Mokara Spa at Omni Interlocken Facilities

The heartfelt greeting I received at the Mokara Spa reception desk was among the friendliest and most welcoming I can remember in a long time. Spa supervisor Sean Feltz checked me in for my treatment and then offered me a complimentary mimosa — how great is that?!

The space at Mokara Spa isn’t huge, but there have been some refurbishments in recent years to better accommodate guests. The Daffodil Room relaxation lounge, where I waited for my aesthetician to pick me up before my facial is a converted treatment room — cozy with comfortable chairs, magazines, tea and ice water.

The women’s locker room has a small changing area but plenty of lockers and three showers, plus all the amenities you need: shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, tampons, shaving cream, razors, mouthwash and such. Robes are on the thinner side, but do the job, and spa slippers are provided.

A co-ed eucalyptus steam room is just outside the women’s locker room, so don’t forget your bathing suit! I suppose you could wrap up in a towel, but if you’re modest like me, you’d best plan on bringing along some semblance of coverage, just in case members of the opposite gender are steaming, too. Plus, you’ll want your suit to soak in the outdoor hot tubs, swim in the pool or kick back outside on the plentiful lounge chairs under sunny Colorado blue skies. Spa guests can use the light-filled fitness center, equipped with everything you need for a cardio or strength-training workout.

Mokara Spa at Omni Interlocken Treatments

With perpetually dry skin from living in a mountain climate, I opted for a 75-minute Deep Hydrating Facial, which was one of the most relaxing facials I’ve ever had, thanks to my talented and gentle aesthetician Rachelle. Even those pesky extractions — necessary, but not so fun — weren’t painful, as she performed them carefully with little cotton swabs (no pointy instruments). The exfoliation step of my facial was interesting (and quite good), as it was performed with Yonka brand’s Gommage — a gel that refreshes skin without any abrasive grains. I learned something new during my treatment — always a plus to feel educated during a spa treatment.

My facial also included a lovely hand, arm and neck massage (I believe I actually dozed off while being rubbed), and Rochelle set my hands in hot mitts to help the moisturizer penetrate my skin. The treatment ended with my sitting up on the table and Rochelle placing a hot towel on my back. Lovely!

I asked Rachelle to recommend some cleansing and moisurizing products to me, so we stopped by the retail area before I went back to the women’s locker room. I appreciated that she didn’t push any items on me at all, and in fact when I balked a the price of one combo pack, she happily found me a less expensive option.

In addition to facials, Mokara Spa offers various types of massage, including pre-natal, sports, deep-tissue and hot stone, as well as two kinds of body wraps, a sea salt scrub, nail care, waxing and packages with combinations of treatments.

Omni Interlocken Resort Accommodations

This expansive resort in Denver’s suburb has 390 guest rooms and suites, not to mention 27 holes of championship golf. Deluxe Rooms are 300 square feet; Premier Rooms on the 6th floor or higher have commanding views of the glorious Rocky Mountains. Scenic hiking, jogging and biking paths are nearby; bikes and helmets are complimentary for guests to borrow. Families fit right in at the Omni Interlocken; upon check-in, children receive a backpack filled with activities and toys, and they get milk and cookies delivered to their room on their first night.

Bottom Line: I found the Mokara Spa staff so  welcoming and genuinely pleased to have me at their spa. Friendly employees, coupled with  comfortable and cozy surroundings, and a variety of treatments, make Mokara Spa a lovely place to spend some pampering time. Whether you’re at the Omni Interlocken Resort for business or pleasure — or in the area for a day visit — I recommend checking out its monthly spa specials. And don’t forget to enjoy a mimosa!

Learn More: Mokara Spa website, 303-464-3266; Omni Interlocken Resort website, 303-438-6600.

– Review by Kara Williams, who visited the property in February 2012.

As is common in the travel industry, the author received a complimentary spa treatment.

On a recent kid-free getaway with my husband, I was able to visit both the G Spa and The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods. Each has a distinctly different vibe, so guests can choose which one best suits them.

The G Spa and Salon at Foxwoods, Facilities and Treatments

At the G Spa, part of the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods, you’ll find a 21,000-square foot “destination” spa with a sleek, modern vibe designed by Gretta Monahan. While I was tempted to try the “Vinotherapy” treatments which incorporate the antioxidant properties of wine grapes, I wanted to try the treatments inspired by Native American culture. My esthetician Lisa recommended the 50-minute maize and mountain laurel body scrub.

