The Spa Mermaid - Reviews!

Local Spas - 2010 Sugar House

2010-12-26T13:42:00.001-08:00

Local spas! 2010
Sugar House Day Spa on N. Alfred in Old Town Alexandria.
Has moved up to first place. The staff are great. Pedicures are great, massages have been good although the therapist named Kim has left (and she was the best), facials are good too. The only bad thing is it's a bit impersonal and not quite a relaxing atmosphere, but I'd chalk that up to being in the DC area. Clients tend to be the drop-in, get it done quick type.
I haven't found one spa in the DC area that is REALLY relaxing!

Review of Gaylord National's Relache Spa - Washington DC

2010-03-01T14:19:00.001-08:00

Gaylord National's Relache Spa

I'd been to look around the resort before and overall it's nice. A bit impersonal and always seems to have a strange mix of people at it.....I guess mostly conference goers.

Check in at the spa went fine. I was shown around to all the areas and it looks decent. Nothing exactly special or "oh" provoking. I'm not a fan of tvs in spas, and their "lounge" had one, but at least it was set on the Food Network.

The Good

Great robes! you know if you read this blog how much I complain about bad robes at spas. Relache's are great. Super soft, nice big pockets (so I could carry my glasses and hair band) and long ties to keep them closed.

The Rest
The sauna, steam and jacuzzi rooms were nice enough.....clean and nicely lit. But nothing special.
The lounge offered ice water (in a pitcher), tea, nut/raisin mix, and apples. My usual complaint.....what about if you don't like apples? and are allergic to nuts? More variety of snacks needed. Maybe some sliced lemon or lime in the water might have enticed me, or even just to have the water pitcher with a cover on it. Being the slight germ-aphobe that I am, I'm not inclined to drink out of an open pitcher near a bathroom.

I had the Relache Allure Facial given by a lady named Kim. She consulted me about concerns and did a good job, didn't talk too much, gave a great neck/shoulder massage along with the facial, and was very pleasant. I had added an "enhancement" to my facial which was called the Sooth Your Soles.

The online menu/PDF didn't really describe it but I assumed from the name that it was a foot massage. Kim also did a nice job on that BUT, the facial was for 50 minutes and the "enhancement probably took 10-15 minutes of that and was included WITHIN that time period so I felt a little cheated. Maybe if I was told the enhancement would use some of the facial time, I wouldn't have minded. At check out, my bill seemed too high. I had been charge $75 for the Sooth Your Soles! The online menu had said it was $35. When I picked up a pamphlet from the counter, they had taped a new price over the old for the Sooth Your Soles so the check out lady agreed to revise the charge. So my major complaint really would have been that they'd charged me $75 for a foot massage? Ok, it did include an foot exfoliation....but $75? and that took away some time from my facial? which cost $135? You readers know that I am definitely NOT one to complain about price. I know what spas cost so I budget accordingly. This is the first time I truly have felt overcharged.

Anyway, last item. Before the facial I had taken a shower (their showers are pretty good and there was a nice variety of soaps, shampoos etc. available for use). I had seen hair dryers earlier so when done, I went back to the locker area and got ready to dry my hair. But, saw no combs or brushes. I hunted around. Looked for the locker room area assistant. Waited around a few minutes. Ended up going out front to the reception desk and asking if I could get a comb or brush from them. One attendant came back and said there should be some, but she had to go get them from the supply room. She gave me a comb, which was ok (out of desperation) but you know how I LOVE to dry and try and style my long hair with a comb. This never works. And it's just not that hard for a spa to set up one of those hair salon jars with a variety of combs and brushes in it with the disinfecting solution. At least, if you're going to force me to try and use a comb, please provide a curling iron or styling tool so that I can look reasonably good when I leave the spa. You want your customers to look good upon leaving, So passers-by can see you've done a good job? and want to come in?

And although this is the picture they show on the site, this is the special couples' room. The rest of the spa does not have a view, it's all interior rooms, and you don't get to see this view.

hmmmm......not thrilled with Relache.

