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Emerald Iguana Inn
- 5 reviews
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- Ojai, CA
"This place is amazing. It feels like an oasis, hidden away from the stress of life. There are cabins with one room attached in case you…" read more »
27 reviews for Ojai Valley Inn and Spa
This resort is a great getaway from LA. Went up for a 24 hour stay and it was a completely relaxing trip. Just what we needed to relax on the weekend.
I really like the spa. I tried out the Tai Chi class and was the only person in there, getting a personal introductory lesson. They have two pools, one lap pool and one leisure pool, which make it great to seperate kids and adults. My fiance tried the relaxation massage and loved it. One of the best she's had.
The service was top-notch. Every staff member we spoke to was extra courteous, offering to drive us places we could have walked or providing services beyond normal hours (they came down to turn the tennis courts lights on for us when we were the only ones there, without us asking). Waiters, bartenders, etc. All very friendly and helpful.
The only downside is the food. While not bad, it is just limited. For such a large place, one would think there would be maybe one more option for food, or perhaps extended hours. It's not like there are a ton of great places in town to use as an alternative.
We will definitely be going again, very soon.
Stayed here a few years ago when they were doing reconstruction. I remember it being so loud i couldn't sleep and we got $50 credit to our $300 room. I'm considering booking my wedding there and am hesitant as their wedding contract seems full of BS. If anyone has gotten married there, please email me and let me know if they had a good experience. I'm getting the sense they'll nickel and dime me.
This is one of my favorite spots in CA. It is a great get away spot and the service is top notch. The golf course is a real gem. The staff makes this one of the best in my book. It is unfortunate that they do not offer any special deals considering the current economic climate. This is probably why the hotel was pretty empty on my last visit. The pub has some incredible pizzas and burgers. I highly reccomend this place if you have a chance to visit it, even if it is for a bite to eat.
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This is the absolute best place to stay in Ojai. The staff are uncompromising in their kindness and professionalism. You will not find better in Ojai.
Ambiance/Location - 5 stars! Beautiful, set in the Ojai mountains with an awesome looking golf course and amazing view (even though it was raining almost the entire time we were there).
Service - 5 stars. The staff was overly helpful; we even changed our spa appointments about 4 times and they were able to accommodate everything with our party of four.
Spa - 5 stars. Yu walk into the ladies locker room and it's HUGE. Multiple areas to do your hair/makeup, etc. They have a super nice steam room / sauna / hot tubS (yes plural) and shower area. The showers were GREAT! They had three shower heads, which were amazing - if I would've known this earlier on in the stay, I would've opted to take every shower in the spa.
Gym - 5 stars. They had an area downstairs from the spa that boasted nice new machines (I believe each one even had it's own built in television). I didn't use any of the machines, but took the cardio circuit class. It was great. There were only a total of four people in the class and the instructor knew what she was doing.
Food - 4 stars. Just ok. Ate at Jimmys Pub, which offers burgers, sandos, salads etc. Ate at the spa cafe after our treatments. This was the best, as you can wear your robe right over from the spa. We also ate at the Oak cafe, which has a nice outdoor terrace. The weather permitted us to sit outside on our last day, so we enjoyed the sunshine and a lovely lunch.
I wish I could afford to stay at this place more often!!
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Gorgeous place especially for a 1 day local-get-away. I came here twice and always did a 1 full day pampering vacation for myself, because I didn't want to shell out another $500 for an overnight stay... The resort was nicely maintained: The lush green golf course, sparkling clean glass doors and windows, beautiful gardening.. and a team of very attentive and super friendly staff.
You'll need to schedule an appointment at least a week in advance for any type of treatment. Even if you have a late afternoon appointment, I recommend you to arrive in the resort by 9am to take advantage of the facilities. For an additional $20, you can take any class for the entire day. We started with a yoga stretching class at 9am, and then head out for breakfast/brunch. We ordered the breakfast buffet which was pretty nice but not superb for the price. I recommend to eat at their Oaks Restaurant's outside patio instead where you can overlook the beautiful scenery.
Then we went sun bathing next to the swimming pool, where the staff will constantly hand you some lavender towel that's placed on top of the ice. Can you imagine that?! It totally felt like heaven! When you have enough sun, take a dunk in the swimming pool for a few laps.
