San Diego Day Spas
Local Spotlight: Top 10 San Diego Day Spas by Melisa Ford Boudoir
In need of some time to relax and unwind? Look no further! We have created a list of our favorite spas throughout San Diego. We’ve included hotel spas, more retreat like spas and a couple smaller boutique options. Time to book that YOU day!
Hotel Day Spas
1. The Spa at Harrah’s, Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Location: Valley Center
Pricing: $$-$$$
Apart from the exceptional treatments offered at The Spa at Harrah’s, what sets it apart is the remarkable value it provides in comparison to other spas in the area. Despite the relatively low prices, the quality of their therapies remains top-notch. The spa staff is unparalleled in their expertise, with many boasting over a decade of experience. They are not only skilled but also eager to personalize treatments and offer tailored recommendations, making it one of the most welcoming and customer-friendly spa experiences in town.
Particularly noteworthy is The Baby Bump massage, an unexpected gem at a casino spa, but a truly relaxing and pregnancy-enhancing massage. Additionally, their facials stand out as they utilize organic and highly sought-after Eminence products, ensuring a rejuvenating skin care experience. And to top it all off, guests can unwind in the pleasantly warm 100-degree salt pool after their pampering session.
2.Omni La Costa Resort & Spa
Location: Carlsbad
Pricing: $$$-$$$$
The spa exudes elegance with its modern, pristine design spanning an impressive 43,000 square feet, complete with 42 treatment rooms, a health-focused café, and a generously sized pool that creates a resort-like atmosphere. Separate areas for men and women are available, offering lockers, a clothing-optional hot tub, steam room, sauna, and showers equipped with full-sized amenities.
One of the recommended treatments is the Detox Herbal Massage, designed to improve microcirculation, combat free-radicals, and reduce body inflammation through the use of lymphatic drainage. This gentle yet effective massage employs light pressure and rhythmic movements while incorporating a hand-crafted poultice crafted from exotic spices and flowers, providing a full body scrub experience.
3.Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa
Location: La Jolla
Pricing: $$$$
Nestled within 10 acres of lush foliage and gardens near Torrey Pines, the spa spans an expansive 7,000 square feet, creating an atmosphere that almost makes you forget you’re in San Diego. This wellness haven offers an all-encompassing experience, complete with couples’ treatment rooms, invigorating eucalyptus steam rooms, a heated saltwater pool, and some of the most luxurious and comforting robes you can find in the city.
For a truly rejuvenating experience, consider booking the Estancia Glow Signature Facial, a 100-minute therapy that incorporates cutting-edge micro-current technology, LED light, and transdermal infusion. These advanced techniques work together to lift, firm, and impart a youthful radiance to your skin. As an added bonus, the treatment includes a diamond radiance collagen mask, leaving your skin glowing long after you leave the spa.
4.The Spa at L’Auberge
Location: Del Mar
Pricing: $$$$
Travel through the charming Del Mar Village, and you’ll stumble upon the hidden gem of L’Auberge Del Mar, designed to exude the ambiance of a private oceanfront estate. Spa L’Auberge, nestled in a separate bungalow with a California modern touch and thoughtful amenities, offers a truly indulgent experience. Arriving early allows you to don a soft and luxurious robe while sipping on a refreshing pineapple mimosa in the open-air lounge.
Drawing inspiration from the nearby Pacific, the spa menu incorporates ingredients like marine salt crystals and red algae. One not-to-miss treatment is the Soulful Salt Stone massage, an 80-minute lavish experience using warm Himalayan salt stones. This Swedish-style massage provides a comprehensive full-body pampering, with equal attention given to the feet, hands, back, and neck. To enhance your visit, schedule your treatment a few hours before sunset to relish the unparalleled ocean views.
5. Spa Pendry
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
Pricing: $$$$$
Nestled within the Pendry Hotel, this indoor/outdoor spa seamlessly combines industrial design with lush greenery, creating a tranquil sanctuary in the heart of Gaslamp. Early arrivals can enjoy a soothing experience sipping on Paru tea while basking in the sunlight at the outdoor relaxation area. Alternatively, one can opt for the eucalyptus steam room, perfect for relieving congestion and promoting relaxation.