Spa Review -The Encore - Las Vegas

2009-03-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

The Hotel
One of the best I've ever been to!
Gorgeous decor throughout and within the rooms. Floor to ceiling windows with stunning views. The most basic room is huge (about 750 sf) and feels like a suite. Has a desk and two chairs, lounge chair/sofa in the living room and then a partially walled area for the bedroom. There is a gigantic 4ft flat screen siting on the half wall between the two rooms, the placement is a little strange but is probably the only choice. This way you could watch tv in bed or turn it to the living room. If you turn the tv to the side you can still see the view out the windows so it mostly works.

Everything in this hotel has "texture." The walls, floors, ceilings, chairs - all different and really nicely coordinated. A very sophisticated modern look.
View from the room:
The Spa at the Encore
This is one of the most beautifully decorated spas I've been to. The prints hanging in the restrooms, crystal and marble everywhere, the two level skylights in the jacuzzi area, all really lovely.

Let me start by saying, I was really excited to go there and really DID want to write a great review......and am disappointed that I found so many basic flaws so I cannot.

The spa lobby:
The path to the treatment rooms

Good things:
A friend and I went together and we had NOT made reservations. Luckily this was no problem and we were able to set massage appointments for an hour from when we got there.
The aromatherapy massages were nice, not fantastic but right on target and the therapists very nice and communicative.

My tour of the facilities was good. The rain showers, sauna, and steam rooms great. The two huge jacuzzi pools are in a beautiful room with a skylight that brings in great natural light. There are 5 heated lounge chairs which were a treat. The ladies lounge area had a great amount of good magazines, from Glamour to Conde Nast.

The lounge/waiting areas were equipped with silver and glass drink dispensers filled with tea and lemon water but the lemon water was empty. I asked an attendant and she quickly led me to another room and served me from another dispenser.

Needs work:
Robes have no pockets! This forces you to either carry something around with you in your hands or go back and forth to your locker. Not good! You're in Las Vegas...what happens to your skin and lips. It gets dry. A few hours in a spa and I need to have Chapstick with me at all times :-) but I had to carry it to the jacuzzi (where I left it behind once) and to the massage room (far away). If you wear glasses and need to duck in the shower or the pool, you have to leave them sitting on the floor. Pockets in the robes - get some! The robes themselves could be a bit more luxurious too. The robes in our hotel room were nicer.

There were only 5 heated lounge chairs in the quite large jacuzzi area (which has two enormous pools). I know they're expensive so I'm not complaining about the number of those, but there were no other chairs in the place. There were about 10 women when I was there, so the 5 of us who did not have anywhere to sit either stood or sat on the edge of the pools. Couldn't really relax that way. There were a couple of tables placed between the lounge chairs. Again, the rest of us had to place our belongings on the floor around the pools.

There was plenty of bottled water and tea (although bottled Fiji was more what I was expecting instead of just the little bottles of Encore water) but that seemed to be it. I overheard an attendant who was giving another lady a tour say something about juices but I wasn't told this and never saw any.

The only food was bananas, oranges, and apples! Seriously? Luxury spa? No chocolate, no trail mix, no pastries......luckily I had a granola bar with me.

No facial moisturizer. Again, you're in Las Vegas. My skin gets dry the minute the plane hits the tarmac. This is a spa and the spa store contains lots of high end cosmetics and beauty products. Don't you want to advertise any by placing them in the women's spa area?

The razors were VERY cheap. I tried one with trepidation, resulting in a small stinging scrape, and decided to forgo shaving my legs at the spa. Finished my rain shower and went back up to my room to shave my legs and returned to meet my friend.

My last major complaint - No brushes! and the tiny men's combs that were pointed out to me by an attendant for my use, were not in a dis-infecting solution, just in a basket. There were plenty of hair dryers, curling irons, and flat irons but what woman can use a tiny barbershop comb? and ewww....a dirty comb at that.

Like I said before, sorry this is so negative and I really hope that they can work on getting it right cause the Encore Hotel and Casino ARE outstanding and I'd like it to be the whole package of greatness!!