Afterwards, we headed to the steam room and then took another lavender icy towel that's so readily available to us outside the room. Got into another private patio to dry out briefly and then went in for a nice body treatment. I highly recommend their sugary lavender body scrub which comes with massage and a heat wrap! Yes they wrapped me like a burrito and it felt so unbelievably nice. The treatment was 50 min, and we went into the sauna room for some more girly chat.
Then you can take a shower with 3 shower heads, and felt like a princess. End the day with the candlelight yoga class or just shop at the gift shop. It's way more luxurious and joyful experience than in a day spa. I can't wait to go back for another treatment.
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I took a short family vacation to the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa over the Labor Weekend. All-in-all, it was an outstanding long weekend. It was particularly kid-friendly. One of my boys was stung/bitten by a yellow-jacket. In short order, a hotel staff person was by his side comforting him and providing the basic first aid. And, what was a particularly nice touch in light of the sting was the hotel had chocolate chip cookies and cold milk waiting in our room that evening.
The resort was very kid- and family-friendly. My 6 year twin boys had a BLAST swimming in the pool for the better part of the day. We rented bikes and rode into town one morning. My kids also participated in a kids golf clinic. The gym was nice but I was disappointed they didn't have Precor Elliptical machines.
Lastly, the food was outstanding, particularly the brunch. I highly recommend this resort for a quick family getaway!
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I'm really surprised by all the 5star ratings. You can do better for the price, though definitely not in Ojai. Ojai is a very small town and in many ways it's quite rural (usually quaintly so) - "the Inn" is definitely the only high end hotel in town, and you pay for the lack of competition.
My BF's daughter went to school in Ojai so we didn't have a choice but to go a couple times a year, and we always stayed at the Inn. It was always fine, but never great. I usually left feeling a little ripped off. Even the newer complexes feel tired - not quite sure how they accomplish that! Something about the lighting, the furnishings and the carpet. They're going for the "adobe" - old California motif and it often comes across as a little threadbare. The grounds are beautiful - LOVE the flowers. The food is OK, the service is OK (a lot of young kids, many who could use more training). This place would be perfect at half or even two-thirds the prices. But at what they charge you can really do better. If you love this place, go to La Quinta Resort & Spa in Palm Springs - almost exactly the same and much less expensive. Do not trek to Ojai just for this hotel, it is not worth the trip. But if you're there, it's the best place to stay, and a meal or two at Suzanne's, a couple blocks away, is a must.
No doubt the grounds are very beautiful...naturally so. They are also beautifully landscaped and cared for. The people that work here, in my experience (I've been a few times...not dozens, but enough to have an overview) are really nice and typically go out of their way to help out, whether or not it is their job.
We always eat at the Oaks restaurant on their outside patio, which is just beautiful. The food is great! We had breakfast in that restaurant, too, and it was also delicious. The food at the spa is too "to go" for me. I had the cob salad and there was a LOT of lettuce in there. For a place like that, it should have been chock full o' goodies and made to order, not kept in a plastic container in the fridge under the counter. Maybe it's me...I don't know...I expected more.
I was just up there after their big remodel. It all looked the same to me as before, and then I heard that most of the money was spent on the villas and suites, which was not where we stayed. Our room was fine. Not great, not horrible. Not beautiful, not ugly. Not luxurious nor hostel-like. Just normal. Nothing memorable. The bed was very comfortable. I will say that!
I had the mint scrub at the spa. It was great! Very scrubby. My skin was super soft afterward. Two weird things, though, that for the money I was spending on the whole thing and for the reputation this place had...stood out more than they might have anyway. The shower in my treatment room looked like a bathroom out of a hospital room. It was very clinical and un-spa-like. It had a fold down seat-thing in case you had trouble showering while standing, but it was ugly. There were very clinical handrails all around. Useful, but I wondered if perhaps they could have been more decorative. I felt like I went from getting a scrub at a lovely spa to showering in a hospital. That was odd. Also, during my scalp massage, she left the rubber gloves on! OUCH. If they have to leave those things on, why bother with the scalp? Take 'em OFF or don't do my scalp!
Overall, it was great and I'd go back for sure. It, to me, is not The Best Place Ever in the World. The Best Place Ever in the World has incredible rooms, no matter the price level, and ALL of the spa is luxurious! This place is solid, though. Always a lovely get-away. Especially the grounds.
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Don't you love life's little indulgences? I do. And the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa is the one indulgence that I make it a point to get to at least a couple of times a year. I stumbled on this property back in 1997 when I was planning a retreat for my team, and it has been on my "must go to" list for friends ever since.
