As the champagne cork popped, chatter filled the room and blended with the scent of lemongrass, ginger and Chinese jasmine. A day of wellness had officially begun, the bonding of girlfriends the connective tissue between therapeutic massages, nourishing facials, mani-pedis and healthy fare.
The Spa at Pelican Hill,® which for the past eight years has earned a coveted five-star rating from Forbes, designed its Best Friends Spa Package with family, high school and college reunions, bridal parties and girls’ getaways in mind.
“We pamper these ladies in the privacy of a soothing oasis,” says Robin Dunivin, spa director at The Resort at Pelican Hill.® “Groups of up to five women gather in our ultra-comfortable spa suite or they welcome us into their Villa at the Resort. They sip Prosecco, they enjoy a variety of treatments and they always have a wonderful time.”
Whether a group’s MO is relaxation or an energizing reboot, the Spa staff maps out a custom experience to satisfy the overall intention. Treatments run the gamut from an exfoliating and moisturizing massage to a facial that focuses on reactivating cellular function. Innovative spa cuisine — think crab avocado carpaccio and baby kale and quinoa salad — accompanied by Prosecco or mimosas deliver the finishing touches.
“We agreed that it was by far the best spa experience we’ve ever had,” says Stacie Brown, who traveled from Charlotte, North Carolina, with two close friends. “Sometimes when I go to spas, I feel like I’m on an assembly line, but this was truly relaxing.
We even considered going back for a second day.”
The friends, who met two years ago at a boot camp facility in Charlotte, couldn’t get over what a perfect day it was. “We used everything,” says Brown, “and kept saying how hard it was going to be to go back home. There are a lot of very nice spa facilities in our area, but I have not been to anything that compares to this. Nothing.”
Locals who book the Best Friends Spa Package set aside their daily routine to indulge in spa treatments along with all of the amenities the facility has to offer. Resort guests can request that the package be “delivered” to them in the privacy of their own Villa. With this option, groups may gather in the Villa great room for communal treatments like facials or manicures, and use the bedrooms for individual massages. Meals can be brought in from the Spa, Andrea or nearby Pelican Grill & Bar.
“No matter where the day begins or ends, these women leave their worries at the door. There’s nothing like letting your hair down and enjoying one of the world’s finest spas,” says Dunivin. There’s also nothing like friendships between women, for those are as good for the soul as the healing touch is to the body.
For Spa appointments, please call 877.624.6035.
