The following is an article submitted by a Spa Site Viewer.
Julie Register
Spa Guide 

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Review of Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa 
by Jeffrey Kern

There is nothing like treating yourself to the very best. In this case, the best would be Spa Grande at The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa on the magical island of Maui, Hawaii.  Spa Grande has consistently rated among the best, if not the very best, Spa/Resort Spa in the world.  Accolades have come from the likes of Conde Nast Traveler, A & E, and National Geographic Traveler.  It is one thing to read about how good a spa is, but another to experience it.  And experience it, I did.

The first thing you notice when you reach the Spa Grande Reception Desk is the subtleties of elegance that surround you.  From the marbled floors, walls, and ceiling, to the large beautiful marble statue of Ceres, the Goddess of the Hearth, you know you have arrived to experience something special.  Once checked in, I was escorted to the Men's Reception Desk inside the Men's area of Spa Grande.  Both Men's and Women's section of Spa Grande are identical.  The Spa Grande staff was trained extremely well, that after the first few minutes you never really noticed them at all.  Bathing suit is optional, but to get the full experience of Spa Grande, you must experience it au natural.

Today, I have chosen the Spa Grande Revitilizer Package.  This package includes an hour in the signature Spa Grande Terme Wailea Hydrotherapy Circuit, a Salt Loofah Scrub, an Ali'i Honey Steam Wrap, a 50 Minute Massage Sampler, an European Facial, and a Spa Grande Salon Shampoo and Blow Dry.  This is one package from about five dozen massage and facial treatments available. T he approximate time that I was to enjoy this 'slice of heaven' was about 4-5 hours.

The signature treatment of Spa Grande is the Terme Wailea Hydrotherapy Circuit.  The Circuit consists of 5 extremely luxurious specialty baths.  These baths include Aromatherapy, Limu (Seaweed), Moor Mud, Tropical Enzyme, and Mineral Salt.  Each bath makes you feel uniquely different.  The sweet smelling Aromatherapy Bath rejuvenates, energizes, and brings balance to your body.  The Limu (Seaweed) Bath helps detoxify and remineralizes the body while stimulating circulation.  The Moor Mud Bath, with organic, biomineral-vegetal mud, imported directly from Canada, helps soothe sunburned skin and is for remineralizing the skin and body .  The Tropical Enzyme Bath contains citrus and green papaya that help soften and tone the body.  The Mineral Salt Bath, not only developed specifically for Spa Grande, but contains Hawaiian Sea Salt and Hawaiian Ogo seaweed, which helps relieve aches and pains, minor sprains, and arthritis.  Unbelievable.  Extraordinary.  Incredible.  Only at Spa Grande.

Whenever you exit from one of the baths, you have to rinse off so you don't mix the baths together.  To do this you can use a Roman or Swiss Jet Shower .  In the Roman Shower, you step down to a seat submerged in warm water and press the little button to your right.  This button activates a strong 15 foot waterfall shower to rinse you off.  Also, built into the seat are jets to massage your calves.  The Swiss Jet Shower surrounds you with small, needle point jets to rinse you off.  Very stimulating to say the least.  Also included within the spa area is a bubbling Japanese Bath and frigid Cool Plunge.  This bath is a regular clear bath, but heated to about 106 F.  The Cool Plunge is located just next to the Japanese Bath, and believe me, it deserves the name 'Cool Plunge'.  The Cool Plunge was designed to be next to the hot Japanese Bath, as it was made to invigorate the user after dipping into a hot bath.  Also included is a 16 foot roman tub, a steam room, and a traditional Japanese bathing area.  In the Japanese bathing area you pull out a small seat and clean yourself with a scrub brush, soap, shampoo, and water.  All of these treatments can be experienced, at your leisure, throughout the hour.  The hour you get to spend here isn't nearly enough, as you could spend all day in this part of Spa Grande. My hour in the Circuit had ended, and it was time to move on.

I was escorted into a room where a salt loofah scrub was performed to strip the skin of impurities.  Once you got used to the vigorous scrubbing of salt against the body, it was really enjoyable.  First the back was scrubbed, then the front.  After the salt scrub was done, a gentle stream of warm water rinsed the salt entirely from the body.  Next up was the Ali'i Honey and Steam Wrap.  Honey was drizzled all over your body, then deeply massaged into your skin.  Not only did this feel wonderful, but smelled refreshing as well.  At this point I was escorted into the steam room wrapped in a cloth robe and instructed to lay on the top level of the steam room for 10 minutes.  This was to let the honey get absorbed deeper into the skin with the steam expediting the process.  After the 10 minutes were up, I was escorted to a private shower stall to take a very cold shower so the pours of the body would close.  It was cold (Ok, extremely cold), but very enjoyable.

I was escorted to a rack of robes to put on because I was moving to the next part of my package, the massage and facial.  Everything at Spa Grande is tailored to move at a slow and relaxed pace as to not interrupt the feeling of serenity and well-being.  This portion is no exception.  I was led out to a second floor lanai to relax.  The lanai overlooks the Grand Wailea Dolphin Fountain and Hibiscus Pool (The resort's main pool with over 2.2 million tiles).  The Pacific Ocean, located just beyond the fountains and pool, was a perfect azure colored backdrop.  I waited there, as time seemed to slow to a crawl, sipping on some refreshing lemon flavored water until my name was called for my massage.

My time relaxing on the lanai was up and I was guided to my massage room where I got one of the very best massages and facials I have ever had.  The massage sampler consisted of a Cocoa Butter, Swedish, and Full Body Massage.  The facial was complete with deep cleaning massage, masque, and extraction. It was easy to drift away during this massage and facial as soft instrumental music was being played overhead while the cascading fountains could be heard right outside my massage room window.  Not only that, but the distant sound of crashing waves could be heard as well.

After the facial was complete, I was taken back to the men's area of Spa Grande to relax a little more in the Terme Wailea Circuit before my Spa Grande Salon Shampoo and Blow Dry.  I was able to partake in the specialty baths for an additional 15 minutes before I showered up, got dressed, and headed over to the salon.  The salon service was basic, as my hair is short.  Even for a basic service, it was treated in such a way that it still felt important and elegant.  With the turning off of the hairdryer, my day at Spa Grande was over.

The extraordinary experience that is Spa Grande doesn't come about by chance.  Not only does the facility have to be exceptional, but the staff has to be exceptional as well.  Spa Grande not only met my expectations, but surpassed them each and every moment.  In the Spa Grande brochure, it states, "We invite you to test the waters of wellness".  In taking that test, I immersed myself in an experience that completely invigorated my mind, body, and soul.

For More Information on Spa Grande at The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa

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