First the Inn itself. The resort is over 80 years old and the buildings reflect that charm with their Spanish styling and warmth. Whitewashed buildings with warm Terra cotta tiled roofs set amidst mature trees give the resort a feeling of permanence; of being.
The whole place went through a remodel a few years back and the rooms are lovely with great linens and all the modern amenities like flat screen TV's, minibars, Internet service (additional charge),coffee, and their signature spa products. This isn't a cheap date- basic rooms run about $400 a night on the weekends and if you want something with a fireplace and more room- you will be paying considerably more. If you have the flexibility to come during the week- the rates drop quite a bit so you end up with all the luxury at a fraction of the price!
My favorite room, when I want to indulge, is room 310. Located in one of the original buildings, this is a mini suite with a veranda overlooking the putting green, windows that open out to the fragrance garden with the smell of lavender coming through the windows, and a four poster bed that envelopes you. There is also a sitting room with a sofa and some chairs. Heaven in a hotel!
If you are a golfer- then this is paradise. I am not, so I choose to amuse myself with any of a multitude of things that are going on each day here on the 220+ acre property. There are arranged hikes, bike trips, horseback riding, arts and crafts, yoga and other more spiritual classes and of course, the Spa, which I will get to in a minute. Just walking the grounds and breathing in the fragranced air will relax you as there are fragrance gardens planted all around.
Now for the spa. Ahh- I can feel the tension already oozing from me as I step into this world class retreat. In fact- this spa continues to get top ratings of spas around the world and it is evident why.
From the moment that you walk into the lovely Spanish style building you are transported to a calmer place. I have had any number of services here- from facials to massages to body scrubs, etc and they are all amazing.
If you really want to splurge- go for the "Shangri-la" a 100 minute treatment ($265) that will leave you unable to get up off the table. I won't be able to do it justice here but it starts with a body scrub that smells amazing, moves on to a honey mask wrap, then you are massaged with Shea butter, get a foot and scalp massage and a facial refresher. I mean, please . . . .is there anything more decadent? You body is like putty when they are done and seriously, I have often had trouble getting my brain to re-connect after this treatment!
The service is impeccable from the time you drive up to the valets who take your car and then spend the rest of their time driving you around the resort on their golf carts, to the professionalism of the front desk staff, to the spa staff- all are accommodating and helpful. I was actually surprised to see some of the other reviews on here that had issues with the staff as during all of my visits- they treat me like a valued guest- even welcoming me back no matter how long it has been between visits!
If you need to step away from life's demands and re-discover who you are again- this is the place to do it. It is also perfect for a girl's weekend, a romatic getaway, or just for a day visit if you are in the area.
One final secret I'll share. Go out at dusk and watch the sunset. It is amazingly beautiful. But look to the east, not the west. No- I haven't lost my sense of direction with all the pampering. That's the secret part. If you look to the east- you will see the sun's purple pink reflection on the Topa Topa bluffs. That famous moment is what indicates that another day is done in the Ojai Valley.
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Pros:
Nice Secluded Resort (Quick Get Away from Everything)
Friendly Staff
Very Good Massage / Spa
Decent Amount of Other Activities ( ie. Golf)
Cons:
Too Expensive
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I'm BAAACCKKK!!!!
Just spent 2 days here for Easter Weekend. This was our usual Easter hangout. We decided to come back. This time, either they read all our bad reviews or they realized that people have many choices for 5 Star hotels/resorts that they decided to listen. I kept my expectations wide open, since we haven't had the best experience 3 years ago, so when I arrived, Jane the FD, was very pleasant and actually said "WELCOME BACK" this was a big +, It's so annoying to hear " Is this your first visit?" When we've been coming to this resort for 13 years. My big mistake was not to request the rooms close to the spa, which I always did. So, when she said, NO, we have you close to the Family Pool, I was bummed, but hey, my fault and I knew my son was going to be happy. I asked Jane if we can move tomorrow, since most guests would be checking out after Easter, she said, she would be able to move us, which was great, my girlfriend was going to drive down, so we wanted to be close to the spa.
Once we arrived in our room, I immeadiately called the FD and said" DON'T MOVE US!" the room was amazing. It had a fireplace, a huge bathroom and the balcony overlooked the mountains.
