Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas — Hotel in Carlsbad

My husband and I stayed with you for our 6th anniversary this past weekend. I wanted to offer some feedback on our experience that ultimately added up to what felt pretty disappointing. My hope is that this would be useful information that could ultimately better the experience for others who might stay.||||Upon check-in, the man at guest services was very welcoming and appreciative although the architectural acoustics in the lobby made it very hard to hear. He was very patient repeating things. We were put in a 2nd floor room which was beautiful with a full view of the coastline. Once unpacked, my husband and I ventured down to one of the 2 restaurants they mentioned when we checked in. We were told that there was a special dining event going on so we’d have to order food service to our room. This wasn’t mentioned when we’d checked in but we figured who doesn’t like room service? We ordered 2 entrees and a side which was delivered almost cold and was missing ingredients listed on the menu. We also discovered the next day that there’d been a $30 fee to deliver it ($14 service chg, $10 preset tip amt, and $6 in taxes). Not only was it not disclosed that the in-room dining was mandatory due to the special event, it was also not disclosed the price to do that would be half of what our 2 meals cost. We DoorDashed the next night.||||The next day, we decided to venture down to the pool area. The service staff there was very nice but never told us their names or introduced themselves and continued to change, one not knowing what the one before had done/ordered/etc. The drinks and food took a very long time to arrive and we had to remind different waiters for items that were missing (asked for water, not delivered, asked for a lemonade, had to remind the waitress twice, ordered chips and salsa which never arrived and didn’t show up on the tab so we didn’t bring it up…)||||That evening, I called room service to request refreshed toiletries and towels as well as an additional comforter for the room since it was chilly. The towels came relatively promptly, but the toiletries bag had 1 of each (shampoo, conditioner, body wash). There were 2 of us so I had to call back to get more. Also, no comforter so I had to call back for that. I ended up wearing 1 of the 2 in-room robes (which both had small holes all over them).||||Then, on Saturday morning, we sought to make a reservation at Vaga for that evening and were told they were “all full”. When my husband said he’d called and that it was our anniversary, they told us we could eat in the bar area since it had full service. Not really the picture either of us had for our special dinner. Towards 7:30pm, we decided to check one last time before heading out to find somewhere in the town instead. We were told there was an unexpected opening so we took that. The food at Vaga was exceptional with the exception of the carrot side being undercooked. However, the menu certainly didn’t match the caliber of the wait staff we experienced. My husband went ahead of me while I was still getting ready and when I walked over to meet him there, I was not greeted upon arriving by any of the service people I passed in making my way to the front. The hostesses were very polite and immediately stopped what they were doing to assist. We were seated at a nice table and our server came over but seemed completely annoyed from the very beginning of the experience, to be honest. It was apparent she did not have high-caliber training from how she interacted with us and even how she cleared the plates, placed silverware, etc. She also let out an exasperated “thank you” when it was approaching 10pm (closing) and we answered her that we’d finished. This just felt extremely rude to me.||||The next morning we checked out. We’d asked for late checkout and were denied, being told that 11am was the latest. Most other places will at least give you until noon. When my husband brought up the $30 service fee for the in-room dining we’d been told we had to do, he was told that it was policy. That was it.||||All in all, I am saddened to not agree with the 5-star rating of this hotel. We have stayed in a 4-5 star hotel every anniversary from The Plaza in Monterey to The Waldorf in Monarch Beach. It’s our tradition to find an experiential place of high-standard to celebrate another year of marriage and we do this once a year. Both my husband and I were severely disappointed, especially for the cost. He is a fireman and works very hard for our money. To have it be spent with the intention of gaining a 5-star experience and leaving feeling the way we did was very sad to us both.||||After leaving, I contacted the hotel to communicate my experience and I was exceptionally well received. Val, the Asst. Front Desk Mgr. was extremely empathetic and concerned. In hearing me in that way, she definitely helped change my level of disappointment in...

