Blissful Girls’ Day at the Spa
One of my New Year’s resolutions was to spend more time with my girlfriends and to take better care of my physical health. What better way to accomplish both than with a Girlfriend Getaway weekend. On the list of must-dos were spa treatments, wine tasting and gourmet meals. Finding the perfect location for our weekend was an easy choice. My favorite wine country resort, The Flamingo, has an on-premise spa that I was dying to try.
To plan the perfect spa visit, I had a lengthy conversation with the spa’s director, Mary Lou Chwierut, to ask for recommendations on treatments. We arrived early to the spa to slip into the plush robes at the Spa at Montecito Heights so that we could enjoy the sauna, steam and jacuzzi before our scheduled treatments. I had arranged in advance to have a bottle of chilled champagne to greet us at the spa. Once we were suitably attired in the relaxation room, they brought us flutes of champagne. Let the relaxation begin!
Mary Lou joined us to talk with us about our afternoon schedule. I had arranged for a ginger scrub body treatment under their Vichy rain shower, followed by a 25-minute massage. My friend was signed up for the Anti-Aging body treatment which included dry brush exfoliation, a green tea serum application, and a 25-minute massage. We concluded our treatments with a 50-minute Foot Ritual while drinking champagne in the same treatment room.
My treatment incorporated a ginger salt scrub, the aroma of which was intoxicating, causing me to immediately slip into a deep state of relaxation. With all of the gentle exfoliation and warm water cascading over my body, I was in heaven. The 25-minute massage removed the last bits of tension in my neck and shoulders. It seemed to last forever, sigh. After the treatment my skin was incredibly soft and smooth.
Afterward, I was guided back to the relaxation room to await the foot treatment. My girlfriend joined me and we sipped champagne and compared our treatments. We were ushered to a comfortable room with subdued lighting and soothing music for our final treatment, the foot ritual. I thought we might talk while our feet were scrubbed, massaged, and soothed. But from the moment they provided a warm soothing towel and massaged peppermint oil into my temples, conscious thought was impossible. I settled in for the ministrations of the decadent foot massage and succumbed to a deep relaxed state without any need for conversation.
The foot ritual was one of the most decadent treatments I have ever experienced. Having someone apply a sugar scrub, soothing gel and a hot stone massage for 50 minutes is the ultimate in bliss. Every muscle in my legs and feet were completely relaxed. In total we spent nearly four hours at the spa and at the end of our sessions I felt completely pampered and relaxed. Whether you schedule a solo spa visit or go with friends, this is the perfect way to indulge.
If you are planning your own girlfriend getaway, The Spa at Montecito Heights is happy to custom-tailor the perfect spa time for you and your group. Book a room at the Flamingo Hotel, an iconic property that has been a haven for movie stars and celebrities since it opened in the 1950s. You will be able to enjoy live music in the lounge on weekends, a Champagne Sunday Brunch Buffet, and nearby wine tasting. Of course, the rooms are fabulous with comfortable beds, linens and pillows (and comfy robes) and room service is the perfect end to your spa day. During summer months the Flamingo’s famed Olympic-size pool is the perfect weekend escape for city dwellers. Read about why it is one of my top Bay Area pool choices.
Details: The Flamingo Resort and Spa at Montecito Heights are located in Santa Rosa, minutes from Sonoma wineries at 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, California. Visit their website or call to schedule your own weekend escape 707-545-8530.