It was sooo peaceful. Then a knock at the door, we recieved a fruit basket and our "WELCOME LETTER" we went to go eat dinner and when we came back to the room, our phone was blinking.. It was In Room Service, asking us to call them when we came back to bring a gift for our son. Here they showed up with milk and cookies. It was a great evening. The overall service was fantastic and we had a wonderful time lounging around the pool until reality set in and it was time to drive back to LALA Land.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2009
What happened Ojai Valley Inn?, you guys were the BEST. We started coming here before my son was… Read more »
Beautiful location - Beautiful spa! but....they are so ARROGANT!!!! The customer service is substandard. Since they received the coveted 5 diamond rating, they try less and less to please their guests. I had been going to ojai valley inn for 7 years - NO MORE!!!! there are so many other places to go that really want my business. Save your money for a place that really wants to be of great service!
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The wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our 2 night stay. Top notch service. Great pools and landscaped grounds. First class treatment.
We only ate breakfast there and it was good. The spa and massages were great. In the men's spa there was a steam room, sauna, 3 hot pools, great showers, lounge and locker room. My only gripe is if you don't get a massage or other service access to the spa is $20 per day which is silly considering what you pay for your rooms there. They should only charge a nominal fee such as $5.
We will return to play golf as the course looked great. They have 4 tennis courts in good condition, along with ping pong. Beautiful retreat from the city! It does get hot in Ojai valley during the summer though.
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First off, I should qualify my 5 stars by saying I've never stayed at a first-rate 5 star hotel. My budget accommodates 3-4 star hotels and B&Bs on the high end, but prefers hostels and camping on the low end. But a few years ago I really, really, needed a break so I scrimped and saved for my one night at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. So this review is geared towards others in similar financial situations. Also, since my review isn't current I don't know if the info will still be relevant. But here's my review anyway.
The Room:
The room was simple, but elegant and spacious. And the King-sized bed was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. Period. That alone is worth 5 stars for me. I was kind of sorry I didn't have anyone to share it with, but a few minutes of rolling around the entire bed like a little kid and that feeling went away. The room also had a large patio that I thoroughly enjoyed by chilling out with Thelonious Monk and gazing at the stars.
Room Service:
Yes, despite my better judgment, I did it. I was on vacation after all! It was timely, the food was good (but not great). But in retrospect I wish I had scooted my ass down to the restaurant or better yet gone into town for something delicious without the added cost.
The Spa:
I got a circulatory massage, which I enjoyed, but was it $140 good? I don't know. Is any 50 minute massage? Massages can be hit or miss no matter where you get them, and I got this one before I became a massage therapist, so I can't speak to how good it really was. If I were to find myself in Ojai again, I would probably find a good local massage therapist for a more reasonable price and pay to use the spa at the Inn. Because the thing that does stick in my mind is the spa.
In my humble opinion, I thought this spa was great. The only other spas I have been exposed to are the ones at Burke Williams (not bad, but not great) and Esalen (not actually a spa, but the most amazing hot springs and baths ever!). I actually ended up spending most of my day in the spa, drinking the refreshing water infused with cucumber and orange slices and going back and forth from the jacuzzi to the small private patio where you can sunbathe.
Activities:
I didn't partake of the golf, horse-back riding or tennis. What I did do was borrow a free bike from the Inn and tool around the sleepy town. I discovered a great dusty used book store where I spent a couple of hours and bought some books to read on the patio. Boring? Maybe. But it was exactly the type of getaway I needed.
I must be turning into that person we all hate...you know, the person that can find fault with anything and is never happy...
shit, i suck.
But for reals people, I just don't get the hype of this place! I really, really, really, really don't!
For starters, the rooms are small for California and the newly renovated rooms and banquet rooms was 90 millions bones NOT well spent. Check out their bright orange, funky, chunky textured carpet and then come back and tell me the place is gorgeous. I mean really???
The spa, yikes! The staff was underwhelming, they did not know shit and they were not that accommodating, in fact, dealing with them and their ignorance made me more tense. I had a kuyam mud treatment and was there on 2 occasions for massages and the kuyam was interesting, if you like sitting in a hot room next to 7 other naked strangers with mud all over your bod, then it could be your thing. I prefer the privacy of a massage myself...however, the quality of massages are that of Burke Williams. I have had better massages at an airport than what I got here.
The food? eh. For the price, triple eh.
But enough about my experience. I have heard other people echo my sentiments and here is my theory on why this place sucks. There is no competition in this remote and distant land called Ojai and it is privately owned. They are the only game in town and they don't have a huge conglomeration breathing down their necks to provide good customer service.
