The Spa at Pelican Hill

Its Pelican Hill Resort Review Week, but its also Mediocre Mon again!!!
I have been to several spas along the coast in OC: Hyatt Regency, Montage, Ritz Carlton and St. Regis. However, I have not been to the Spa at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast until now.
I didn’t actually have a treatment, but I did avail myself to the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, relaxation room and shower. I recently went to the Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach. In comparison (other than Pelican Hill being newer), I was a bit disappointed w/​my experience here.
For example, the steam & sauna rooms are small (prolly ¹⁄₃ the size). In addition, I wasn’t notified trunks were optional. Guys walking around w/​their ish hanging out, is something I would expect from a inexpensive jjimjilbang (Korean spa), but not a high end place like Pelican Hill. Secondarily, the snacks in the relaxation room were not healthy. They offer banana chips (heavy on coconut oil), and dried mango slices (heavy on sugar). I was expecting at a minimum, fresh fruit. Additionally, there wasn’t a selection of teas, or coffee. There was only one tea pot. Lastly, the shower was nothing special and didn’t have multiple jets.
I’ll spend time in the spa the next time I visit the resort (I may even get a treatment because my friend says it was very good). However, I will manage my expectations, and perhaps order in some food. I was expecting this spa to be on par w/​the Ritz Carlton or St Regis up the road.

Overdue review. I’m going to bitch and be honest as usual. I came here last year for a manicure and pedicure. They used products that are a natural brand without the toxicity. Which is great. I had Barbara. She was awesome! Great job, but products used, the polish wouldn’t dry or stay on. The polish dried in 3 hours. 3 hours??? And they charged me a high percentage of service charges added. I don’t recall the exact amount, but it was ridiculous!!! I want to tip whatever the amount I want to tip, and I shouldn’t be subjected to an amount they decide automatically. Unfortunately, hotel spas are starting to add 20% or more to your final bill when you check out. I’m not being cheap or anything, I just want to have the freedom to tip whatever I want, and I do tip. If you decide to try this spa for any reason or services, ask before you book what the added service gratuity percentage is. My manicure pedicure was great, and Barbara did an excellent job, but products used wasn’t 5 star quality. I will think twice before if I decide to come back again. The spa needs to change spa products used. Think about it, you’re paying $$$$ for a treatment or treatments, wouldn’t you rather have them use a five star product line?
Overall, the spa is gorgeous.
My message to the spa director, Change spa products or add another product line that deliver results. Natural products are great, but there are other products that are way better than the current line you are using. I know a couple that are very exclusive and natural lines that are effective and organic. Contact me, if you need ideas.

5 stars well deserved for a 5 star spa.
I was lucky enough to be treated by my company’s vendor for a treatment at the spa and holy smokes, this is how rich people live.
Let me just tell you, the drive up the resort is absolutely gorgeous and overlooks the stunning Pacific Ocean. The spa is situated in between the hotel and Andrea restaurant. If you follow the signs up the resort, you won’t miss it! Upon entering, there is complimentary valet or a self parking structure across from the building.
The entire spa experience from start to finish was absolutely magical. The facilities and amenities are truly luxurious. Right when I walked in, I was given a tour of the facilities and was blown away with each room we walked into. The spa offers salt water jacuzzi, steam room and sauna room, relaxation lounge area (where you wait to get called for your treatment). There is fruit infused water, fruits like bananas oranges and apples, dried fruits as well a hot tea. The relaxation room has comfy couches as well as warm blankets to wrap yourself in.
The spa offers comfy robes to walk around in as well as sandals. You literally don’t need to bring a thing!!! Maybe just your bathing suit if you want to take a dip in the salt water jacuzzi. But they do offer disposable swimsuits. They looked kind of funny so I just dipped my feet in the jacuzzi.
My treatment was a 50 minute classic cleanse facial and I was seen by Jennifer who was wonderful! She was so gentle, friendly and paid attention to my skin concerns. My facial consisted of a double cleanse with a Clarisonic brush, steaming, glam glow mask, thorough face and neck massage and she even worked on my shoulders, arms and hands! After the facial, my face felt so smooth like a baby’s bottom. I felt so hydrated and refreshed!
It was such a nice treat to visit and I seriously did NOT want to leave :(see you in my next life, Pelican Hill Resort.

Amenities are fabulous. Massage people not so much. I’ve received better massages at a massage envy… For almost ¹⁄₃ the price.

An amazing, truly luxurious and wonderful spa!
We decided to drop by for massages during our one day stay and the facilities are AHH-​MAZING. I love the relaxing, dim room they leave you in as you wait for your treatment. There are a variety of refreshing beverage choices, dried fruits and nuts to nibble on in a beautiful relaxing atmosphere.
The massage itself was great, maybe a bit light in pressure but I did opt for the swedish massage route. I’d skip the scrub down thats included in the «amber gold» massage and just opt straight in for the massage. My masseuse was incredibly professional and sweet, so 5 stars for her! I told her my trouble areas and she sure tended to them :).
For lunch we both had the ahi tuna salad and it was AMAZING. It took forever to come though (almost 1 hour) but the room you wait in to receive your meal is so luxurious that the wait isn’t so bad. They’ll keep you busy with more tasty dried fruit and fresh cucumber water.
Negatives:
We did run in to a few hiccups. There seemed to be a lot of confusion surrounding which package I purchased online (Coastal Retreat) which left both me and the beau separated and worried for 20+ minutes. I had to ask if we would still be receiving the lunch that I had purchased and it must be an unpopular package or something because I was definitely met with a lot of blank stares. Kind of troubling and not very relaxing, especially because I had to talk to multiple members of the staff until everything was sorted out. I have to hand it to them though– everyone was obviously confused but they handled it with a smile– but I was left INCREDIBLY worried after my wonderfully relaxing massage.
Another hiccup– after I received my invoice, I looked at my bill and noticed I was charged again for an extra massage and had to call to have it canceled. When I tried to ask about the extra charge, the front desk told me that a deep tissue wasn’t an option in the package which is why I was charged separately (completely not true) which he realized was his error after rereading the package fine print.
Its a great, lovely package and I would recommend it to anyone! But I don’t think you should advertise (and strongly promote) packages on your site that seem to not be clear to the service providers. That’s obviously a failure in upper management to educate everyone on the current promotions and offerings, so still hats off to the wonderful staff that handled it as graciously as they could.

I’ve been to a lot of great spas, and this is one top notch spa! My best friend and I made a girls day and treated ourselves to a spa experience in the morning. Glad we did that because on weekends, the spa seems to attract the bridal parties. Prior to the large groups, my friend and I were able to relax in all of their spa amenities. Our favorite was the jacuzzi and the eucalyptus mint towels.
Definitely a wonderful experience!