My first stop was the women’s locker room, which is appointed with a waterfall Jacuzzi, a eucalyptus steam room and sauna. The 30-minute hydrotherapy pre-treatment includes ten minutes in each. The Jacuzzi felt too hot to me, so I stayed near the cooler waterfall stream coming from a flat spout in the middle of the wall.

Large Jacuzzi in the women's locker room at G Spa.

My walk to the treatment room brought me through a hallway with rose petals lining the floor. Once settled on the treatment table, Lisa explained the oil she would use was derived from mountain laurel, the state flower. A sustainable resource, it’s grown and sourced locally. It had a delightful smell, sweet and fruity, and reminded me of bubblegum.

The other major ingredient was a fine grain corn meal, which was very effective at exfoliation, but stubbornly stuck to the oil. After the scrub, a Vichy shower was drawn over me to wash it away to the drain in the floor. My skin was soft and delicately scented, and I was completely relaxed.

I spent some time in the lounge, where there was water, juices, and Harney & Co teas available, as well as an Asian snack mix. I lazily gazed through the wall of windows overlooking the outdoor tanning deck and the woods beyond. The wind was whistling through the trees, and the clouds were rolling over a blue-grey sky.

The G Spa lounge is sleek and modern.

Spa guests also have access to the fitness center, indoor lap pool and coed Jacuzzi. The pool area was serene, with dim lighting and lounge furniture with plump pillows. The spa facilities, including the pool and fitness center are for patrons 21 and over.

The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods, Facilities and Treatments

The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods was built as part of the Grand Pequot Hotel in 1996, and is associated with the Spa at Norwich Inn, a historic property in a neighboring town. It is more traditional in its approach and treatments. The décor follows suit, with marble accents, columns and urns, tapestries on the walls and tile inlays under the glass rotundas. The facility does include an indoor pool under the ninth floor solarium, but it is open to all hotel guests. When I visited, it was crowded, and loud.

Traditional columns at the Norwich Spa at Foxwoods.

The spa’s services represent classic European and American treatments; the most popular being the Swedish and deep tissue massages. Spa packages range from the “On The Go” combination of three express treatments, to “The Spa Decadence” package which lasts four hours. The manicure or pedicure service within this and several other packages features the spa’s private label – and delectably scented — Apricot Harvest products.

My treatment of choice was The Chocolate Indulgence Spa Pedicure. It began with a warm soak and a scrub in which Hershey’s cocoa powder had been mixed, lending a chocolate scent and color. While I sat in the massage chair, I was served Bailey’s Irish Cream, offered straight up or mixed into hot chocolate. I was also treated to a bar of Munson’s Chocolate, a local producer which makes chocolate using milk from local dairy farms. Considering the level of pampering, this was the best pedicure this chocoholic has ever received.

The Foxwoods Resort Accommodations

There are four hotels at the Foxwoods Resort, ranging in style and price points, from the Two Trees Inn at the budget-friendly end, to the upscale MGM Grand Resort. Regardless of where you stay, you’re guaranteed a view of woodland. Most of the Foxwoods facilities are open 24 hours a day, and nearly everything is connected indoors, making it all accessible regardless of time or weather.

Bottom Line: There is a lot to do at the Foxwoods Resort than just gaming, including shopping, entertainment, and dining. Sensory overload is almost inevitable. Both of these spas offer peaceful refuge in elegant surroundings. You have access to a full range of services, whether you just need your hair and make-up done before your night kicks into high gear, or a full day to decompress.

Learn More: The Foxwoods Resort website, 800-369-9663; The G Spa and Salon website, 860-312-4772; The Norwich Spa at Foxwoods website, 860-312-4901

– Review by Traci L. Suppa, who visited the property in December 2011. Traci drags her small-town family to see a quirky array of the “world’s largest” attractions, and blogs about it at Go BIG or Go Home.

As is common in the travel industry, the author received complimentary spa treatments. Photos courtesy of Foxwoods Resort and the Norwich Spa at Foxwoods.