Among the spa’s offerings, the 90-minute HydraFacial stands out as a results-focused facial. It encompasses lymphatic draining, exfoliation, and light therapy, complemented by a neck and shoulder massage. This facial is particularly ideal before special events, as its effects are immediately noticeable without causing any irritation, leaving you feeling both relaxed and pampered.
6. Rancho Valencia Spa, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa
Location: Rancho Santa Fe
Pricing: $$$$$
After undergoing renovations in 2021, the revitalized spa presents a complete range of amenities, including a highly recommended full-service salon, a new fitness center, and upgraded relaxation spaces along with an improved spa pool. A must-try experience is the Marine Mineral Wrap, which incorporates premium seaweeds from Europe. The treatment involves dry brushing the body before applying a warm concoction of marine treasures, combined with Laminaria, to invigorate and enhance the skin’s radiance. To complement this, guests can indulge in an outdoor bath and shower, providing a luxurious treat that can be savored throughout the year.
Retreat Day Spas
1. Glen Ivy Hot Springs
Location:Corona
Pricing: $$$
After a delightful exploration of Glen Ivy’s 19 mineral pools and therapeutic baths surrounded by lush tropical gardens, indulge in a unique experience at ‘Club Mud’ with their California red clay pool. Here, you can generously coat yourself with warm, velvety mud, allowing it to seep into your skin while inside the Wafa cave, a sauna-like space that aids in drawing out impurities from your skin. A helpful tip is to wear an old or dark-colored bathing suit, ensuring you can fully embrace the mud without worrying about stains.
To elevate your relaxation further, consider adding on a Quartz Massage. This unique treatment involves lying on a specially designed Gharieni quartz bed, which cradles you ergonomically and balances your chakra while warm quartz sand gently eases muscle tension away. Together, these experiences will leave you feeling thoroughly rejuvenated and pampered.
2. Golden Door
Location: San Marcos
Pricing: $$$$$
Venturing past the literal “Golden Doors,” visitors are transported to a serene and unexpected sanctuary nestled in the tranquil San Marcos hills. The Japanese Zen garden, adorned with ancient stone lanterns and distinctive historic architecture reminiscent of Kyoto temples, adds to the ambiance. The expansive resort encompasses various amenities, such as pools, hiking trails, and a biointensive farm boasting its citrus trees, along with chickens that provide fresh eggs for spa meals.
A typical day at the resort involves personalized fitness routines, burning up to 5,000 calories, followed by in-room massages and tailored body treatments. Guests can unwind in the renovated guest rooms and indulge in the newly refurbished bathhouse, ensuring a luxurious and rejuvenating experience.
Boutique San Diego Day Spas
1. Inn at Moonlight Beach
Location: Encinitas
Pricing: $$$
A luxurious five-suite haven, recognized as the world’s first WELL certified establishment by the International Well Building Institute due to its exceptional standards in air quality, water, lighting, nutrition, fitness, comfort, and mental well-being, presents an array of wellness offerings tailored for a romantic couple’s escape. The highly sought-after Well Loved Us package is a favorite among guests, encompassing two 60-minute massages, a bottle of sparkling wine paired with strawberries, a charcuterie board with vegan alternatives available, a meditation kit containing an abalone shell, palo Santo, and a selenite stick, in addition to a flower or medicinal herbal tea bath, along with other delightful wellness enhancements. Enjoy a delightful staycation and make the most of these rejuvenating experiences.
2. Saffron & Sage
Location: Mission Hills
Pricing: $$$
Saffron and Sage reigns as the leading figure in San Diego’s wellness community. Within its white-walled premises, black tourmaline accents serve to ward off negative energy. As additional luxuries, one can find breathwork and movement studios. This establishment excels at merging holistic medicine, ancient healing practices, and bodywork, which can be best experienced through combination treatments. Enthusiasts highly recommend beginning with Breathwork to attain alignment and emotional release, followed by Acupuncture and Fire Cupping. For a touch of indulgence, you can further enhance your experience with sound therapy, guided meditations, hypnotherapy, a Thai massage, or a lymphatic drainage facial.
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xoxo,
Melisa Ford
North San Diego Boudoir Photographer
