What It’s Like to Spa at Marriott Coronado

When invited to preview The Spa at Coronado Island in the Coronado Island Marriott Resort & Spa, I leaped at the opportunity especially after reading about the newly-renovated space and the spa’s partnership with ELEMIS to create a selection of treatments not found in another San Diego spa.

I am quite familiar with ELEMIS after living in London and Hong Kong where I ran into the brand quite a bit. British Airways has used ELEMIS in their inflight kits, I’ve been to their Mayfair townhouse and our club in Hong Kong used their products exclusively. ELEMIS products have always worked well for me.

Choosing from The Spa at Coronado Island’s treatment menu was tough but with tight shoulders from a new boot camp obsession, I felt the ELEMIS Deeper Than Deep Hot Stone Massage would do me a world of good.

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The Spa at Coronado Island’s Location

Getting to The Spa at Coronado Island is easy as the Marriott Coronado is located near the Coronado bridge and boasts water views toward the bridge and beyond. It’s quieter and less hectic over here than where the other big Coronado resorts are.

I parked in the hotel’s underground garage and took an elevator up to the main lobby. The Spa is located just past the front desk but the lovely aroma will lead the way. Keep your parking ticket with you for validation at the front desk.

Spa Amenities

The part of the renovation’s goal was to create an approachable spa getaway for residents and an easy, quick spa vacation for out-of-town guests.

The refreshed luxury spa is now home to 3,500 square feet of indoor space and 2,000 square feet of outdoor space. It also includes 10 treatment rooms, a co-ed relaxation room, an outdoor spa garden, men’s and women’s locker rooms with steam rooms, as well as a manicure and pedicure salon.

In addition to a full spa menu, guests may book nutrition counseling, weight loss consultations, posture analysis, and other more fitness-oriented services.

As advised, I arrived early to enjoy the lounging facility after a quick stop into the changing room. Lockers are provided as are robes and spa slippers. I liked that the changing room had amenities like shampoo you could use in the event you needed a shower and forgot to bring your own. There is also a small sauna but do bring a bathing suit to use the heated lap pool.

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I’d overestimated the amount of morning traffic between La Jolla and Coronado so arrived actually almost an hour ahead of my 10:00 a.m. appointment. I would say 30 minutes would be about right to settle in and decompress for a bit in the lounge area here.

Water, fruit and little packets of nuts and dried fruit are available for guests to snack on while flipping through magazines or mentally gearing up for a fantastic treatment.

The ELEMIS Deeper Than Deep Hot Stone Massage

My therapist collected me from the lounge and we walked to the treatment room. Over the course of 80 minutes, Balinese stones bathed in the Frangipani Monoi Body Oil were worked deep into my muscles, relieving areas of tension. The intended result is sparkling vitality with the added bonus of intensely hydrated skin.

Now the thing to remember about hot stone is that if you’re the type of person who likes a massage therapist to really dig deep into knots using his or her fingers, there is less (but not zero) of that during a hot stone but the heat generated by the stones really does penetrate into the muscles.

I told my therapist that I can handle deep pressure and how tight my neck and shoulders are so she gave this area extra attention with both the stones and her hands.

I’m a fan of having my head and face massaged and this treatment includes both. Do bring a make-up kit as the skin is cleansed first before moisturizing oils are applied so you may want to redo makeup if not heading directly home.

Of course, I felt fantastic when it was over and noticed that my boot camp workout the following day was much easier to tackle with a less sore and stiff upper back. I was able to lift heavier weights and experience a much greater range of motion. The lesson? More massages (seriously).

Wellness Bento Box Lunch

After my massage, I was presented a lovely Wellness Bento Box to enjoy on the spa terrace, which though it borders hotel rooms was relatively quiet during my visit. Wellness Bento Boxes are designed by Chef Poompan to impact both physical and mental energy and can be customized with a variety of different sides, proteins, healthy sandwiches, and entrees. The spa menu also features pitaya bowls, cold-pressed juices, and alkaline water.

I enjoyed the forbidden black rice and garbanzo bean salad, roasted Suzie’s Farm vegetables, and Pacific Ocean tuna poke (hidden in the butter lettuce leaf). All boxes come with a Suzie’s Farm crudite with tzatziki dip. The generous portion size surprised me and it was well more than I could eat. If your treatment surrounds lunchtime I would highly recommend you pre-order a box.

The refreshing cocktail, the Spa Cooler, features Coconut Water Rum is shaken with fresh coconut water, cucumber juice, orange juice, and lime juice. It was designed as a toast to locals during the opening month in May. Champagne and wine are available, too.

Final Thoughts

I left just before 12:30 p.m. which means in just half a day, I’d driven from La Jolla to Coronado, lounged, and enjoyed a massage as well as a delicious, healthy lunch within about 4 hours. It would be easy to spend the rest of the day exploring various things to do in Coronado if you have time.

The Spa at Coronado Island has achieved its goal of creating a low-key experience and the pricing is in line with what you’d expect at a resort where you can linger and use some of the facility for the day.

It’s not the biggest or fanciest San Diego spa, but it’s definitely a good choice for locals who would like a quick and easy half-day getaway. The recent renovation did a good job of maximizing existing space while the Wellness Bento Boxes and an extremely well-curated spa shop are just a few of the nice touches that add to the experience.

See also: Best Things to Do in Coronado

*Thank you to The Spa at Coronado Island for hosting my massage and lunch. Opinions are my own, as always.