Allegria Spa Facilities

The main draw at Allegria Spa is indeed the “healing waters” ritual, Aqua Sanitas. Again, it’s complimentary with any spa treatment, or you if you’re a guest of the Park Hyatt, pay just $20 to access the water sanctuary. The self-guided, five-step journey is modeled on ancient Roman baths, and involves soaking, steaming and showering in alternating hot and cool temperatures to invigorate and relax. Spa guests are given a laminated card with details to help guide them through the process that begins in the coed thermae pool — don’t forget your swimsuit! The water temperature is set at about 102 degrees Fahrenheit with cascading waterfalls (sit underneath to let the water pummel sore shoulders) and loungers built into the pool.

Co-ed thermae pool simulating a natural spring.

From there, its on to the men’s or women’s area for an even hotter caldarium mineral pool, infused with mineral salts to further relieve sore muscles, then a rainshower (with three different settings) to refresh under a cool or warm water flow. My absolute favorite step is the spruce-scented caldarium steam room, with small mosaic tiles throughout and twinkling lights above — it’s like resting under a starry sky, albeit stars that blink in red, gold, pink, purple and green. Your final stop is the tepidarium, a resting place infused with lavendar and featuring heated tile loungers. Close your eyes here or read one of the many magazines on the side tables. It’s a wonderful place to relax!

Caldarium mineral pool in the private women's area.

Heated loungers in the tepidarium.

Plenty of room to spread out in the women's locker room.

The women’s locker room here is quite spacious; I appreciate the floor to ceiling lockers with an interior key-lock safe to keep jewelry or other valuables secure (of course, it’s smart not to bring jewelry or watches anyway). All the standard spa locker room amenities are here, such as hair dryers, curling irons, hairbrushes, lotion, Q-tips, mouthwash and razors. Four showers ensure you’ll never have to wait to wash up.

Before your treatment you can rest in a comfortable co-ed lounge or single-gender lounge with dried fruit, citrus-infused water and hot teas available.

Allegria Spa Treatments

At my most recent visit to Allegria Spa, I enjoyed a 50-minute Swedish massage. I typically book deep tissue massage or other more vigorous treatments, and I was concerned this service might be too delicate for my tastes. However, my therapist applied some wonderfully firm pressure to achy muscles and used yummy-scented oil with a blend of lavender, geranium and ylang ylang. The massage ended with a invigorating honey foot scrub and rubdown with hot towels.

The treatment menu here is vast. In addition to your standard hot stone massage, you can sample restorative therapies, such as reiki, acupuncture, shiatsu and craniosacral therapy. I’m intrigued by the sound of barefoot massage — “very deep soothing strokes are applied using foot pressure, hands and stones to induce deep relaxation.”

Other lengthy, deluxe services include the decadent Colorado Wild Rose Cure: a rose oil and wildflower body scrub, lavender bath of essential oils followed by a full body massage with body butter and then a calming body wrap with foot scrub and scalp massage. Hello – talk about divine relaxation!

Mud and hot oil wraps, sugar and citrus scrubs, deep cleansing and hydrating facials, plus hair and nail services are also on offer. Men aren’t left out with sports massages and oxygen facials; couples can book romantic treatments that involve a bath for two; even spa-goes as young as 8 can get bejeweled nails in the salon.

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Accommodations

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek sits right at the base of the Beaver Creek ski area, in the heart of Beaver Creek Village. In other words, the location is excellent — steps away from ski lifts in the winter and great hiking trails in the summer. It’s also super close to the plaza ice rink that’s open all year round, and many restaurants and shops in the pedestrian-friendly village. Rooms here are decorated in cozy “modern mountain lodge” style: dark wood with plush accents. Beds are wonderfully comfortable with soft linens and a down duvet; marble bathrooms are spacious. I’ve enjoyed some excellent meals at the on-site 8100 Mountainside Grill, especially items cooked on the exhibition’s wood-fire grill. Morning breakfast buffets here are plentiful, too. For still one more reason to book a room at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek: free s’mores at the hotels’ fire pit every day at 4 p.m. during ski season!

Bottom Line: Both the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and the Allegria Spa are top notch. I never hesitate to recommend both.

Learn More: Allegria Spa website; 970-949-1234 .

– Review & photos by Kara Williams, who last visited in January 2012.

As is common in the travel industry the author received a complimentary spa service.

The Spa at the Keystone Lodge Facilities

Soothing neck compress and warm footbath in a dimly lit room with a roaring fireplace = heaven!

