When does a getaway really begin? Does it
start when you're en route to your destination, or when you
actually arrive? I like to think that all trips begin at the
moment you book it. For me, the anticipation of an upcoming
vacation can be as exhilarating as the vacation itself. My getaway to the Mayflower Inn & Spa in
Washington, Connecticut, began when I received a call from Sue
Stephens, a personal spa advisor at the inn. She wanted to know
all about my needs, goals and preferences during my weekend stay.
As a Destination Spa guest, everything was
included: spa treatments, activities, meals.
(Weekend guests can enjoy the Spa House with an access fee which
includes all scheduled Active Body classes, use of the indoor
pool, whirlpool, Thermal Sanctuary and all Spa House facilities,
as well as a la carte salon services and spa treatments.)
My options for filling my days were
unlimited ”“ facials, rituals, scrubs, soaks, massages, workshops.
Some sounded a bit kooky and New Age, some activities quite
rigorous and intense - but mostly things I'd been meaning to try.
A soak in the thermal sanctuary? A drumming workshop? Experiment
with sound therapy? I was especially excited about my personal
nutritional assessment.
I chose private yoga, a Pilates
Reformer session, and a guided hike through nearby Steeprock
Reserve in the morning, and a few spa treatments in the
afternoon. Sue had customized the entire weekend just for me. I
started counting down the minutes until my departure from
Manhattan, piling up stacks of unread New Yorker magazines to
bring.
The drive to the Mayflower Inn &
Spa was less than two hours from New York City. After a series of
hilly back roads and gorgeous autumn foliage prettier than
paintings, I arrived at the country house hotel amidst beautiful
old trees. The well-travelled proprietors, Robert and Adriana
Mnuchin, along with their daughter, Lisa Hedley, make sure that
no detail at the inn or spa is overlooked.
“Desperate Housewives is on Channel 7
at 9 o'clock,” said Neil, the gentleman who ushered me to my
decidedly girly and enormous room, with the walls papered in
empire petit fleur. It's the kind of room I had dreamed of as a
”˜tween -with a fireplace, and a separate dressing area - very
romantic.
Neil showed me the flat screen
television discreetly hidden in the cabinet, and told me about
the free Wi-Fi available throughout the property. I couldn't have
care less about the modern amenities: all I really wanted was to
sink into the feather mattress on the dramatic four-poster
canopied bed, or soak in the tub in the enormous marble bathroom.
Sadly, it was too cold to sit out on the private wicker porch,
which faced the pond.
My room was in the Allerton building, which
features six of the newest rooms. It had the advantage of being
closest to the 20,000 sq. ft. Spa, and furthest from the dining
room. “May I send someone to help you unpack?” Neil further
inquired. I politely declined ”“ I didn't need
to bring much. The spa provides soft t-shirts, track jackets and
drawstring pants daily, which you wear everywhere, even to
dinner.
I never did get a chance to
turn on that TV. My intention was to engage in as much physical
activity as possible to burn my evil city calories. Instead, for
the remainder of the weekend, I got hooked on the
treatments: I was nourished, purified,
polished, hydrated, and massaged from head to
toe. I'm not kidding. I got
an amazing Deep Scalp Rejuvenation, which soothed my dry scalp
and damaged hair, as well as a moisturizing Sweet Violet Facial,
body wraps and rituals, a Hot Stone Massage, and then punctuated
my treatments with a wonderful pedicure. I left the Spa with
shiny hair, sparkling toes and a completely renewed sense of
self.
Even though my itinerary was
chockablock with activities from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM, I never felt
rushed or overwhelmed. Between bookings, I relaxed in the Spa's
light-filled Garden Room, flipping through picture books,
contemplating the DeKooning hung over the mantel, and grazing on
squirrel-sized portions of trail mix. At the end of each day, I
was perfectly content near a fireplace, with a book and a
chenille wrap. Just knowing that I could hike, kayak, play
tennis, learn archery or fly fish was enough.
And the next day? Rinse, repeat,
relax.
Spartan but surprisingly delicious
meals are served in the private spa dining room in the Main
building. The wide range of nutrient rich yet sophisticated menu
selections are conceived by Chef Cary Neff and created by Chef
Tim Au. The produce is locally and organically sourced, and the
herbs and lettuce is grown on the Mayflower grounds.
I had a chance to commune with other guests,
who'd come to the Mayflower on pre-nuptial, post-operative, or
just plain urban stress fighting getaways. At
dinner, I secretly craved a glass of wine, but mocktails, such as
Gingerberry Fizz (Blueberries, Grapes, Ginger, Sparkling Water)
or a simple Apple Cider Spritzer, were the
norm.
Calories are printed on
menus. There isn't a morsel of bread in sight; tasty edamame,
lightly dusted with sea salt, is served in its place. However,
the Mayflower isn't at all about deprivation.
For instance, meals never forgo dessert, which
are outstanding. (The chocolate mousse is only 50 calories!) For
serious indulgence, head to the hotel boutique across from the
reception desk, for a well-curated selection of Loro Piana cashmere
socks, recycled mink teddy bears, chenille throws, and
one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Also check out the Spa shop,
which carries Red Flower, Farmaesthetics,
SkinCeuticals, Jurlique, and
Mayflower signature products.
A visit to an extravagant place like
the Mayflower Spa & Inn never really ends. I'm left
daydreaming about the next time I can go back. Getting ready to
check-out, I saw that the few articles of clothes that I'd
brought me had been freshly laundered and wrapped in tissue ”“
they'd been pampered too.
I suppose my spa getaway officially
ended when I pulled into a gas station, where I caved and
indulged on a gigantic bagel, with cream
cheese. At least I smelled faintly of French
lavender, and my skin was still glowing.
Rates: Rooms start at $400; an all-inclusive 3-night stay
starts at $4,500.
Mayflower Inn & Spa
118 Woodbury Road, Route 47,
Washington, CT 06793
www.mayflowerinn.com
Hyon Jung Lee is a New York-based freelance writer who
also writes for Forbes.
