Vision Quest Safari Bed & Breakfast
Salinas, California United States of America
Vision Quest Safari Bed & Breakfast
4.7
Select room:
N2169WNsamanthah
9 days ago
A unique experience! Vision Quest Ranch is a B&B property connected to the back side of the Monterey Zoo. It consists of bungalow-style (part solid wall, part tent) buildings scattered across a large grassy field, with enough distance between them to feel somewhat private. After reading the reviews here we chose the Big Cat Room. They are currently running a great Groupon deal for about 1/2 off... we tried to book the room that way but after carting our selection it said all the dates were full for that room style and we were unable to book. After multiple attempts on different devices over a few days we just booked it through the website directly at full price. Turns out we were the only ones staying that night so this was definitely some sort of glitch. Anyway, t here isn't a lobby for the Ranch itself. You go into the Zoo gift shop to register and get your key. Then you get a code for the locked gate up the road that leads into the Ranch. The roads into the ranch are paved and there is one assigned parking spot to each Bungalow.
The bungalow itself was adorable--so cutely decorated in the theme of the room (ours was lions, tigers, etc.). There was a huge king bed and a fold out bed for our 13 and 11 year-olds. I would not try to put teens or adults on this bed. They will NOT fit. The room was spacious and had everything we needed. The shower is small and as someone mentioned the spray goes everywhere but where you need it to go, but it's GLAMPING so I was happy there was a shower at all! There's a small TV in the corner with limited channels, but who watches TV on safari? The bungalow has full electricity but limited outlets so bring portable chargers for phone or whatnot. The bed was the most comfortable one I stayed on after 4 nights of hotels. We did not have bugs in our room so I think the netting is just for decoration. We didn't need to use it. There is a low temp warming heather that runs along one wall along with a space heater. We turned on both before it got too cold and the room was perfect temp all night long.
The best part of the experience is the animals. From this bungalow's deck you can see into the Rhino/Zebra enclosure at the zoo and watch them get fed at night. This room is also close to the Big Cat enclosures at the zoo and we could hear the lion vocalizing into the late evening. After the zoo closed, a few of the zookeepers brought around a brown skunk and a ferret to our deck and told us all about these amazing animals. You get a pass to the zoo as part of your stay which we decided to use the next day. It was nice to wrap up our time in Salinas getting to meet all the animals we were hearing overnight. I plan to post a review of the zoo on the their tripadvisor page, but I encourage you to make use of the free admission that comes with your bungalow. It's a great rescue/rehab zoo with lots of unique animals!
An important note: This is a B&B connected to a working zoo. It's important to note that your experience will vary depending on the animals and their needs. If you go in with an open mind and a sense of adventure you will have a great time!
Year Built - 2001 Year Remodeled - 2012 additional Property Description - Vision Quest Ranch Is Home To The Monterey Zoological Society Which Cares For Over 100 Exotic Animals As Well As E.A.R.S. A Nonprofit Elephant Sanctuary. An Overnight Stay At The Vision Quest Safari Bed And Breakfast Allows People To Get Closer To Exotic Animals Than They Would On An African Safari. . Stay In An Authentic African Style Bungalow And Listen To The Lions And Tigers Roaring Only Yards Away. Each Canvas Walled Suite Is Creatively Decorated And Appointed With Most Conveniences Found In A Hotel Suite. Suites Are Individually Decorated In Their Own Animal Decor Including The Giraffe Manor The Big Cat House The Pachyderm Palace The Monkey Manor Josefs Jungle The Bears Den The Leopards Lair And The Zebra Zone. Some Bungalows Have A Large Deck Providing A Spectacular View Of The 5acre Elephant Play Yard. All Bungalows Have A Full Bathroom Tvvcr Refrigerator And Coffee Maker. Awaken To A Continental Breakfast Delivered By One Of Our Elephants. Guests Will Meet Some Of The Trainers On Their Evening Walks With A Few Of The Zoo Animals Weather And Animals Permitting. Guaranteed To Be An Overnight Experience Found Nowhere Else Not Even In Africa. Some Of The More Adventurous Choose To Add A Fullcontact Animal Tour To Their Stay. Monterey Zoo Offers A Pachyderm Package Which Is A Full Contact Elephant Tour A Vip Package Which Is A Full Contact Tour With An Elephant Monkey And A Small Exotic Cat And The Walk With The Animals Package Which Is An All Day Tour Where Guests Tailor Their Day To What Animals They Would Like To Spend Time With. Children Must Be At Least 4 Years Old To Stay At The B And B. For Children Monterey Zoo Offers Safari Day Camps Roarnsnore Overnight Camps Educational Shows Birthday Parties And Much More. Monterey Zoos Daily Tour Is Open To All Ages. Visit The Monterey Zoo An African Safar
