By Merilee Kern. ‘The Luxe List’ Executive Editor
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the La Costa Resort and Spa – a
destination idyllically situated in sunny Carlsbad, California that’s
revered for its well-appointed accommodations, world-class spa, fine
dining and, of course, its two PGA-championship golf courses. Having
heard much about La Costa prior to my stay, I checked in with admittedly
high expectations. Suffice it to say the experience did not disappoint.
Long cherished among Southern California residents and world travelers,
alike, as a premiere vacation locale, La Costa Resort and Spa – with its
breadth of amenities and top-notch service – is a worthy respite.
Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway for two or a fun-filled
family vacation, this property has it all…and then some.
Accommodations a Plenty
This Spanish Mission village-styled resort, spread out over fully 400
acres of coastal foothills, boasts a total of 610 guestrooms, including
ample villas and no less than 76 suites overlooking lush landscaping or
its world-renowned golf courses. The rooms are outfitted with rich wood
furnishings, luxurious fabrics, and leather accents along with oversized
bathrooms replete with imported marble.
Located near the on-site shops, restaurants and spa, La Costa’s Plaza
Rooms feature new flat-screen televisions, comfortable beds, high speed
Internet access and an array of creature comforts. The Resort Rooms are
offered with a choice of king bed or two queen beds, as well as a large
flat-screen television, full size bath and glass enclosed shower, and
outdoor courtyards. The Spa Rooms are located near the swimming pool
areas and offer either a king or two queen beds with sitting areas.
Decorated in the Spanish Colonial style, The Villa Rooms have king beds,
authentic Saltillo-tiled floors and fireplaces along with flat screen
televisions, a patio, a work area and sitting area.
The 57 available La Costa Suites for two are approximately 660 square
feet and offer an elegant bedroom, a separate sitting area with a sofa
sleeper and a flat screen television in each, as well as an oversized
bathtub that opens up to the bedroom in view of the TV. The 28 available
Family Suites for 4 to 6 guests measure a full 1,142 square feet. Family
Suites are comprised of a La Costa Suite (with a king bed) and a
connecting Resort Room (either a king bed or two queen beds), thus
creating two bedrooms, as well as two marble-laden bathrooms and a
sitting area.
The Villa Suites (one, two or three bedroom) range from 1,000 square
feet to 2,200 square feet. These spacious suites provide residential-
like comfort, and feature king beds, Saltillo-tiled floors, fireplaces,
large flat screen televisions and sitting areas. These suites also have
parlors designed for living with expansive seating and dining areas, a
well-stocked gourmet kitchen with Viking appliances, a washer and dryer,
and a beautiful patio. The Junior Villa Suites (one or two bedroom)
have many of the same virtues but with less square footage. These rooms
feature a king bed, marble bathroom, modern flat screen televisions and
a private garden patio as well as an attached parlor and petite kitchen.
The Villa Studios offer king beds, fireplaces, sitting areas, petite
kitchens and washer/dryers along with beautiful décor and, of course,
Spanish charm.
La Costa’s two-bedroom Presidential Suite is the ultimate in luxury
accommodations, offering a spacious living room with floor-to-ceiling
windows providing panoramic golf course views, a sitting area with
fireplace, a dining area with seating for six, a wet bar with kitchen
and four balconies. Each bedroom has its own sitting area and private
bath. A third bedroom is optional.
Spa-sational
Few visit La Costa without indulging in a spa treatment or three. The
Spa at La Costa is a Spanish-colonial style, Feng Shui-designed pleasure
palace encompassing a whopping 28,000 square feet of indoor relaxation
space and yet 15,000 square feet more outside. This spectacular spa has
been awarded the Readers’ Choice Platinum List by Celebrated Living for
four years in a row; the Best Hotel/Resort Spa in Southern California by
Spa Magazine, and Top Spa Resorts for Golf by SpaFinder. And with good
reason.
The Spa at La Costa has 42 treatment rooms, including VIP suites for
couples’ treatments, like side-by-side massages, along with a shower,
bathroom, fireplace, and private garden patio with a whirlpool tub.
Treatment options abound, and include a range of massages, body wraps,
facials and cutting-edge clinical treatments for the face. I myself had
a massage treatment during my stay and can personally attest to the
skill and professionalism of the technicians and the calming effect of
the luxurious facilities.
