by San Diego is known for great weather year-round and a relaxed beach life vibe. The mild climate can be a great place to escape to, either from intense summer heat or from an extreme winter chill. This past summer, during a soccer tournament weekend, my husband and I were fortunate to spend a few days there with our boys and the families of our kids’ club teams.
The Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California (north of San Diego) provided ideal accommodations for our team families—adults and kids alike. Catering to guests of all ages with an array of interests, this luxurious resort exemplifies the ultimate in entertainment combined with relaxation and comfort.
Built in the Spanish Mission Style, this expansive hotel sits on 400 acres surrounded by natural beauty. The village-like setting boasts world-class amenities: over 600 luxury accommodations, 2 exceptional golf courses, professional tennis facilities, an award-winning spa, the Chopra Center for Wellness, and 8 swimming pools. The complex also offers 5 restaurants (including Bob’s Steak & Chop House and Bistro 65), a sports bar, several shops, a kids club, a fitness facility, a ballroom and an events center.
Throughout the resort, the vernacular style combines Spanish Mission architecture, mosaic-tiled water features and vibrant subtropical landscaping that complement the environment and climate of Southern California. Traditional Mediterranean elements are found in the buildings—white stucco pleasantly contrasts against red tile roofs, wood beams and ironwork details.
Plaza
A marketplace surrounds the Plaza where guest can relax near one of the large feature fountains in outdoor seating vignettes. This is the central hub of the resort where one finds valet services, the check-in lobby, and direct access to most of the amenities.
Resort map
As you can imagine, the hotel is an ideal setting to host to private events. Individuals and corporations alike reserve space here throughout the year—for weddings and family reunions, corporate retreats and conferences. We found many gathering places for our soccer teams and families to hang out.
Accommodations
Meandering from the main Plaza upon check-in, we headed down the Promenade and along the path through the villas to our room complex. Along the way, we enjoyed the architecture and landscape reminiscent of the Spanish Colonial days. The Spanish Missions that remain along the Californian coastline are a reminder of this history.
The colors found throughout the resort blend well with the surrounding environment. Deep Mediterranean blue accents offer a symbolic reference to the nearby ocean. Grassy green tones allude to the foliage. Hints of orange-reds are reflective of the flora, such as birds of paradise and canna lilies. Colors are repeated in the mosaics and tile work.
Accessing our room through the open-air hallway of the building, we found it to be spacious and comfortable, complete with a spa-like bathroom and a balcony overlooking the garden pools and fire pit. In the evenings, the kids could swim in the pool while the adults gathered around the fire for a beverage.
Activities
Golf
There are 36 holes are available bewteen 2 golf courses: the Champions Course, home of 37 PGA events, and the more spacious, open concept, Legends Course.
Tennis
17 hard and clay tennis courts are available for use, including 7 lighted courts for evening play, along with pickle ball courts. The professional tennis stadium provides seating for 1,000 fans to watch professional matches.
Pools
Among the 8 swimming pools throughout the complex are those with cabanas and gazebos, including kid-friendly splash zones, a sandy beach entry pool and two 100-foot water slides, which many of our kids enjoyed. An adult-only pool with cabanas provides poolside cocktail service. The spa has a private pool and many of the rooms surround the additional pools.
Spa
The award-winning facility looked amazing. I do love a deep tissue massage, a rejuvenating facial, or a pedicure; and this premier spa has it all, including a reflexology pathway. Spa Magazine named The Spa at La Costa the #1 Wellness Spa.
The Chopra Center for Wellbeing
The premier source for mind-body balance, spiritual fulfillment, and total transformation.
For years I have followed Deepak Chopra as an advisor through his books, courses and newsletters. So a lightbulb moment occurred when I recalled that this was the location of his center where meditation, yoga and wellness classes and retreats are held, some of which are available complementary to hotel guests. For me, just being there was inspiring.
After a day of activities, it was relaxing to wander through the grounds to discover the serene, tranquil aesthetics. As evening sets in, the resort begins to glow—pathways are illuminated; buildings and trees are grazed with light. The charming walk along the promenade back to our room was magical.
As our stay came to an end, the resort had a revitalizing affect. Our teams had a successful tournament showing and felt confident about their performance. But more, my family felt relaxed and rejuvenated from our stay… and also ready for our next adventure. Ultimately our team agreed that returning to La Costa is on the calendar for next year.
Note: Travel + Leisure ranked the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa #4 in North America.
AMG Inspired 
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