The Pleasure Principle
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HERE’S NO GETTING AROUND IT: The closer we get to December, the busier we become. With homes to decorate and shindigs to attend, holiday shopping can easily fall off the list. Rather than stress, why not take the guesswork out of gifting by going experiential? Who wouldn’t swoon over a visit to The Spa at Pelican Hill® or an at-home spa day armed with a basket of goodies from the Spa Boutique? The Resort’s Spa Suite packages have been designed to incorporate a bit of everything on the menu, while encouraging couples and small groups to relax in a private suite before, after and between treatments. “The Couples Suite Retreat and the Best Friends Spa Suite packages are among our most popular,” says Pelican Hill Spa Director Robin Dunivin. In addition to the private space and individual treatments, suite-package guests enjoy a delicious spa meal and a complimentary bottle of Prosecco.
Not sure which treatments to choose? Dunivin suggests a gift card that can be used to craft a customized spa day. “Locals often opt for gift cards knowing that women, in particular, love to ‘shop’ for treatments and create their own experience.”
Gift givers who know exactly what they’re looking for can also put together a specific treatment package. Dunivin recommends including a rejuvenating facial and, for pure relaxation, the Aroma Intentions Massage or Amber Gold Signature Massage.
Perhaps the best part of a day at the Spa is indulging in the facility’s stress-reducing amenities. “Between the men’s and women’s Acqua Colonnades with their pristine steam rooms, saunas and saltwater soaking pools, and the fitness center and frequent studio classes, it can be tough to find time for treatments,” Dunivin says. “But those aren’t to be missed, either!”
For a more nuanced holiday package, pair a gift card with one or more of the boutique’s distinctive offerings. Perennial favorites include elegant robes from Wrap Up by VP and plush Barefoot Dreams throws. For a natural line of home fragrances, Dunivin loves the Rosy Rings bamboo reed diffusers — stunning glass bottles painstakingly hand-filled with spices, fruit and delicate botanicals — as well as LAFCO candles developed by Jon Bresler, whose rich knowledge of European apothecary traditions led to a modern and luxurious product line using the purest of ingredients. “When you light a LAFCO candle,” says Dunivin, “it can ‘live’ downstairs and still infuse the entire house.”
Men who spa will appreciate body and skincare products by Apotheke, a Brooklyn-based business that sources essential oils direct from farms. Hand-made, hand-cut and cured for weeks, Apotheke soaps include a gentle charcoal-based bar soap beloved by men.
Whether it’s a packaged wellness experience, the ever-popular gift card or a basketful of take-home delights, The Spa at Pelican Hill offers a one-stop solution for knocking those last items off the to-do list.
