GLOBAL TRAVELER’S VICE PRESIDENT and digital director, Katie Skrzek, and I spent the quintessential girls’ weekend at Terranea Resort, located in Los Angeles County but feeling worlds away from the L.A. bustle and the rest of the world. We arrived for a bit of a breather before heading to Beverly Hills for GT’s annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards celebration, and the few days spent in ultimate relaxation helped us recharge before the busy event itinerary.

Our weekend included just the right amount of a little bit of everything. We visited Terranea as part of the Lexus Hotel Partner Program, which includes 15 U.S. hotels offering different benefits that range from boat rides and resort credits to wine tastings and discounted room rates. Almost all of the partners have at least one Lexus on site for guests to drive, and at the end of the stay they can request a $1,000 certificate toward the purchase or lease of a new Lexus. At Terranea our experience included a Lexus vehicle to drive to and from the property and our choice of one of the customized Lexus-themed drive experiences.

Lexus for the weekend © KATIE SKRZEK

In keeping with our girls’ getaway theme, we opted for the Retail Retreat, which included the complimentary use of the Lexus, a GPS-guided tour to South Coast Plaza, valet parking at South Coast Plaza, access to the shopping venue’s VIP suite, a VIP South Coast Plaza Passport, a $100 gift certificate to South Coast Plaza and a $50 gift card to use at Terranea’s retail outlets. The themed drives are available to Lexus owners staying in the Shearwater suites. Needless to say, we were spoiled that weekend. Other customized itineraries include The Adventure Escape and the Romantic Rendezvous. We chose to drive the 2017 Lexus GS F, which handled the curves of the Southern California coastline with finesse.

Aside from shopping until we dropped (into the bar at Terranea for a glass of Champagne!), we made the most of our weekend and of the myriad offerings at Terranea. From a seaside lunch at Nelson’s and a 5-star alfresco meal at Mar’sel to shared plates at Bashi and experiencing the first and impressively expansive buffet brunch at the renovated Catalina Kitchen, we did it all. We even developed a weekend-long affinity for the freshly baked cookies in Sea Beans and the aforementioned bubbly.

In addition to the ample resort offerings, the setting is unrivaled. And Terranea Resort makes efforts to conserve the natural beauty of the California coastline, its design guided by principles of ecological sustainability. Eco-friendly resort practices include closely following measures to protect open space, improve the wildlife habitat and enhance local water quality. The resort currently occupies only one-quarter of its 102 total acres. Other initiatives include food waste recycling, natural irrigation, saltwater pools, a sustainable growing philosophy, ecology and conservation programs, hybrid and low-emission vehicles, biodegradable golf tees and amenity containers, organic dry-cleaning services and employee uniforms made from bamboo and chemical-free organic materials.

Spa pool © TERRANEA RESORT

As if the weekend couldn’t get any more decadent, we still had spa treatments scheduled. The spa spans 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with 25 treatment rooms, a fitness and wellness center, a Spa Café and a full-service salon. I indulged in a preview treatment of the Sound Sleep signature ritual, now available to spa goers in 2017. It was a welcome treatment after my Philadelphia–Los Angeles flight, as it’s designed for people unable to relax, who do not sleep well or who are recovering from travel. I’m not one for deep, firm-pressure massages, so the light touch techniques practiced in this therapy were perfect. Sound Sleep integrates touch, smell and hearing to promote relaxation and rest.

Katie enjoyed the Radiant Results facial, which utilizes products from the Rose Infinity Collection, created using Nobel Prize-winning research to repair ageing DNA, increase moisture levels and stimulate collagen production. The forehead, mouth and eye area are key focus points, and the result is younger-looking skin and a radiant complexion. Katie commented several times on the smoothness of her skin in the days post-treatment, and I must say, she did exude a relaxed glow.

Before departing for the hustle and bustle ahead, we capped off our Terranea experience with Monday morning seaside yoga and a light, healthy breakfast poolside at Spa Café, savoring our final moments breathing in the fresh, ocean air while the breeze tickled our skin, the waves crashed on the cliffs below and the view intoxicated.

Terranea Resort

100 Terranea Way
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
90275
tel 310 265 2740
terranea.com