What To Expect On A Spa Day At The ST. Regis
My ultimate self-care fantasy has always involved a visit to a luxury spa for a relaxing day of being pampered and massaged. It may seem weird *extremely weird* that my earliest memory of this type of self-care actually stems from a scene in Big Momma’s House 2. If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about. Big Momma (played by comedian Martin Lawrence) goes to the spa with the rich mom, whose husband she's spying on. Then ensues a laughable calamity of events involving a hot stone massage, a fat suit, and a mud bath. Ever since then, I've wanted to go to a spa for a hot stone massage, a cucumber facial, and maybe a mud bath. I may not have been able to tick off everything on that list, but I was finally able to have my relaxing, luxury spa day at the St. Regis in Atlanta.
Part of the birthday gift to myself was to book a massage at a luxury hotel or resort for a one-day trip. My first choices were the spas at the Château Élan or the Four Seasons Atlanta. However, due to a lack of availability at the Château Élan and the prices at the Four Seasons, I had to find another option. After considering several luxury hotels in the peach state, I settled on the St. Regis Atlanta. The pricing, availability, range of services, and distance from my home were suitable for a one-day trip.
I’d splurged on my birthday brunch at the Waldorf, so I decided to just book one service for my spa day at the St. Regis. It had been months since I’d had a massage and that’s exactly what my tense shoulders needed. Once you go to the St. Regis Atlanta Spa website, you must click Reservations to book. It will present all of the spa services and their prices such as, massages, facials, body treatments, and nails. I clicked on massages and chose the 50 minute relaxation massage for $170. They also give you the option to choose any available date and time, as well as your choice of a male or female technician. Once you reserve your day, time, and tech, you’re good to go! What’s even better is that you don't have to pay right away. You put a card on file and only pay after the time of services.
I’m at least 2 hours from Atlanta, so I had to carefully plan my day to ensure I didn’t get stuck in traffic. I also had to decide where I would eat during my trip, so I set out pretty early to make it into downtown Atlanta before the rush hour traffic. It’s also important to note that you need to arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. I’ll explain why in a bit.
THE SPA EXPERIENCE honestly starts before you even get to the spa. The valet’s were extremely welcoming, and when I asked them how to get to the spa, I was given great directions, told to enjoy it, and that I deserved it. I agree, a spa day is always well-deserved. After grabbing my bag and handing off my keys, I entered the main lobby. It was not my first time in a luxury hotel, but the St. Regis is out of this world beautiful. It has a vintage elegance with it’s marble interior, large staircases, glass chandeliers, and grand piano at the entrance. It feels a bit out of place in the large, urban city of Atlanta which makes the experience even more unforgettable.
I took the elevator up to the third floor for the spa. Once you get off and turn the corner, you can see the entrance to the spa pool. That wasn’t my destination, so I continued through the doors where I was greeted by a hostess. I was told to sit and wait for an attendant to take me back to the spa.
My attendant brought me back and began the tour of the entire spa. It was a bit small and cramped, especially the locker room where you undress and leave your personal belongings, but there weren’t very many guests to bump into. She showed me the vanity room full of mirrors and counters for hair and makeup. There was an additional private powder room, a couple of showers, a sauna room, and then the waiting room. It’s important to arrive early in order to get the tour and to enjoy the showers, sauna, waiting rooms, and free amenities before your services.
I undressed, locked my belongings in a locker, and put on the fresh robe and sandals which were given to me. While I waited for my massage, I had a cup of tea brought out to sip on as I reclined in one of the lounge chairs.
Like everyone else, my massage tech was very polite and thoughtful. She asked how my day had been while taking me back to the dimly lit room. Then I was given the choice of picking the essential oils she would use during my massage. I chose the eucalyptus oil and was then directed to take off my robe and get underneath the covers. When she came back in, she began the 50 minute full body massage.
I have to say, I felt so relaxed and like a new woman when I came out of that room. I was also really tired after such an intense massage. It was great to be able to spend a few minutes in the sauna afterwards. Then I took my time getting dressed and reapplying my makeup in the private vanity room.
Things to do after…
After paying for my service and retrieving my car from the valet, it was time to go grab something to eat. It's Atlanta, so you can never leave without dining at one of the many great restaurants they have. I wish I could say I dined at the Regis or any other popular restaurant in the upscale Buckhead area, but I didn't. Don't come for me, readers! I had to grab something from my favorite fusion restaurant, Taqueria Tsunami. It's not very often that I get to eat there, so I have to seize every available opportunity. However, there are plenty of places you can discover on your next trip to ATL. You could dine at one of the several St. Regis restaurants like The Astor Court, The Garden Room, or Atlas. They even offer Afternoon Tea in the Astor Court, which is something I've been dying to try. Alternatively, you can head next door to Velvet Taco for "the best tacos in Atlanta", or the inner-city beach bungalow, Yebo Beach Haus (which is on my list of places to dine at).
“One of the best solo dates I had taken myself on in a long time,”
Rating of Experience 5/5
Once I finished my margarita and quesadilla at Taqueria Tsunami, I left the vibrant and bustling city of Atlanta to go home. It was one of the best solo dates I had taken myself on in a long time, and I can't wait to do it again. I highly recommend the St. Regis of Atlanta for a spa day. The quality of service, coupled with the free amenities, showers, and sauna, made it a truly worthwhile experience. I felt the price was fair given how much you get to enjoy during your stay. Plus, the booking was super easy, and I didn't have any trouble finding an open slot to fit my schedule. A round of applause for an easy and unforgettable solo trip!
Let me know if you’ve had a stay at the St. Regis and enjoyed their spa services!
