Carlsbad Travel Guide
Hotel Spas / Sheraton Hotels / San Diego Hotels / → All Tags
Relax and Get Drunk at the Sheraton Carlsbad's Poolside Spa Happy Hour
We didn't think that happy hour could be improved upon, but then the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa proved us wrong by adding spa treatments to the alcohol-fueled merriment.
The Carlsbad resort, about 35 miles north of San Diego, will kick off its third annual spa happy hour on the official drinking holiday, St. Patrick's Day. As part of the popular monthly promotion, the Ocean Pearl Spa will offer two cocktails, some nibbles and a mini spa treatment for $35.
Hotel Hype / Hotel Construcion / Hilton Hotels / San Diego Hotels / → All Tags
The West Coast's First Full-Service Resort Since 2008 to Open in San Diego
Will the suites be as pimped out as this presidential suite at the Hilton Hotel and Suites Niagara Falls/Fallsview?
Ground was just broke for the Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront Resort & Spa. What makes the news especially notable is that the luxury hotel will be the first full-service resort and spa to be built in the Western United States since 2008.
It's an odd move, since Carlsbad, which is 35 miles north of San Diego, already is home to luxury hotels like La Costa Resort & Spa and the Park Hyatt Aviara, the latter of which has had some cash-flow problems.
Hotel Rebranding / Hotel Openings / Hotel Deals / San Diego Hotels / Park Hyatt Hotels / → All Tags
What's Different Now the Four Seasons Aviara is the Park Hyatt Aviara?
When we reported that the hotel formerly known as the Four Seasons Aviara was set to become the Park Hyatt Aviara, a couple of readers were hoping that the new Hyatt bosses wouldn't change too much about one of their favorite hotels. The chi-chi property officially became a Park Hyatt on Monday—so what's new?
As far as we can tell, not much. At least not yet. But the good news is that as a "new" hotel, the Park Hyatt Aviara is offering an Introductory Offer, giving guests three nights for the price of two, even over the July 4th holiday weekend. So whether you're new to Aviara or a regular, perhaps it's time to get (re)acquainted and then come back here and let us know what you thought.
Hotel Rebranding / Hotel Woes / Hotel News / Four Seasons Hotels / Park Hyatt Hotels / San Diego Hotels / → All Tags
At Long Last, The Drama is Over at Four Seasons Aviara
Last year at this time the Four Seasons Aviara was embroiled in a nasty fight with its owners, with the Four Seasons vowing not to leave the property even as the owners were attempting to force them out.
Things eventually quieted down but it looks like the owners finally got their way as Travel Weekly reports that the Four Seasons will be leaving the property on June 21. In its place will be a Park Hyatt. This will mark the return of a Park Hyatt to California (the one in Los Angeles left a few years ago) but as you know, the Four Seasons and Park Hyatt are two very different hotel brands with the former attracting a ton of loyal guests.
So far, there's no word on if room rates will be affected but it will be interesting to see what Park Hyatt does with this property.
Are you Team Four Seasons or Team Park Hyatt? Let us know in comments below!
Snapshot / Easter Hotels / San Diego Hotels / Four Seasons Hotels / → All Tags
Four Seasons Aviara Hatches Giant Chocolate Easter Eggs
Our favorite Easter candy is Cadbury Mini Eggs—no, not the nasty fake yolk-filled eggs, but the little chocolate nuggets of bliss. But this year, the Four Seasons Aviara, North San Diego came up with a way bigger and better Cadbury egg replacement.
The hotel has cooked up some ginormous chocolate Easter eggs, all of which are carefully decorated to look like objets d'art. Forget lame dyed eggs; we want one of these in our Easter baskets.
Hotel Spas / Four Seasons Hotels / San Diego Hotels / Fall Hotels / → All Tags
Indulge in Fall (Ex)Foliage at Four Seasons Aviara
Leaves turning red and gold then falling from the trees. A distinct chill creeping into the air. Shorter days, longer nights. The return of pale, dry skin. There’s nothing like fall to remind you of the passage of time, and your own aging. Cheerful, no? Well, now you can at least maintain your healthy glow well into winter with the Spa at the Four Seasons Aviara’s Fall Ex "Foliation" treatment.
