France
Germany
Japan
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Golden Door Spa
Escondido, California, United States~45 minutes from San Diego, California United States (map)
1(866) 337-9862
Price Key |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ | $$$$$ |
| $100-199 | $200-299 | $300-399 | $400-499 | $500 and up |
| * Rankings based on the average cost of a vacation package during high season, per person, double occupancy, per night, including three meals and one spa treatment daily. | ||||
Tucked away in a tranquil pocket of northern San Diego County, the legendary Golden Door offers a world of new beginnings. As peace of mind and well-being are reached, guests develop bonds with nature, fellow guests, and themselves.
Founded in 1958 by visionary Deborah Szekely, Golden Door was designed based on the ancient traditions of Japanese honjin inns. The setting includes serene sand gardens, koi ponds, and antique stone lanterns. A circular labyrinth is used to teach the Zen Buddhist practice of kinhin (walking meditation). This breathtaking, yet meditative environment inspires possibilities for personal renewal.
For a customized program in fitness, nutrition, and beauty, guests complete a pre-visit packet prior to arrival and meet with staff members upon arrival to discuss goals. Guests check in on Sundays for the usual weeklong stay, each night receiving a tailored schedule for the next day. The new Spa Interlude Program, only available during selected months of 2008, offers three- and four-day sessions with the same personal attention. Though the 40-room Golden Door is designed for women, some co-ed and men's weeks are offered throughout the year.
This grande dame of destination spas embraces women most of the year, with some co-ed and all men's weeks available. A true testament to its extraordinary position in the spa world, the 39-room Golden Door with its stratospheric price tag usually has a waiting list of people wanting to "get in!" They are surely doing something—or maybe everything—right. Located in Escondido, California forty miles north of San Diego, the Golden Door is designed in the tradition of Japan's courtly honjin inns. The breathtaking, yet meditative environment creates and inspires limitless possibilities for personal renewal. Guests stroll past serene sand gardens, antique stone lanterns, and koi ponds. The ever-popular labyrinth is used to teach the Zen Buddhist practice of kinhin, "walking mediation," an important tool of self-evaluation. Year after year the same guests return, often at the same time of year so they can be reunited with their Door friends. Not only is the Golden Door atmosphere perfect for nurturing friendships, there is also a highly effective and customized fitness, nutrition, and beauty program. Decision-making is kept to a minimum as the all-inclusive schedule and program is magically created for each individual, allowing a truly stress-free week to unfold. Each night a daily schedule, perfectly tailor-made for each guests, arrives at turn-down service in the form of a Japanese fan.
