I got my first impression of how great Sandals spa is, when I visited the huge bathroom in my Butler’s Suite. I was visiting Sandals Montego Bay, in Jamaica, and looked forward to being pampered in the resort’s award-winning Red Lane Spa. And then I noticed the private-label Red Lane shampoo and conditioner in the shower stall. I read the ingredients. Both are sulfate-free. I was bowled over. Now, I travel all over the world, and rarely do I see a high-quality hotel shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t have any harmful additives. It was just perfect for my blonde highlighted hair. (But I shouldn’t have been surprised. Sandals also just did away with plastic straws and Styrofoam, in making its resorts even more eco-friendly.)
That small example speaks volumes about Sandals, and its commitment to offer some of the best spas in the Caribbean. In addition to being a luxury all-inclusive resort with a wealth of restaurant experiences at each property.
Just their greeting at the front desk of the spa paves the way for an inspiring experience. “Welcome to Sandals spa,” the staff will say. “How may we rejuvenate you today?”
I sat down with David Erlich, Corporate Director, Spa, Fitness and Tennis, who told me all about Sandals’ Red Lane Spas and what makes them special, unique and different.
“We look at our spa menus like a chef looks at culinary menus,” he told me. “There is a lot of tropical curation, including local ingredients such as jasmine, ginger, tea tree and citrus. We use these as a chef uses fresh produce.”
Indeed. If you love Jamaican coffee, for example, just imagine having it used in a body scrub. “The ground coffee scrub uses pulverized green coffee beans that are emulsified, painted onto your body. It’s not as aggressive as a salt scrub,” said Mr. Erlich.
This treatment helps convert cellulite into swimsuit-ready, smooth-and-even skin.
There’s also a Caribbean seaweed wrap that includes a light body-brush exfoliation (heavenly) followed by an application of micronized seaweed. You are then wrapped in thermal blankets to release stress and toxins. Plus a papaya-pineapple salt-mousse scrub that whittles away your body’s impurities.
My husband Bill and I also thrilled to a Couples Massage to end all couples massages: Raindrop Dreams. The 90-minute posh pampering harnesses the healing power of aromatherapy. During this treatment, your massage therapist applies a series of seven essential oils along your spine, followed by a full body and foot effleurage. We both soaked up every sweet sensation, and each soft stroke. At the end of it, we were not just jelly, we were officially Smucker’s. There is also a Scents of Love Couples massage that highlights the indigenous aromas of the Caribbean, ranging from fevergrass and guava to the subtle essences of an ocean breeze.
My favorite treatment at the Red Lane spa, however, was the exquisite facial I had with Red Lane products. It included a cleansing-milk application; exfoliation with a papaya-pineapple enzyme mask; an antioxidant firming mask; Vitamin C serum; restorative moisturizer; and an illuminating serum. I emerged tightened and brightened and ready for my close-up.
Another great advantage to Sandals: All the tennis clinics are comped, every day, Mr. Erlich told me. “Every day you can play with a pro or take a private lesson for a fee.” Fitness classes are also all-inclusive – including aqua fitness, power walking, stretching, Tabata interval training, and Caribbean beach shred. The 24/7 gym is tremendous (and brand new) with a wealth of equipment to make you bikini-ready for the numerous pools and white-sand beach that beckon just steps away at the resort. (And trust me – diamonds aren’t a girl’s best friend. The leg press is. Just sayin’.)
Something else I really appreciated about Sandals is that there is ALWAYS spa cuisine on the menu, so that you can have a vacation and not blow your diet. Who wants to do that? And if you don’t see what you like on the menu, “Just order it. Everything is made to order,” says Mr. Erlich. For me, that meant lots of the waist-watching foods that I love. (After all, I was going to be spending my days in a bathing suit, sunbathing, snorkeling, swimming and doing the all-inclusive watersports.) I crave oceans of asparagus and avocado. A simple baked potato. And fish that’s marinated but grilled without any extra oil. Let’s face it – typically, when you take a trip, your diet usually takes its own vacation. But at Sandals, it’s like being at a world-class destination spa, where the cuisine complements the complete spa program and you can eat petite. You can also talk to the culinary concierge and request meals that are vegetarian or gluten-free.
And then again, you can do what I did: I treated myself to a yummy soft-serve chocolate cone from the ice-cream station located on the shimmering sands.
Next time, put me down for one of those Nutella crepes that Sandals Montego Bay serves in the adorable little French café near the lobby. It was oo-la-la elegant – and one of the best places to indulge after a good workout.