At this point I would personally like to thank Starwood and the Ritz for being multi-billion dollar corporations that give me, the customer, what I want...a good nights rest at a beautiful hotel with fantastic customer service and consistent good spa treatments. For the amount of green my company drops for me and my cohorts to stay at places like this, I DEMAND, at the minimum...mediocrity.
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We visited this spa mid week and had the whole place to ourselves. AWESOME!!!! Fabulous spa treatments; my husband and I enjoyed the detox wrap followed by massages. The heated pool and jacuzzi were super relaxing. We had dinner at the cafe on site, and what a wonderful meal! We can't wait to come here again!
My sister won a $2k spa trip here. We drove down for a long birthday weekend.
Activities:
a fun horseback tour of the grounds -interesting and a good way to tour the grounds.
Spa, spa, spa! I had 2 massages per day.
Restaurant and cafe. Sunday Brunch was weak but all other food was awesome. We got comp'ed wine and dessert since it was our birthday.
Salon- facials, manicures, pedicures and hair cut. My sister also had her hair coloured. I couldn't imagine just spa'ing around the whole time, so early Saturday I jetted up to Santa Barbara for the Long course Triathlon (also fun). As I headed into the last 5 miles of the race, I realized that I was going to be late for my haircut appointment. As I arrived all salty crusty from the race my numbers still inked on, my stylist calmly rinsed me off and gave me the best cut ever.
Oh yeah they allow pets!
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I do not get this place. Granted, the grounds are lovely and the big bird cage was pretty cool; filled with exotic birds that make attendant exotic bird squawks, but the workers are incompetent to the extreme. They smile and say "isn't everything grand?" when everything is far from grand. The place was 10% full due to the recession and their outrageous prices. The room next to mine had screaming kids jumping on the beds and making a non-weekend-getaway-friendly racket. I called the front desk. They did nothing. Called again, same. Called again and they offered to move my room, which by the time someone showed up, I just said forget it, the kids stopped in the hour that had elapsed. I left early the next morning, and the front desk staff were angered that I had not had the time of my life. Now I get an e-mail every week trying to tempt me into coming back. I don't know if I am wrong, but empty hotels shouldn't put adults next to screaming kid rooms.
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My husband and I just returned from this place this morning. We had such a relaxing time that we actually stayed an extra night--something we usually wouldn't do, considering the financial investment required. Obviously, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, but we do have a few items of note to report...
Service: Perfect. The valets we saw were all young guys who seemed to really enjoy being helpful. Pool server and towel guy very cool. Spa staff nice and professional. Wait staff at the Oak Cafe and bartender Jon at Jimmy's Cafe informed and accommodating.
Food: Great. We ate pool cabana food, restaurant food, and pub food at the resort. All were delicious.
Spa: Dunno. We didn't go for treatments this time, but the workout room was very impressive with all brand-new looking equipment. I also went into the women's locker room to check it out, and it was very, very nice.
Activities: Nice variety. I liked that we could have hard-chilled the entire time or chosen to be active. Exercise classes, art classes, a morning fitness walk, etc. were offered every day. I took two Pilates classes, and both instructors were great--more chatty than I prefer, but they were catering to newcomers, so I get it. We don't golf, but the course is absolutely beautiful. Many other activities (horseback riding, wine tasting, kayaking, etc.) are offered by the concierge. There are also bikes and tennis rackets for rent. Awesome hike/bike path that goes for miles.
Room: Good. It's always nice to stay in a recently-remodeled room. I wouldn't say that it was really high-end resorty, but the decor is well-suited to the setting. We stayed in the main building. We didn't have hot water in the shower after about 7 p.m. either night...I assume because everyone else in the building was trying to shower at that time. Lots of fluffy towels, and great bathroom and dressing area, though. Next time, we will definitely stay in one of the more remote buildings. We could hear kids screaming day and evening in the nearby "family friendly" pool. Not music to our ears. No biggie. Also quite loud, however, was the a/c, which in the summer, is mandatory. Not something that could be improved, probably, but it was a little sticking point after night three.
Town: Bo-ring! Snoresville.
Overall: We loved it, and had an awesome, relaxing stay. If we could afford to drop the $350 a night more often, we would. For now, we'll save it for anniversary weekend.
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Although this place gets points for being in a beautiful location, it has perhaps the most unprofessional staff I have ever encountered. We will never return.
