Luxurious Atmosphere at new Spa at Mandarin Oriental, NY

Urban hotel spas are usually a little more expensive than the average day spa, but they can offer a much more luxurious experience. The new Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York , for instance, encourages you to come 45 minutes before your treatment starts to relax in the “heat experience” room. There’s a beautiful stone Jacuzzi, but even better is the transporting, chapel-like atmosphere of the eucalyptus-scented Amethyst Steam Room, its with iridescent tiles, new age music, and enormous amethyst crystal set in a niche. And if you’re looking for a romantic spa interlude, book the couples suite, which has a fireplace and large Chinese bed to rest on together after your treatments.

When you arrive at the spa, someone brings you slippers on a tray decorated with an orchid, and takes away your shoes. After your treatment, you can relax in a room with sweeping views of Central Park – an advantage of their location on the 35th floor of the new Time Warner building. Chaise lounges are divided by golden curtains, and magazines and reading lamps invite you to enjoy yourself. A fountain burbles away, you can change the music and the volume, and there’s a little meditation corner. These are the sorts of amenites that allow you to enjoy a luxurious afternoon for the price of a massage or facial.

The Spa’s philosophy on facials ($90 + 18% service charge) is that they should be very gentle and encourage the skin to function naturally. As a result they don’t use steam and don’t do “extractions” (such as blackhead removal), because it can traumatize the skin. You can request it, at an additional cost.

I think it might be a good idea if the clinician explained the philosophy upfront -- I kept wondering when the extractions were going to happen -- but my skin was beautiful afterwards, and it was a profoundly relaxing experience.