The Day Spa

NYC.com Day Spas Guide

If you seek the comforting services of spas to help you get off on the right foot during a stay here, our list of New York City Day Spas will help you make the right decision. Our Day Spas Guide focuses on several topics and aims to give visitors valuable information regarding the wide variety of spa services offered at day spas in New York City:

• What To Expect At A Day Spa • Typical Spa Services and Costs • Rights and Responsibilities At Day Spas • NYC.com Day Spa Guide

What To Expect At A Day Spa

Regardless of whether you're in New York City on business or pleasure, choosing a relaxing treatment at a luxurious day spa can alleviate the stress from a challenging business day, a hectic shopping spree, or the long journey you took to get here. Residents and visitors in New York obviously want to look and feel their very best before an important business-related meeting, a romantic date, or before attending a special public event, such as a gala, a film screening, or any type of social gathering.

At any New York City day spa you can expect to be treated like a king or queen. You can also expect that the décor was designed to transport you to another world, with beautifully-decorated sitting rooms, luxurious furniture, and unique fixtures, as well as treatment rooms created with the purpose of setting you at ease so that you can truly drift off into blissful relaxation during your spa visit.

New York day spas invite you to experience a reprieve from your busy day with a well-deserved treatment that attends to your mind/body needs from head to toe. You can revive your spirit, indulge your senses and relax in comfort because a day spa here is meant to be experienced as an urban refuge, an oasis, a retreat, transporting guests far away from the troubles and stress of the city.

Typical Spa Services and Costs

Spas in New York City typically offer a soothing selection of signature services, classes, products and treatments, which create an experience that caters to the needs and desires of each guest. A partial list of traditional services at most hotel spas include massage, body wraps, facial treatments, manicures, pedicures, skin care treatments, hair removal, body scrubs, and detoxification facilities such as sauna and steam rooms. Often (but not always) spas in New York function in connection with state-of-the-art fitness centers, yoga classes, and meditation rooms.

Although costs at New York spas fluctuate, generally speaking spa services and treatments range in price from $60 to $1500 depending on the type of treatment or treatment package you choose.

Rights and Responsibilities at Day Spas

According to the Spa Code of Conduct developed by The International SPA Association and Resort Hotel Association, spa guests have specific responsibilities and rights that they should be aware of before booking an appointment.

As a spa guest it its your responsibility to:

1. Communicate your preferences, expectations and concerns
2. Communicate complete and accurate health information and reasons for your visit
3. Treat staff and other guests with courtesy and respect
4. Use products, equipment and therapies as directed
5. Engage in efforts to preserve the environment
6. Adhere to the spa's published policies and procedures

As a spa guest it is your right to:

1. A clean, safe and comfortable environment
2. Stop a treatment at any time, for any reason
3. Be treated with consideration, dignity and respect
4. Confidential treatment of your disclosed health information
5. Trained staff who respectfully conduct treatments according to treatment protocols and the spa's policies and procedures
6. Ask questions about your spa experience
7. Information regarding staff training, licensing and certification

Tipping at New York Day spas ranges from 15%-25%, depending upon on how well satisfied you are with your experience. After a session at a spa, to tip less than 15% or to pay no tip at all would be considered not only improper, but also rude. If you visit a day spa using a spa gift certificate, be sure to ask whether the gratuity is included; generally it is not. If not, you should calculate the cost of the gratuity and pay the front desk in cash. Most spas provide tip envelopes, so you can be assured of confidentiality and discretion in delivering your gratuity.

Day Spas In New York City

Acqua Beauty Bar Located in the heart of Union Square, Acqua Beauty Bar offers clients crisp, new and inspiring products and spa treatments, incorporating traditional Eastern techniques, holistic ingredients and modern technology to create a uniquely blissful experience. Trained in both Europe and Asia, Aqua's spa team customizes facials and body treatments with extras like hot stones, acupressure, and reflexology. In addition to sea salt and honey almond scrubs, Aqua offers exfoliation with less abrasive custom-blended (made fresh on premises) sugar scrubs. Their creative menu also includes multiple types of massage.

Bliss Spa SoHo The flagship location of this contemporary spa chain mixes a modern, tongue-in-chic approach to grooming with a massive menu of fantastic facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, waxing, and body treatments. Bliss Soho embodies what founder Marcia Kilgore envisioned when launching the 'spa-boom' in the mid-nineties: an array of amazing treatments like 'homme improvement' (an all-out blackhead eliminating facial for 'the boys') and a medley of deep tissue and cellulite-fighting treatments. Ladies and men's locker room facilities are available. Note: Bliss also has two other Manhattan locations on 49th Street and 57th Street.

Babor at Takashimaya Trendy megastore Takashimaya has added another level to its ever-growing bag of departmental offerings: decadent spa treatments. From European facials to facials for men to $200 champagne facials, Babor packs a lot of options into its nook in the overall store.