My favorite place in the entire spa is the wonderfully cozy relaxation lounge. Here, chaise lounges and comfortable chairs face a roaring fire, where you can relax with a magazine (a nice array are supplied). You can also nibble on dried fruit and nuts, and sip hot tea or fruit-infused water. A wonderful addition to your stint in the relaxation lounge is a $15 footbath. Soak your feet in a large bowl filled with warm water and blend of green tea, lavender and lemongrass. Add a warm compress for your neck, and you’ll be well on your way to bliss before your treatment.

The women’s locker room is small, with just one shower stall, but it does have tall lockers with thoughtful touches inside: a satin hanger for street clothes, a small velvet bag for storing jewelry, a razor, tampon and shower cap. You’ll find standard amenities in the locker room: supplied shampoo, conditioner and body wash in the shower, plus cotton balls, Q-tips and mouthwash on the counter. But a classy little sign lets guests know that if you need a hairbrush, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste or floss, you can ask the spa attendant for the item. Finally, I appreciated the heated robe I was given to wear in the spa –so nice, especially on a chilly winter day.

The spa is adjacent to a large outdoor pool and hot tub, and it’s available to those who have booked a spa treatment (even if you’re not staying at the Keystone Lodge). The steam room, sauna and indoor hot tub are all coed, so don’t forget to pack your swim suit! Spa guests also have full use of the fitness studio – with cardio and strength-training equipment – and enjoy complimentary valet parking, too.

The Spa at the Keystone Lodge Treatments

During my last visit to the spa, I enjoyed a 50-minute customized massage that began with my choosing an aroma for my massage oil. I sniffed six different Zents scents, and chose the one that “spoke” to me the most (I believe it was a “balancing” oolong). What followed was a perfect massage – a blend of long Swedish strokes with some deep-tissue penetration where I needed it most: in my neck and calves. Also included in the treatment were hot washcloths rubbed on my hands and plenty of massage for my feet, followed by a hot-washcloth rub.

Massage certainly isn’t the only treatment on the menu here. Body scrubs, hydrating wraps, invigorating facials and luxurious mineral baths are also offered. I’m keen on the special packaged “journeys,” where various treatments are combined for a five-hour experience. So luxurious!

Keystone Lodge Accommodations

The Keystone Lodge is located in the Lakeside Village section of Keystone, adjacent to Keystone Lake — with paddleboats in the summer and ice skating in the winter. It has 152 rooms, including 14 loft suites that are ideal for a few girlfriends to share (or a family). On site is the excellent Bighorn Steakhouse; I’ve eaten here twice — once with kids and once with friends — and each time my meal was excellent. For non-steak lovers (like myself), I enjoyed a seafood dish and pasta entree; healthy options like grilled chicken and veggies are offered for kids. Included in the room rate at the Keystone Lodge is wireless internet, a huge plus for me. The hotel is on the complimentary shuttle route — it’s just a few minutes’ ride to River Run Village, with its restaurants and shops, and gondola that will whisk you up Keystone’s slopes.

Bottom Line: Even if you’re not staying at the Keystone Lodge during your vacation, I certainly recommend a visit to its spa. After all, what better way to soothe sore muscles after skiing or otherwise adventuring in the Colorado Rockies than with a massage or pampering body treatment?

Learn More: Spa at the Keystone Lodge website; 281-313-0555.

– Review & photos by Kara Williams, who last visited in October 2011.

As is common in the travel industry the author received a complimentary spa service.

The company has four product lines: face care, body care, wellness therapies and home fragrance that are based on pure essential oils, seed oils, base oils and plant extracts. Its products use the highest percentage of certified organic ingredients available. Further, over the course of the 25-year history of the company, PRIMAVERA has developed long-term partnerships with 18 growers around the world that provide more than 125 ingredients (farmed in their natural habitats) and share the company’s high ethical standards and environmental responsibility.

To that end, PRIMAVERA ingredients and products are not tested on animals, and they are packaged in recyclable glass bottles and jars with environmentally friendly UV protective coating that offers greater shelf stability. Interesting, the company’s new German headquarters has a carbon-neutral footprint. All good stuff!

Also good — okay great — are the PRIMAVERA body care products I sampled recently: the Restoring Rose Sallow Thorn Body Oil and Body Wash. Both feature key ingredients organic rose essential oil, sallow thorn oil and rose hip seed oil, as well as wheat germ oil. These ingredients not only moisturize but also help refine skin’s texture and prevent wrinkles and stretch marks.