Upon arrival for my birthday, we were told that the reservation my wife made had been "cancelled." We were also told it had been "rebooked" for the following day. Although the hotel was not full, the front desk person (Felipe I believe) insisted that we show him a confirmation number (we had the email confirming the original date). He then kept saying, "you must have changed the reservation." Rather than simply admit they had made a mistake and rebook the room, he created a scene -- the hotel wasn't even close to full.
He then took my wife's credit card (also a debit card) and said loudly, "we're going to charge this for $700 right now" (the room was about half that price) adding "you may not want that much money coming out of your bank account." So we gave him a credit card instead. Days later we discovered our debit card had been charged after all! Who knows what they did with our credit card. When we called to sort it out, they blamed us for "causing confusion" and that we "should have never offered our debit card in the first place."
To add insult to injury, they charged our debit card twice!
Never once did anyone offer anything close to an apology or regret. We never acted rude to them or raised our voices either, so....
Bacara (and other nearby resorts) have a far more professional staff. The staff here acts like they were taken from some retail outlet. It's as if you are bothering them. Completely tainted our experience.
Don't go here.
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During my 3 day business trip, I decided to spend my last day and night at Ojai Valley Inn. Ooops, even more dead at night and it was honeymooners central. That's ok, I came for the spa! I needed a deep tissue massage for a recent upper back sprain. Beautifully manicured breathtaking golf grounds and beautiful spa...that's what this hotel resort is famous for. Truth is, I'm neither an avid golfer nor spa girl.
Once in a blue moon, I need a deep tissue massage...by a male therapist. Nothing scandalous...only because I like big hands and firm pressure. I've had nightmare massages from females that felt simply like suntan oil application on the beach.
So here's how the session went, my masseur was French...and soon as he started he started to breathe loudly and heavily. My first thought was, oh no..deja vu. Once I have had to walk out of a session and call the manager at a L.A. spa. Rarely occurs and when it happens, it's a drag.
Tip #1 for the ladies: nothing explicit ever happens...but believe in some intuition or gut feelings. It's hard to relax when you have an eyemask on and you feel you're not being draped correctly, or feel a draft in places you shouldn't. Wear teeny panties. Worse yet, certain body parts should not be massaged. Just stop the session, and speak to the manager.
Anyway, I just didn't get this bad vibe from this guy so I asked him ...why are you making these weird breathing/moaning noises? He went on to explain a lot about yoga, his Qi Gong practice and told me it's also a reminder for me to keep breathing. uh, thank you very much, but I never forget to breathe!
Tip #2 Engage your massage therapist in a conversation. I do this anyway because I'm generally interested in people. Most importantly though, during a massage you need to communicate constant feedback about the pressure. I learned my therapist was a French naval officer until he came to California for his "spiritual" journey. ok, cool.
After I told him I wanted super deep, he warned me that even men cannot take his full pressure. He told me most people bruise; i gave him the go ahead.
Day after: I was in more pain than before and totally bruised up. $140 for a 45 minute massage. $30 tip.
I am a masochist.
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I escaped LA one afternoon a few years ago and went to this FABULOUS resort. I was at work and just up and decided to get the hell outta Dodge...called them up, they had an opening and I shelled out the $250 or so to stay the night mid-week. I went home, threw some stuff in the car and drove my ass to Ojai (just inland from Ventura, near Santa Barbara). I checked in and then went to the workout room...where I 'bumped' into Vanessa Marcel and her beau at the time, Brian Austin Green. I then, post workout...headed to the spa for a WONDERFUL massage followed with dinner by room service. My room was CUSH! They provided a lovely robe in which I sat around and the bed was one of those beds you have to climb up onto like Mt. Everest it's so high! The next morning I had a yummy breakfast delivered and then I marched back to the spa for a relaxing and aromatic facial...afterwards I took a long walk around the grounds before heading back to the ickiness of LA. Not a cheap place by any means...VERY romantic...look for deals during the week (sometimes they even have a two for one dealio).
History:
-The resort began in 1923 with a private club and golf course.
-1925-30 the resort's rooms were added.
-1942 it was transformed into Camp Oak for a military training center for a battalion of 1,000 Army troops.
-1944 the Army turned the base over to the U.S. Navy for a rest and recuperation facility. When the government finally auctioned off the last of the quonset huts and barracks, the property was returned to private ownership.
