Luxe of the Day: Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort

After weeks of personal and professional drama, I decided to get away for the weekend with my lady friend for a little R&R. We decided to head up to the sleepy town of Ojai located just 35 miles southeast of Santa Barbara. Tucked among the luscious rolling hills of the Ojai Valley is the five-diamond Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort. Located just a short one hour jaunt from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, the resort is the perfect destination if you're looking for a convenient escape to decompress and enjoy some world-class pampering...both of which I desperately needed.

We drove up Highway 101 past Calabasas (of Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey fame) and Ventura until we hit Freeway 33 which took us 13 miles into the town of Ojai. Admittedly, I was a bit concerned driving into Ojai as we drove past run-down quick-marts, a McDonald's, and what appeared to be a place that performed lawn mower engine repair. This looked way too country, and I don't do country. I was hoping that AAA did not botch their 5-diamond rating.

I was not comforted when we reached the entrance of the resort. In fact, I thought to myself, "What a cheesy looking sign, I'm glad we're not staying here". Then my lady friend gleefully proclaimed, "Look, were here!". Crap. This is going to be a Dukes of Hazzard experience.

Thankfully, I was absolutely wrong about the resort. From the moment we pulled up to the valet, we were treated with World-Class service. The entire staff was gracious and was enthusiastic about making our stay as pleasurable as possible. Particular kudos go to the valet staff, bell boys, and the elderly gentlemen who oversaw the pool area at the spa. He provided the most memorable customer service experience of the weekend: when I asked him how his day was going, he stated without an ounce of cynicism or sarcasm, "To be any better would be unfair". God Bless a man who enjoys his work and his life.

We booked a Shangri La room with a fireplace and large deck that brought the overall square footage of the room to 550 square feet. Our room was located on the second floor and oversaw part of the golf course and a spectacular view of the mountains. While serviceable, the room was the least memorable part of our stay. The decor, while fitting in with the overall hacienda style of the resort, appeared a bit dated. There were nice touches including the plasma TV, separate bath tub with voyeur shutters (we love anything voyeuristic), and the aforementioned large patio. But overall, the room could have been a bit more luxurious.

If you stay at the resort, you absolutely need to take advantage of Spa Ojai, which was named the #1 Spa in 2008 by TripAdvisor. My lovely companion booked me a gentlemen's facial and a couple's massage for the both of us. Both were excellent. With your spa service, you will have full access to their 31,000 spa facility, which includes the standard jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and adult pool along with all the fresh apples you can eat.

If you're a golfer or an outdoorsy type, you'll find plenty to keep yourself busy. The entire resort is set within a gorgeous 18-hole golf course with an attached driving range where you can hit as many golf balls as you'd like for free. If biking or hiking is more your thing, you can do both to your heart's desire.

After all that playing, you'll undoubtedly be hungry. There is a wide range of dining options from pub food, to spa fare (i.e. rabbit food), to their signature restaurant Maravilla. Despite the constant raving by the resort staff, we found the food at Maravilla to be typical overpriced and pretentious "fine dining" food. Their lobster dish, while flavorful, was puny and their pork loin was bland and overcooked. Even their chocolate themed dessert reminded me of an expensive Reese's Pieces. The best meal of the weekend, in my humble opinion, was the steak sandwich off their room service menu. Simply delicious.

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Resort was exactly what the doctor ordered. It's a little oasis of peace and tranquility that is just door steps from one of the busiest places on Earth. Go to OjaiResort.com to book your stay or go to SpaFinder.com to check out other spa destinations.

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