Inn at Moonlight Beach — Hotel in Encinitas

Tucked away in a lush garden setting on the side of a hill lies this wonderful retreat that focuses on connecting with nature and with oneself. We had a one night reservation so we got there right around the 3pm check-in time to make the most of our stay. The staff was very welcoming and friendly. The property was smaller than I thought it would be, but the fact that the Inn is only a 6 room bed and breakfast adds to the intimacy of the place, and made it feel so cozy. The property and our room was so clean, and the Covid measures they had in place felt very safe and made me feel comfortable. We stayed in the Rosemary room which is one of the rooms on the bottom level. The room had an outside deck to sit at which overlooked the outside gardens which is a shared common space for the other rooms as well. A couple of guests were enjoying the outside table next to the water feature the next morning, but that did not bother me, and the deck still felt fairly private at night. The garden was lovely to walk through and you can feel free to clip some fresh herbs from the garden to enjoy at home. There are many succulent plants growing there, and you can purchase them to take home, with the smallest plants starting at two dollars. The holistic vibe continues with a focus on the healing energy of nature such as through crystals, for instance there is a large selenite globe in your room, and you can purchase other crystals from the small display cases in the lobby. I purchased some honey, fresh preserves, and bath salts to take home. The room was very comfortable with a sitting area, and a nice kitchenette including a microwave, dishes, and utensils. The bed was very comfy and I slept wonderfully. The humidifier, and the sound machine, which you could change to hear sounds of the ocean, rainfall, etc, added to the relaxing vibe. There was a very large flat screen TV, but did not feel the need to turn it on because it was so peaceful just listening to the sound machine, or my bluetooth speaker I brought from home, or the croaking of the frogs out in the garden at night. The included herbal flower tea bath set was a great way to end the day in the deep soak bathtub, tea light candles are also provided to add to the ambiance. The included fresh herbal tea setup served in a clear glass kettle that is kept warm over a tea light burner, as well as a snack plate with dried fruits, nuts, and organic chocolates, is a lovely welcome in your room upon check in. Breakfast is delivered outside your room in the morning. It is not a hot breakfast, but was still a very delicious assortment of items such as yogurt parfaits, bakery goods, fruit, and boiled eggs, which you can pre-select the night before. In addition to the many complimentary offers, the availability of the various add-ons is a great way to enhance the experience of your stay. For my birthday stay here I added the herbal foot soak which is enjoyed out on the deck, and was served with more hot herbal tea to enjoy. I also added the Full Moon package which included extras such as a large charcuterie board, sparkling wine, a large fresh flower bouquet from the garden, a meditation kit including items such as a selenite stone, and complementary late checkout. The Inn is a short walk to Moonlight Beach, be sure to stop at the very unique rock garden on your way there. The nearby Cottonwood Creek park was lovely to stroll through, and downtown Encinitas is a short walk away as well. Just be advised that there is no sidewalk from the Inn down to the street corner, so be aware of cars, or when walking at night. I walked to nearby Chiko, they served delicious Asian fusion cuisine and brought it back to our room, but you can also have food delivered to the Inn from one of the nearby restaurants if you don’t want to walk at night. I would highly recommend the Inn at Moonlight Beach for anyone looking for a peaceful place to relax...

Staying at the Inn at Moonlight Beach feels like a long exhale. I need a solo retreat to get out of my head, tap into my creativity and recharge. I’m so grateful I met the visionary creator and she encouraged me to experience her remarkable creation.

What I love about The Inn at Moonlight Beach - is its intimacy - it’s a sanctuary in time.

From the moment you arrive you see the sign that says “A Conscious Destination”. The consciousness you experience is the heartfelt intent of its creator to design an environment that is completely intune with nature. Afterall, the creator is not only an architect but also a landscape architect. You are welcomed by all biodynamic edible and interactive gardens that invite you to harvest vegetables, succulent and herbs, or plant to bring home your own creations.

When I entered the greeting area I was welcomed by a warm staff that invited me to tea and gave a tour of the grounds and the multiple secret meditation gardens. I love the open kitchen where the staff invited me to sample 5 flavors of local honey as well as olive oil and to infuse them with dried herbs from their garden. I chose wildflower and buckwheat honey as my bases and infused them with mint and oregano.