I was married at the Alila Marea, so my review encompasses the hotel, but much more than that. If you are looking for a place to book your wedding or other event, look NO FURTHER than Jonathan and the Alila Marea. I can not recommend this hotel enough, sing their praises to anyone who will listen, and especially want to highlight the oz behind the curtain, the director of catering, Jonathan F. This man is magic. He is cool, calm, collected, kind, thorough, and helpful. My husband and I looked for months at venues through the SD and Palm Springs area and were frustrated. We live right down the street from the Alila so in summer 2021 we figured we would walk down and check out the new hotel. Absolutely incredible, I wish I could bottle the smell that hits you as soon as you walk in the doors into the unique and beautiful lobby. We walked into Vaga and took seats at the bar and proceeded to have an evening of delight after delight. As we sat there, my husband and I said, why not see what the deal is with this hotel for weddings? We laughed, expecting it to be insanely priced with no availability but figured we'd ask and prepared to be rejected. What happened next can only be described as one of the best choices I have ever made. We were introduced to Jonathan and immediately appreciated his approach. Where many other venues wouldn't work with us, Jonathan went above, listening to our budget, our preferences, and working with us however he could. We had a less than 4 month window once we selected their venue and date and Jonathan kept everything on track. He scheduled our tastings, offered many vendor options, helped me along when I didn't really know what decisions to be made, every step of the way being a kind professional. We even had to postpone our wedding 4 days before the original wedding due to my husband's parent's falling ill and I'll never be able to appropriately articulate how incredible Jonathan was to us. The first words out of his mouth were of concern for my husband's family and not at all about costs, inconvenience to the hotel, the magnitude of work I am sure we created for him having to postpone so close to our wedding date. We ended up having a dinner for 27 friends and family that still came to town for the original wedding date and Jonathan helped us create an awesome dinner for a last minute pivot. We postponed our date to 4 months later and here me now when I say this "THIS HOTEL CRUSHED HANDLING A POSTPONED WEDDING RESPONSE" I doubt any thing I ever experience for the rest of my life will be as professional, compassionate, kind, and top notch as Jonathan was, and the entire Alila staff. We know this was a wedding, an event, a cash event for the hotel. But NOT ONCE, did they make us feel like anything besides friends. Our food the day of the wedding was SO GOOD and I have lost track of how many of our guests said it was some of the best food they have ever eaten. The bartenders CRUSHED it, the servers were attentive and friendly, the hotel even made last minute food changes for my father who has esophageal cancer and was struggling to swallow his dinner. I am grateful for all the advocating Jonathan did on our behalf and the way he treated us and our families and friends. We loved our wedding and venue as much as we do because of Jonathan. We also barely had decorations or flowers because you don't need it there. That hotel is stunning, do yourself a favor and book a night there or head up for a meal at Vaga, I promise you will not be disappointed. 10/10 for this hotel, we walk there every month for dinner or drinks, it is a happy place. Jonathan, THANK YOU.....we will never be able to articulate exactly how much we appreciated you, but please know you have two super fans in us and the many ways you assisted us have left lasting, happy, joyous imprints...

Our Enchanting Anniversary Escape at Alila Marea Beach Resort: A Review

For our five-year anniversary, we craved a coastal escape that whispered intimacy and whispered luxury, and Alila Marea Beach Resort delivered, singing a symphony of senses every step of the way. From the moment we arrived on January 5th to our bittersweet departure on the 6th, it was a weekend woven with moments of pure magic.

A Culinary Paradise:

VAGA Restaurant & Bar was a revelation. From the locally-sourced ingredients that pulsed with freshness to the artistic plating that turned each dish into a masterpiece, it was a culinary adventure for the soul. We savored the melt-in-your-mouth seafood, the vibrant vegetable creations, and the desserts that were as much art as they were indulgence. Each meal felt like a private show put on just for us, an ode to the beauty of both nature and gastronomy.

An Ocean Dream:

Speaking of breathtaking beauty, our room - the enchanting #205 - was an ethereal haven overlooking the endless Pacific. The balcony became our sanctuary, the lullaby of crashing waves washing away all our worries. Sunsets painted the sky in fiery hues, transforming the horizon into a breathtaking canvas. Even a simple cup of coffee enjoyed on that balcony felt like a stolen moment of serenity, punctuated by the salty whispers of the ocean breeze.

Breakfast Bliss:

And let's not forget the delightful indulgence of breakfast room service! Picture this: fresh-baked pastries still warm from the oven, perfectly brewed coffee steaming beside them, and all enjoyed leisurely on our private balcony as the ocean sun rose, painting the sky in shades of gold and pink. It was a moment of pure bliss, a delicious start to every perfect day.

Beyond the Ordinary:

The service at Alila Marea was the embodiment of genuine hospitality. Every staff member we encountered, from the concierge to the housekeeping team, treated us with warmth and a thoughtful attention to detail. They anticipated our needs before we voiced them, leaving us feeling pampered and cared for. The resort itself was a masterpiece of design, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Every corner offered a new photo opportunity, from the infinity pool that seemed to melt into the ocean to the fire pits crackling under the starlit sky.

A Heartfelt Encore:

As we reluctantly checked out, a bittersweet pang tugged at our hearts. Alila Marea had gifted us with an anniversary we'll cherish forever, a weekend where time and worries dissolved, leaving only the intoxicating scent of the ocean and the echo of laughter amidst the crashing waves. It was an escape that rekindled the spark, a reminder of the joy we find in each other and the pure magic that unfolds when we allow ourselves to truly unwind. We left with the promise to return, not just for another anniversary, but for every chance to recapture that enchanting feeling of being utterly and blissfully at home in this oceanfront paradise.

Five stars? No, Alila Marea Beach Resort deserves a constellation, each twinkling light reflecting the memories we made and the gratitude we hold for this exceptional,...