Urban Intimacy ~ The Spaahh at Hotel 1000, Seattle
Amidst the bustle of downtown Seattle, Washington,
squarely secured on the corner of First
Avenue and Madison, rises Hotel 1000. A chic new
property -- opened in June 2006 -- that was designed and built by
locals companies, this 120-room hotel draws a crowd from near and far.
Stepping inside, guests are immersed in a dark and
sophisticated lobby that showcases rich wood finishing and modern decor.
Flanking both sides of the entry are dining areas: on one side the restaurant
BOKA, a sleek venue that specializes in urban American cuisine, and on the
other the more cozy Studio, where hotel guests gather for complimentary
breakfasts in the morning or wine and light fare on chilly Seattle evenings.
The hotel’s guest rooms, categorized as Luxe, Deluxe and
Grand Luxe, live up to their respective names, boasting standard amenities such
as wall-mounted, 40-inch Sony LCD televisions, fine Thai bed linens, and deep,
two-person pedestal tubs that fill via a splashless stream of water that
swiftly pours from the ceiling. Way cool.
As Zen-inducing as each guest room proves, what mercilessly
beckons is Hotel 1000’s SPAAHH, a quiet retreat beneath the busy sidewalks of
the city’s West Edge district.
It’s here that I’ve come to rid my weary traveler’s body of
stress and tension. The recommended treatment? SPAAHH’s 1000 Hands of Relief
massage, a 90-minute customized rubdown that will address, in my case, the
knots formed in my lower back from the past month’s weekly flights.
Arrival at SPAAHH goes without a hitch, and I’m ushered into
the women’s tiny dressing room, which contains a sauna and shower facilities.
With only four treatment rooms, SPAAHH doesn’t have a large footprint. Instead,
the setting is small and intimate. It’s also warm and inviting, a pleasant
contrast to some urban spas that feature cold stone walls and sprawling, empty
spaces.
Wrapped in a soft robe, I decompress with chilled water in
the relaxation room, where Tazo teas are also on hand. Only a moment later my
massage therapist Laurel arrives to escort me across the hall for a lesson in
pampering.
Beneath sheet and blanket I lay as Laurel begins, slowly kneading my neck and
shoulders with a sweet-smelling Decleor balm. She’s not afraid to bend my neck,
stretching it far to one side to allow for a fully effective massage, then
following up on the opposite side with an equally tension-erasing stretch.
Along my body she moves, softly pulling, kneading and
pressing my arms and legs as needed. Lastly, she tackles my back, slowly
working out each knot as she carefully manipulates the tired muscles.
As my 90 minutes draw to a close, I’m left savoring every
stroke. And when my treatment is over, I sleepily rise to re-dress and face the
world once again.
Outside my door, a glass of champagne and a tempting plate
of fresh ripe strawberries and chocolate truffles await. If ever a sweet
ending, this is it.
Things to know
before you go
The spa’s hours are Monday to Saturday 9:00 am to
9:00 pm and Sunday 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
1000 Hands of Relief costs $160 for 90 minutes.
The Spaahh at Hotel
1000, Seattle
~ Jessica Howell, Spas of America
When not experiencing new spas, Jessica is an account executive with Eisbrenner PR. jessicabhowell@hotmail.com
