In a battle of the “on the Park” day spas, who comes out on top?  It was a pretty tight competition between the Hilton on the Park Melbourne’s eforea Day Spa and the On the Park Rejuvenation Day Spa at the Sheraton on the Park, but in the end, there was a winner.

eforea

eforea at the Hilton had just undergone refurbishments when I visited in early January.  The ambiance was tranquil.  The spa, which is on the first floor of the hotel, shares a space with the fitness center and has no view of the park.  After checking in, I was shown to the women’s locker room.  It was very small – two bathroom stalls, two showers and one dressing room.  I was given a locker that had a robe, slippers and 1 towel which was very small.  After changing, I was taken to the relaxation room. It was very quiet and serene.  The treatments rooms are oversized and very nicely decorated.  The treatments start with a foot bath and bizarre ritual welcome where I was asked to pick a card from a deck, read it aloud and embody that word. There were incense and oils – a little too over the top for me.

The massage I got was incredibly relaxing and calming. The therapist was outstanding.  The spa was running a special when I was there, pay for 60 minutes and get 90 for the same price, so the value of the service compared to the price I paid was great.  I would absolutely return for another massage at eforea.  I also got a mini-manicure and regular pedicure.  I thought the mani/pedi were extremely overpriced.  The pedicure was good, but not exceptional, and the manicure was just fair.  I actually felt like I needed another manicure the next day.

After my services, I took a shower – the water pressure was awesome – and quickly discovered the one towel really wasn’t enough.  However, there were no attendants in the locker room, so I just made do.  In addition, there were no amenities like a hair dryer or body lotion in the locker room.

In summary, I thought eforea had a great atmosphere and the massage was worth returning for.  Overall, the spa lacked some of the amenities you expect at a high-priced hotel day spa.

eforea Day Spa Photos

On the Park Rejuvenation Day Spa

Rejuvenation is on the 22^nd floor of the Sheraton and shares a space with the fitness center and indoor swimming pool.  The reception area was congested with sweaty people in gym clothes looking for towels and locker keys.  Having to walk through the pool area – which had wet floors and smelled of chlorine – to get to the treatment rooms detracted from the overall experience.     There was no ambiance at all.

While small, the treatment rooms offer spectacular views of the park and harbor.  It was great to look at the beautiful tree-filled park and St. Mary’s Cathedral while getting a pedicure.   The pedicure was expensive, but very good.  Unlike the mani/pedi I had at eforea, I really enjoyed the one at Rejuvenation and would totally return for another.  I didn’t partake in any other services on this trip, but would absolutely give it another visit.

In summary, the Rejuvenation at Sheraton on the Park was expensive, but the views were spectacular and the service very good.  I would return again.

Rejuvenation Day Spa Photos:

I made great use of the Center for Well Being during my stay at the Phoenician Scottsdale. I splurged on several treatments including a Thai Foot Massage with Thai White Dirt and Lime scrub (surprisingly refreshing); a neck, shoulder and back massage – Anna, the therapist, was great; a facial – not the best facial I ever had, but certainly not the worst. I’m not sure the facial was worth what they were charging for it though.

I also got an Ice Cream manicure and pedicure – I choose peach “ice-cream” scented products (this mani/pedi was the same price as the standard mani/pedi) and didn’t really stand out other than the smell of the products. I get a manicure and pedicure at least twice a month and I’ve paid a full-range of prices – from the exorbitant to the ridiculously low –and I’d rank the manicure/pedicure services at the Phoenician at exorbitant and over-rated. The service was good, but not excellent – which I expect at a resort like this. There was nothing special about the salon area – where they offer mani/pedi and other nail serives, the polish choices were limited, and the atmosphere wasn’t very relaxing.

I would absolutely recommend the massage services – Anna especially – and never thought twice about the resort rates I was paying. If you like to pamper your feet and legs, the Thai Foot Massage is a great way to go. I was taken back to Thailand for at least 50 minutes! The spa was very relaxing and offered a variety of classes and services throughout the day. I had hoped to try Thai-Chi, but it’s only offered on Thursdays.

The women’s locker room was very clean and stocked with great creature comforts (lotions, shampoos, etc…). The showers stuck out for me – the water pressure was amazing and I could have stayed in there for hours! They also offered a hot and dry sauna (not sure why you’d need that – just step outside and sizzle!), hot tub, relaxation/meditation room, plenty of water, iced-tea and hot tea (again, the hot tea was lost on me.) I did take time to enjoy the relaxation/meditation room. It was comfortable, had plenty of sunlight and a very relaxing fountain. Use of the spa facilities is complimentary with any 50 minute service. I was a bit surprised by the fake flowers used to decorate throughout and couln’t quite tell if the greenery was real or not. Overall, the atmosphere was one of relaxation.

I’ve now been to the spa at the JW Marriott Scottsdale, the spa at the Fairmont Princess and the Center for Well Being at the Phoenician. I like the spa amenities at the JW Marriot the best – they have a full-size pool, restaurant, and very spacious locker-room. The variety of services at the Phoenician definitely stands out among the three. However, if you’re looking for the most luxurious spa, head to the Fairmont Princess. The nail services at the JW Marriott far outshine the Phoenician – and in fact, if I had to do it over again, I’d head over to Bliss at the W Scottsdale for nail services in the future.

I had the chance to visit Escape on a recent trip to NYC. The concierge at my hotel – Le Parker Meridien – arranged the manicure, pedicure appointment for me. I was fully expecting a high-priced spa and was very pleasantly surprised to find very reasonable prices.

The spa is located on the ground level at 101 West 55th Street close to 6th Ave and they’re open 7 days a week. It’s very clean and welcoming day spa with a full array of services ranging from nail services, waxing, massage, facials and skin treatments. The staff is very friendly and professional. My pedicure was relaxing and left my feet glowing. I was so amazed by the reasonable prices ($35 pedicure and $29 manicure) that I added on a 30-minute reflexology treatment. While everyone I met was great and the services were wonderful, I was especially thrilled with the reflexology treatment from Georgiana. I was so relaxed and would go back any day of the week to see her!

I had the opportunity to meet the owner, Emila. She was very friendly and hospitable. She has built the spa from the ground up and runs an amazing business. I loved my visit to Escape and will definitely be back!! I highly recommend you check it out if you’re looking for something 100 times better than the typical factory style Asian nail salon at prices that can’t be beat!