Oaks At Ojai, The

One week a year for a vacation is very precious time to me. I chose the Oaks at Ojai and was very pleased at the value!! The fitness program is filled with wonderful choices, the spa food is delicious, the spa services are plentiful and the room was beautifully decorated with original art and my suite had a jacuzzi tub, i did 3 classes a day from a roster of 14, and the instructors are highly trained and fun. Optional excursions are rock climbing, artist tours, biking to the beach and horseback riding. My week was so relaxing and my goal of "Brain re-charge" was fully satisfied that I will make this destination spa an annual vacation! Thank You eveyone at the Oaks for your graciousness and helping me to relax!

This is an unbelieveable spa for the price, not to mention the feeling of peace and well-being it provides overall. The food is incredible, and I never find myself feeling hungry or like I'm eating food that is actually good for me! The atmosphere is wonderful with the great fitness instructors, staff, and the people in the quaint but stylish little town. I go back several times a year, and have taken several friends with me that love it as much as I do!!!

I just finished my 2nd trip to The Oaks at Ojai, and WOW - I'm even more impressed than before. I went during their recent MomDaugher discount - gotta love that 40% off!With all the amazing new spas in the world, it's easy to forget about The Oaks, one of the original spas in the U.S. Their tried and true program isn't trendy or glossy. One of my favorite things to enjoy are their group exercise classes. The great stretch and gentle yoga classes have me feeling younger and more agile- right away! My Mom loved the water workouts.The Oaks spa cuisine really satisfied me, and after a week -- I'm convinced my taste buds were craving healthy foods, which really helped me jump start changes at home. My Mom worried she would be hungry - but that was never the case.I was impressed to see many of the same staff! I even had another great facial with the same therapist I had in 2004.While they're not trendy, they are working steadily to improve their historic property. We stayed in a redecorated cottage and it was spacious, clean and functional. Frankly, we were hardly ever in it.I'm looking forward to another visit, maybe with my girlfriend next time. I can see why this spa has been in business for so long!

Expected the Oaks at Ojai spa retreat to be relaxing and restful. Instead found the facility outdated and staff not able to respond to clients concerns. Shared single rooms are very tiny facing the busy East Ojai street and include two single beds (not twin beds). Accomodation is not up to par with other spas and/or hotels. When I asked to move my room due to the accomodation and "mess" left by the other guest (roomate), the spa staff insisted that I had signed up for a shared room and that they were not responsible for a (pigstye) accomodation. They did move me to another room however failed to mention the higher rate again stating that I wouldn't stay in the room they reserved for me and that it was not their responsibility if the room was a mess. The accomodation was subpar. The new room was old and the heater didn't work so it was freezing most of the time. This is a spa in need of a facelift. There are other spas or vacation resorts that are modern, customer-oriented and run with the times. I would NOT recommend this spa to anyone.

I spent 6 days (including my birthday) at The Oaks for the primary purpose of kicking off a new fitness lifestyle. While at the spa, I quit smoking, started my weight loss, learned portion control from the delicious meals (and I need a reminder again), and tried a lot of different kinds of exercise. Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff.I also enjoyed being in the town of Ojai. The physical facility is my only complaint--it's very dated, dingy, and lacking in good exercise equipment. (The classes and walks are great, though.) I suppose the facilities lead to the affordability.

The Oaks is a wonderful place for a get-away from the everyday stresses. I'm going on my 3rd year now and my escapes have grown in length from 4 nights, to 5, to 7 full nights this year! It's not fancy, but it's one of the most comforting, caring and nurturing places I've been. Do not look for 'luxury' here...The exercise offerings are great. There are a variety of dance classes - the belly dance class is not only fun but entertaining as well (just watching not only yourself but your fellow classmates trying the shimmy is just hilarious and you don't realize you're getting a good workout). My favorites are the water exercise classes in the outdoor pool. I wind up spending almost my entire exercise day out there! Yoga in the evening (before dinner and after) are so wonderful for working out the kinks of the day. Massage and facial services are fabulous and the prices are the best!As far as the food, breakfast is VERY light (if you're following the daily 1000 calorie menu) and just okay. Lunch is generally good. Dinners are always something special, though. It's true gourmet dining while being prepared without anything 'refined' (sugar, no salt). Even the desserts are pretty incredible. The dining room is casual and comfortable and you'll never lack for good dinner conversation if you're traveling alone (like I do). And, if you're lucky, Sheila will be in town and at the spa - DO make sure you take the opportunity to talk with this amazing woman!If you're looking for a nurturing and purifying experience, this is the place!

The Oaks is not luxurious, but is comfortable, well-maintained, and friendly. Lunches and dinners are good; breakfast is cold, and boring. There are many different exercise classes daily, the pool is outside and gorgeous, and they offer a range of walks/hikes daily. The spa services (massage, etc.) are great.It's easy to go by yourself, and find company if you want it, and private time if you want it. Many guests have been coming year after year, and many people who live within a couple of hours drive come frequently for a weekend or longer.It's still undergoing renovations, which is a good thing. The rooms and "cottages" that have been re-done are beautiful. But the rooms in the "lodge" that haven't been renovated could really use the work, both to freshen them and to make the bathrooms bigger and more comfortable (18" sink areas!). There are 2 rooms that shouldn't be rented at all: 203 and 217a. Both are "split" rooms, separate rooms that share a bath, but you have to walk through one room to get to the bathroom. The smaller room in 203 is not quite 8 feet by not quite 14 feet, and doesn't even have a closet or space for a comfortable chair or a desk. The rent is the same, though, as for any other shared double in the lodge. The one good thing about it is that it is a separate room, and you can close the door to the other room. 217a has its own door to the hall; 203 doesn't.My advice: go, be specific about the room you book, and confirm your specific room before you leave. If you have a good room, you'll have a lovely relaxing rejuvenating time. And ask them about the evening programs before you leave: there was a wonderful writing program one evening I was there; I heard several people say they wished they'd known, they would have come prepared.

The Oaks at Ojai is definitely a girlfriends get-away for those who want to just relax and get healthy. I was there for their "Day of Pampering" package back in July 2006, and it was my very first spa experience. The massage was divine - I couldn't have asked for a better first professional massage. The facial was also wonderful - the asthetician was kind and I even almost fell asleep! The pedicure was okay - the service was fair. And the lunch was a pleasant surpise - it was good and healthy. By the end of the day, I felt peaceful and relaxed. I definitely plan to return for a few days in the future.Note: The facilities are a bit dated, but very well maintained and clean.