Hotel Hershey and the Chocolate Spa Review

2008-09-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

So.... my first trip to the Hotel Hershey and Chocolate Spa.
September 2008 The Hotel (http://www.thehotelhershey.com/)
Not bad, lovely garden and fountain area, good yoga class outside by Raymond, super staff and pretty comfortable bed, bath and room. The valet who greeted me, relayed my name along the way to other staff (love that), who all introduced themselves and offered further service personally if it was needed. Bellman Frank gave lots of advice, directions and help as he led me to my room on the 4th floor. At check in, I opted for the "dark" Hershey's Chocolate Bar as my choice of welcome gift and I munched on this before heading to the spa for the afternoon.

The Chocolate Spa:

The Good:
Check in was good except the girl who was going to show me around forgot to come back, but she did better later on and the next 2 days. The check in desk quickly found her when I asked.
The three lounge areas are quite nice, and the little porch that overlooks the fountains is nice. They have one to suit your tastes - the quiet room with a fireplace, coffee, pastries, view and comfy chairs; one with aromatherapy; one that earns a total BRAVO from me......the Silent Room!! Thank you thank you thank you. I frequently (if you read this blog, you know) find myself wishing for one of these since there are many spa visitors who feel it's ok to talk about your latest frustrations with their blackberries, bosses, or kids.....it's NOT ok and it's NOT ok to talk at full volume. So finally a spa has provided this. Thank you! This lovely room has signs around it asking people to refrain from speaking while inside. It has lovely comfortable furniture and a beautiful cross window and regular window that let light in and give a good view.

Hershey's Kisses (both dark and milk) are available throughout the spa.

First day, I had the Noche Azul water soak - lovely soak in a great Sanijet tub with blue lights. The Noche Azul Scrub - great, gentle scrub. Usually scrubs are so rough that I end up feeling all scraped up afterwards but this was a really nice gentle one, and 3 days after it, my skin is still feeling nice and soft.

The WOW!
The Noche Azul Massage - by Vixen. I don't think she deserves that name at all....not a trouble maker, not wild and crazy. THE softest, most calming touch I have ever felt and you know I've felt quite a few. I'm almost comatose after 50 minutes with her, although I really don't want to be since I'm sitting on the spa porch overlooking the promenade and fountain area. But really, she has tied with Michael at Skana for the best massage I've ever had award. Tied because it was a different type of massage than his. Vixen's was unique in that every time she started to lay her hands on me, it was done really softly and slowly and when her hands were leaving, it was also super slow and gentle.....that painting by Michaelangelo....the hand of God just leaving the tip of Jesus' finger? that's how it felt. And I had no idea it could make such a difference. But it does. I think I've never realized how the start and the end of a touch can make such a difference. Even when you know where the therapists hands are going to go, it can be a little jarring sometimes. But even if it's not jarring, there was something about Vixen's technique that made it really different. Totally relaxing, slowed down, fabulous, well done!!

Good things:
- Silent Room!!!!
- Chocolate muffins
- Staff - the decorum, quietness, professionalism (when they call you to your service, answering questions, getting you what you need)

Needs work:
(I'm going to be extremely nit picky on a couple of things, because it's good.)
- a little more attention to cleaning in the corners
- coffee, a little weak for my taste
- more/better magazines
- facial cleanser and moisturizer needed in the locker room
- foot rests are needed in the Silent Room

Dining
The Circular Restaurant
I had high hopes, ordering 4 appetizers as a sort of "tasting menu" for my meal but sorry to say, not the best. The chef had white chocolate scallops on the menu so I excitedly ordered those (remembering the to-die-for plate I'd had at Wildflowers at Turning Stone) but was disappointed. The scallops were cooked absolutely perfectly but the white chocolate sauce....I think it needed more white chocolate? some other flavorings? not sure but it wasn't that great.
The kobe beef with leeks was nice and the squash soup was good but a bit too much of it since it was so rich. Better to serve people a cup instead of a large bowl. I couldn't eat dessert that night.

Oh and the BEST - the chocolate cherry bread! Fantastic!

Royal Palms Resort and Alvadora Spa - Spa Review Phoenix AZ

2008-06-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Just back from my trip to the Southwest area. Started in Phoenix.

