Spring clean your stress with Si Si Penaloza‘s spa-rty suggestions…
For stressed out multi-taskers, hitting two birds with one stone has always had major appeal. Now more than ever, time-crunched women are mingling primping and grooming time at the spa with socially catching up with friends. Spa days need not be a solitary pursuit. With spa-rty culture and protocols now firmly entrenched thanks to pioneer spas like Aria Las Vegas, we see more and more spas catering to groups and private bookings. Vv Magazine is pleased to present an unscientific rundown of where to spa-rty based on pop culture parallels of your group dynamic.
For the Hannah, Marnie, Jessa and, Shoshanna tribe…
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The Spa at Regent Palms Turks and Caicos boasts an impressive 26,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor facility at the Caribbean island resort. With so much tranquil space to sprawl, let’s just say a foursome known for drama would have a hard time finding anything to moan about. The sheer real estate would keeping bickering to a minimum.
A mere sashay away from a creamy white beach and sparkling sapphire waters of Grace Bay, The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos is ranked among the Caribbean’s very top hotels. Doting Hotel Manager Roland Georges cultivates the consummate grace of the resort’s refined lifestyle with aplomb. Each precious day here tumbles spiritedly into the next. Little perks pile on bigger perks — a seriously delicious dash into the seal; charming nights reclined on your sprawling private terrace.
The spa is the spiritual heart of the resort, a thoughtful curation of holistic therapies drawn from around the world. The fusion of ancient health remedies and contemporary wellness technology offers a healing ritual for every need. A top-notch team of therapists serves up treatments with divine names like Mother of Pearl and Moonlight & Stars. Conceived by Angel Stewart of Golden Door fame, each standalone treatment room is surrounded by calming water and has its own unique water feature by day and fire feature by night. White-tented cabanas offer seclusion for traditional Caribbean herbal remedies and two spa suites are available for individual guests or a pair of girlfriends to customize as they wish.
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While some may assume hefty prices comes with such elite surroundings, The Regent Palms can be surprisingly accessible. In a market-savvy move — not unlike a Lanvin capsule collection at H&M — the starter rooms tick all the desired boxes while within reach of mere mortals (with a robust slush fund). It’s the hotel equivalent of a dreamy first date: rousing to the senses, without a hint of tedious baggage. Surrounded by such a luminous platinum sand coastline and lulled into such a state of spa bliss, you and your lady tribe could bury all kinds of hatchets and old gripes. That alone is priceless.
If you and your gal pals are more Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda…
Mandarin Oriental San Francisco, no contest. Best anti-aging facials in the business in a city adjacent to San Jose, aka “Man Jose.” According to a recent census, San Jose is the nation’s number one spot for women seeking eligible bachelors. Due to the tech scene in Silicon Valley, there are simply more men here than there are women. MOSF, here we come! Catering to intimate overtures, this is a cufflinks and kitten heels kind of hotel, where a magnum of Moet & Chandon is always on ice. Score top marks by wearing a pressed white linen shirt, minus points for mobile devices at the dinner table. The suites are luxuriously appointed, revealing their most alluring face at dusk. In-room binoculars are placed for guests to drink in the spectacular views. Stare out onto a panorama of technicolour skyscrapers, frosted cocktail in hand, watching one of the world’s wealthiest cities light up. The vibe in the common areas is discreet, sexy, and high-tech, not to mention intimate by San Francisco standards.
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As the only Forbes Travel Guide 5-star rated spa in the city, the spa at Mandarin Oriental San Francisco over-delivers at every turn. Tackle that middle-aged spread in a spa setting like no other. An afternoon here is like hiding away in that childhood dollhouse you always wanted, but with spa snacks and posh terry robes. The intimate scale of the spa is perfect for small groups — if one party books four or five appointments, you’ll pretty much trigger a de facto “takeover” for the afternoon. The service here is so seamless and discreet, which is in perfect harmony with this hushed, adults-only haven. It’s a stunningly luxe oasis of calm, where treatments take you well out of reality and into a world of drool-worthy pampering.
If there’s anything that HBO’s Sex and the City taught us, it’s that when you’re celebrating the big moments in life — from anniversaries to IPOs — you’ve got to splurge a little. And a spa-rty at the Mandarin Oriental San Francisco paired with a divine dinner at The Naked Kitchen sets the gold standard for splurge-worthy experiences. While other so-called luxury hotels make cutbacks that have you surviving on bog standard perks, Mandarin Oriental reveres what is sacred to the jet set: Moet & Chandon and caviar. MOSF offers over 550 selections of wines from around the world and over 35 varieties of gin at Brasserie S&P.
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For Aria, Emily, Spencer and Hanna types…
Considering you’ve all already been blessed with Bambi legs, doe eyes, and photo-finish skin — do you really need a spa-rty? The answer is yes. It’s so much more about the bonding ritual than the mere cosmetic result alone. A group of friends that has endured emotional upheaval or loss can benefit from a week of reflection and restoration.
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Our prescription? The Body Holiday in St. Lucia. When a resort grandly calls itself Body Holiday, you know they plan on pampering you senseless. At this adults-only spa resort, you customize your own “body holiday” online before you even leave home. Once there, indulge in aromatherapy, Ayurvedic treatments, wraps, and personal-trainer services. Sure, there’s a focus on exercise, but this is not just a venue for fitness bunnies, as a one-week stay comes with a sweet tally of seven 50-minute treatments. There are no buff loudmouths punishing you with an extra set of reps. Hammock swaying is a perfectly acceptable alternative to jump-rope drills. British songbirds such as the late Amy Winehouse, Charlotte Church, and Emma Bunton have all visited this health retreat to get back to basics.
What are your thoughts on the art of the spa-rty and would you spa-rty at these top picks? Let Vv Magazine know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.