Here are three reasons to send clients to the Big Apple:
It had seemed downright odd that The Waldorf=Astoria in New York didn’t have a spa, but when we stepped off the elevator onto the 19th floor into the sea of white that is the Guerlain Spa’s reception area that thought vanished, just like a bad dream. In fact, all we can say now is that the lavish pampering facility, which opened last September in the Waldorf Towers, provides a Manhattan experience you won’t want to miss.
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The reception area of The Waldorf's Guerlain Spa |
It all starts with a seamless check-in experience, then it’s off to one of 16 treatment rooms for a variety of treatments: massages, couples’ programs, eyebrow tinting, facials, fitness, hand-and-foot treatments, hydrotherapy and makeup applications. The spa suites are to die for, as you’d expect; in fact, our quarters included a full bathroom with a shower, a sitting area and a locker, which wasn’t really necessary, considering the space was all ours, at least for an hour.
Most treatments come with a ritual footbath, which gives your therapist some quality time to ask about any conditions or preferences that need tending to (customization is big at the Guerlain Spa).
Then the real fun begins. We are told that time-deprived clients tend to ask for the two-hour, sensory-renewal Waldorf Impériale treatment, which combines a little of everything, including a body massage and a facial, using Guerlain products. Even more deprived than most, I opted for a custom facial, a take-no-prisoners event wherein every pore on our face was fastidiously examined. At the end of it all, however, we walked away feeling absolutely rejuvenated and ready to go for a big evening ahead of us.
The facility, which is operated by Spa Chakra, provides a number of fun options, including “Totally Transforming Day Experiences” and a Guerlain makeup play room. If you’re planning a party or bridal shower, consider booking them for your private function for the day or evening.
Note: This is a no-tipping facility; therapists, we hear, are competitively compensated and you will be reminded of that if you try to leave a gratuity.
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Senses Spa at the Carlyle |
There are more reasons to love New York: Sense, A Rosewood Spa at The Carlyle, opened earlier this year Now there is even more reason to book a stay at the famous and exclusive art deco hotel on Manhattan's Upper East Side. We think the spa is so decadent that, maybe, even Woody Allen, who plays the clarinet weekly at the Café Carlyle, will book a treatment! Sense at The Carlyle, which boasts Sisley skincare products, joins Sense spas already at Rosewood Mayakobá, Rosewood Little Dix Bay and CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort. Each spa embraces a specific set of Rosewood protocols and rituals and incorporates an original ambiance, style and attention to detail. Treatments and services honor local traditions in healing and incorporate indigenous natural elements.
The bi-level Sense at The Carlyle is located on the third floor and was designed by Mark Zeff of Zeff Design. The spa combines the hotel's historic elegance with the most advanced of today's technologies in skincare and beauty. Luxury Touch: Guests will be flattened by the barrel-vaulted stairwell finished in naturally shimmering platinum mosaic tiles, which screams sophistication. The spa has five treatments rooms, a relaxation room, a special Duet suite and separate men’s and women’s changing rooms, each with their own steam room. One treatment room features a Kohler DTV shower, which provides guests with a complete sensory experience that combines water, sound, light and steam. Note: Acclaimed hair stylist Yves Durif, whose clientele is a laundry list of A-list celebrities and CEOs, has relocated to The Carlyle.
The Peninsula New York also has a new spa; the 35,000-square-foot, three-story Asian-inspired Peninsula Spa by ESPA opened January 15 and boasts 12 treatment rooms, thermal suites, yoga studio and fitness center. Cool Factor: The thermal suites each feature an ice fountain, set against a backdrop of 24-karat gold mosaic by Bisazza. Our Dream Experience: We can’t wait to take a dip in the glass-enclosed swimming pool while gazing out on picture-perfect views of Midtown and follow up with a rest in the Asian tea lounge. Privacy is Key: For an ultra-private experience, have clients opt for the Private Spa Suite, which has a steam shower and whirlpool.
Guerlain Spa at The Waldorf=Astoria: www.guerlainspa.com/newyork/index.htm
Sense, A Rosewood Spa at The Carlyle: http://www.thecarlyle.com
The Peninsula New York: www.peninsula.com