La Costa reopens newly buff spa

The venerable La Costa Resort and Spa in northern San Diego County, after two years of planning and a few last-minute delays, has finished the cornerstone of what officials said are $40 million in renovations: an expansive spa complex that quietly opened Oct. 10.

The resort won’t officially announce the opening until mid-November, said Neesha Lahiri, the marketing manager. But the facility is fully operational and welcoming guests, she said.

The renovation, which involves virtually every part of the 400-acre resort, includes:

* A $12-million spa: The sprawling 28,000-square-foot building houses 42 treatment rooms and separate men’s and women’s relaxation lounges, each with its own areas for saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools.

Guests also can relax in a 15,000-square-foot courtyard with a pool, fountains and, for the tan-line-averse, men’s and women’s walled areas for clothing-optional sunbathing. The facility also offers customized pretreatment “rituals” that include a tonic, aromatherapy and full-body scrub -- all included in the price of each treatment, said spa director Sean Handler.

* Remodeled accommodations: The resort’s 474 rooms and suites were “gutted to the studs,” said Ted Axe, La Costa vice president and general manager. The decor is a palette of earth tones and contemporary furnishings, including beds with leather headboards. Bathrooms were enlarged and outfitted with marble vanities and, in some units, oversized tubs.

* Improved recreational facilities: A new shallow family pool (with an entry ramp instead of steps) complements the resort’s main pool. The two golf courses were lengthened and the cart paths repaved. The clubhouse, which doubles as the hotel lobby, is warmed by rich woods, including a handsome mahogany bar accented in Carpathian elm burl. The building’s 8,000-square-foot fitness center is loaded with cardio equipment and Matrix weight machines, and includes studio space for yoga, Pilates and other classes.

* Revamped dining: Cary Neff, former executive chef at Miraval in Tucson, holds the same position here. Neff’s menu for the renovated Legends restaurant balances the healthful with the indulgent. He said a poolside cafe was being revamped and a second full-service restaurant would open in mid-2004.

The changes are designed to help the 38-year-old retreat compete with the region’s newer luxury resorts, including the Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point and Montage in Laguna Beach. Work began shortly after La Costa was purchased in 2001 by La Quinta-based KSL Resorts, whose portfolio includes La Quinta Resort & Club near Palm Springs and the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa on Maui.

La Costa’s published rates start at $300 a night for a room, $450 for a junior suite, less than published rates for the Four Seasons ($395 and up) and St. Regis ($405 and up). La Costa guests pay a nightly $15 “resort incidental fee” that covers such amenities as high-speed Internet access, yoga classes and guided meditation sessions at the Chopra Center, the new headquarters for Deepak Chopra’s wellness programs. Parking, meals, golf and spa services cost extra.

La Costa Resort and Spa, 2100 Costa del Mar Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009; (800) 854-5000, spa (800) 729-4772, or online at www.lacosta.com.