Other spa amenities include a lounge pool, sunbathing area, and Roman
Waterfall shoulder pounding massage showers, as well as men and women’s
wet areas featuring steam, sauna, whirlpool, cold plunge, showers, and
lounges. The Spa at La Costa is also home to a café perfect for
leisurely lunches in your spa attire, impressive boutique for a dose of
retail therapy, and movement and fitness rooms should you be so
inspired. The full-service Yamaguchi Salon also located in the spa
complex offers haircuts – including a Feng Shui cut, manicures,
pedicures, and other salon treatments. The Chopra Center at La Costa
complements the spa by offering a myriad of mind and body wellness
programs. Here there are individual and family yoga sessions available.
Lauded Leisure
La Costa has eight heated swimming pools – one with a kid-friendly sandy
“beach” and a toddler slide, a “Splash Landing” pool with two enormous
100-foot waterslides, an interactive waterplay zone, and five Jacuzzis
all surrounded by upholstered loungers and shady cabanas. Unlimited
Wi-Fi service is also offered in these areas. For those seeking to
sunbathe kid-free, a separate Garden Pool area offers adults-only
relaxation amongst gorgeous plants and florals. Also located poolside is
the Splash Café and Garden Café restaurants offering light snacks,
meals, non-alcoholic drinks and cocktails.
As an admitted fitness junkie, I was pleased to see the wealth of
equipment at La Costa’s renowned fitness center. This bona fide health
club has a strength circuit course, free weights, an aerobic studio,
Pilates studio, spinning room and a bevy of cardiovascular equipment.
Also on hand are personal training services and nutrition counseling
that incorporate state-of-the-art methods and computerized printouts to
evaluate a guest’s fitness level and provide customized exercise and
nutrition programs.
For the tennis-set, La Costa has no less than 17 hard and clay courts –
7 of which lighted for evening play – with stadium seating. A seasoned
staff of USPTA certified professionals is on hand for private lessons
for adults and children and daily group clinics. Ball machine rental is
available from the pro shop, where you can shop for gear and clothing to
your heart’s content.
Among the most notable and celebrated features at La Costa is its two
PGA Championship 18-hole golf courses designed by legendary golf
architect Dick Wilson, which combine beautiful and traditional course
designs to challenge and delight golfers of all levels. Practice
facilities include a driving range and practice bunkers. The impressive
pro shop offers the latest equipment and apparel. Exceptional golf
instruction is available, including the La Costa Golf Academy and Golf
Flexibility classes with Roger Fredericks, as well as full-fledged Golf
memberships.
Of course, La Costa’s concierge is indelibly on hand to plan your day
trips and tours and make recommendations and reservations as desired.
Kidtopia
Named the #2 Most Family Friendly Resort in the U.S. by the Travel
Channel, La Costa embraces children and families from the moment they
check in. First up is the VIK (Very Important Kid) gift bags doled out
upon arrival. There are also numerous activities that change on a
monthly basis appealing to kids of all ages, not to mention the “Vibz”
game lounge. Designed for guests ages 10 and up and open from 10am-10pm,
Vibz offers a TV lounge area, ping pong, skee-ball, video games,
foosball, air hockey, billiards, X-box 360 room with five stations, and
Guitar Hero on a pay-per-play basis. Numerous summer camp programs are
also available for children, including Golf Camp, Tennis Camp, Spa Camp
and Surf Camp.
La Costa’s “Kidtopia” Kids Club has half day, full day, hourly sessions
and weekend night camp sessions for kids ages 6 months to 12 years.
Designed by an architect who specializes in hands-on museums and small
theme parks, Kidtopia is a beautifully designed 6,000 square foot,
state-of-the-art, secure center comprised of land and sea elements with
three distinct conceptual areas for infants/toddlers, bathroom
independent 3-5 year olds, and 6-12 year olds. Kidtopia is jam packed
with fun, offering small slides and soft climb items, books and puzzles,
games and crafts, a seven-foot tree house with slides and cubbies, a
movie lounge, personal high-tech entertainment stations, a pressure-
sensitive light floor for games and dancing, and a 600-gallon saltwater
aquarium with exotic fish. The center operates from 9am to 4pm on a
daily basis with night camp on Fridays and Saturdays from 6-10pm. Full-
day registration is $80 and includes activities from 9am – 4pm along
with lunch. Half-day registration is from 9am – 1pm or 12pm – 4pm and
includes lunch for $50. Night camp is $55 and includes dinner. Advance
reservations are highly recommended.