The creamy body wash ($20 for a 5.1-oz container) simultaneously has an uplifting and soothing scent, and it foams up quickly. The body oil ($37 for a 3.4-oz glass bottle) feels so luxurious when applied to damp skin to lock in moisture. It not only hydrates skin but it lingers on the body for a subtle perfume, too. With PRIMAVERA products, I step out of the shower feeling like I’ve stepped into a spa!

In addition to the Restoring Rose Sallow Thorn line of body care products, consider the Energizing Ginger Lime, Relaxing Lavender Vanilla and Cleansing Juniper Cypress oils, lotions and washes.

Learn more about PRIMAVERA and order products at PrimaveraLife.com.

Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa Facilities

Unlike a full service spa, Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa only offers facial services—you won’t find a posh locker room or sauna here.  In fact, the waiting areas are a bit reminiscent of an upscale doctor’s office waiting room. But don’t let that fool you into thinking you’re in for an impersonal, clinical experience. Treatment rooms are decorated in soft, muted colors to promote calm and relaxation—and the MedSpa staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. My aesthetician, Katie, talked me through every step of my chemical peel and was able to answer all of my questions with ease.

Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa Treatments

Patrons looking to rejuvenate their skin and ease a few years off their faces will find plenty of options at Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa—there are a variety of dermabrasion, chemical peels and botanical masques on offer.  After talking to me about my skin concerns before my appointment, my aesthetician, Katie, suggested a gloLactic peel with modified Jessner, followed by a Botanical Treatment Masques by Bella Luccè. The MedSpa describes the gloLactic as a “lunch time” peel—a concoction strong enough to remove the layers of dull and dead cells from the surface of skin but not so strong as to leave you looking red and raw for the next day or two. Katie told me that many women have the peel in the middle of the day, throw on some make-up and head right back to work.  It sounded like a good introduction to a chemical peel virgin like me.

The gloLactic  not only removed the sun spots I picked up from my summer adventures, it softened up my skin and cleared up some annoying chin acne. Not bad for a relaxing half hour treatment—in fact, I’m sure I’ll be back for a repeat (the gloLactic is recommended every six weeks) in the very near future.

The Upshot:  Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa’s location and set-up make it an ideal place to quickly and easily pop in for regularly scheduled facial treatments. And its spa director, Dr. Lin Humble, a board-certified medical internist, will make sure the most safe and effective treatments and products will always be available.

Learn More: Sugar Land Face and Body Luxury MedSpa; 281-313-0555.

– Review & photos by Kayt Sukel, who visited in August 2011.

Kayt Sukel, a science and travel writer, knows a good massage can up your oxytocin—and improve both your mood and your health. She writes about family travel for Travel Savvy Mom and good eats for UpTake. Her first book, Dirty Minds: How Our Brains Influence Love, Sex and Relationships, is now available for pre-order at most major book retailers. Follow Kayt on Twitter: @kaytsukel.

As is common in the travel industry the author received a complimentary spa service.

Tuscon, Arizona is home to two of the finest destination spas in the United States, Canyon Ranch and Miraval. Which one is right for you? Although both properties are fabulous, each one offers distinctly a different ambiance and areas of specialty.

Canyon Ranch Tucson Resort

People from around the world flock to this well-being mecca. Canyon Ranch has been a leading destination spa in the United States for over three decades.

The staff and field of experts at Canyon Ranch are remarkable.  Many of the employees have been at the “Ranch” since its inception 30 years ago. As a result, the staff’s dedication to excellence in health is apparent at every turn. To that end, Canyon Ranch is much more than a quiet spa getaway — staying here is like attending a crash course on wellness and is packed with “ah-ha” moments.

There’s an endless selection of fitness classes and educational opportunities. Each night features lectures covering interesting topics. There is so much to do that you almost have to force yourself to abstain from booking two many activities because everything is so alluring.

As you would expect, Canyon Ranch has an expansive spa facility.  The 80,000 square-foot spa complex offers something for everyone.  For active pursuits there are multiple gyms, sports courts, and a notable water therapy facility that includes underwater treadmills, three pools for treatments and specialized workouts.  For spa services, the recently renovated facility offers a beautiful steam room, sauna and whirlpools but also, a full service salon and skin care area.  One of my favorite new treatments was the “Muscle Melt for Road Warrior” which starts with your body being rubbed with warm herbal pouches and transitioned into a Thai massage.  The combination of heat, aroma and massage was heavenly.