The Hotel
Stayed 2 nights at the Royal Palms Resort in Phoenix. This place has lovely grounds, palm trees and cactus, and backs up to Camelback Mountain. Nice pool and outdoor cafe area for breakfast and lunch. The pathways on the property, which lead you to your room, make you feel like you're in an exotic place - bouganvilla cover the walls and other flowers are plentiful.
My room (and it appeared that all the rooms have) a little area in front, with table and chairs, where you could enjoy the garden and the room seemed like it's own little home, very spacious (although mine was quite dark.....could have used more lighting since not much comes in from the outside). Very nice Illy coffee is provided in room, and the room service meal I got was quite nice. Toilet problem was taken care of very quickly after I called. Turn down service was nice (chocolates and a card with a philosophical thought on it were left).

Alvadora Spa
You get there after you walk down a path surrounded by beautiful flowers and fountains.
The WOW - Reflexology by "xxx" (sorry I forgot his name!) Gorgeous beautiful tiled room with palm trees outside. The attendant knelt before me with a bowl of flowers and washed my feet. Then led me to a bed where I had absolute bliss for 50 minutes while he did perfect reflexology and a neck massage.

Good Things:
Moor Mud Wrap

Super waiting areas in this place. One outdoors on a patio with a fireplace, trees and flowers. When I felt my blood sugar going a little low, I asked and was brought some juice. Other areas were lovely wood paneled rooms with nuts and fruits and beverages.

Yoga class was great, held in a tower patio above the pool on a gorgeous day with nice soft music.

Dining:
Alone, I was placed at a corner table, which I usually don't like but here it was good because I had a great view of the whole place and the friendly guitar player, who came by and asked how I was enjoying my stay.

Mandarin Oriental - Washington DC - Spa Review

2008-04-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Visited in 2006.

The Mandarin Oriental is at a very nice, although a bit out of the way location in Washington DC.

Beautiful hotel near the water and the Cherry Blossoms. I didn't stay there (since it's home) but it definitely would be a nice place to live for a few days from the looks of it.

The spa is very expensive (somehow I'd gotten a $50 off coupon, and haven't been back since).

You get an Asian foot bath upon arrival, beautiful teak floors and walls, great locker room/relaxation area, super jacuzzi. They have the full "spa experience" with rain showers and steam room. Nice relaxation area with lounges and curtains between each person (thanks for that bit of privacy).

The Wow!
Sorry, none.

Good things:
Facial was pretty good, with the lady explaining everything she was doing.

Needs work:
The pedicure was bad! I was taken to a room set up with footbaths and my feet were placed in a wood bowl with orchids in it....nice touch but no bubbles or massage tub? and the seat was uncomfortable. Basically a wood bench with a pillow on it. I was totally alone in this room with the pedicurist so it was rather strange. She seemed uninterested in what she was doing, there was no music so I just sat quietly and waited for her to get through it. Strange, not pleasant experience.

Overall, this place didn't seem worth the price. It wasn't a fantastic experience but it WAS a lot of money.

I'd like to go again and try something else but maybe need to win the lottery first!

Sugar House, Fountains, Jouvence, Lansdowne - spa reviews Washington DC

2008-04-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

Local spas! 2007
Sugar House Day Spa on N. Alfred in Old Town Alexandria. This place is in a beautiful old house and it's all purple and white inside.
Good things:
I discovered my NEW favorite pedicure - the Sugar House Pedicure. Kathy and I sat next to each other in big massage chairs in a nice room with a window while we got great pedicures. Very nice....and a nice shop too!

Fountains on Washington Street in Old Town also.
I'm addicted....well not really, just "a regular" at Fountains. This place is in a really tiny yellow and white town house but beautiful inside (especially after the remodel, they now have a fountain in the lobby to go with their name!)

Good things:
There is a great massage by Jenny who has done really good work. I went because when I changed jobs, the stress was making my neck and arm seize up. She stopped this in its tracks after two visits. And I've returned about every 6 weeks since for very nice times.

