Spa Reviews

PSYC at THE PARKER PALM SPRINGS, Palm Springs, CA
This is the former home of the stately and somewhat stuffy Givenchy Spa, but you’d never know it, now that designer du jour, Jonathan Adler, has left his playful imprint all over it. Fun is the key word here, and this spa aims to make the whole experience one big party, albeit a stylish one with fine (read fattening and flavorful) food and drink. Where else can you order a cocktail called “Drink Your Facial,” a vodka-based concoction infused with lavender from the spa’s herb garden? PSYC stands for Palm Springs Yacht Club, a tongue-in-cheek name that’s meant to call to mind the country club era of the 1950s. I like the nautical-inspired interior with its crisp, bold navy-and-white striped floor-to-ceiling drapes, and the deep blue of the treatment room walls. (The locker rooms here are also quite nice.) Says spa director, Ursula, “We want you to let your hair down. We’re not going to change your life, yes, we have wonderful treatments, but most people come and want to relax, want to go out to dinner, have a drink, and not feel guilty about it.” PSYC is a great getaway for small groups of friends who want to eat, drink, and be merry—and have a decent spa treatment or two.
www.theparkerpalmsprings.com

SEDONA ROUGE, Sedona, AZ
I’m not entirely sold on this newcomer and am curious to see how it develops as a spa. The plus: It’s headed up by veteran spa director, Toni Nurnberg, who opened Sedona’s luxe property, Mii amo, a destination spa at Enchantment. Toni has a knack for hiring experienced, dedicated, and passionate therapists who have that special healing touch. But she and the spa have some special hurdles to overcome. The largest is the spa’s awkward, poorly planned, and somewhat cold design—too institutional. It’s worth checking out, however, if you like Arizona, and Sedona in particular, as much as I do. The treatments are quite good. I tried a shea butter body treatment that used a very nice organic local product. Make sure to stay in one of the spa’s suites located in the same building as the spa itself. Each suite comes equipped with a huge whirlpool tub in the center of the room, but the layout of the bathrooms leaves a lot to be desired. This is a good spa for those spa newbies who may feel somewhat intimidated by spas in general. A good spa bargain, as well, as a friendly hotel staff.
www.sedonarouge.com

AYOMA LIFESPA, San Jose, CA
Looking for the real deal when it comes to Ayurvedic treatments? Then look no further than this unpretentious little spa located on the fifth floor of the boutique Hotel Valencia. I was not only taken by its coziness and authentic treatments, but by the well-trained staff—all of whom have been properly educated by Ayoma’s founder, Reenita Malhotra, an Ayurvedic clinician and author of the book Inner Beauty. I haven’t felt this nurtured at a spa in a very, very long time (it’s no wonder the spa was recently voted the Best Alternative Spa by San Jose magazine). My favorite treatment? The Taila Seka, (meant to rejuvenate the nervous system and address skeletal disorders) in which the body is covered in warm Rasayan oil and massaged with special attention to the joints.
www.ayomalifespa.com