The 169 single-story guest rooms are nicely spread throughout the 150-acre property, set in quiet surroundings amongst the northeastern foothills of the Catalina Mountains. There is residential walking and street biking from the property, but we drove to access the best hiking.

Canyon Ranch is dedicated to maintaining the quality of the property as most of the shared facilities having been beautifully redone in the past year. Canyon Ranch specialties include an outstanding integrative medical facilities, creative arts center, demo kitchen, Golf Performance Center, Sleep lab, hiking (off-property), and road biking.

Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa

Miraval is situated in a stunning setting at the northwest base of the Catalina Mountains. Breathtaking mountain views are visible throughout the 400-acre grounds. The location enables guests to go for guided walks, hikes and bike riding right from the property without getting in the car.

While there are excellent classes offered, there is a purposeful focus on “just being” and subsequently there’s not a constant stream of activities. This creates an extremely peaceful ambiance.  The average age is a bit younger here than at Canyon Ranch and that there seems to be a more balanced distribution of men and women.  This is very different than my previous spa experiences where there were just a few men participating and makes this a perfect spot for a luxury parents-only getaway.

Given this demographic, the sports are more adventure-oriented than at Canyon Ranch. The mountain biking, for one thing, is not for sissys! I was terrified as we bounced over rocks, on narrow trails lined with cactus — into which my husband fell.  Removing the 20 needles from his hand and arm wasn’t pleasant, but the thrill of the adventure and ability to overcome my self-doubt and test my abilities to the fullest was invigorating.

The 118 casita-style rooms are a highlight at Miraval, complete with amazing beds. Miraval pays extra attention to making your sleeping experience a good one by having top-line linens, feather beds and feather pillows.  The result is a bed that is a perfect landing spot after a day of activity.

Miraval’s 35,000 square-feet spa complex is centered on the property and incorporates both warm and cool outdoor pools.  There are over 100 treatment options offered including outdoor treatments and unique services like the hamam experience.

An important difference to point out is that in addition to the delicious food, you have the option of alcohol and wine. Even my husband (a foodie who eats an enormous amount and stays thin – ugh) liked the food and certainly appreciated the option of having a glass of wine with dinner.

Miraval specialties include: Adventurous sports, equestrian experience, Andrew Weil Wellness program, and Native American healing experiences.

Nancy Solomon is an avid traveler and writer for family travel blog Ciao Bambino.  She lives outside Boston with her husband and four children with whom she enjoys sharing the world.

Photos courtesy Canyon Ranch and Miraval.

And we don’t mind if they do.

Launched this month, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles’s latest offerings include the Champagne & Shimmer signature body treatment, which includes an açai sugar scrub infused with 24K gold and Champagne, as well as a 24K gold, ultra-rich firming shea & murumuru butter créme. Murumuru, you ask? It’s the nut of a palm tree from the Brazilian rainforest, prized for its moisturizing properties.

You’ll also find the Fire & Ice body treatment, featuring products from the healing waters of Iceland’s Blue Lagoon that, in the entire United States, can only be found at this spa. The Eastern Infusion Massage offers stressed city-dwellers a combination of Shiatsu, Thai and Polarity techniques to stimulate, balance and revitalize the body’s energy.

The PRIORI skincare line is used in the sublime Fountain of Youth Facial.

The new menu includes two product lines unique to the Spa: a custom line made specifically for the Spa by L.A.’s local LaRocca Skincare Collection, made with 24K colloidal gold to stimulate cell regeneration and minimize the signs of aging; and PRIORI® Idebenone Complex line, which uses a coffee berry extract and other minerals to perfect any complexion.

The latter was used in my truly transforming Fountain of Youth Facial. Delivering myself to the Spa’s open arms after a long week of jury duty, in-laws and too much sun, I was looking for a miracle; my skin looked ashy, bumpy, dry and red. After 80 delicious minutes in the care of the delightful Daniela, I was buffed with a high-speed complexion brush (designed to get your face 6 times cleaner than merely washing your face); given a three-process peel that left my face smooth but not peeling or irritated; and gently buzzed by a cool, space-age NuFace facial toning device. Between each cream and potion, I was treated to a shoulder, hand, foot or scalp massage, which wiped away the week’s stresses.

