out
TAKE A SPA-CATION
Boulders Resort & Spa The Spa at the Boulders is a 33,000-square-foot gem with sweeping views of the 12-million-year-old boulder formations nearby. The facility incorporates elements of feng shui and a Zen-like ambiance while staying true to the natural environs and Native American influences of the region. Guests can enjoy the yoga studio, steam room, sauna and Ofuro (a Japanese soaking tub), as well as an outdoor pool and hot tub. The facility also offers the Sun Suite, a 700-square-foot space tailor-made for girlfriend getaways with a private whirlpool, terrace and outdoor fireplace, steam showers, a private patio, outdoor shower, private hot tub, and indoor and outdoor massage tables. www.theboulders.com.
Girlfriend getaways without the jet lag
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BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
urely most of us have ventured to a local spa for a massage, facial or scrub. But if you’re simply changing into your robe and heading straight to the treatment room, you’re most definitely missing out. Several local resort spas specialize in full days of relaxing, restorative activities for you and your gal pals (whether you’re resort guests or not) to enjoy together beyond only treatments.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess The 44,000-square-foot Well & Being Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers everything from aerial hammock yoga and aqua fit yoga to a eucalyptus inhalation room and an aromatherapy blending bar. Among regular patrons’ favorite ways to spend a day with the girls are congregating on the scenic rooftop pool, complete with food and drink offerings, as well as taking a dip in the indoor/outdoor hot tub areas that are connected and usable in any season. Thanks to a recent remodel, there is also a formal grotto area that is perfect for relaxing, lunch or even cocktails. In coming months, the spa will also launch wall yoga and singing bowl sound therapy, which has been used for centuries for healing and meditation purposes. www.scottsdaleprincess.com. Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch Carved out of the beauty of the Sonoran Desert, Spa Avania provides a holistic, total-immersion spa experience. The retreat’s newest addition is the Himalayan Salt Room, which is a method of inhaling pure, dry, micronized salt air that boosts the immune system – and it can be done as a group. Friends can also balance their chakras in the chromatherapy steam room, enjoy spa cuisine in the relaxation area, and even have a cocktail and catch the rays by the French-Celtic mineral pool. www.hyattscottsdale.com. Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia The 31,000-square-foot Joya Spa is truly the heart of the Montelucia. Joya is Arizona’s only Hammam treatment spa, a rejuvenating Moroccan-inspired hot and cold bathing ritual for all the girls to do together in a women’s-only area (yes, there is one for men, too). Spa amenities include a private rooftop terrace and pool, steam room, sauna, cold deluge, and a whirpool along with female and coed candle-lit “whisper rooms” lined with linen draped beds for lounging or taking a siesta. www.joyaspa.com.
Bonus Girls’ Day Idea: Try the Four Seasons Scottsdale’s aroma design bar parties. Guided by a dedicated “Alchemista,” guests are invited to explore thousands of aromatherapy combinations to create rich, custom-blended body butters or polishes enhanced with essential oils. www.fourseasonsscottsdale.com.
SO SCOTTSDALE! |
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| SEPTEMBER 2017