Mud never felt so good. A relaxing treatment is given on the patio at SK Sanctuary. Courtesy of SK Sanctuary
Local spas serve up delicious new ways to de-stress
It's been a crazy, crisis-filled year and now the holidays are coming. What we all need is a surefire way to de-stress. Can you say spa?
This month we go local, with a trio of spas offering treatments good enough to eat. And they're not just for women. All three report that a third of their clients are men.
Let's start with the ultimate gift for your face: the 90-minute Caviar Facial at SK Sanctuary, a peaceful retreat on busy La Jolla Boulevard. From the moment you step in the door, it feels like a sanctuary, with a comforting sense of old world elegance.
Many of the therapists have been here a long time - a good sign - and lead esthetician Bobbi Hamilton definitely has magic hands. This is not your grandma's idea of a facial. It's a luxury foot, leg, hand, arm, chest, neck, shoulder and scalp treatment too.
The ingredients sound as luscious as they feel: neroli, spirulina and, of course, caviar - not the fish-eggs themselves, but their high-protein essence.
You'll be cleansed, toned, acu-lifted, oxygenated, nourished, massaged and thoroughly blissed-out. No wonder so many La Jollans come in for a facial just before a big event. "It's my favorite treatment," said Sylvia Lopez, assistant spa director.
Splurge on the Caviar Facial, or take advantage of SK's pre-holiday discounts on Thai Massage or Wednesday and Friday evening specials on European Facials and Massages. More information: (858) 459-2400 or www.sk-sanctuary.com.
For fancy footwork, head inland to the Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn, recently voted the #1 resort spa in North America by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Lead manicurist Marae Wenzel thinks what makes the spa a winner is its level of service.
"We all try to go above and beyond to help guests feel pampered and well taken care of," Wenzel said.
The newest form of pampering here is the Made Fresh Daily treatment, designed to match the season. This month, it's a wine and clove pedicure, a kind of facial for your feet. After a clove oil footbath, a sea-salt scrub, a mask of red wine and clay, and a sole-soothing massage, comes the pedicure…along with a tray of appetizers and wine to help the rest of you relax.
Even football players come in for pedicures, Wenzel said, though they skip the polish.
"They need to take care of their feet too," Wenzel said.
Treatment rooms look out on the lovely landscaping, and you're welcome to sunbathe or swim in the saltwater pool. Next month Made Fresh Daily offers coffee and vanilla body treatments. More information: (858) 675-8471 or www.ranchobernardoinn.com.
For a total head-to-toe experience, try one of the Signature Massage Rituals at the Spa at L'Auberge Del Mar. Each treatment uses the products of a different region, like Morocco, Asia or Polynesia. As spa director Jeannette Handson said: "These are very stressful times and our clients want to get away from it all. So we've created a way to bring a piece of the world to your own backyard."
The Amazonian Escapade includes a foot rub, a red coral body scrub and wrap, and a creamy, deep-tissue massage with cacao and guarana, a Brazilian plant rich in antioxidants. A nice touch is the face and scalp massage while your body's under wraps.
If you haven't seen the renovated L'Auberge yet, it's a whole new place, open and airy, with a spacious terrace, pool, hot tub and bar-restaurant looking out toward the sea. For an added treat after your treatment, have a drink and a bite to eat at the outdoor Bleu Bar.
A new spa is now under construction, due to open next spring. But why wait? L'Auberge is offering a pre-holiday gift to readers of this column - 15 percent off all treatments 50 minutes or longer. More information: (858) 259-1515 or www.laubergedelmar.com.
Next month: Pampered, Part Two: A destination spa getaway offers a world of delights. Every month, this column will feature some hotspot, near or far - a cool place to eat, meet, and expand your horizons.
Hot Tips - Go a half-hour early for your treatment so you have time to enjoy the facilities, shower and unwind. - Ask about gift certificates for the special people on your holiday list.
Lonnie Burstein Hewitt Lonnie is a freelance writer. Comments can be made about Lonnie's articles by e-mail.
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