I also had a good facial here. It was gentle and introduced me to Guinot products (which I now like and buy). The lady alerted me to an area on my forehead which had a strange appearance (perhaps a precancerous lesion?) and suggested I get it checked by a dermatologist (am going for that in a couple of weeks).

Also have had the rose mud wrap which was really fragrant and left my skin really soft.

So all around, Fountains has to be my favorite locally. It's next to a bakery (tarts and crossiants after spa!), is very clean, has very pleasant and client oriented staff, beautiful decorating. Just don't try and get there on a Friday afternoon....traffic is awful at this location. I'm a little leary about writing anything good about them. Don't want to let the secret out and make them REALLY popular and too busy for me to get in! but my blog doesn't have that many readers so.....

Jouvence Aveda at Pentagon Row
Good things:
Super pedicures given by Rosa. She give great foot massages, even with the basic pedicure which, at around $40, is more reasonable than the usual $60 ones elsewhere.

Alexandre de Paris
Good things:
Strange as this may seem, the best local massage of 2008 came at Alexandre de Paris out at Fair Oaks. A therapist named Kim did a really nice job, asked questions along the way, made it a very peaceful and relaxing experience. You are taken into a back room area where the spa treatments are given which gets you out of the busy hair salon atmosphere of the rest of the place.

Needs work:
Pedicure was not that great. Attendant was kind of rough and the salon setting of the pedicure area did not make for a relaxing experience.

Circe
Good/mediocre:
I've tried Circe in Old Town several times (2006-2007), since I always remember one of the best massages ever (the lady left and they won't tell me where she went! @#*%&@#) and in general, they're pretty good. Manicure, pedicure, massages....all not bad. Nothing that exciting to say but not bad at all.

[I'm revising this one as of 5/30/07.....I did not have a good manicure.....lady cut into the cuticles too much, started to bleed, she seemed unconcerned!) They are always overrun with people in the salon and the spa area is too small to relax much in.]

Lansdowne's Spa Minerale - 2006 visit
The resort is beautiful, as everyone knows and the spa area is also pretty nice looking, nice locker area, large jacuzzi, rain showers, sauna etc.

Needs work:
The relaxation waiting area sucks.
It was fairly small and arranged so that you were very close to other people. It was one of those rooms where when you shut the door, it feels like the air is sucked out so every movement, sound etc. is felt by everyone in the room. Some ladies had eaten lunch in there (perfectly appropriate) but the finished dirty dishes were laying around during my whole 20 minute stay. These ladies were chatting (also perfectly appropriate) but some people have no self-awareness so the fact that the rest of us had to suffer through their stories (inappropriate to be sharing in public) and the hiyena laughter of one of them, all being hightened by the fact that this room was very close in, was quite unpleasant.

Also, every 2 minutes one of the doors at either end of the room would open and a therapist would say someone's name (also appropriate but in this weird room, very distracting). This was the least relaxing room I was in during my 2 hours there. A hint, open up both doors so the room isn't closed off. A little ambient noise would help, have the therapist only come in through one door, clean up the dishes as soon as they're done!

Sorry, now onto the massage, also not good. I think once, maybe twice before I've had a massage like this and it's not enjoyable. The woman therapist didn't ask many questions (thus she didn't give me the aromatherapy massage I had signed up for and I later disputed this on the bill) and proceeded to give me this "quick handed" massage. Strokes were short, quick and unrelaxing. I realize that this may be a specific massage "technique" but if you are a normal person and haven't requested this "technique," you should be warned.

Good things:
The surroundings and the spa area (except for "the room") are nice.

So it's been 3 years since I've been there and was so disappointed! Might be time to update this review.

Natural Body Spa has a weird location, in Ballston mall and an energetic little host guy who hangs out in the large, open product sales area.

Needs work:
The massage I had here was another weird one, that fast, quick-handed style and in this bizarre room - I'd guess 500 square feet with 20 foot ceilings, bright full-on lights, and strange pointed shape. I felt like I was in a section of high school gymnasium.....

