Showing posts with label spa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spa. Show all posts
FOUR SEASONS Scottsdale at Troon North
Equally spectacular in daylight.
If you have followed my lovely journey,
you may remember
I was a bit of a
spa-hopper this spring.
The maiden spa hopping voyage
of this HiGh aNXiety type
was truly an adventure in wellness!
My mission:
experience today's best of the best spas
and assess their ability to deliver effective
and lingering rejuvenation.
Yes. I hit the road in my little waffle weave robe
and slippers just for YOU (okay, and me).
And I discovered
the suprisingly unpretentious
and earth friendly Spa at
F O U R S E A S O N S R E S O R T
S C O T T S D A L E
to be a true oasis.
A treatment featuring radiant gold.
Four Seasons Resort
is light years
is light years
away from all hustle and bustle,
and I'm not sure what I expected,
but the architecture is as
divine as the natural beauty
surrounding the property.
High in the Sonoran Desert, the resort rests
and I'm not sure what I expected,
but the architecture is as
divine as the natural beauty
surrounding the property.
High in the Sonoran Desert, the resort rests
in the cooling foothills of Pinnacle Peak.
A treatment room.
The resort’s Southwestern-style casitas,
vistas, and attention to detail provide
an ideal backdrop for relaxation and renewal.
Saguaro Blossom Restaurant
Before our treatments, we enjoyed
a delicious poolside lunch at
Relaxation areas at the spa are decorated
casually with a Southwest motif.
While the decor is decidedly laid back,
While the decor is decidedly laid back,
from the moment my companion and I
were greeted by the concierge,
the treatment was royal.
were greeted by the concierge,
the treatment was royal.
My companion experienced a
FIRMING COLLAGEN
anti-ageing facial.
This 80-minute treatment combats
wrinkles and skin slackening and involves
Hungarian facial massage to stimulate circulation.
wrinkles and skin slackening and involves
Hungarian facial massage to stimulate circulation.
A botanical collagen mask left her
skin soft, supple, and healthier than ever.
My Four Seasons ecstasy du jour
was the signature
was the signature
HEALING HIKER'S
full body massage.
Shhhhhh.
Shhhhhh.
On this trip I was a Fashion Square hiker,
not a Pinnacle Peak one.
As much as I adore becoming
'one with nature' it was necessary
to assist my companion with shoe shopping.
not a Pinnacle Peak one.
As much as I adore becoming
'one with nature' it was necessary
to assist my companion with shoe shopping.
(to ease inflammation and soreness).
Special attention is paid to legs
to help rejuvenate tired muscles.
Floated on air lately?
Experienced tension released from every muscle
to a degree you suspect voodoo?
Ah...then you understand perfectly how we departed
I will definitely return to soak up
Four Seasons warmth and hospitality again
and encourage you to explore Scottsdale.
Four Seasons warmth and hospitality again
and encourage you to explore Scottsdale.
VALEO...wellness is lovely
One of the perks of freelance writing
is being able to experience new
things and places and share the best of the best
with readers.
Recently it was my pleasure to visit
a wellness and fitness center
located in the J.W. Marriott
in downtown Chicago.
Valeo surpassed all of my expectations.
Katie Hurley,
brainchild of Valeo
prefers not to refer to this place of renwal as "spa,"
which may seem curious until you
experience its treatments and amenities.
Valeo is not one of those foo-foo
dayspas with heavy aromatics hanging in the air
and offering salon services or blow-outs.
Valeo is different.
It's an underground paradise hideaway.
You feel not just worlds away within its walls,
but since it draws inspiration from ancient traditions,
it also feels centuries away and temple-like.
Valeo features the only CLARITY CHAMBERS
(seen above) in the country.
I absolutely adored the chamber.
Covered with Turkish wraps,
I reclined on an enormous slab of marble
heated from within.
The fireplace with its modern stainless surround
added ambience and enhanced the mood.
Clarity.
So difficult to summon at times.
And yet it comes in the chamber.
For me, there was also something very...
it's tough to find adequate words...
spiritual.
Seriously.
The relaxation area is beyond comfortable
and where I was lucky enough to
chat with Ms. Hurley about everything
from hormones to existential angst to urban renewal.
I love her philosophies about wellness,
the value of intuition, and why I ought never to
feel guilt about caring for my body-spirit-mind.
I'll share more of her insight later.
I have yet to experience fitness at Valeo,
but I hope to in the future as the inspiring
Shea Vaughn offers Shea-netics
right here.
(Anyone else LOVE Shea's son Vince
in Wedding Crashers?)
Beautiful areas at Valeo to refresh before and after
treatments are everything you would
expect from a world class center, and my guide
Patricia was delightful on the tour.
My therapist Cheryl discussed my
concerns and preferences before
my facial treatment, which was indeed
customized just for me and simply
THE best experience.
The products utilized by Valeo are phenomenally
effective (omg the Kaplan M.D. serum!),
and I floated away feeling not so much pampered
but rather fed, cared for, listened to, and honored.
It appears this blogger has modified her perspective
when it comes to spa.
She is particularly hooked on
world class ones
and the idea that there is an alternative
to vacationing at a mediocre property for
a week.
A shorter stay at an exclusive
property such as
is a brilliant option
and a brand new passion.
gold coast lovely
Wanted to share a few peeks
of the
E l y s i a n H o t e l
in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.
I escaped here for a few days last week
to relax and review the Elysian's heavenly spa
for an article I'm writing.
My sister was frightened by these enormous
sculptures in the lobby, but I imagined them
as hospitable guardians made of peanut butter fudge.
The staff at the hotel were the finest
I have ever encountered.
The entrance to our incredible digs,
a GOLD COAST SUITE.
The suite was sophisticated, luxe,
spacious (1250 square feet),
and
full of design inspiration.
More Elysian goodness is here.
We loved having a fire in the impeccably
furnished living room.
The walls were a french grey hue,
and the suite's palette lifted my mood immediately.
We spent time on our private terrace
because it was unseasonably warm
and the view from the 26th floor magnificent.
That would be content posture
on our comfy charcoal velvet sofa.
The VI Spring mattresses made in England
were also to die for.
(We did no shopping on Michigan Avenue!
None.
We left the elegance of the Chanel inspired Elysian
only once to satisfy a craving for my favorite pizza:
Apparently you can like work out at the spa...
all photos by me
Okay. Sooooo not my typical "everyday."
My easiest writing assignment thus far.
And there's a twist to the upcoming article...
This writer had never had a massage in her life!
She's a worker bee and had no idea
what she was missing!
It's all over.
I'll share more lovely decor ideas gleaned from
the Elysian later (and perhaps a
few self-timed photos of two middle aged moms
engaged in a battle royale with pillows).
If you are headed to Chicago,
definitely think GOLD.
Think state of the art spa.
Think ELYSIAN.
Hugs.