Chopra Center & Spa at Dream In addition to a daily schedule of yoga classes, The Chopra Center & Spa located below the Dream Hotel on Broadway offers spa services that are based on centuries-old Ayurvedic therapies that aim to support balance and bliss in one's life. Therapists use specific oils, herbs, and aromas chosen to provide clients with optimal balance and nourishment for the mind-body. Face, body, hand, foot massages are available, as well unique hair removal services.

Cornelia Day Resort A Fifth Avenue address is always a signifier of class and substance. At Cornelia Day Resort, all levels of therapies, from facials to full-body massages are offered, as well as their Blue Lagoon service, which uses geothermal seawater found only in Iceland and which they have uniquely licensed to bring to boutique-obsessed locals.

Delluva Vinotherapy Day Spa Delluva (pronounced dell-oo va) comes from the Italian conjunction dell'uva, which translated means "of the grape". The "Therapy from the Vine" treatments provided here make use of skin care products and treatments derived from grapes and the by-products of the wine making process. Due to their high concentration of polyphenols antioxidants this unique day spa maintains that wine products are up to 20 times more effective than vitamin C and up to 50 times more effective than vitamin E. Delluva also offers the entire gamut of spa treatments at their TriBeCa location, including facials, various body massages, hydrotherapy, waxing, and sunless airbrush tanning.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa With an all-encompassing menu of salon and day spa services this famed New York City spa chain on Fifth Avenue is all about its signature treatments, which include Botox, Restylane and Juvéderm facial cosmetic enhancement, as well as Pulsed Light hair removal. Red Door's brand name is synonymous with a wide range of relaxing therapies that rejuvenate the skin, the body, and the mind.

Great Jones Spa Great Jones Spa has created a comfort haven that inspires optimal wellness from the inside out. Great Jones offers a huge menu selection of treatments, plus a one of a kind, world-renowned wet lounge facility, which is centered around a 3-story indoor waterfall, and overlooking a thermal hot tub and cold plunge pool. With inspiring architecture and an in-house juice bar, the hushed acoustics and calming energy pervade the entire space.

Haven Day Spa Haven, a serene spa on Mercer Street in SoHo, where affordable and easily accessible solace can be found, offers peaceful pampering and top-notch service in an attractive location that encourages relaxation and comfort. Haven’s guests are encouraged to lounge on comfy couches and enjoy the stress-free and hospitable environment at their leisure. The colorfully named facial and body therapies offered here, such as For Your Eyes Only, The Hammam (Moroccan) and the Baby's Bottom, all serve to rejuvenate the body and skin with a maximum of sensual pleasure.

Juvenex Designed to impress the world's most jaded spa clientele, Juvenex combines Asian, European, and American spa remedies and features impeccable services, style, and an amazingly beautiful decor. Juvenex is the only day spa where you can find a Jade Igloo Sauna made of 20 tons of semi-precious stones, a Diamond Herbal Glass Steam Room, Baked-Clay Detoxification Sauna, and Japanese-Style Soaking Ponds filled with Sake, Kombu Algae, and Ginseng. Treatments here include salt glows indigenous to Korea, skin perfecting facials, and a private VIP Jade Treatment Room perfect for couples celebrating a special occasion. Other signature services include seaweed facials, pumpkin peel and cherry peel facials, back and breast facials, hydrating seaweed wraps, fango mud wraps, reflexology, hydromassage, Thermo-Stone Massage, Gyno-Spa Cure (first in the U.S.), and hand and foot rejuvenation.

Le Cachet Holistic Day Spa Le Cachet Day Spa's goal is to pamper you with the most beneficial day spa treatments using products from nature. At Le Cachet you can choose from a variety of day spa packages that offer skin care facials, massages, microdermabrasion treatments, hair, hand, and foot care, acne treatments, permanent laser hair removals, couples massage, advanced laser hair removal treatment and much more. They also feature a high-tech Steam room, Sauna, and Panthermal Bath.

Metamorphosis Day Spa Step off the face of the earth and into your own little piece of heaven at Metamorphosis Day Spa, a celestially inspired sanctuary located in the Upper East Side. Metamorphosis is renowned for its friendly, unpretentious staff, aesthetically pleasing and soothing atmosphere, and more notably for its qualified and certified professional staff. In addition to its comprehensive list of spa treatments, Metamorphosis offers a number of fun package offerings, such as their Mother/Daughter package, Teen Dream Package, Metrosexual Male Make-Over Package, Iron Man Package, and their Happy Birthday Package.

Millefleurs Spa Mondial The Moroccan-themed Millefleurs Spa features stone and deep tissue massage, reflexology, aromatic facials, acupuncture, brown sugar scrubs, laser hair removal, French waxing and threading, pre-natal and couple massages and is open seven days a week. Influenced by North Africa and ancient civilizations, owner Gina Michael also offers esoteric services, such as tarot card readings, Mendi tattoos, and even belly dance lessons.

Nickel USA Spa For Men Housed in a historic building (formerly a bank) in the heart of Chelsea, this 4,500 sq. ft. spa is totally dedicated to health care for men. The design of the spa simulates that of a submarine with chrome walls, cobalt lighting, global lamps and gray and blue walls, making it a masculine yet sophisticated environment. Nickel has seven treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure stations, a hair salon, and a lounge area with plenty of reading materials. It offers the entire spectrum of massage treatments including facials, massages, manicure/pedicure, waxing, bodywork, and tech treatments.

