Murray On Travel

After a day on Southern California Freeways, it is nice to arrive at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in the hills of Carlsbad, California.  The darkness hides what I know are this resort's beautiful grounds.  I'm looking forward to a dip in the pool, a bite to eat, a drink at the bar, and a soft bed.  And the Omni delivers on all counts. 

The lobby is large and includes several seating areas and a large lounge with a double sided glass fireplace.  Check-in was fast and smooth.  A driver took me and my luggage to a room.  The property is a maze of smaller buildings separated by lovely lawns and trees. 

 The living area of this large two room suite has a sofa bed, desk, large TV, and access to a narrow balcony.  Lighting is very good, and the heating & cooling system is quiet.  WiFi signal is a little weak in this location, but speed was acceptable.  Keurig coffee maker is provided.

Not only were the mattress and pillows comfortable, but the sheets were nice and smooth.  The bedroom also had another large TV.  Bathrobes and slippers were provided.  The large closet was nice, with a section designed to hold very long women's dresses.   

The bathroom amenities were "Omni Resorts" brand products.  It had a large two sink layout, and the big tub had a large sliding window that opened into the bedroom.  The separate shower had a nice shower head and plenty of room.  The toilet was behind a sliding pocket door.   

With the morning sun came a beautiful view of one of the two La Costa golf courses.  The room was well maintained and clean.  A larger/deeper balcony would be nice for lounging.  Most ground floor units have patios.

Guest rooms are situated in several small Spanish styled buildings separated by well manicured lawns and trees.  It can be a long but beautiful walk to get back to the main resort buildings. A call to the front desk will bring you a cart & driver. 

This Omni resort is home to not only great golf, but also large tennis facility and one of the best spas in the USA.  Ranked #1 by Spa Magazine in the USA while Travel & Leisure said it was the #4 spa in North America. 

Great golf always needs good weather, and the Southern California climate provides just that.  The Champions course was redesigned in 2012, and the Legends course was renovated and reopened in 2013.

If you are not out on the golf course or playing some tennis, you might want to check out the large Spa facility.  This highly regarded operation has a variety of services for men and women. 

Kids will not be found around the adults only pool, but will be found in the family pool with its sandy beach.  The large spa tubs around the adult pool are a romantic spot for a glass of wine under the stars. 

And talking about kids.... the Omni La Costa offers a great opportunity for kids to be kids while their parents are out on the golf course.  A large dedicated facility houses a variety of programs for children. 

A variety of dining options are available.  Indoor & outdoor, casual or fancy, as fancy as it can get in this laid back Southern California atmosphere.  A large market/coffee shop is located in the central shopping area next to the lobby.  It offers a variety of grab and go snacks and prepared dishes.  It also has a bunch of iPads available for guests to use while sipping a cup of coffee. 

Many visitors to the Omni La Costa are not just here for the golf, tennis, or world class spa.  They are here to work.   They have a variety of meeting spaces and associated services.  It is also a great property for weddings of all sizes. 

Around every corner is a magical find, expressions of simple architectural details that turn an ordinary hotel into a beautiful resort.

The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa is a great Southern California destination for golf or tennis.  But it also works as a romantic getaway with someone special.  Or bring that hipster hat you have, heat up your laptop, and put a few finishing touches on your next Hollywood screen play.

Corona, California is not the hot spot of luxury spa hotels, but there is an oasis off the freeway that hosts a spa experience that the most discerning spa aficionado will enjoy. Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa, 25000 Glen Ivy Road, Corona, CA 92883, is close to Los Angels and Orange County, has unique spa attractions and is an experience you won't want to miss. Photos Provided By Glen Ivy Hot Springs

 As you enter the property, you will experience the lush foliage, exotic palms and ferns and abundant flowers. Check in with guest services and obtain a guest information guide to plan your activities. As you walk on to the property, you will release how big the resort is. There is much to explore so plan for a full day. You can also book traditional spa services, massages, body treatments and skin care services to compliment the public spa attractions. Book in advance or take your chances and try for same day treatments at the Glen Ivy Spa.

The first stop is the Bath House which was recently remodeled. Here, you'll find all the amenities in a hotel spa resort including showers, hot tubs and steam saunas. You should plan to bring an older bathing suit because some of the treatments may cause your swim suit to discolor. And, because most of the spa attractions are out doors and co-ed, you must were a swim suit to experience them.

The resort is famous for their thermal, natural Mineral Baths. There are several out door community baths to soak in, allowing the minerals to absorb into the skin and the warm water to relax the body. Reminder, these are community baths so if you are squeamish about public Jacuzzis, you may not like the Glen Ivy experience. There are 19 pools and spas through out the resort and you can easily find a less crowed area. The mineral baths attract the most people and therefore, are the most crowded.