The new treatment started on September 22, to coincide with the first day of autumn. Spa-goers can now get a special 50-minute treatment that includes an exfoliating scrub, a mud mask, and a massage. When guests arrive at the spa, they are greeted with a meditation and hands-on preparation ritual, then given “reflection cards” with thoughts designed to make them think about the meaning of autumn (maybe they’re not as morbid as we are).
Hotel Spas / Breast Cancer Awareness / Spa Packages / California Hotels / → All Tags
La Costa Offers Guests Spa Discounts with the 'Pink Ribbon Treatment'
You can lounge here after your charitable spa treatment.
You can ease your guilt about splurging at the spa by telling yourself that you're doing it to help others. For real. If you book La Costa Resort and Spa's "Pink Ribbon Treatment," a portion will benefit breast cancer research.
To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the spa will offer the Pink Ribbon Treatment daily except for Saturdays, Oct. 1 to Nov. 7. The special allows you to book any 50-minute spa service for $125, and $5 of that will be donated to the San Diego chapter of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure. It still may seem like a lot of dough, but you can save up to $40. The lomilomi—a Hawaiian-type of massage that uses continuous, flowing strokes—usually costs $165 and the custom facial normally is $160.
Hotel Woes / Four Seasons Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Lawsuits / → All Tags
Memo to Four Seasons Aviara: Take It to Judge Judy
This Four Seasons Aviara drama is totally off-the-charts. We mentioned this on Monday but wanted to let it unfold before we discussed it again, and, um, unfold it did: what was previously a fairly straightforward dispute between the owners of the San Diego property (a group of investors) and its management (Four Seasons) has turned into — to the public — a battle of unusually-candid and strongly-worded press releases that, newsflash, makes nobody look good here.
From what we understand, the resort wasn't making enough money so the owners wanted Four Seasons out and some new management in. This happens in the hotel industry. But apparently, the Four Seasons wasn't getting outta there without a fight — and the dispute escalated.
Things appeared to be business as usual for Four Seasons — we were able to get to the payment stages to make a rezzie both online and on the phone — but that, apparently, should not have been the case.
Hotel Woes / Hotel Closings / Four Seasons Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
Four Seasons Aviara Not Going Without a Fight
As is often the case with hotel disputes between a property's actual owners and the brand they've hired to manage the hotel, money is everything. And apparently the owners (a group of investors) of the Four Seasons Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California think the Four Seasons brand failed to make enough money, so they're kicking them out. The plan to replace the Four Seasons with Dolce Hotels and Resorts, an independent luxury hotel brand, who will run the acclaimed resort starting today. Or will they?
Four Seasons is not going without a fight. They released a press release saying exactly that over the weekend:
Four Seasons announced today that it has no intention to voluntarily relinquish its role as manager of Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad CA. Four Seasons has managed the Resort since 1997.
The press release goes on to say that Four Seasons will probably sue the owners for damaging the FS rep, which is closely followed by a listing of all of the accolades the hotel has received since Four Seasons has managed the resort.
We went online to the Four Seasons website and there was no sign of the turmoil, with rooms going for $350 a night starting tomorrow. So if you have plans to stay here, we doubt they will turn you away or just close up shop, but it could be an interesting tug of war to witness. Stay tuned for more from this soap opera.
Flickr Photos / Hotel Hell / → All Tags
Hotel Star Ratings Not Always Truthful
Sometimes you can score amazing deals booking through online travel sites but sometimes those "star ratings" that hotels have aren't always telling the truth.
Take for instance this man's experience at the Great Western Inn in Carlsbad, New Mexcio.
According to Hotels.com [this] is a three-star hotel. I've never seen a three-star hotel with a crack in the door that one can see street lights through. The room also didn't have hot water. It was only luke warm, and there were hairs on the pillows. Three-star hotel my ass.
In fairness to Hotels.com, we saw that they now have a one-star rating for the place. But either way, you should avoid this one.
We also happen to agree with the comment posted below this Flickr photo.
Related Stories:
· Texas Plinker's photostream [Flickr]
· Great Western Inn reviews [TripAdvisor]
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