By the time I was brushed up with some PRIORI® mineral powder and sent on my way, I looked like I’d had 12 hours of sleep and a beachside vacation.

My take? Skip the Botox, L.A., and try one of these babies, instead.

In addition to new treatments and products, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles now offers an expanded selection of manis and pedis, including Shellac nail treatments and a Gentleman’s Manicure & Pedicure. You can get your face made up with Jane Iredale’s full line of mineral-based “skincare make-up” and a full array of hair salon services, from blow-outs to red carpet coiffures.

You can make a real day away pf your time here: guests who book any 80-minute treatment (like, say, the Fountain of Youth Facial) from Monday -Thursday or any Spa Day Package from Friday – Sunday can enjoy expansive views of L.A. from the hotel’s rooftop pool and whirlpool. And in the Coed Spa Lounge, treat yourself to late afternoon Champagne and snacks during The Happiest Hours.

For more information on The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles, call 213-763-4400 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.

– Melanie Waldman is a correspondent for The Spa Gals. She makes her home in Los Angeles and blogs about her travels around the world at Travels with Two.

The Spa at Four Seasons Manele Bay Facilities

Tropical flower mural in the spa lobby.

Literally a few steps away from the beautiful oceanfront pool at the Four Seasons Manele Bay is the spa, with a huge flower-filled mural that greets guests in the lobby. The spa lobby, which includes a reception desk and retail area, has no windows, but it feels a bit light-filled with the back lit ceiling dome, which is also decorated with hand-painted flowers and ferns. The lobby actually doubles as the waiting area for services, so it’s not unusual to see robed guests sitting in the cushioned rattan chairs. Of course, if your spa treatment time arrives, and you’re still in the locker room, your therapist will track you down there.

The theme of “bringing the tropics inside” continues in the women’s locker room, with more pretty paintings on the ceiling. Also in the locker room is a dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room and rainforest shower. More than 20 lockers are in a small nook — it’s surprising, actually, how small the dressing area is in comparison to how many female guests I saw come through to change into robes.

The Spa at Four Seasons Manele Bay Treatments

Massage treatments here include traditional Hawaiian lomi lomi (long, flowing strokes with knees, hands, elbows), sports, hot stone and aromatherapy. Or, consider the lava shell massage, where shells from the ocean are heated for use in a slow, penetrating massage — that sounds heavenly to me! Body treatments use local fruits and plants, such as the Ali’i Banana Coconut Scrub, Pineapple Citrus Polish, Seaweed

View from the oceanfront 'hale,' which means 'house' in Hawaiian.

I enjoyed not one, but two Ocean Hale Massages. That’s because the outdoor cabana in full view of the Pacific Ocean provides an outstanding massage locale. It’s just a short walk from the spa to one of three hale (or ‘houses’ in Hawaiian) — cabanas with flowy white drapes perched on a cliff. Cool ocean breezes wafted over my nude body as my therapist worked out all the travel kinks my muscles had endured during trans-Pacific flights; the scent of fresh flowers and saltwater was simultaneously soothing and uplifting. I loved hearing the ocean waves crashing, too! Truly, an unforgettable experience.

Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay Accommodations

This elegant resort on the sunny south shores of Lanai has an overall tropical feel, plus Asian antiques, oil paintings and other accents found throughout the lobby and public spaces. Beautifully themed gardens are filled with exotic plants, koi ponds and waterfalls. The rooms are in buildings that form a U shape, so the majority have partial or full views of the Pacific Ocean and Hulopoe Bay (home to frolicking spinner dolphins).

The Four Seasons Manele Bay is actually one of two Four Seasons properties on the island; the other is inland at 1,700 feet in elevation, the Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele. Guests at one Four Seasons have reciprocal privileges at the other and can enjoy on-site amenities and services at each; transfer conveniently between the resorts via regularly scheduled intra-island shuttles.

The entrance to the spa is under the pretty red flowers, near the pool.

Standard guest rooms with two double beds are a spacious 576 feet and decorated in a pretty tropical theme with warm golden tones, enhanced by rich cherry and rattan furnishings. Marble bathrooms are big, with double sinks, walk-in shower and soaking tub. DVD players are in every room, and you can borrow movies for free from the concierge. Microwaves are available on request. Wi-fi will cost you in the guest rooms, but you can (usually) pick up a free signal by the pretty pool.

