Spa Alila

My husband and I had our first set of massages at Spa Alila when we stayed at the hotel to celebrate an anniversary in May. We had back-to-back 50 min Talisman appointments with Natalie, and they were by far the best massages we have ever had. Our usual monthly spa membership spot wasn't doing it for us after such an incredible experience here, so we decided to cancel and try to come here more regularly. We booked our second visit as a couples 80 min massage and were sooo excited to be back. Per usual, the space was clean, beautiful, and very relaxing. Unfortunately, our massages didn't live up to our first experience. We both had a different therapist this time around, so that could definitely have played a role. Despite that, we've scheduled another couples massage in a month and are hoping to give it another go. The spa offers an annual membership, but it primarily offers discounts on services. I would love to see a monthly membership option, especially for locals, so that we can book more seamlessly. Overall, I still recommend the spa!

We had a great experience stopping by Spa Alila on our way to dinner. The spa is very sleek and modern. The service up front was great, and Mom picked up a bunch of nice skin care plus a new ring!

I’ve had a spa membership here for the last year and it’s honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Walking into the spa always brightens up my day since everyone who works here is warm and friendly. I’ve had three massages here with two different therapists and they have all been EXCELLENT. Both therapists (Braznick and Lavinia) did a great job of making me feel at ease while they found and released points of tension all over my body. The relaxation room is a great place to unwind, the sauna is lovely, and overall I couldn’t recommend this place more. If you aren’t staying at the hotel I suggest opting for the daycation package, because hot tub + cocktail + cliff views = best way to end your spa day.

I had an amazing massage with Jade and I loved the entire experience. It’s super calming inside and the lounge room is so cozy. I love how zen and soothing it feels inside. Plus they have pemf mats to sit on.

I did a facial and prenatal ("nourish") massage during my stay at the hotel. I almost didn’t book a facial, but then I decided to add on the 30 min Glow facial last minute and I’m SO glad I did! I wish I would’ve just done the facial. Shara, the esthetician, was especially remarkable and the facial felt so divine and calming. I loved the extra and unexpected body work and sound healing, as well as a few simple gestures she made to ensure my pregnant body felt comfortable. My skin felt so soft and clear following the facial too. I’ve yet to find an out-of-this-world prenatal massage and the one at Alila was just okay (why 4 stars). The last portion was spent on my back, supported with pillows, and that was lovely, but the first portion on my sides didn’t feel great. It felt like the therapist couldn’t use her strength as much from the side. For the price of the massage, I would’ve loved if they had true prenatal pillows so I could’ve laid on my belly.

The front staff are nice, but the facility is majorly lacking and the quality of my massage was awful. When you’re spending over $800 for 2 people to have a massage you expect the best. My therapist was very inconsistent with pressure and seemed to not know what she was doing. For most of my massage she did Swedish style instead of the deep tissue sports massage I paid a lot extra for. I was not even able to express my dissatisfaction through the tip, because a 22% gratuity is automatically charged. That is probably why she did a poor job, as there is no incentive to work hard and do the full deep pressure. The only spa amenity they have is a sauna. The facility has no steam room, uses low quality soaps in the shower, and they did not have infused water to drink like most spas (just plan room temperature tap water). The relaxation room was comfortable, but for the cost of the therapies there I’d expect more and better quality for the snacks and tea products that are organic. No one refilled the tea pot water though, so I was unable to get the non-organic tea they provide. This was not a luxury experience and absolutely not worth the high prices they charge.

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here, and left feeling so blissed out and loved on. The minimalist, modern design was stunning and made everything feel extra clean and calming. Not as many facilities as some other resort spas in San Diego but the atmosphere, incredible services, and kind, highly skilled staff far surpassed my experiences elsewhere. I had the hot stone massage which was so soothing and made extra special with details like selecting my oil scent and stepping into a warmed robe at the end of the service. We also went to the restaurant, VAGA--highly recommend for brunch/dinner/drinks before or after your spa day.