San Diego Travel Guide: When a swanky spa makes my beauty boost a one stop shot, I'm interested. When I learned iTAN solariums, with 24 locations throughout San Diego, was more than a tanning haven, I quickly made it to their Mission Valley location for an investigation.

Once I spotted the parking spots designated for iTAN customers only, I knew iTAN was serious about customer care. Indeed, upon entering the blue and bronze lobby, three iTAN associates greeted me, flashing me smiles of brilliant white teeth. Each gleamed from that "I just came back from two weeks in Fuji" tanned look, too. iTAN offers several options for tanning, as well as teeth whitening, body wraps, and hydration stations. I like a place where employees not only know their offered services, but clearly use them. No sophisticated spa affectionado likes a hair stylist with a distressed dye job or a nail tech with mangled nubs for nails, after all.

On my first visit, I opted to try the Sun Angel, one of iTA's most advanced tanning beds. This beauty bed uses sensors to customize UVA and UVB rays, all while I lounge in a climate controlled blissful bed. I loved the adjustable facial tanner, as I often like to use a little bronzer directly on my face. Of all the tanning beds I've laid in, this one is truly an angel. Quite advanced and perhaps intimidating at first glance, the Sun Angel left me with a stunning, even glow. The iTAN associates were pleased to explain all the bells and whistles of the Angel before I hopped in, which I appreciated immensely as a first time Angel agent!

On a return visit, although the Body Wrap and teeth whitening were high on my list, I opted for the custom airbrush tan. As any fellow airbrushers would know, I've had a few blotchy orange results due to spray techs carelessly missing spots or using a low grade dye. It's mystifying when an airbrusher miss an entire back leg. The same can be pondered about a stylist who misinterprets half an inch of hair for half a foot. Fortunately, iTAN takes it bed tanning as seriously as its airbrush tanning. My tech had been spraying bodies for three years and that was evident by her professional technique and by the tips she gave throughout the tan. "Now, when you're done, we'll rub your wrists together like this to get rid of that line you sometimes spot people with." I knew exactly what she was talking about.

I have quite a few more visits to make to iTAN's various locations and am looking forward to them. iTAN does what many spas attempt: create an experience and more importantly, a lifestyle, that keeps you coming back. O oh! Looks like my tan is fading. See you there!

Learn more: www.itansolariums.com