Bottom Line: Pricey spa treatments? No doubt. (My Oceanside Hale Massage was $185 for 50 minutes.) However, if you’re already on Lanai and staying at one of the Four Seasons properties, chances are, you’re going big on this vacation anyway. I suggest you bite the bullet and lay down the cash for an extraordinary outdoor spa experience you simply can’t enjoy at many other vacation destinations in the world. I highly recommend the Oceanside Hale Massage, but if you opt for an indoor treatment, I’m fairly certain the experience — especially those that feature local ingredients — will be well worth the expense.

Learn More: Four Seasons Manele Bay website; (808) 565-2000.

– Review and photos by Kara Williams, who visited March 2011.

As is common in the travel industry, the author received complimentary accommodations and spa treatment.

Poolside waiting area at the AquaSPA at Aqua Bamboo in Waikiki.

The AquaSPA Facilities at Aqua Bamboo

The spa area at Aqua Bamboo is a glass enclosed space adjacent to the pool area. Guest wait just outside of the one treatment room in full view of other guests (clothed – no robes here) to check in and receive a lovely foot bath prior to treatment. Despite the lack of privacy (other hotel guests were gathered round nearby tables listening to live music at the pool), I had no problem relaxing back into a teak chair and rubbing my travel-weary soles into pebbles at the bottom of a soaking tub. It was a nice, relaxing way to begin my treatment.

Inside the glass doors, there is a privacy partition and drapes in the treatment area so no one at the pool can see in. Here, are two side by side massage tables;Asian decor accents are found throughout the room and in the little entry area.

The AquaSPA Treatments at Aqua Bamboo

The AquaSpa menu is the same at Aqua Bamboo, as well as Aqua Aloha Surf and Aqua Palms — two other Aqua Resorts with spa services in Waikiki. Choose from lomi lomi, Swedish, Shiatsu, hot stone, couples or deep tissue massage, as well as reflexology. A noni (fruit), papaya and pineapple scrub and body polish is also offered; at the Aqua Aloha Surf you can book facials). All of the spas are open to the public.

Pool and cabanas (first come first served) in the enclosed, oasis-like courtyard.

I opted for a delicious lomi lomi massage, in which my massage therapist used not only her hands and fingers, but also her elbows, to exert pressure on tight muscles. It was an incredibly soothing and effective treatment that I enjoyed about an hour and a half after I’d checked in at the Waikiki hotel. After a long day of travel from Colorado, it was the perfect way to kick off my Hawaii vacation!

Aqua Bamboo Accommodations

The Aqua Bamboo & Spa offers modern one-bedroom suites. Our spacious suite offered a great view of the pool courtyard, a huge bedroom area — with desk, couch and table for two — and a small kitchenette with stovetop, microwave, refrigerator and coffeemaker.While we didn’t do any cooking, there were pots, pans, silverware, plates and glassware; we did make good use of the refrigerator, to store leftover sandwiches and to keep our beer cold.

Big king-bed room with lanai and kitchenette.

Brilliant amenities here include free use of beach towels, beach chairs, boogie boards and innertubes. Intternet is free in the rooms (via ethernet cable), and there’s always free coffee and tea in the big lobby. Guests have use of washers and dryers (for a fee) and on-site (underground) parking is $20 a day. One of my favorite experiences at the Aqua Bamboo? The free manager guest reception and cocktail hour on Thursday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., during which the signature drink the “Bamboozle” is served. It’s a yummy concoction of coconut rum, a splash of Midori melon liquor, orange juice, pineapple juice and guava juice. Also at the reception: freshly popped popcorn, taro chips and crudite — a lovely spread!

Three cheers for free rum drinks!

Bottom Line: I loved my stay at the Aqua Bamboo & Spa. Sure, it’s not right on the beach like so many Waikiki oceanfront properties, but the price is right, especially with all of the included amenities and pretty pool courtyard. The spa may not be anything fancy, but my lomi lomi massage was sublime.

Learn More: Aqua Resorts’ Aqua Bamboo & Spa website and AquaSPA menu. Hotel: 808-922-7777; spa reservations: 808-924-2782.

– Review and photos by Kara Williams, who visited May 2011.

As is common in the travel industry, the author received complimentary accommodations and spa treatment.