Woodlands Inn, shown, uses Charleston Massage & Flexibility Center services (Newbern photo)
By Kathy Newbern and J.S. Fletcher © 2009
Summerville, SC's tres elegant Woodlands Inn does not have a "spa" per se, so how is it that we managed to get one of our best spa services we've ever had here?
Chalk it up to smart planning and a strategic alliance.
When you are only one of four properties in the country to hold a five-star, five-diamond rating (another one is Wynn Las Vegas) and you don't have a spa on site, you know you need a plan.
Woodlands Inn very wisely turned to Charleston Massage and Flexibility Center to contract for professional spa services.The property has converted a guest room into a well-designed setup: two comfortable treatment rooms outfitted to handle body treatments, facials, manicure and pedicures. There is also a changing area with shower/bathroom facilities; however, since most patrons - like us - are hotel guests, they simply wear the complimentary robe and slippers from their room to walk to the second-floor spa room. (And yes, you'll be the envy of anyone you pass along the way as they murmur, "spa" when you pass.)
There, we met Johnny Zecopoulos, fit, 30s, shaved head, extremely cordial. He's been a masseuse for 13 years and is one of the regular therapists for Woodlands Inn guests. Certain guests regularly request him; the same is true for other therapists who work here. Frankly, when we return, we'll definitely ask for Johnny.
We each had separate one-hour massages with him and the key difference in his massage vs. others we've had is all the stretching he expertly incorporates.
When I (Kathy) was face up, he ran his arm up my back from hip level all the way to my ear, then even further to massage the lower base of my skull. Meanwhile, I felt the length of his arm working against my back muscles for a long massage all the way down that side.
"How can you do that?" I asked. His arm seemed excessively long.
"That's the flexibility," he said with a laugh.
"I like to say it's the best of both worlds," he explained of his approach to massage with so much stretching. "You'll get relaxation with the benefit of a more clinical approach. Most of my clients love it."
Chalk us up as new fans and this as one of the best massages we've had all over the world - definitely in our Top 10, and the vote was unanimous.
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International Travel Examiner J.S. Fletcher and spouse, Kathy M. Newbern, report on luxury destinations, spas and cruising around the globe. They are award-winning members of the Society of American Travel Writers and operate YourNovel.com their personalized romance novel business.
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