Spa Report: Bloom Spa

Editor’s note: Spa Report is a new feature the Vail Daily will be running each month about spa treatments around the valley. Know of something we should check out? E-mail cschnell@vaildaily.com.The spa: Bloom Spa, located in The Sebastian in Vail, 16 Vail Road, Vail. Visit http://www.thesebastianvail.com, or call 970-477-8060.The treatment: Mountain Slumber: A warm bath with mineral and sea salts followed by a massage with essential oils, a hydrating cocoon wrap and a foot and scalp massage; 105 minutes, $245. This spa is for: Hotel guests needing a massage after a long day on the slopes as well as anyone looking for a relaxing retreat. First impressions: Though The Sebastian hotel looks quite different from when it was the Vail Plaza Hotel, the boutique spa inside looks pretty much the same. Located on the first floor of the resort, the spa is located just beyond the lobby area. The women behind the front desk greeted me with big smiles and made me feel welcome right away. The spa has five treatment rooms including a couple’s room, three massage rooms and a facial room. In-suite services are also available for hotel guests. This summer a renovation is planned for the spa. New water features will be added behind the front desk and in the lounge area. The treatment rooms will be expanded and the locker rooms revamped, according to spa director Ivonne van Loveren.The treatment was: Relaxing. San Francisco-based spa consulting firm Francis & Alexander helped design the spa menu with the philosophy that the spa-goer experience should be therapeutic and restorative. I felt the Mountain Slumber accomplished both. The treatment begins with a 20-minute warm bath with Tara Spa mineral and sea salts blended with chamomile, tangerine and cedarwood. The room is dimly lit with candles. Soft music plays in the background, and the tub is pretty close to hot-tub size, which means you can stretch out and truly relax. The massage struck that delicate balance between being relaxing and effective. Dawn, my kind therapist, managed to get some of the giant knots lingering between my shoulder blades worked out. Specials: Right now the hotel is offering a “Spa Free, Ski Free” special. Buy four nights at the hotel, and get a free spa treatment and free lift ticket.Make the most of your visit: Steam rooms and saunas are located in the men’s and women’s dressing areas, so allow for time to dawdle on one end of your treatment. “We recommend you come in 30 minutes before your treatment and use the steam room, sauna or hot tub. We also have elixirs and healthy snacks offered in lounge area,” van Loveren said. Know before you go: Hotel guests should be on the lookout for the “Pop-Up Spa” on most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. With no reservation required, the Pop-Up Spa is usually located in the hotel lobby near Frost bar. Guests can put their names on the list, order a cocktail or hot chocolate and sit, sip and relax in a zero-gravity chair as their feet are massaged. “That’s been popular, and I think it sets us apart from some of the other spas around here,” van Loveren said.High Life Editor Caramie Schnell can be reached at 970-748-2984 or cschnell@vaildaily.com.