The Spa at Estancia La Jolla — Attraction in San Diego

Spa review: Massages are great, but the atmosphere, cleanliness and elegance...for a high end spa... was extremely disapointing!

We had a couples massage package...the works... $550 with their "convenient" service charge. Tip? To the massage therapists...Yep! To the staff and location? Nope!

Here's some tips for you Estanica La Jolla: make the switch and do well.

Have shower and spa area checks at minimum on the hour for cleaning, sprucing, restocking, etc. The shower tiles were gross. The bathrooms not extremely clean. Towels, lotion...out of stock. Add some fresh flowers. Dust. I have been in so much better locations for a fraction of the price. Cleanliness makes or breaks a spa, resort and is the difference between being able to relax and feel like you're in a locker room.

Couples package: We had the patio. Somewhat private but people can still walk by since it is adjacent to the main area. Not likely, but possible so they really need to ensure a bit more privacy. The soaking tub is small...They give you one tiny (but very good) chocolate per person. They seriously offer the cheapest "bubbly" - Champagne - money can buy. When they are trying to make a spa quality why go cheap on everything?! It makes a hefty profit I am sure, but poor service doesn't make for future customers or happy and relaxed ones for that matter.

Finally, I've been to incredible spas. Never have I been given plastic slippers and bathrobes that look like trenchcoats. The tag says small...they felt like one size fits all. They are a hideous brown grey color that does not feel clean, not do you feel pretty in something like that on a fancy date.

They offer you the cheapest drinks..it feels like a continental breakfast...no cream, no sugar, no coffee, no lemon or cucumber in the water...just a jar of water, a pot of hot water and tea bags for you in a paper cup...help yourself. (the spa should consider light refreshments, and definitely especially an upgrade to the relaxation lounge for a couples package)

Also, personal preference, but this spa is orange and red...I am pretty picky about interior design and blues and greens are cool relaxing colors. Reds and oranges are not "spa" friendly. This is personal preference, but I definitely don't relax in that environment and in my opinion, they need to do an interior redesign for a better spa feel.

Three stars.. 50 minute massage was wonderful, ...you can get those along with a more relaxing experience...

Do not waste your money here. We visited from out of town, here for our anniversary. Thought we'd have a romantic couples massage. Unfortunately, we left disappointed. If this wasn't enough disappointment, we continued our punishment at the onsite restaurant and received the same subpar service.

We paid just at $1000 for a couple's massage. The package sounds great on their website. Unfortunately, the true delivery is lackluster at best.

We arrived an hour early to take part in the relaxation room and other amenities. Host was pleasant and welcomed us. Sent us to our locker rooms where we found no attendant. We basically navigated the place on our own. The Men's area was out of slippers, thankfully i brought my own. Normally, when we've paid this much for similar service, you receive an elevated level of service - specifically a tour of the amenities. Regardless, we continued on. The hot tub and steam room were nice, not crowded, but also not being kept up after service - towels in steam room, water glasses on tables, etc.. you could just tell they were short staff or something.

We met in the relaxation room. The area has rows of chairs to relax on, hot water for tea, and cold ice water available. There is also a small seating area outside by the fireplace. We tried both areas. Inside trying to relax on the chairs - apparently the staff must transition through this room constantly, it was non stop people coming and going. Granted not one asked how everything was going and did we need anything. Needless to say this area is not very relaxing with all the distractions.

Our couples massage was held out back in a separate area. The package advertises a whirlpool tub for use, champagne and chocolates, which sounds great. The whirlpool tub is covered and was clear it hadn't been used in a while. We had to remind the staff of the champagne and chocolates, which they did go get and serve to us after the fact.

This was absolutely the most disappointing services we have ever experienced. The owners of this facility should hire an outside source (if you don't believe reviews) and visit the property. Such an amazing grounds, polite staff, they just need to refine the...

Part 1/2:

My fiancé and I booked the honey and me couples massage. Lori and Karen were our massage therapists and they were absolutely incredible. They provided a very calm, transparent experience. My fiancé had never had a massage and Karen checked in with him often. We both had pain in our right shoulders, and both Lori and Karen made sure to address those areas extra. 10/10 couples experience with Lori and Karen. The bungalow was adorable and so comfortable. The birds chirping all around really is so lovely.

Part 2/2: We finished our service at 4:30. They encouraged us to relax and enjoy champagne and chocolates (lovely by the way). So we did. After about a half hour, we went back into the locker rooms to get ready for our dinner at the resort, and when in the sauna, a girl came in and told us they had closed at 5. Admittedly I don’t know why, but we all thought it was 7. Anyway, It was probably somewhere between 5 and 5:10 at that point. We all sort of scrambled out of the sauna, to find 8-10 other women who were also all waiting to shower. I asked her if we had time to at least shower because we had dinner reservations and she very rudely said “I’ll be here for another 20 minutes”. I couldn’t believe that. Now I want to say I completely understand working a shift and wanting to go home, but it was the attitude in which I was shocked. After paying so much to be there she spoke to us with zero kindness. It just completely ruined my experience there. We even joked that we felt like we were back in college in a dorm bathroom. I was no longer relaxed I was stressed rushing out. I know I’m not alone in this feeling. My recommendation here is to just be kinder and more apologetic. People spend hundreds if not over a thousand to have a wonderful spa experience and I was completely disappointed. With other choices in San Diego, it’s difficult not to want to try somewhere else now.

Extra note on the love for Karen and Lori, I think we’d go back knowing we’d only be there for the service then...