Refuge - Carmel, California

Isa S.

I visited this spa for the first time and it was an incredible experience. The ambiance was calm, serene, and immaculately clean exactly what you'd hope for in a wellness sanctuary. The silent policy added a beautiful layer of peace and mindfulness to the entire experience, allowing full immersion in relaxation.

The facilities were top-notch: from the hot tubs and cold plunges to the steam room and sauna, everything was thoughtfully designed and impeccably maintained. Each space offered a distinct vibe, and the transitions between hot and cold were invigorating.

The staff? Absolutely amazing. Kind, professional, and always attentive without being intrusive. You can tell they truly care about the guest experience and take pride in the space.

If you're looking for a clean, peaceful, and luxurious spot to disconnect and recharge, this spa is a must. They have a no cell phone or electric policy which I loved! So we couldn't take pictures

Chelsea H.

Came for the spa admission and spent about 3 hours here one evening (7-10pm). They ask you to leave the area starting at 930 FYI so the last 30 min was spent showering and changing. They direct you to follow a thermal cycle, where you spend time in the dry spa or wet sauna followed by a cold plunge and then relax in a hot tub, by the fire pit, in a no gravity chair or a hammock. There are cool and cold pools as well as warm and hot tubs. The variety of temperatures as well as the number of pools/tubs was great-maybe 10 in total. Everything is reservation only so it doesn’t get crowded. The sound of the waterfalls in the hot tubs was relaxing and you’re surrounded by lush trees. There is a silence policy and unfortunately there was a loud couple who didn’t even bother whispering and no staff asked them to be quiet. Otherwise extremely enjoyable. Locker rooms included multiple showers and sinks and the robes were luxurious. No slippers included so bring sandals! There are also no kindles allowed but by following the cycles bringing a book seems more like a hassle.

Jacqueline W.

The space is beautiful and I love the variety of amenities. It never felt overcrowded and I always felt comfortable. Overall I had a very relaxing experience.

My only issue comes with the enforcement of the rules. I was surprised and disappointed when a staff member came up while I was quietly reading by the fire and told me I couldn’t read on my Nook. I’ve been several times before and no one said anything about it. The device has no capabilities beyond books and doesn’t make any noise or have a blue light screen but I put it away because a no tech rule is a rule so I’ll follow it. To then see people on Apple Watches and on their phones scrolling and taking pictures made it even more disappointing. I totally understand the intention behind these rules and agree that freedom from smart devices enhances the experience but the enforcement of this rule is poorly and inconsistently executed.

Rachel B.

This place will leave you saying “I’ve never felt so relaxed before!” Truly. Floating in the warm pools brought a new wave of calmness and zen to my body and mind. No talking or phones allowed so anyone in need of peace and relaxation, get a day pass here! We spent 3-4 hours there in the cold pools, warm pools, hot pools, sauna, & eucalyptus steam room.
You just wear a bathing suit and flip flops and they give you robes and towels and there’s nice locker rooms for each gender with showers for after. I saw a lot of people brought books to read too. We even saw deer!

Flora Z.

I spent 3.5 hours here and the only reason I didn’t stay longer was because I needed to eat.

This is such an amazing place to RELAX. They have a pretty strict no talking policy to make sure that everyone is able to find relaxation and enjoyment. They have a sauna, steam room, cool pools, cold pools, warm pools, hot pools, hammocks, fireplaces and an indoor space where you can recline in zero gravity chairs (this was my favorite).

You get a cozy robe and 2 towels and access to the locker room.

I highly recommend going here, and it’s a 2 hour drive from the Bay Area!

Galina C.

Wonderful retreat experience! Swimsuits required, no cell phone or talking, massages are available and advance bookings suggested due to high demand.

A great day trip to rewind and read a book or do nothing and relax. Another way to come in the evening and enjoy hot baths, the silence and watch the stars.

Julia P.

Got a couples massage and explored the tubs. With the incredible amenities it would've easily been 5 stars, but there were a few problems.

One, there were a couple of extremely loud and chatty girls at the tubs. Sure, sometimes the staff has to take a break and they can't enforce silence 100% of the time. But these girls were chatting for the entire time they were there. I was able to flag someone down on the way out in the locker room but why wasn't there anyone watching the tubs?

Two, there was a man at the front desk when I was leaving. I had borrowed a book from their library and we were in a rush to get to our dinner reservation. I thanked the front desk for the visit and attempted to drop the books off. The man looked at me and told me with a bit of an attitude to put the book back where I found it. I just spent $700 at your establishment I'm pretty sure you can put the book up for your guests.

Third, the instructions for what to do are incredibly confusing for what's supposed to be a relaxing experience. The email stated that we couldn't arrive more than one hour early for the massages, so we arrived exactly one hour before. This led to us having an awkward amount of time before the massage and it wouldn't make sense to use the thermal tubs for basically 15 minutes since we would have to put our stuff away, undress, put on a swimsuit, use the tubs, and take off the swimsuit for the massage. Which is why we were really confused that the hosts***kept*** recommending we explore the tubs. When I tried to explain that it wouldn't be relaxing to rush, for some reason they just could not understand?

Overall it was just stressful. The opposite of the point of this place

Megan K.

A much needed trip to the Refuge today! All staff were very nice and friendly. My facial was amazing and will be back for more! Happy they offer them every Sunday now!
Loved laying on the hammock in the sun, felt so relaxed a peaceful.
There were a few groups of people talking in the pools, which was annoying, would be nice if a staff person was walking around monitoring that. Not everyone is respectful of the silence policy.