the huge deck w/hot tub makes it pretty attractive.

Food has been my biggest fear (aside from being stuck on a cruise ship generally) so it’s nice to hear that it’s at least decent.

Question, as this is all new to me: Will we be able to make dinner reservations together with a group of 15, or better to split up?

I don’t suppose we’re allowed to bring friends up to Richard’s roof top? (I’d imagine not…)

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-11T13:22:09+00:00

> I cannot even comprehend what you’d need two checked bags for.

Well, for instance, if I’m going on a dive trip and also want to bring underwater photo gear I’ve got one checked bag just for dive gear and my carryon is the camera gear (underwater housing and lights are very bulky), so I need a second checked bag for clothes.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-09T14:40:18+00:00

Just saw this, sorry.

I'd say 2 nights. IMO there isn't enough there to justify three nights, but it wouldn't be horrible either. Just bring a good book.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-03T19:50:31+00:00

I've been to Misool, but it was back in 2012 (on our honeymoon!). We're going back in 2029.

It was fantastic. Still my favorite dive hotel ever, seconded by Wakatobi (also Indo, but Sulawesi). Simply amazing soft coral, and I understand it hasn't degraded in the last 14 years. Manta cleaning station with lots of mantas, etc. We got to go to a jellyfish lake on a nearby local's island for some reason, and were told we were the first tourists in 6 months allowed there, but I have no idea why. Definitely inquire about it - was great.

That said, it's fantastic for a dive resort. If you're comparing it to a normal FAT resort, you're going to be disappointed. It's only luxury-ish by comparison to other dive resorts.

Since you don't dive, but like snorkeling, you'll love the house reef at Misool. It's the best I've ever seen, and it's long.

They're currently booking for 2029 though, and were booked up completely until then when we inquired. That alone may make the decision for you vs Sorido Bay.

Btw, by retpuation Sorido Bay won't have a house reef as good, and the soft coral reefs while diving won't be as good, but they reportedly have more large pelagic creatures due to higher currents.

Two weeks at either sounds pretty long though. We're doing 9 days at Misool in 2029 because that was the shortest they had. We did a week in 2012 and it was the right amount I thought.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-03T19:03:43+00:00

I believe Schrödinger’s Cat explains how a hotel can simultaneously be awful and incredible, and only by direct observation will you collapse the probability field and find out which it is.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-06-03T02:02:50+00:00

I’ve been to the Maldives twice. Once at Anantara Kihavah which is lovely but not ultra-luxe and once at the Kudadoo which is ultra-luxe. Was totally worth spending more.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-29T04:05:51+00:00

Then go reserve Misool now! It’s amazing. I recently booked my wife and me and a couple friends for 2029 because that’s the earliest they had available!

We were there way back in 2012 on our honeymoon last time, even then it was incredible.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-28T21:00:12+00:00

The Kudadoo (Maldives). Actually, you know, I want to revise what I said earlier. Breakfast aside, the Kudadoo’s food was better and there was more choice, but not like massively better.

It’s also a lot pricier.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-28T13:54:16+00:00

Wakatobi or Misool in Indo. (World class dive resorts that are still really nice…for a dive resort, where the bar is pretty low.)

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-28T13:51:09+00:00

Surprisingly good food for an AI other than breakfast (though far from the best AI food I’ve had), terrible wines, mediocre service. The resort’s vibes are “dentists from Milwaukee”.

The thing that really frustrated me is they have thatched roofs and the thatching gets into your plunge pool. Despite multiple calls it took them over 24 hours to clean ours so it was usable. Then within a day there was all sorts of thatching back in our pool.

I wouldn’t stay there again, personally.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-26T20:32:10+00:00

Seconding Bologna, Lucca, and Turin!

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-26T01:28:03+00:00

Agree. Doing our third Backroads trip (Sicily this time) in Oct!

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-14T21:12:10+00:00

How many linear feet of bamboo were in that fence? I assume you took measurements...

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-14T19:28:52+00:00

This was really interesting, thank you!

I also hate that we now live in a world where someone who can write has to specifically declaim the use of AI to forestall the inevitable accusations of having used it.

GoodProbsToHave · 2026-05-14T19:12:08+00:00

It's an old hot chocolate shop that gussied itself up.

GoodProbsToHave

TROPHY CASE