Glamorous Getaways: A Special Day at Eau Spa in Palm Beach, Florida!
With social media playing such a big role in our lives these days it's hard to keep anything secret and if we're friends on Facebook you might have heard I had a birthday last week. If not, well, the jig is up and yes, it's true, I'm 29 (again) but more importantly I wanted to share a special birthday experience I had thanks to my thoughtful husband who booked an appointment for me at the fabulous Eau Resort & Spa in Palm Beach. This wasn't just any appointment, however, and instead of my usual Swedish massage I was treated to...something very special.
Let me start by saying since my first visit to Eau Spa - I was completely smitten! It's stunningly beautiful and glamorous and is one of my favorite places to relax and unwind after a stressful month or to celebrate a special occasion with my girlfriends. The spa's mantra is "Pause, Play and Perfect" which reflects the idea of taking time out, and treating yourself to some well deserved "me time" - what's not to love about that? The spa itself is an impressive 42,000 square feet consisting of a beautiful candle-lit wishing well (where you’re asked to pause and make a wish before your service), a "Self-Centered" courtyard garden, scrub and polish bars, hair and nail salon, fitness center, sauna, whirlpool and luxurious treatment rooms. It's easy to see why it is one of only 48 spas in the world to have received a Five-Star rating from Forbes Travel Guide.
The special birthday treatment Steve booked for me was The Imperial Geisha, a 90 minute experience consisting of, "a hand drawn bath of exotic florals, oriental teas, and precious oils combined with a hand washing and polishing of the skin, a delicate dry buff, and a warm butter and silk massage." One thing I love about the spa is that each treatment room has a whimsical name like Villa Vain or Villa Selfish. I received my treatment in Villa Play, a larger room complete with two massage tables, matching chaise lounges and an adjacent private outdoor terrace. After an invigorating 15 minute body polish, Val, my wonderful masseuse, drew a bath for me in the outdoor bathtub. It's not just every day you're taking a bath in your "birthday suit" in a gorgeous Victoria + Albert outdoor tub, but any sense of modesty quickly dissipated as I slipped into the tub and the mixture of warm water and fragrant oils melted every ounce of tension from my body. This special al fresco space also featured a soothing fountain, shower and lots of lush greenery to ensure privacy - I quickly grew attached to my private little oasis. After a glorious 15 minute soak, I heard Val discreetly knock on the sliding glass door, my signal to return inside, and I reluctantly reached for my towel.
A 60 minute massage followed but not before I was able to select the lighting color and music genre for the room – talk about customized services! Instead of regular massage oil, a rich, decadent Red Flower body butter was used for the Imperial Geisha which was a very welcome and luxurious change. The warm bath prior to the massage was so relaxing within minutes I was nodding off as Val worked her magic! When my service was over I floated out of Villa Play on a cloud and I was even further delighted by a plate of mini birthday cupcakes, a signature spa indulgence. I prolonged the Imperial Geisha-induced bliss by relaxing in one of the swinging chairs in the “Self-Centered” Garden while I waited for Steve to meet me for a late lunch and Champagne (see video below for some bubbly fun!) at Temple Orange, the hotel's Mediterranean restaurant. Needless to say it was the perfect ending to a very special birthday.The next time you're in the mood for a spa day, pop on over to Eau Spa for the fabulous Imperial Geisha, a 60 minute Swedish massage or whatever service suits your mood (for a list of spa services, please click here). You should also plan on arriving early and/or staying late since your spa service includes a free day pass to the spa grounds and amenities. You'll definitely want to take the time to linger for a soak in the whirlpool or enjoy an al fresco lunch in the garden - it is, after all, the perfect opportunity to pause, play and perfect - birthday or not.Eau Resort & Spa 100 South Ocean Boulevard Manalapan, Florida 33462 561.540.4960Imperial Geisha Treatment: 90 Minutes for $299