-1947 The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa re-opened, playing host to Hollywood notables Clark Gable, Irene Dunne, Lana Turner, Loretta Young, Hoagy Carmichael, Walt Disney, Nancy and Ronald Reagan, Judy Garland, Paul Newman and others.
-2005 A $90 million renovation took place n the spring of 2005, the legendary resort debuted 308 new rooms and suites, a new lobby and entrance, new golf shop, new restaurants, and new ballrooms and meeting spaces while preserving its original charming architecture and unique sense of place.
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If people knew the kind of yucky things that went on behind the scenes at this obscenely ostentatious place, they'd avoid it like the Plague. They treat their employees like crap.
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I'm going to stick to a review solely on the spa....which is off the hizzoook! After traveling the country like crazy for weeks on end, my boss and I found ourselves headed from Ventura straight to the spa in Ojai for massages. Every detail of this beautiful, historic establishment was perfect. The people were "at your service", the cleanliness was untouchable, it wasn't overcrowded, and the relaxation / jacuzzi area was perfection...fireplaces, cush lounges, warm towels and dreamy showers you never want to leave. You can't go near this amazing part of California without treating yourself to this place. And to top off your spa treatment, a stroll over to the restaurant bar for a martini is highly recommended!
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thanks to work i had the chance to spend 3.5 lovely days at the inn and it was gorgeous (despite the fact that the hills were ablaze when i arrived). it has a spanish theme with rounded arch entryways and lots of heavy wood. my room was immaculate and spacious. the fitness center is well-equipped and has personalized tv's for each cardio machine. i couldn't treat myself to any of the spa amenities but i heard only good things from those who indulged. the air was too ashy to lay out but from what i could tell the pool facilities were really nice and you can reserve cabanas for a poolside meal.
foodwise: everything served at the receptions was great; the burger at jimmy's pub made for a good lunch..juicy & tasty; the cobb salad at the spa cafe was put together well with all the right ingredients.
definitely a lovely and serene place for some serious R&R.
Your and my froufrou-ing (foufing for short) is important, so here's what I think you should know...
THE GOOD
-If a happy employee smiles in Ojai, does a guest feel it? Yes. The resort's employees generally offer superior service with a smile. They seem happy and eager to make you happy.
- Slow down in the mountains' valley town. The setting is pretty and it feels isolated...if you live in a city, then you'll quickly forget urban sights, smells, sounds and speed.
- The food has calories and taste! The resort's fanciest restaurant offers delicious food. (The other restaurants are acceptable, but not particularly impressive.)
- Can an able bodied person turn to jelly in the span of an hour? Yes. We had stellar deep tissue massages.
- Starsplashing. You can use one of the pools until 10PM and my friends and I enjoyed an evening splash under the stars.
- Details. They seem to understand the importance of little touches, which was evidenced by the lemon infused chocolates at turn-down, the cool (iced) wash cloths outside of the spa's sauna, the razors in the spa's showers, the fragrant flowers throughout the property, and the plethora of "ease mama's guilt!" gifts for young kids at the gift shop.
THE BAD
- Unheavenly beds. Women friends don't go to the spa to touch each other inappropriately and mistakenly while sleeping. A room reserved for three translated into two miniature double beds. The double beds fit one person each. We didn't want two nervous, sleepless people hanging off the bed's edges in a desperate effort not to graze limbs. We opted for an extra (unplanned for) rollaway bed for an extra fee.
- Swill aint swell at the spa. The coffee is horrendous and, shockingly, they're proud of it. They offer one kind of "special" blend throughout the resort and we would have preferred airplane coffee.
- I fear that adults are too big to swim in the puddle pools. We were disappointed to find that none of the pools are deeper than 4 feet deep. I realize that having more than one pool might sound decadent, but the resort needs all three of its pools because they're all quite crowded. People stand in the pools, looking almost as if they're standing in their own bath tub because the pools are sooooo shallow. This discourages floating, swimming, or any sort of movement (at least detectable movement...read on and cringe). We eventually referred to one of the pools as a human toilet because people stood in the water for hours, drinking from an endless supply of goblets being delivered to them, and never leaving to go the restroom. Ut oh.
- Tubless in Ojai. The spa offers two small jacuzzis but the guest room that we had offered only a tiny bath tub. We did not soak. We were, however, able to share the bathroom area among three semi-vain women quite easily because it's designed well.
If this sounds like the place for you, go forth and spa!
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