Kick- start the year in spa style
No one calls them fat farms anymore, but the goal is the same: to help participants regain control of their lives. Most wellness resorts and spas encourage healthful living and try to educate vacationers about nutrition, f itness and stress relief. Here’s
Cal- a- Vie
This luxury spa, which straddles a ridge in northwestern San Diego County, isn’t just a hotel, it’s a 200acre Provençal- style village, complete with a 400- yearold French chapel and 32 plush guest cottages with antique- filled rooms that feature oversized beds and fine linens. A regular “World’s Best” winner in polls by Travel & Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler magazines, Cal- a- Vie draws wealthy clients from around the world.
The workout: Start your day with a hike, then choose from 120 classes such as CrossFit, Zumba, weight training, yoga and stretching. If you need motivation, don’t worry, Cal- a- Vie has a 5- 1 employee- to- guest ratio. Daily spa treatments — massage, facial, etc. — are part of the program. Details: Three-, four- and seven- night programs are available, starting at $ 4,150 for three nights to $ 8,650 for seven nights. Plans include accommodations, three meals a day, spa treatments, unlimited fitness classes, nutritional lectures, cooking demonstrations and workout garb.
Info: 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista; ( 866) 772- 4283, www.cal-a-vie.com
Golden Door
Despite its venerable age — the Golden Door opened in 1958 — this spa in northwestern San Diego County was named the top destination spa in the world for 2015 by Travel & Leisure magazine. Designed to replicate a Japanese village, the spa encourages guests to leave behind their worries and stress when they enter the shiny golden door at the entrance. Inside they find an emphasis on mind, body and spirit, along with rigorous physical activity. The workout: Guests hit the dramatically landscaped trails daily at 5: 30 a. m. for hiking. There are two pools, group exercise studios, tennis and a hilltop retreat for private fitness sessions. Each guest has an individually planned program and receives a daily in- room massage.
Details: Seven- day programs throughout the year, with some men’s and coed weeks. The rate is $ 8,850 and includes accommodations, meals, activities, workout clothing and robe.
Info: 777 Deer Springs Road, San Marcos; ( 760) 744- 5777, www.goldendoor.com
The Oaks at Ojai
This downtown Ojai fitness hotel calls itself “America’s best spa value” because of its weekly rate of $ 2,415 per person ($ 1,820 double occupancy). Just need a day or two? Oaks at Ojai has a plan for you too, with a daily rate of $ 345 ($ 260 double occupancy). The program is popular with guests; 60% return for a few more days of activities and treatments at the restored 1920s Mission- style hotel.
The workout: Choose from 14 activities each day, including walking, hiking, swimming and fitness classes such as stretching, dancing, cardio sculpting, yoga and Pilates. Guests are encouraged to take as few or as many classes as they would like.
Details: Nightly, five-, seven- and 15- day programs available. Accommodations, meals, activities and health- oriented lectures and cooking demonstrations are included.
Info: 122 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai; ( 805) 646- 5573, www.oaksspa.com
Premier Fitness Camp, Carlsbad
Backsliders note: If you think a week or two won’t cut it, check out Premier Fitness Camp, which sets up a 12- week accountability program for guests after they leave the camp. Based at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, PFC emphasizes behavior change, nutritional guidance and low- impact fitness training. Participants stay at the resort, use a custom training facility and attend nutrition lectures and cooking classes, take grocery store tours and receive dining- out tips.
The workout: Fitness activ- ities include beach boot camp, calisthenics, weight training, tennis, yoga and other cardio routines with personal trainers. Guests can work out for up to six hours a day. PFC also emphasizes mental wellness through weekly group sessions with licensed therapists. Details: The base program is for one week, with rates starting at $ 4,195. Included are accommodations, meals, fitness training, counseling and an accountability program after leaving the camp.
Info: 2100 Costa Del Mar Road, Carlsbad; ( 888) 7326198, www.premierfitnesscamp.com
The Ranch Malibu
If you’re looking for a tough- love program that will help you get serious in a hurry, check into the Ranch Malibu, which prohibits meat, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, gluten, processed sugars and artificial sweeteners. No surprises here — with a regimen like that you’re going to succeed. Guests may experience lower cholesterol levels,
significant weight loss, toned bodies and looser clothing when they leave. And they learn to love vegetarian food, especially when it’s prepared Ranch Malibu- style. The spa, which attracts a fair share of A- listers, is an A- lister itself, with top awards from Travel & Leisure and Lonely Planet. The workout: Great food isn’t the only plus at this rambling hillside property in the Santa Monica Mountains. Participants love the program, which requires a four- to five- hour hike each morning in addition to participating in other workouts. Meals total 1,400 calories a day, and participants have afternoon massages and take a daily nap. Details: One- week minimum stay is $ 6,800. If you’re looking for a longer- term improvement plan, you can opt for six weeks for $ 35,900. Included are accommodations, meals, cooking and nutrition classes and activities.
Info: 12220 Cotharin Road; ( 888) 777- 2177, www.theranchmalibu.com
Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico
Rancho La Puerta, three miles across the border in Baja, is the first true fitness resort and spa in North America, founded in 1940 and still considered a leader in the field. Set on 3,000 acres of gardens, mountains and meadows, the program’s approach to wellness seeks a mind, body and spirit balance. The resort was named best destination spa in 2014 by Conde Nast Traveler. The workout: Although the resort considers its program to be a mix of food, nutrition, exercise, relaxation, education and expression, it doesn’t impose anything on guests. Take a morning hike up Mt. Kuchumaa or an easy meadow walk, then choose from instructor- led exercise classes. Or spend the day reading in a hammock. Details: Participants can choose from three- to seven- day stays, with specialized men’s fitness, adventure and spa programming available. Rates range from $ 3,200 to $ 4,800 per person, including accommodations, vegetarian meals, activities and special presentations. Spa treatments, personal training sessions and cooking classes are extra.
Info: Carretera Federal Mexicali Tijuana, Tecate; ( 800) 443- 7565, www.rancholapuerta.com
The Ranch 4.0, Westlake Village
If you can’t commit to a weeklong fitness break, you might like the Ranch 4.0, based at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, which offers a four- day program from Thursday afternoon through Monday morning so you can jumpstart your fitness plan with a long weekend break. An offshoot of the Ranch Malibu program, the Ranch 4.0 is a luxury boot camp held in conjunction with the California Health & Longevity Institute at the hotel. The workout: As with its sister program in Malibu, participants take part in eight hours a day of rigorous exercise, including four hours of mountain hiking every morning. There are afternoon exercise classes and stretching, massages and cooking demonstrations. Meals are organic vegetarian cuisine.
Details: $ 4,100, which includes accommodations at the Four Seasons, activities, meals and massage.
Info: 2 Dole Drive, Westlake Village; ( 888) 777- 2177, www.theranchmalibu.com/R4.0/program.php
Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, Rancho Santa Fe
This Forbes five- star resort in north San Diego County doesn’t have an all- inclusive weight- loss program, but it illustrates the possibilities available at some high- end resorts. You can build your own program, creating a weeklong menu of activities and spa treatments. Rancho Valencia is set on 45 acres of gardens and olive groves and has extensive recreation facilities. The workout: Build it yourself at one of the resort’s 18 tennis courts or at the yoga pavilion, Pilates studio or pools. Then join exercise programs and fitness sessions led by resort instructors.
Details: Nightly rates begin at $ 568, which includes accommodations, fitness classes and tennis. Meals and spa treatments are not included.
Info: 5921 Valencia Circle, Rancho Santa Fe; ( 855) 986- 1569, www.ranchovalencia.com