Turning Stone Resort - SKANA Spa Review

2008-04-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Visited in January 2008

I am seriously screwed up.....I returned from Turning Stone and Skana to Washington.....on purpose! But....I really don't think I'd be functional if I had waited any longer to return. So maybe it's good.
Must remember to tell financial planner that we need to add a yearly trip to this place to my plan.

The Hotel

Absolutely amazing hotel. I stayed in a suite with a gigantic fluffy feather bed, huge gorgeous bathroom and a separate living room, beautifully decorated. Breakfast views in the spa cafe:

Dining

In the spa cafe, the fruit platter (one came with star fruit the first day) and my egg white, sprouts and boursin omelette was great. Oh, and a whole grain crossiant!

Great restaurant staff.
Some of the food - scallops with melted white chocolate, brioche (great!), donut soup (awesome idea), tableside Caesar salad, black cherry compote, french fries (also awesome).

Kobe beef prime rib
The very best though, was the appetizer of scallops with white chocolate sauce and microgreens. Fantastic!!

Activity options are good - yoga classes (mine were private since there were very few people there), snow shoe treks, hiking, golf, pool, oh and the attached casino. The view from the yoga studio:

The hallway to the spa (Skana, means peace)Skana Spa

Good things:

Great spa staff - Wendy, Robin, Amy, Michael

My first treatment was called Leaves and Flowers... ---This unique treatment begins with an invigorating mineral salt and essential oil exfoliation, after which the body is immersed in a floral and herbal mineral bath to soothe the body and mind. A luxurious aromatherapy massage application of your chosen essential oils follows the bath. --- the huge suite for this was gorgeous, candles, nice music, heated massage bed. The adjoining bathroom that I was led to for the bath was beautifully strewn with tons of rose petals (in the water too) and cool water to drink and in wash cloths to put on your forehead.

The next day I could barely move after the Dandelion and Mint foot cure (reflexology extrodinare). The day after that the facial was good and the last day, the Harmony Massage by Michael was amazing. Going through Christmas and having a "big" birthday the week before this trip, I nearly cried during the massage because it was so good and perfect. Perfect pressure, long strokes, perfect communication by Michael, complete harmony achieved.

Interspersed through all treatments I could go into the coed mineral pool and the ladies jacuzzi, both had the rotating light cycles under water. And I'd sit (for several hours) and read at either the mineral pool or in the lounge with the fireplace on a great lounge chair with bunches of strawberries and other fruit and nuts, and either tea or Fuji water.

There were really fantastic fireplaces throughout the lodge - in the great room, entrance to the spa, outside at the entrance to the hotel. They were mostly huge fire pit type fireplaces so very dramatic.

Needs work:
- I burned myself with my curling iron one evening and went back to the spa in search of some aloe. The desk clerk gave me a funny look and said I could check in the product area but she didn't think they had any. I never succeeded in finding any...Hmmmm......

The WOW!
- Michael and the Harmony Massage
- Leaves and Flowers treatment is a great mix of a little bit of several treatments

A note:

I have an idea for a new business: spa flight concierge or some title like that. This is greatly needed because the travel TO and FROM a spa vacation is sometimes very tough going and you don't want to lose what you gain at the spa. So....for instance, when you are taken by limo to the airport and your 7:30 flight gets delayed 20 mins (then 30, then 1 hour), a spa flight concierge would arrive at the first delay and bring you to a quiet area, unpack their folding recliner, serve you some Fiji water (I drank 2 liters a day in the spa....free!) and put some nice Native American music on the head phones. Then when your flight was delayed an hour, they would give you a nice neck massage, away from the dozens of people on their cell phones freaking out when they realized they are missing their connections.

Of course there wouldn't be anything the spa flight concierge could do when the lady with the 2 and 4 year old has given all her luggage and strollers to the luggage guy, has sat down in her seats and arranged the screaming kids, and THEN gets a cell phone call that tells her she won't make her connections in DC so she requests that they LET HER OFF and GET HER STROLLER from the luggage compartment! delaying the flight still longer. Thank you, nice gentleman who carried those kids off the plane for her (you saved us a good 15 mins I'm sure!) Doesn't this sound like a good idea? spa flight concierge.....