The herb theme is continued with the names of the eight rooms. I was lucky I was given the Lavender room - my favorite scent. I cannot begin to describe the endless little touches of tranquility the room had. When I entered I understood why The Inn has the “WELL” certification. All of my five senses - taste, smell, sight, feel and sound were delighted and elevated.

To further settle in, after my private one-on-one honey infusion class I walked to Moonlight Beach - two blocks away. It was so pristine and calm. I waded in the water and got lost in the rhythm and sounds of the waves. One block between the Inn and the Beach is Historic 101 - right between two funky beach towns Encinitas and Leucadia. So many fabulous restaurants, cafes and shops all within a few blocks.

After grabbing a coffee at the corner cafe I headed back to the Inn for an extraordinary massage and chakra energy healing. (A first for me!) It was wild how intuitive this healer was. The massage room itself was so tranquil - and they have a magical outdoor massage area as well. After my 90 minute experience I felt so peaceful and vibrant at the same time.

I then walked down to Le Papagayo, a fabulous restaurant with live music. I passed at least 10 other cool restaurants along the way. After a healthy dinner sitting at the bar with lively locals I walked back to the Inn for the most amazing bath full of their dried herbs, salts and scents. I melted!

After a quiet meditation on my deck overlooking the charming town and the ocean, I happily lept into bed - which felt like a perfect cloud. I read, I wrote and lost track of time. Then I had the most fabulous sleep in ages.

I woke up in the morning to an extraordinary breakfast packed in a picnic basket waiting outside my door. I practiced yoga on my big wood deck and leisurely enjoyed the morning birds and bamboo swaying in the wind. I did not want to leave. It was a truly magical stay.

If you want a retreat for you alone or with a loved one - you will adore the Inn at Moonlight Beach. Or give it as a gift to someone who really needs to embody Wellness. I...

Not a Wellness Retreat - Just an Overpriced Motel in Disguise

The Inn at Moonlight Beach is, at its core, an old roadside motel dressed up with palo santo and essential oils. No amount of aromatherapy could cover up how bad our experience was. My wife and I booked five nights for our babymoon and ended up asking for a refund after just one night. We couldn’t wait to leave each morning.

If you go in expecting a no-frills motel priced around $150 a night, you might be OK. But the issue is how this place markets itself: a serene, health-conscious wellness retreat with curated packages, spa treatments, and elevated design. That’s simply not what you’ll get.

Here’s what went wrong:

Smell The entire property reeked of manure. We couldn’t open our patio door without being overwhelmed. It ruined any chance of enjoying the garden or outdoor space.

Noise The motel sits directly on a busy road and next to a train line. Car horns, train whistles, barking dogs, and upstairs guests echoed constantly. It was far from peaceful.

Flies The fly problem was so bad we couldn’t spend a minute outside. A zapper light was put out, but that didn’t help. It felt neglected and unsanitary.

Temperature Our room was stifling. The wall-mounted mini-split didn’t work. A portable floor unit was broken too. We were given a replacement the next day, which helped, but the room was already packed with four different air purifiers and cooling devices. It was chaotic and uncomfortable.

When we requested a refund for the remaining nights, we were told they’d try to resell the nights and refund us (minus a 20% fee) if they could rebook them. They didn’t. We were stuck with four more nights of stink and flies.

They offered to move us to another room, but the issues — especially the odor and flies — were clearly present across the property. (see video)

Beyond these major problems, the place felt tired. What might have once been a creative idea is now a rundown, poorly maintained property in a bad location. The pamphlet of “uplifting experiences” mostly lists third-party services nearby. The onsite offerings like the herb station and wellness lab were unused or unkempt. The gardens, while pretty, were small and unusable due to the odor and flies.

The worst part? They know all of this. There are pre-written signs in the room apologizing for the noise, the flies, and other “natural disturbances.” It’s clear these are long-standing issues. But none of this is disclosed in their online presence, which remains beautifully curated and completely misleading. (see photos)

To be fair: the breakfast was decent, and the staff were kind. But that’s not enough.

Bottom line: This is a one-star motel trying to pass as a four-star wellness retreat. You’re better off staying anywhere else in Encinitas...