The popular Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas near San Diego is saying goodbye to guests under 18. As of Feb. 14, the resort is officially an adults-only property.
The 130-room Alila property in Encinitas, California, decided to shift to an adults-only environment to “further elevate the serene ambience of this oceanfront enclave,” the property shared in a statement. It emphasized a renewed focus on “relaxation, exploration and rejuvenation by the sea.”
Though the hotel’s location above the Pacific Ocean has always lent itself to seaside relaxation, its family-friendly guest policy has not. Our initial review of Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas found the pool “positively overrun with children” and “not quite as relaxing as planned due to the number of families.”
Mind you, everyone should be allowed to enjoy the amenities of a family-friendly resort. However, Alila’s luxury brand profile, emphasis on “profound experiences” and goal of immersing guests in “rich culture and the stunning natural surroundings of the environment” don’t necessarily lend themselves to a rambunctious game of chicken.
Now that younger guests will be a distant memory, adult guests can better lean into the resort’s many wellness and relaxation offerings. They can hit Spa Alila for treatments inspired by the region’s Indigenous Kumeyaay people or take advantage of a sauna experience with a cold plunge right on the pool deck.
“As we transition to an adults-only experience, we’re excited to introduce new programming tailored specifically for our adult guests’ desire for relaxation, connection and adventure,” Richard Sorensen, the resort’s general manager, said in a statement. “From curated wellness retreats to elevated dining experiences, our goal is to create an atmosphere where they can fully unwind and immerse themselves in the beauty of our oceanfront setting.”
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The Alila Journeys program actually takes it a step further by offering guests the chance to bike up the coast on Electra Go! bikes, see the coast from an open-air biplane, learn how to surf or paddle out to learn more about the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve.
For an extra special stay, book a room with a fire pit so you can relax around an outdoor gas fire pit at night.
Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas joins Alila Ventana Big Sur (one of TPG’s all-time favorite resorts) and Alila Napa Valley as an adults-only World of Hyatt resort. Later this year, the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya in Mexico will reopen as Alila Mayakoba — the first Alila property in Mexico.
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