La Costa is also baby-friendly, with available in-room diaper genies,
baby proofing supplies, and complimentary cribs and pack-and-plays upon
request among other infant-oriented resources. Other kid-specific
amenities at the property include the Healthy Kids’ menu for restaurant
and in-room dining, babysitting services, and swim lessons.
Food Fete
There are a number of fabulous dining experiences available at La Costa
including its signature Blue Fire Grill, which is named one of
Carlsbad’s beat restaurants. This 324-seat eatery with both an indoor
and outdoor seating area serves Southern California styled food
utilizing local fresh seafood, premium meats, and seasonal vegetables.
For the oenophiles, the restaurant also has an extensive wine list.
Designed by the renowned Puccini Restaurant Group of San Francisco, the
décor at Blue Fire Grill resembles the Southern California Mission style
carried throughout the resort. Its outdoor patio has fire pits and
custom fountains as well as live music from Thursday to Saturday
evenings. The interior features stone and wood floors, a green bottle
fireplace, a hand blown glass flower fireplace wall, timber ceilings,
and a fountain. Menu highlights include Frito Misto, Seafood Piquillo
Pepper, Blue Fire Seafood Trio, Red Wine Braised Boneless Prime Beef
Short Ribs, and the Seafood Stew.
The other notable restaurant on the property is Legends Bistro. With
modern interior design aesthetic, Legends Bistro also has an indoor and
outdoor seating area that overlooks the golf course. Open for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this family-friendly restaurant focuses on
comfort foods but with an international twist. Along with the regular
menu, the restaurant also offers ayurvedic-style cuisine based on the
Chopra Center’s philosophy as well as a kid’s menu. Also notable is the
restaurant’s wine bar and private room for events.
Some Legends Bistro menu highlights include the Peking Duck Egg Rolls
appetizer, Jack Daniels BBQ Baby Back Ribs served with Sweet Potato
Fries, Seared Sea Bass, the Chopra Stir Fry, Butternut Squash Ravioli
and Lentils with Basmati Rice. I ordered the Osso Buco and Cous Cous on
special the evening of my stay, which was generously portioned, well-
seasoned and cooked to perfection. For dessert, try the S’mores Pot Pie,
which is a warm chocolate crust pie topped off with roasted
marshmallows, the tableside prepared Root Beer Float, or the incredible
Peach Cobbler I ordered and savored every bite of.
Other places to eat at La Costa include the Lobby Lounge, which offers
appetizers, specialty drinks, beer, and wine. The Splash Poolside Bar &
Café has grilled foods, snacks, salads, smoothies, and ice cream. The
Garden Poolside Bar & Café has specialty drinks as well as grilled and
fresh foods. The Spa Café offers a range of lifestyle cuisine, organic
wine and champagne, juices, and smoothies. An impressive room service
menu, is, of course, also available. Trust me, at La Costa you’ll eat
well.
Perfect Packages
La Costa regularly offers vacation theme packages to fit a variety of
interests, schedules and budgets. Trips for Two packages include a
destination package, spa retreat package, and golf package. Family
getaway packages include a Legoland package, unlimited activities
package, and spa package (spa for adults and Kidtopia for kids). Stay
for a quick vacation, or make La Costa your own through the purchase of
a Villa vacation home.
More Information
La Costa Resort and Spa is located at 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad,
California 92009. Visit http://www.lacosta.com for more information.
~~~
“The Luxe List” Executive Editor Merilee Kern scours the luxury
marketplace for exemplary travel experiences, extraordinary events, and
notable products and services. Submissions are accepted at
www.LuxeListReviews.com. Follow her on Twitter here:
http://twitter.com/LuxeListEditor and Facebook here:
www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or
service(s) detailed above were provided at no cost to accommodate this
review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern
and have not been influenced in any way.***