The next popular outdoor attraction at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa is the Red Clay Mud Bath. Here, you enter a designated area, rub the therapeutic red clay all over your body, relax, bake in the sun; and then rub it off producing an exfoliation affect all over the body. Finally, there are hot, outdoor showers with fragrant shower gel to rinse off the remaining mud. You are left with soft skin and the clay will have drawn out the impurities in your body.

At this point, you may head back to your car and enjoy a pre-packed picnic tailgate style or go to Cafe Sole and enjoy a selection of Mediterranean style salads, pizzas and pastas. The lounge pool is perfect for after lunch. There are rafts to lie on and enjoy the tranquility of the resort. And then at 2 pm, when you just can't take any more relaxation, head over to the lap pool for 45 minutes of water aerobics.

The Glen Ivy Hot Springs Resort is best experienced with a group of friends or family members. The last event of the day should be to experience the body moisturizing treatment call the Grotto. The is a group activity where you are escorted down an elevator, an attendant paints the moisturizing body mask on you and then, your group enters a cave like large room where you rest and let the treatment soak in for at least 10 minutes. Then, your group is escorted to warm showers, followed by crisp apples and warm tea. It's a beneficial body treatment, fun to experience as a couple or in a group and worth the $25 charge. If someone in you group is elderly or has trouble getting around, I wouldn't recommend this experience because it's dark in the cave, the moistening mask could be slippery and the sitting areas in the grotto are rough.

Location: The Glen Ivy Hot Springs is located off the Interstate 15 Freeway, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Los Angeles and 30 minutes from Orange County. It's open daily at 9:30 AM and closes at either 5 PM or 6 PM, depending on the hot or cold seasons. The Glen Ivy Hot Springs is full service day resort; so plan to spend the entire day there. It's best to plan your visit on a weekday to avoid the crowds and save money on admission. Saturday, Sunday and Holidays $48 per person and Monday thru Friday $35 per person.

Must do: - Mineral Baths - Red Clay Mud Experience - Float on a raft - Water Aerobics - The Grotto Experience

Special things: - Free admission on your birthday - Private Cabanas and Terraces available for rent for 2 people to 100 people - warm season prices are from $175 to $2000 - perfect for a celebration. - 15% off if you are a Corona resident or city employee, senior citizen (over 55) military, police, firefighter, teacher or a nurse.

Spa Olakino is located at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki in the Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. As the wife of the great MurrayOnTravel I'm a spa buff and seek out spa treatments whenever possible. I would suggest you may want to book a treatment here.

The Spa Olakino is managed by the Paul Brown companies, a local salon in Honolulu. There is definitely a "local style" happening at this spa....no one is in a big hurry....and that's not a bad thing when you are in spa mode!  The services and prices make up for any lassitude at the front counter.

The greatest feature about the Spa Olakino is the quiet area. Lava rock, island flowers and an eye level view of Waikiki Beach will captivate you as you relax and wait for you treatment. This lounge area has 8 or so comfy chases, a full tea service and plenty of fashion magazines. Plan to hang out here - it's a peaceful place overlooking the turquoise water and you don't have to put on sun screen.

The sitting area is fabulous and I could stay there all day, however, the shower, bathroom area is not up to par with other spas. Perhaps that is why the Spa Olakino describes itself as a "boutique spa". There is only one shower, two bathroom stalls and one sink and a tiny area to undress. You won't have much privacy in this area; however, over the years I've been to this spa 3 times and rarely see more than one or two people at a time.

The Spa Olakino features a Magic Island Massage, 80 minutes for $160, body wraps with pure Hawaiian spirulina, 75 minutes include 25 minutes LomiLomi massage for $155 and Papaya Pineapple facial, 60 minutes for $130.

If these prices are too much for your budget, then you have to check out the Early Bird and Night Owl spa specials! Great treatments for great prices! The Early Bird Specials will suit you well because you will probably be waking up at 5:30 am because of the time change; take advantage of it. I had a 25 minute scalp massage and a 25 minute mini facial for about $100. The specials are from 8 am to 10 am or 8 pm to 9 pm everyday.

Each treatment room is decorated with a Hawaii theme. For example, lava rock walls, stone sinks and a dark decor adorn each room. All spa treatments incorporate Hawaiian-influenced products and there is a small boutique to shop for products. I have never been "sold" to after a treatment and I like that about the Spa Olakino. The last thing I want is to be pressured to buy a mud pack after a relaxing, expensive spa experience.

The Spa Olakino also offers full Salon services at reasonable prices.

Online at: www.SpaOlakino.com- Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815 - Telephone: 808.924.2121