Have you ever found yourself dying for a vacation but just don't have the time? Dreaming of that beachside resort in the Caribbean or that desert spa oasis in Arizona but no vacation left for the year? Search no more Washingtonians! If you're looking to de-stress, such an escape exists. It's at the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington DC. As they say, sometimes "great things come in small packages." By "small", I mean a small time investment.
For a while, I'd been wanting to treat myself to this delectable spa. There are many spas in the Washington DC area, some quite excellent. However, a spa could have the best masseuses and aestheticians but somehow a spa's amenities and it's environment can make a more significant impression. Of course, I'm not saying a spa's amenities can make up for bad service. Not at all. But when I think of a spa, I think of the relaxation areas - the jacuzzi, the steam room, the lounging area. Most local spas just don't offer those things. You'd have to go to an all out resort to experience those luxuries. Somehow, to spend hundreds of dollars on a spa treatment while you're on vacation in the Turks and Caicos, for example, seems okay. After all, hey, you're on vacation. Why not? But when you're at home, to spend $250 on a spa treatment just seems downright ridiculous. Although I'd dreamed for years of going to the Spa at The Mandarin Oriental, I just couldn't bring myself to spend the money. When I got married, my dearest maid of honor told me, "I really wanted to give you a spa certificate at the Mandarin as a wedding gift but it was just too expensive!" I completely understood. Even my husband couldn't bring himself to spending that much on a massage when there are equally good massages at other spas. Why spend $250 on an 80 minute massage when you can get it for $150 elsewhere? For $250 at some spas, you can get a couple's massage. So, for a while the Mandarin Oriental remained a "pipe dream" of sorts. I'd just go to the website and sigh longingly as I browsed the photo gallery. It wasn't really the treatments that I wanted so badly. I was dying to try the relaxation area, the vitality pool, and the amethyst room.
How did I take the big plunge and spend the big bucks? Well, I didn't! Thanks to Spa Week, the Mandarin Oriental was offering a 40 minute "Back to Basics" exfoliation treatment with back, shoulder, and neck massage. How much? $120? $100? No, my friends. I paid $89.99, and that includes 19% gratuity. What a steal! The great thing about this is that I was told that the Mandarin has just recently reduced their prices on their spa menu. Most of their clientele is largely from the hotel but their new focus is to attract a local client base. Cutting the prices will certainly do that!
I booked my husband and me on a Friday late afternoon at 5:30. My husband works right across the street from the Mandarin Oriental, and I planned on meeting him right after work and just strolling over there. Unfortunately, my poor husband got sick and missed this great experience. I ended up going alone although not feeling all that great myself. But that feeling soon dissipated.
I was greeted by the people at the front desk quite graciously. I signed the little form stating whatever health problems I have which is commonly done at many spas. Afterward, I was presented with a hot towel and cup of hot tea. "Hmm...that's nice!" I'm always impressed by hot towel service whether it be at a Chinese restaurant or on an airplane. That goes such a long way! My spa appointment was off to a good start.
After presenting me with flip flops on a wooden tray and taking my shoes away, the lady at the front desk escorted me to the locker room. The walls, the floors, the counters looked to be made of marble or some sort of granite. Forgive me if I don't know exactly what the rooms were made of, but I think you get the point. Everything looked like it belonged to a high-end hotel or resort. The relaxation area was a dimmed room with a row of nice lounge beds and "Enya-esque" music playing in the background. In that area too was a counter with a selection of beverages and teas. I also noticed a basket of apples.
I intended to arrive 45 minutes before my treatment, but I arrived about 25 minutes beforehand. Needless to say, after the whole presentation ritual and tour around the spa, I only had about 5 minutes before my treatment started. The pools and steam room would have to wait.
My massage was great! I have no complaints. After a short consultation, she began with a scrub on my back and then worked on my upper back, head, and shoulders. Those are my particular problem areas, so the massage was perfect for me. The masseuse was very nice and engaging. I figured out at this appointment that I do enjoy conversing during a massage. I find that it distracts me from the blood running to my face while I'm face down on the table. I really hate that numbing feeling. But that's not the masseuse's fault! She did a great job, and I believe I'm enjoying the benefits of her skills right now. I feel no tension in my shoulder and neck area.
The feature of this spa that I was most excited to see and try out is what the Spa calls the "Heat and Water Experience." This area consists of a vitality pool (a beautiful jacuzzi), an amethyst room (a steam room), and an "experience shower" (a very "nifty" shower). The men's and women's areas have their own relaxation areas. As a result, "clothing is optional" in these areas. That's not exactly my thing, so I brought a swimsuit which is perfectly acceptable. First I tried the vitality pool. There's a little silver button that you can push that will turn the jets on in the jacuzzi. There are areas in the jacuzzi to sit or lie down if you prefer. I chose to sit. When I tried to lie down, the jets were so strong they were blowing my legs out of the water.
Next was the amethyst room. The seating in the steam room was quite unique. It wasn't the typical seating that you usually find in a steam room. It was really more like ergonomic, contemporary furniture made out of green, "jade-like" tile. There was even something shaped like a coffee table in the middle, where you can set your cup of water or put your feet up (like I did).
After the amethyst room, I made my way to the "experience shower." This was no regular shower. There were 4 buttons: Tropical Shower, Cold Mist, Jets, and Water Gush (if I remember correctly). Each button brought on a different shower experience. Even the lights changed. It was quite invigorating to do the "cold mist" right after being in the heat of the amethyst room. After the "cold mist", I found myself cold and I pushed on "tropical shower" which was basically like being in a warm rainstorm. I kind of felt like a little kid testing out all the buttons over and over again.
Although, my treatment was 40 minutes, I pretty much hung out at the spa for another 1 hour. I truly believe that extra 1 hour of relaxation time makes all the difference. That 1 hour is the "escape" I was referring to earlier. For a moment, as I was sitting in the vitality pool, I really forgot I was in Washington DC. It felt like I was on vacation in some exotic locale. It's so much better than getting a massage, and running out the door to go back to work or get back to life. What I really enjoyed was the opportunity to relish and really enjoy the experience. The Spa at the Mandarin Oriental provides the opportunity to luxuriate and to savor every moment. It's what a spa experience should be like.
I know we all have our "go to" spas. They're those places we get our nails done or where we get our regular haircut. By all means, continue to go to those places. But if you're looking for a real "getaway" experience - go to the Mandarin Oriental.
Check this out: http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/535000004.asp&spa_id=3231