Year Built - 2001 Year Remodeled - 2012 additional Property Description - Vision Quest Ranch Is Home To The Monterey Zoological Society Which Cares For Over 100 Exotic Animals As Well As E.A.R.S. A Nonprofit Elephant Sanctuary. An Overnight Stay At The Vision Quest Safari Bed And Breakfast Allows People To Get Closer To Exotic Animals Than They Would On An African Safari. . Stay In An Authentic African Style Bungalow And Listen To The Lions And Tigers Roaring Only Yards Away. Each Canvas Walled Suite Is Creatively Decorated And Appointed With Most Conveniences Found In A Hotel Suite. Suites Are Individually Decorated In Their Own Animal Decor Including The Giraffe Manor The Big Cat House The Pachyderm Palace The Monkey Manor Josefs Jungle The Bears Den The Leopards Lair And The Zebra Zone. Some Bungalows Have A Large Deck Providing A Spectacular View Of The 5acre Elephant Play Yard. All Bungalows Have A Full Bathroom Tvvcr Refrigerator And Coffee Maker. Awaken To A Continental Breakfast Delivered By One Of Our Elephants. Guests Will Meet Some Of The Trainers On Their Evening Walks With A Few Of The Zoo Animals Weather And Animals Permitting. Guaranteed To Be An Overnight Experience Found Nowhere Else Not Even In Africa. Some Of The More Adventurous Choose To Add A Fullcontact Animal Tour To Their Stay. Monterey Zoo Offers A Pachyderm Package Which Is A Full Contact Elephant Tour A Vip Package Which Is A Full Contact Tour With An Elephant Monkey And A Small Exotic Cat And The Walk With The Animals Package Which Is An All Day Tour Where Guests Tailor Their Day To What Animals They Would Like To Spend Time With. Children Must Be At Least 4 Years Old To Stay At The B And B. For Children Monterey Zoo Offers Safari Day Camps Roarnsnore Overnight Camps Educational Shows Birthday Parties And Much More. Monterey Zoos Daily Tour Is Open To All Ages. Visit The Monterey Zoo An African Safar
Need To Know Info
The room rates listed are for double occupancy per room unless otherwise stated and exclude tax recovery charges and service fees. The actual booking amount will be charged in USD. See FAQs for more details.
Customer Reviews
Reviewed on
N2169WNsamanthah
|1 review
A unique experience! Vision Quest Ranch is a B&B property connected to the back side of the Monterey Zoo. It consists of bungalow-style (part solid wall, part tent) buildings scattered across a large grassy field, with enough distance between them to feel somewhat private. After reading the reviews here we chose the Big Cat Room. They are currently running a great Groupon deal for about 1/2 off... we tried to book the room that way but after carting our selection it said all the dates were full for that room style and we were unable to book. After multiple attempts on different devices over a few days we just booked it through the website directly at full price. Turns out we were the only ones staying that night so this was definitely some sort of glitch. Anyway, t here isn't a lobby for the Ranch itself. You go into the Zoo gift shop to register and get your key. Then you get a code for the locked gate up the road that leads into the Ranch. The roads into the ranch are paved and there is one assigned parking spot to each Bungalow.
The bungalow itself was adorable--so cutely decorated in the theme of the room (ours was lions, tigers, etc.). There was a huge king bed and a fold out bed for our 13 and 11 year-olds. I would not try to put teens or adults on this bed. They will NOT fit. The room was spacious and had everything we needed. The shower is small and as someone mentioned the spray goes everywhere but where you need it to go, but it's GLAMPING so I was happy there was a shower at all! There's a small TV in the corner with limited channels, but who watches TV on safari? The bungalow has full electricity but limited outlets so bring portable chargers for phone or whatnot. The bed was the most comfortable one I stayed on after 4 nights of hotels. We did not have bugs in our room so I think the netting is just for decoration. We didn't need to use it. There is a low temp warming heather that runs along one wall along with a space heater. We turned on both before it got too cold and the room was perfect temp all night long.
