Sun, Sand, and Ocean Waves Set the Stage for Renewal at The Sanctuary Beach Resort on Monterey Bay
Ocean views for days at The Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina, California. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
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Speeding along California’s storied Highway 1 toward Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, you might blink and miss Marina — a small town quietly folded into the dunes. That sense of secrecy is part of its charm. Tucked along this windswept stretch of Monterey Bay, The Sanctuary Beach Resort feels like an insider’s coastal retreat.
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I was in search of a getaway where I could feel the sand between my toes and get some well-deserved pampering — and The Sanctuary Beach Resort understood the assignment.
My husband and I, along with our pup, chose the resort for its luxurious accommodations, thoughtful spa treatments, curated wellness rituals, and creative healthy cuisine.
The entrance to The Sanctuary Beach Resort. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Our Oceanfront Suite offered a light-filled and serene space for cocooning. Decorated in natural textiles in soft shades of blue, ecru, and deep gray, the room boasted a gas fireplace, a private terrace on the dunes, house-made snacks, and endless views of the Pacific.
Cars are not allowed in this protected seaside area, so a friendly staff member loaded our bags, and us, into a quiet electric cart for the five-minute ride from the lobby to our room.
The rooms and suites feature gas fireplaces and are decorated in colors inspired by nature. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Bath amenities from Australian clean skin and hair brand Grown Alchemist (color safe, thank you!) and silky soft cotton robes from La Bottega tempted us to brew a cup of herbal tisane from the in-room selection and settle in for some whale watching from our private patio — but I was eager to experience the spa.
A massage room at the Renewal Studio & Spa at Sanctuary. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
I walked over to the resort’s main lobby and up a flight of stairs to the Renewal Studio & Spa at Sanctuary.
The 60-minute Marina Reset Facial, built around the seaweed-based Répechage skincare line, starts with a gentle double cleanse and includes application of a multivitamin-C serum, facial and décolleté massage (with optional Gua Sha), a bracing green tea mask, and hand massage. My practitioner thoughtfully finished my facial with a gentle application of sunscreen.
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The 60-minute Sanctuary Signature Facial, designed to nourish dry or dehydrated skin, comes highly recommended. Antioxidant-rich cocoa with a lush aroma protects and renews tired skin, while clean botanicals and hydrating peptides are incorporated in the facial’s signature marshmallow whip hydrating mask.
Skin treatments are sourced from the sea. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Are your muscles crying out for attention? Massages on the menu include a 90-minute Burnout Recovery, which incorporates 30 minutes on a HIGHERDose Infrared Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Mat and a 60-minute Relaxation Massage, promising to promote calm and speed up muscle recovery.
Scrub lovers will gravitate toward the Detox Body Exfoliation treatment, starting with dry brushing and a seaweed mask applied to the back, back of legs and feet to detoxify and improve circulation, followed by an intensive 60-minute Relaxation Massage.
The spa’s relaxation lounge offers guests a place to enjoy quiet time before and after their treatments. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
One of the resort’s best-loved offers is the Burnout Recovery Journey, described as an immersive experience designed to combat tech burnout in a “Disconnect to Reconnect” reset complete with massage and sleep hypnosis audio with ocean soundscapes recorded at The Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary has created a packed schedule of complimentary wellness offerings with activities such as beachfront yoga and meditation, body sculpt and mat Pilates, stretching and sound baths, and Happy Hour stretch sessions.
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Coastal Jazz Nights, a Pet Psychic Group Workshop, and monthly Flower Full Moon Ceremonies fill out the calendar, along with nightly bonfires on the resort’s private beach. Upon check-in, you’ll receive the week’s schedule.
The resort’s activities schedule includes free nightly bonfires. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
The resort’s restaurant, Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette, has become a destination in its own right. Under Executive Chef Ben Hillan, the menu leans into live-fire coastal cooking — Monterey Bay seafood, just-picked artichokes and strawberries, and subtle nods to the ocean in unexpected places.
You’ll find nods to the marine bounty in its Experiential Oyster Bar, a warm loaf of Otto’s Bread Co. naturally leavened sourdough made with a subtle dash of seaweed, or butter whipped with Big Sur sea salt.
Salt Wood will also deliver your breakfast in a picnic basket each morning on request.
Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette leans into live-fire coastal cooking. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
The warm, friendly service we experienced extended to our four-legged travel companion. The Sanctuary loves dogs, and welcomed our pet with plenty of treats, a personalized dog bowl, and a Paw-Tio menu at Salt Wood that featured smoked beef bones, fish of the day, creative ground beef or chicken presentations, and of course a Puppacino for dessert.
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On our final evening, as we lingered near the beachside bonfire, I overheard a departing guest sum up the mood perfectly.
“This has been a perfect last couple of days,” he told his companion.
The resort is also a pet-friendly destination and welcomes four-legged friends with luxurious amenities. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
Insider Tips
Bring a swimsuit for the onsite jacuzzi and pool — and try a bracing cold plunge in Monterey Bay.
S’mores kits are available for sale at Salt Wood and in the resort’s lobby, perfect for the sunset bonfire.
The resort offers e-bike rental for guests, free for the first hour.
At 12,743 feet deep, Monterey Bay is more than twice the depth of the Grand Canyon, with an abundant food supply for orcas, gray whales, sea lions, otters, and multitudes of sea birds, offering one of the world’s best spots for wildlife watching year-round. You’ll find binoculars provided in each room.
While staying at The Sanctuary, consider a day trip to Big Sur, a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, shopping in storybook Carmel-by-the-Sea, a guided discovery walk in the Marina Dunes Preserve, wine tasting at one of the Monterey Wine Trail’s 65 tasting rooms, or a guided whale watching tour led by expert biologists.
The resort offers plenty of activities for guests to enjoy from s’mores kits to beach picnics, and more. Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort
For more information and to book a stay at The Sanctuary Beach Resort, visit their website or call (855) 693-6583. For special deals on your stay, click here. Follow on Instagram: @sanctuarybeachresort
3295 Dunes Drive, Marina CA 93933
More luxury destinations:
The Glamour and Mystere of Casa Del Mar, a Historic Beachfront Santa Monica Hotel
The Bower Coronado, a Luxury Boutique Hotel With Coronado’s First Rooftop Bar
[Photos courtesy of The Sanctuary Beach Resort]
Lisa Tsering’s career spans journalism, copywriting, movie reviews, and much more. Her work appears in the Hollywood Reporter, in Salon, on iTunes and Apple Music, and in the San Francisco Chronicle, i-escape.com, the San Jose Mercury News, and the Times of India.
Over a 20-plus year career as an international journalist, she interviewed countless Bollywood stars and global VIPs (such as Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, and Oscar winners) and won numerous awards. Follow her on Instagram at @lisatsering and see her work at lisatsering.me.