Ultimate Luxury at the Grand Del Mar Spa

Arriving at the Grand Del Mar Resort, you might think you’ve been transported to Tuscany, instead of a lush enclave in the horse country just north of San Diego. But this is no simple Tuscan villa; the huge sandwashed structure feels more like a private mansion, complete with Roman fountain out front, a massive lobby with marble floors and hand-stenciled vaulted ceilings, and even its own nondenominational chapel. It is luxury personified, with fabulous, elegant rooms to match the public areas.

The Spa at the Grand Del Mar is just as impressive as the rest of the resort, a 21,000-square-foot Renaissance-inspired hideaway deep inside the main building, where classical furniture and parquet floors beckon you in to an opulent, old-world spa experience. Like the rest of the staff at the Grand Del Mar, everyone at the spa is incredibly friendly and helpful, giving a quick tour of all the facilities – that include a complete gym area with state-of-the-art workout machines, a co-ed outdoor spa pool and Jacuzzi (remember to bring your swimsuit), as well as single-sex locker rooms that feature steam, sauna, Jacuzzi, and relaxation/waiting rooms that are so cozy you may not want to leave.

The spa at the Grand Del Mar.
But there is much to experience at this spa, from their decadent signature treatments to standards like manicures and pedicures, done in their separate full-service salon. Try the incredible Renaissance body ritual, the 90-minute signature treatment that begins with entering a huge darkened room, complete with massage table, free-floating waterbed, and massive ten-nozzle shower. It starts with an application of mineral-infused mud (great for the skin) as you lie on what seems to be a solid table. Once you are completely coated, your therapist begins to wrap you up, in layers of plastic sheets, followed by a large, rubberized over blanket. And then the fun really begins, as the bottom of the table drops away (this is the free-floating waterbed come to life) and you are lowered into a cocoon of warm water. It also fills the over blanket, leaving you completely dry but encased in water. It’s a crazy feeling, and one that, after the fifteen minutes or so that you lie in that state, is so relaxing you can barely stand up to shower off.

The women's lounge at the Grand Del Mar Spa.The shower is amazing, with luscious, rosemary-infused warm water coming at you from every side; once you’ve scrubbed off the mud, you return to the aromatherapy-scented room and reline onto the massage table, where your attentive therapist proceeds to give you a full-body massage, stretching and kneading in all the places where you still need some tension relief. That $310 treatment is sublime, and is just one of the numerous therapies that this excellent spa has to offer.
The men's lounge at the Grand Del Mar Spa.

Don’t miss the other terrific elements of this truly “Grand” resort, starting with its spectacular, Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf course that is challenging and wonderful, a beautifully landscaped course set in the hills of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve that even offers expert, white-jumpsuit-clad caddies to help you score your best. Shawn Cox, the accomplished Director of Golf, offers a program of golf instruction that is sure to improve your game, using everything from 3D video swing analysis to short game and golf fitness evaluations. The Grand’s restaurants are top-shelf as well, from the posh French offerings of Addison to the laid-back (and delicious – try the pork BBQ sandwich) Clubhouse Grills that overlooks the 18th hole. Plus, the Grand is dog friendly, so you can bring the whole family along for the fun.

The Grand Del Mar
5300 Grand Del Mar Court
San Diego, CA 92130
858-314-2000
www.thegranddelmar.com