[fawnie]

After reading Mari's post on Ste Anne's Spa in Canada, I'm starting this thread in hopes lots of us will check in with reviews of some spas we've been to and what we liked about them.

I'm voting for The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. The Spa is small, but elegant. Definitely worth the trip for the Shiatsu Massage by Jennifer! She has you lie face down in a cozy darkened room scented with herbs and with New Age-y music playing and candles burning. Pretty standard spa stuff until she grabs the bars mounted on the ceiling of the room and supports herself while she presses on your back, shoulders, hips, arms and legs with her feet!! OMG and she has big powerful feet too! She is a Vivaldi with her feet and you will leave floating on a cloud! After suffering with an SI problem for weeks, I was fixed in an hour. She really works the kinks out.

The rooms in the hotel are plush and comfy, and the 4 restaurants are top notch, ranging from pub food to gourmet elegant. A nice place for a family reunion since there's something for everyone: golf, swimming, shopping, spas, on site gym, fine dining, horse-drawn carriage rides with Hans at Christmastime, and exploring the grounds for wildlife.

 

[JADE]

Good thread. I think this would be helpful since I have had some very bad experiences with spas when trying them out for the first time.

 

[Freddy]

What problems have you run into Jade?

 

[Kayla77]

Does anybody know what/where the good spas are in San Diego and which ones to avoid?

 

[mg1]

I dont' like the so called "spas" in malls, that I find are small, clinical, and not conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. Usually too many people running around, and really, how much room can you have in a store??

 

[Rishi]

I had a massage done at a spa and right after they got me all relaxed and stress free, they immediately began the sales pitches and tried selling me all their overpriced spa products. This is after already spending $200+ on the massage alone. That was the first and last time I've ever stepped into a spa.

 

[Mari]

mg1 - I agree with you. It seems to be a trend right now for beauty parlours or whatever you want to call them to transform themselves into "spas" by adding to their list of services facials, etc. I did had a facial at beauty parlour cum spa but the treatment was rushed because of other appointments. The woman was actually working on me and another woman at the same time. Why I like Ste. Anne's is because of the atmosphere -- as soon as you enter they are ready to look after you -- white comfy robes are to be worn all day == if you like == there is always someone ready to suggest something to do while you wait for your treatment. The grounds are beautiful. You get individual attention while you are having your treatment. There are "freebie" treatment areas where you can take advantage of the facilities. They started a therapy session working with horses -- something a psychologist worked out to de-stress people -- I want to try it sometime. There is a boutique where you can buy products but when I was there no one was on duty -- you could browse all you want. The idea at Ste. Anne's is that their guests can escape from their every day world and improve their physical and mental well-being. Check out the spas in ritzy hotels or top notch department stores -- the down side here is that the have their regular customers who do get preferential treatment.

 

[fawnie]

Mari, Yes! That's exactly the kind of vacation I'm after! A spa that is in and of itself a destination, not an add-on. Are there any others?

 

[Freddy]

mg1 - I agree with you. It seems to be a trend right now for beauty parlours or whatever you want to call them to transform themselves into "spas" by adding to their list of services facials, etc. I did had a facial at beauty parlour cum spa but the treatment was rushed because of other appointments. The woman was actually working on me and another woman at the same time. Why I like Ste. Anne's is because of the atmosphere -- as soon as you enter they are ready to look after you -- white comfy robes are to be worn all day == if you like == there is always someone ready to suggest something to do while you wait for your treatment. The grounds are beautiful. You get individual attention while you are having your treatment. There are "freebie" treatment areas where you can take advantage of the facilities. They started a therapy session working with horses -- something a psychologist worked out to de-stress people -- I want to try it sometime. There is a boutique where you can buy products but when I was there no one was on duty -- you could browse all you want. The idea at Ste. Anne's is that their guests can escape from their every day world and improve their physical and mental well-being. Check out the spas in ritzy hotels or top notch department stores -- the down side here is that the have their regular customers who do get preferential treatment.

That is a spa. Those mall places are the fastfood of the skin care industry. It's better than starving, but not that much better.

 

[fawnie]

I took DH away for a mini-vacation to a resort in Indiana called French Lick/West Baden. We each had a 75 min spa treatment - he had a Hot Stone Massage and i had a Hot Stone Pedicure.

Well, the resort had recently had a multi-million dollar facelift and was lovely, especially in the rainy spring weather they've had. The spas could have used a little more imaginative treatment....they were just the usual spa thing: running water fountains, fake fireplaces, New Agey music (All Enya All the time!) and not much to look at while getting a treatment. Why can't someone come up with a nice environment like a sunroom to be in with plants to look at, sky to see, fresh air? Lots of windows!

The treatments weren't all that special, but the prices were. I was expecting more. But it was just a standard pedi and then later she rubbed HOT oily stones on my legs and between my toes. Not too great.

Oh well, sometimes you just have to get away from it all, and that much was wonderful. There were some interesting things along the 5 hour drive: elk farms (for the meat), buffalo farms (ditto), black angus farms, llamas, baby goats and lambs. Expensive designer livestock.

This one is a thumbs-down.

 

[gymrat]

Wow fawnie that is a bummer-sorry to hear that-

But the 5 hour drive really is a bummer!! I am not much on driving more than 2-3 hours max-makes me crazy. I have too much energy to just sit in a car-

Come to California for some great spa's. Here are a few I have been to and highly recommend. Carmel Valley, Calistoga, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, La Jolla and Santa Barbara. I love love love a good spa. Both Northern and Southern Cali have fabulous spa's! To the north you get great wine, great food, to the south you get great beaches, great people watching, and great food-

 

[fawnie]

Thanks, but no it wasn't a bummer at all. Anytime we can get out of the Hood is good! It was nice to spend time talking and laughing together, which we don't do often enough, so it was fine! Just not worth the high prices they charged...

 

[Stiletto con Carne]

I don't have many luxury spa experiences, I've basically just had facials & mani-pedi's at local salons with mixed results: some great, some not so much.

As a birthday treat my man sent me to Shizen Spa at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Toronto & it was fantastic. My first and only full body massage - heaven!

Not having another spa in it's class to compare it too, I don't know how it would rank, but IMO the atmosphere, customer service & treatments were very nice.

 

[fawnie]

Haha Stiletto! Well that's all that really counts - that you enjoyed it and that they treated you like a queen!
Now it's your turn to treat DH! Guys love massage too!

 

[fashionchic83]

I am a total spa lover. If anyone is from Florida, or plans to vacation in Miami, DEFINETLY check out the Mandarin Oriental hotel and spa. I spent my birthday there this year and it was AMAZING! They have two great restuarants and the rooms are exquisite. Also, up in northern Florida just south of Jacksonville there's a place called Amelia Island. I live in the city, so I took up trip up there to relax a few months ago. Stay at the Ameila Island resort and visit the spa. They have very unique treatments, and the atmosphere is totally relaxed and serene. I spent a week up there and came back to Miami feeling like a brand new person.

 

[fawnie]

Hi! Yes! I have heard of these places!! Very pricey!! But so worth it if it was heaven on earth for you! And you don't even have to travel out of the country....nice!