Couples Therapy:
The Best Spas for Two
Nob Hill Spa
"Not long ago, the spa was an oasis of femininity, a place where women were pampered in candelit rooms, their faces covered with mud masks, their toes glistening with freshly painted polish. Any bonding that took place was between client and aesthetician, who often exchanged a dose of juicy gossip – that is, if the customer hadn't drifted off to sleep in a heightened state of bliss.
Now, though, it's possible to enjoy all the benefits of spa-going with the added perk of sharing those soothing treatments with a loved one. More spas are catering to men, who in the past five years have grown to represent almost a third of their visitors. Spas are also incorporating the special needs of men – such as their penchant for sports massage – into services that couples can enjoy, so that mates can relax, detoxify and rejuvenate in unison.
'People are looking to spend quality time together and to escape the rat race,' says Jenean LaRoche, director of the Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel in San Francisco. the spa, newly built within the elegant 1920s hotel, offers a Romance & Relaxation package – orginally introduced for Valentine's Day – that is now a permanent fixture on the menu of services. LaRoche says the side-by-side massages included in the package are a particular draw, but, of course, the night's stay in the hotel and dinner for two make the deal even more tempting. 'People want to create special experiences, and this takes it up a notch,' LaRoche adds."