Oasis Day Spa On Park Oasis Spa's staff are some of the best-trained you're likely to find in New York City and the spa itself is definitely one of the more luxurious on the east coast. In addition to its large menu of massage, skin care, bronzing, and silky smooth waxing services, Oasis On Park also features hair and nail salons catering to both male and female clientele.

Oasis Day Spa Oasis Day Spa at the Affinia Dumont hotel boasts some of the best massage and skincare treatments in New York City. Massages, skin care and bronzing, waxing, body therapy, salon and nail services as well as specialized spa treatments for men are all available at this beautiful day spa.

Okeanos Okeanos offers signature Russian therapies originating from centuries past, featuring their unique Banya, the traditional steam-infused Russian sauna, and the authentic ritual of Platza, which is an invigorating touch of birch branches against your sauna-warmed skin. Let a trained-in-Russia Platza master take you back to traditions almost forgotten today and you can also enjoy a vigorously refreshing cold-water plunge as a finishing touch.

The Peninsula Spa by ESPA The three-level spa at the Peninsula Hotel carries the weight and class of the award-winning ESPA company, who have built a highly successful business by creating excellent spas worldwide. The Peninsula Spa is a breathtaking rooftop retreat that offers some rather sumptuous treatments that range from deep tissue and hot stone massages to pre- and post-natal treatments. Retreat packages are also available for expecting mothers, newlywed brides, and men, as well as full-day spa journeys like "Detox And Renew" and "Peninsula Heaven." The "Couples Yin-Yang" half-day spa treatment is a big favorite on Valentine's Day and anniversaries.

Poh Tree Thai Spa Founded by Numpetch Plengpanich and her husband, Tatwara Supulchai, Poh Tree spa is a wellness spa dedicated to bringing the Thai spirit of holistic healing to New York City clients. Poh trees, typically large in scale, are often found in Thai Buddhist temples and represent the Thai spirit of holistic healing. The spa offerings here include traditional massage, aromatherapy, scrubs, and body wraps, with its most popular treatments being the detoxifying Black Pepper Body wrap and its signature Poh Tree Facial, customized to one's skin type and condition.

Serenity Spa Serenity specializes in special occasion events, but the everyday spa treatment they offer is a specialized, private event as well. By taking care of all possible needs, Serenity lifts its clients from their worries and sends them off feeling carefree and refreshed. Offering a variety of facials, Serenity also features Shiatsu, Swedish, Deep Tissue, and Lava Stone massage treatments, as well as nail services, waxing, and a number of spa treatments specifically designed for male clients.

Skintology This sophisticated day spa deals with beauty and relaxation needs in the form of a luxurious medical day spa. In addition to an impressive repertoire of spa beauty treatments, Skintology distinguishes itself with an array of medical services by licensed physicians trained to do everything from laser hair removal and botox treatments to acupuncture and cellulite removal procedures.

Skin Spa Specializing exclusively on skin care, Skin Spa uses the latest cosmetic laser technology enabling all skin types and tones to be treated safely by highly trained, experienced aestheticians. After an initial consultation, their Skin Spa Facial is personalized for your specific skin care needs: deep cleansing, anti-aging, moisture replenishment, or skin renewal. Sophisticated treatments such as photolight facials, chemical and enzyme peels, laser hair removal, and botox applications are available here as well.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental The Five-Star spa offers holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a setting of complete tranquility, along with further treatment facilities, including a high-performance fitness center and a 75-foot naturally-lit indoor lap pool. Bamboo, natural stone and gold leaf set the tone for an unforgettable Manhattan spa experience that focuses on rebalancing the individual, leaving patrons with an enhanced sense of well-being.

Spa Ja Brazilian Spa Ja is an organic spa that focuses on wellness with meaningful treatments that provide real benefits to their clients through the use of natural treatments and organic products. Their extensive menu of treatments and services include anti-aging, body-sculpting, candling, mud wraps, energy work, manicure/pedicures, tanning, and waxing services.

Sphatika Sphatika on Columbus Circle offers a holistic, sensory approach to accessing greater states of wellness based on the sleep inducing power of music, the use of the finest natural, organic, or wild-crafted chemical free botanicals, and the energetic support of Quartz Crystal. Janet League-Katzen created Sphatika after spending years searching for products and treatments that she discovered would have a real impact on one's health and well-being.

Townhouse Spa The charmingly rustic and the massively modern converge at the Townhouse Spa to create the most complete rejuvenating experience possible. Townhouse's guiding principle is the concept of the lavish day spa. In the ideal setting of a beautifully restored townhouse, it offers a multitude of services on separate floors for women and men. Each floor has treatment rooms for facials and massages, steam rooms, showers, and locker resources. Rather unique to the Townhouse is its separate facilities for men, which include relaxing frivolities like board games, video games, television, and plush, comfortable furniture.