The best part of the experience is the animals. From this bungalow's deck you can see into the Rhino/Zebra enclosure at the zoo and watch them get fed at night. This room is also close to the Big Cat enclosures at the zoo and we could hear the lion vocalizing into the late evening. After the zoo closed, a few of the zookeepers brought around a brown skunk and a ferret to our deck and told us all about these amazing animals. You get a pass to the zoo as part of your stay which we decided to use the next day. It was nice to wrap up our time in Salinas getting to meet all the animals we were hearing overnight. I plan to post a review of the zoo on the their tripadvisor page, but I encourage you to make use of the free admission that comes with your bungalow. It's a great rescue/rehab zoo with lots of unique animals!
An important note: This is a B&B connected to a working zoo. It's important to note that your experience will vary depending on the animals and their needs. If you go in with an open mind and a sense of adventure you will have a great time!
danadR2872ZE
|1 review
A slice of Africa Vision Quest Ranch is a slice of Africa! It’s a unique and memorable experience. The atmosphere is serene, the surroundings are stunning, and the connection to nature is unparalleled.
The highlight of my visit was booking a personalized tour at the zoo, which I highly recommend to anyone planning a trip here. It’s the best way to learn more about the incredible animals that call this place home. The guides are knowledgeable, friendly, and clearly passionate about wildlife, which made the experience all the more engaging.
If you’re looking for a unique experience that’s both fun and educational, it’s worth every penny and more!
Jeff V
|1 review
Hidden Gem in the Salinas Foothills My family spent the night this past weekend at Vision Quest Ranch and visited the Zoo on Saturday. It was a great experience, and my children really enjoyed the Zoo and staying overnight at the Bungalow.
We arrived on Saturday and toured the Zoo. It was pleasantly not crowded, and so we were able to spend time at the exhibits without feeling rushed to move on. Yes, some of the animals seem a bit crowded, but the Zoo is very clean, as are the exhibits. 90% of the animals were out and easily viewed which may the experience more enjoyable. I find it frustrating when attending zoos, and the animals are either inside, or hidden away behind obstacles.
We were able to check into our Tent Bungalow in the early afternoon which was nice. No waiting until 4pm... Our Bungalow (which was the Big Cats one closest to of course the Big Cats) was spacious and enough room for 4. It was clean and with a large bathroom. A refrig with water and orange was a nice touch. You can definitely hear the Male Lions throughout the early night and early in the morning, so be aware. We did not mind, and it literally felt as if the Lions were right outside our place. The Bungalow also has a view of a large exhibit that currently has Rhinos, Zebras, Water Buffalo, and Wildebeast.
In the late afternoon we choose the duo activity of feeding the Tigers and then putting the Rhino's to bed. This was the highlight of the trip, and well worth the extra expense. Being that close to the animals was very exciting for the kids and us. Also before this activity, we did have animals taken to the front of our bungalow which included a Lemur and Skunk.
There is a small breakfast provided the next day which was nice. Overall the staff were friendly and engaging, and for us, well worth the experience. A definite hidden gem located in the western foothills of Salinas.
Gina M
|1 review
Great place! We loved this place! The bungalow was awesome and well equipped. Surprisingly we stayed warm with the space heater and heated mattress pads. Incredible to hear the lions at night and look across at the zebras and water buffalo from our deck. On our arrival day, the staff walked a few animals by the bungalows and spent a few minutes talking to us about them. We did a private tour and it was so enjoyable with the staff being friendly and engaging and the zoo was immaculate! Breakfast was a generous box filled with various pastries, fruit, and yogurt. I was very impressed! We enjoyed our stay so much and highly recommend Vision Quest!
Stacia C
|1 review
The best trip ever. It was wonderful. Peacefully yet exciting. Watching the zebras and the rhino playing together while sitting on the deck of our tent was amazing. We toured the zoo and felt so relaxed. Yes we signed up for crunch time. We fed the tigers. They were beautiful. The entire staff went above and beyond to make our stay great. The breakfast was amazing. The staff brought animals to our tent every afternoon. Romantic