The Spa Treatment That Relaxes You Before Your Spa Treatment

Where: Carr Canc�n-Tulum KM 62, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, 77710

October 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM | by MsRebecca | Comments (2)

Here's the thing about spa treatments: in cities like NYC, we could get the best massage ever but our zen totally evaporates when we step out onto the streets or hit the subway. In resort locations, we're often so relaxed by the warm breeze and a margarita that hitting up the hotel spa is an afterthought.

But! We have now experienced a spa treatment that has made our skin sparkle and taken away all our worries in the process--and it all took place before we even stepped inside the treatment room for our massage.

It's called the Riviera Maya Water Journey, and you'll find it at the huge, $15-million Spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. The concept of a water journey is not new, but what struck us about this one was how detailed the multi-process step was and how helpful it was to have a spa attendant guide us through the whole thing. (Often when we see all those pools and showers, we just hop from one to the other, willy nilly, which is fun, but doesn't always lead to the desired state of mush.)

The Riviera Maya Water Journey is included when you book any treatment over $50, but you can also purchase it without booking an additional treatment for $60, and it's totally worth it. You'll need to arrive at least an hour before your scheduled appointment if you are getting a massage or other service--and remember to wear your bathing suit.

The spa attendant explains what each step actually does to your body and skin along the way--which we found fascinating at the time and have since forgotten in the floaty aftermath that followed. But suffice to say, the process helps to flush toxins, clear your mind, exfoliate your skin, and leave it baby soft.

Here are the steps:

1. Sauna
2. Color Therapy Steam Room: Kind of like a relaxing disco!
3. Clay Room

The Clay Room

4. Ice Room: Slap it on your skin and scrub.
5. Sensation Showers: Warm and soft, now cold and hard!
6. Sensations Pool with different areas: a sensory pebble walkway (you kinda feel like an old fogey, just walking through water, but the cool temp gets your blood pumping); cascades of water you let pound your shoulders, back, neck or wherever you like; bubble beds--you can see them in the photo up top and they are as awesome as they sound; neck massage jets; a bubble geyser jet (just like being in a hot tub) and the large, warm chlorine-free pool to float about in.

7. Hot Tub and Cold Plunge: After the bliss of the big pool, the cold plunge can feel like a slap in the face but the spa attendant insisted it was the best way to end the journey.

We obliged, with a five-second dip and then plopped onto a lounger by the indoor jungle for a quick pre-massage nap. See what we mean? Next time we'll just skip the massage.

Disclaimer: While we were hosted by Grand Velas, we've seen many a hotel spa and all opinions of this one are our own.

[Photos: Courtesy Grand Velas Riviera Maya]

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