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Pamper yourself in Paradise: Fabulous Florida spas
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courtesy of Naples Marco Island Everglades CVB
If the sound of the waves gently rolling back and forth along the Gulf shore isn’t enough to relax you on the Paradise Coast, then you can take your serenity level one step deeper with a visit to one of Naples’ or Marco Island’s fabulous spas.
The Spa at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort
I felt so blissed out after receiving a Massage Medley (a Balinese-style massage using Hindu, European, and Chinese techniques) at this resort that I could have floated out of the treatment room. All the products used at this spa are a tribute to the ocean, creating a calming and uplifting effect. According to Balinese lore, water represents a mystical elixir of life believed to have the power to both purify and sanctify. A friend of mine was off down the hall receiving a Balinese tropical facial, to nourish her skin with vitamin-rich extracts of tropical fruits and plants. (When she reappeared, she was literally glowing.) Another option at this spa is the Bamboo Therapy Massage, which uses warm bamboo to reach deeper muscle layers, reducing tension and promoting lymphatic flow. Or try the South Pacific Sea Mud Wrap, and feel the stress leaving your body Big Time. Finish up with a Lavender and Rose Petal Bath in a hydrotherapy tub. Hypnotically heavenly!
The Spa on Fifth
I’ve already mentioned the Inn on Fifth’s boutique spa (with such elite body treatments as the Dead Sea Salt and Mineral Mud Scrub, the Japanese Green Tea Scrub and Wrap, and the Chocolate Raspberry Brown Sugar Scrub) in "Shopping in Paradise." What’s also worth mentioning is the spa’s cool “Feng Shui” design, its signature anti-aging facials, and the fact that it employs a therapist who specializes in CRT—cranial release therapy, which is especially good if you have stiffness in your neck and shoulders. (As a writer who spends so much time hunched over her laptop keyboard trying to meet deadlines, I’d be a good candidate for this place!)
Verde: The Spa at Bellasera
“Verde” is the Italian word for “green,” and this spa certainly lives up to its name, as it specializes in organic products. The hotel itself has a Florida Green Designation from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (along with 13 other lodgings in Collier County). Reducing its environmental footprint is a huge priority for Verde. Even its hair removal system uses a 100% natural soy product. Indulge in Verde’s Signature Organic Mojito Massage, which cools you off with a refreshing blend of organic cucumber, mint, and sugar.
SpaTerre at LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort
SpaTerre is a quiet retreat offering fine touches such as white bead-board walls and ceilings, mahogany wood floors, crystal wall sconces, and Cuban tiles. Special services (incorporating traditions of India, Indonesia, and Thailand) at SpaTerre include Tropical Essence Massage, and Reiki Healing Energy. Detoxify your stressed skin with a Caribbean Seaweed Body Mask, then soak in an intimate Japanese Relaxation Tub with aromatherapy-infused water, topped with fresh flower petals. If you have a daughter in tow, SpaTerre offers the Ultimate Teen Facial, created especially for young skin. (Mom could opt for an intensive anti-aging treatment at the same time!)
Golden Door Spa at the Naples Grande Beach Resort
I first stayed at this property when it was The Registry Resort & Club. Now it’s part of the Waldorf Astoria collection, and boasts a Golden Door Spa. The environment is awe-inspiring, with traditional Japanese architecture, serene gardens, and even a meditation maze. Soothing your soul is the Golden Door’s business. Try the Sun-Kissed Serenity Wrap, which envelops your body in a cool gel concentrated with marine nutrients. (Great for preserving your Florida tan and replacing the moisture the sun took away!) Or experience Clear My Head, a gentle massage on the muscle groups of your scalp. Relax and place your head in their hands.
The Spa: Hilton Marco Island
I was lucky enough to be a guest at this beautiful property years ago, but now it features a gorgeous new spa with ten treatment rooms. The Soother Scrub & Wrap polishes and softens your skin using a green olive stone and sea silk scrub. Bora Bora White Sand Body Polishing leaves the skin feeling velvety, applying Bora Bora white sand infused with lotus flower extract as an exfoliating body polish. You will smell as delicious as you feel! Each spa session can be enhanced by a Revitalizing Rain Shower, a detoxifying session in the Egyptian Steam Room, or a relaxing sweat in the Sauna. If all that soaking, massaging, and steaming has left you as limp as a spaghetti noodle, then check in to the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, and continue the relaxation process in the luxurious surroundings, heated pool and whirlpool spa and, best of all, a glorious beach just steps from your room. If you ever get tired of being pampered like royalty, the gentle waves of the ocean beckon. Stretch out on an inflatable raft and let the warm gulf current rock you. It’s just another day in Paradise.
What else to do in Paradise? This series on the Paradise Coast will help you scout out amazing vacation values, hit the best shops, find activities for kids, get in the mood for romance, and more.
Up next: Dining in Paradise.
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