A big-city getaway could be just what you need for your next vacation. The many sights and entertainment options ensure there’s something to keep everyone entertained. And when you add spa hotel to your trip, an element of relaxation is guaranteed. Blissful massages, sumptuous soaks, and divine facials are all available right outside your door. So the next time you head to New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, book one of the many fabulous spa hotels available and get ready for a good time.
Spas at hotels are different from other kinds of spa establishments because they include hotel-like accommodations, usually in a city environment. Unlike resort spas, which are part of massive complexes with multiple amenities, spa hotels usually don’t include added extras on site. The spa and guest rooms are all that’s offered in most cases. Some upscale hotel spas will have a restaurant on the premises as well, but this isn’t required. Since hotels are most often located in urban environments, space is more of an issue than it is at resort counterparts.
Destination spas are more different from hotel spas than are resort spas. At destination spas, customers have goals they are trying to fulfill—to lose weight, to detoxify, or to get in touch with nature. This isn’t usually the case at a hotel spa. Guests at hotel spas can spend their days however they choose—they don’t follow a schedule as at a destination spa—and there’s usually no end goal in mind other than relaxation.
Out of all the spa styles available, hotel spas are most similar to day spas. Day spas are posh establishments that offer the latest treatments, but they’re only open during working hours. Hotel spas are just like day spas with guest rooms attached. There’s a fancy spa inside that’s open from 9 to 5, but the rest of the building—the part with guest rooms—is always accessible.
The great thing about spa hotels is that they offer luxury and proximity to a city’s attractions. At the spa inside the hotel, you can indulge in any number of spa treatments, like massages, facials, body wraps, and hydrotherapy, just to name a few. But when you’ve had your fill of the spa, you have a city’s worth of entertainment right at your fingertips! Spa hotels are perfect for people who want to see and do it all in one trip. You can unwind and then take in the sights all in one day.
Of course, not all hotel spas will offer the same treatments. Depending on the size of the hotel in question, there may be an extensive menu of services, or there could be just two or three treatments offered. At true spa hotels, you should expect to find a basic lineup of services, including at least one massage and one facial. However, there are no guidelines about what constitutes a “spa,” especially when it is included in another entity, like a hotel. Many hotels call themselves hotels and spas, but the spa component could be nothing more than a Jacuzzi or a steam room. If you know you’d like to spend time at a hotel’s spa, it’s worth it to call ahead and double check about their treatment offerings.
Some of the best spas in the world can be found attached to hotels in big cities. At these ultra-posh establishments, sometimes entire floors will be devoted to spa space. There may be multiple private rooms and therapists available to accommodate a large number of guests at one time. At the most elite spa hotels, botanical products are made in house. While these sorts of spas are fabulous and will provide a treatment to remember, they’ll also come with a hefty price tag. An hour-long massage at an exclusive hotel spa can easily tally to more than $300. And accommodations could run you about $500 per night at some locations. So if you’re on a budget, staying at a spa hotel may not be the best route to go. Instead, you could opt to check into a modest motel and use a day spa in the area.
Hotel spas are perfect for city-oriented couples looking to take a romantic vacation together. With all the pampering that goes on at spa hotels, romance follows naturally. But although couples make ideal guests at these venues, children do not. Hotel spas are usually not appropriate for small children under the age of 12. Some properties even have age restrictions. So if you are traveling with children in tow, always check to make sure they are welcomed at potential hotels. If not, look elsewhere for a more family-oriented vibe.
If you’re looking for luxury and indulgence in the city scene, hotel spas are the way to go. The may be pricey, but if you have the money to spend on a room and a treatment, go for it. The service and the relaxation you receive will be worth the money, no doubt about it.
