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No kids allowed: California's Alila Marea is now an adults-only resort

Feb. 18, 2025
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3 min read
Alila Marea - Grandview Aerial
No kids allowed: California's Alila Marea is now an adults-only resort
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The popular Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas near San Diego is saying goodbye to guests under 18. As of Feb. 14, the resort is officially an adults-only property.

The 130-room Alila property in Encinitas, California, decided to shift to an adults-only environment to "further elevate the serene ambience of this oceanfront enclave," the property shared in a statement. It emphasized a renewed focus on "relaxation, exploration and rejuvenation by the sea."

Though the hotel's location above the Pacific Ocean has always lent itself to seaside relaxation, its family-friendly guest policy has not. Our initial review of Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas found the pool "positively overrun with children" and "not quite as relaxing as planned due to the number of families."

Mind you, everyone should be allowed to enjoy the amenities of a family-friendly resort. However, Alila's luxury brand profile, emphasis on "profound experiences" and goal of immersing guests in "rich culture and the stunning natural surroundings of the environment" don't necessarily lend themselves to a rambunctious game of chicken.

Now that younger guests will be a distant memory, adult guests can better lean into the resort's many wellness and relaxation offerings. They can hit Spa Alila for treatments inspired by the region's Indigenous Kumeyaay people or take advantage of a sauna experience with a cold plunge right on the pool deck.

"As we transition to an adults-only experience, we’re excited to introduce new programming tailored specifically for our adult guests’ desire for relaxation, connection and adventure," Richard Sorensen, the resort's general manager, said in a statement. "From curated wellness retreats to elevated dining experiences, our goal is to create an atmosphere where they can fully unwind and immerse themselves in the beauty of our oceanfront setting."

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The Alila Journeys program actually takes it a step further by offering guests the chance to bike up the coast on Electra Go! bikes, see the coast from an open-air biplane, learn how to surf or paddle out to learn more about the La Jolla Underwater Park Ecological Reserve.

For an extra special stay, book a room with a fire pit so you can relax around an outdoor gas fire pit at night.

Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas joins Alila Ventana Big Sur (one of TPG's all-time favorite resorts) and Alila Napa Valley as an adults-only World of Hyatt resort. Later this year, the Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya in Mexico will reopen as Alila Mayakoba — the first Alila property in Mexico.

Related reading:

Featured image by HYATT
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.