Orlando’s 2024 Spa Bracket Winner & Final Four Breakdown Revealed
We asked you, our readers, to vote in our March Madness-style spa bracket, from which you culled the best spas in Orlando from a field of 32. Here, we present the Final Four, starting with our winner, The Spa at Shingle Creek
The surest way to relaxation is to recline on a spa table, where skilled masseuses and masseurs get to work massaging sore muscles, hydrating skin and make you feel better with their soothing techniques. From larger resort spas to smaller day spas, there are a wealth of facilities in Orlando. So how to choose? By consulting yourself, sort of.
Let the pampering begin! The Spa at Shingle Creek is a diamond among gems at Rosen Hotels & Resorts. The full-service luxury spa features an extensive menu of services, each deliberate and designed to prepare you for the day or the evening to come.
The Spa at Shingle Creek | The Winner
CELEBRATED FOR ITS TRANQUIL ELEGANCE, The Spa at Shingle Creek is a spot for all-day indulgence. New offerings include everything from the Espresso-limon Exfoliation Detox, leaving your body sleek, smooth and purified, to the Island Escape Body Treatment, with a coconut sugar exfoliation and honey body mask designed to rid tension and leave you glowing. The Creekside Signature Massage, with aromatherapy, heat and gentle stretching, is beyond luxury as its revitalizing oils calm the nerves and provide relief to overused muscles. Round out your experience with a soak in a whirlpool tub, a sit in the sauna or a plunge in the outdoor pool.
“People come here to relax, they come here to get away from it all, even if just for an hour,” says Jennifer Woods, director of spa and wellness. Paying attention to your needs and seeking out the newest and best treatments is what drives Woods. “We get a lot of repeat guests, so it’s important to me that we refresh our program, stay on top of trends and deliver the ultimate experience every time.”
All spa experiences are meticulously customized to each spa-goer, not only to pamper the body, but to refresh the spirit. Deluxe relaxation lounges provide an escape, as the sauna, steam room and whirpool whisk away the day’s demands.
Visit spaatshinglecreek.com for more information and a menu of services.
Acqua Day Spa’s mission is to deliver an exceptional spa experience in a relaxed, professional and ethical manner. It focuses on unique treatments that promote health and well-being. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez
Acqua Day Spa | The Runner-Up
NEVER EXPERIENCED A DAY SPA? Many of these smaller spas are membership-based, offering members discounts on services and products. Acqua is one such day spa and offers great deals. For just $69, members receive a one-hour hot-stone massage or deep-cleansing facial each month. The wellness center offers a variety of different massages and body treatments such as Swedish, hot-stone and couples’ massage; energy healing, herbal peel, Guasha and oxygen-infusion facials; eyebrow and eyelash tinting; waxing; and nail services.
Among the newest services at Acqua is cupping, which can be applied to massages and facials. Cupping increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed and can also reduce inflammation.
HydraFacials are also performed at Acqua. This pampering regimen cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates using vortex suction technology to get rid of dead skin cells and infuse the skin with nourishment. Red light therapy is part of the treatment and uses LED light to reduce imperfections in the skin, get rid of bacteria and promote cellular performance.
For more information and a menu of services, visit acquadayspa.com
Unwinding is an art form at The Spa at Rosen Centre, where therapists use a wide variety of techniques to relax, rejuvenate and restore balance to your body.
The Spa at Rosen Centre | Finalist (Top 4)
FOCUSING ON COMPLETE wellness, the lavish treatments at The Spa at Rosen Centre soothe the mind, nourish the body and invigorate the spirit. Its spa associates are passionate about their craft and tailor each experience to their guests’ needs, such as in the Spa Inspirations, which combine a relaxing bouquet of essential oils with healing touch. Treatments include a hydrating sugar scrub on tired feet and moisturizing body wraps.
All Spa Inspirations end with a refreshing mocktail. Is a massage on your mind? A classic or specialized massage can be tailored to your needs. The Lavish Milk & Honey Ritual firms the skin with a liberal application of Fijian Honey and fresh coconut milk, followed by ex-foliation and a full body wrap. Also popular is the Herbal Fusion Body Boost, a massage and body wrap designed to ease everyday stressors and rid your body of toxins.
Facials, in addition to full-service hair and nail treatments, are also available. Among the special amenities you’ll want to enjoy during your stay are temperature-controlled pools and a hot tub, a steam room, fitness center and relaxation lounge. Access the spa through the separate entrance and prepare to be whisked away. For more information and a full menu of services, visit spaatrosencentre.com
Whether a body treatment, facial or salon service is on your agenda, you’ll discover luxury at The Mokara Spa. Be sure to check on seasonal specials when you book your treatment. ©The Mokara Spa
The Mokara Spa | Finalist (Top 4)
LOCATED INSIDE THE POSH OMNI ORLANDO RESORT at ChampionsGate, Mokara is home to many luxurious treatments. e don’t-miss Pure Fiji Royal Milk & Honey Ritual combines exfoliation from cane sugar and exotic seed oils with a honey masque that’s high in antioxidants, massaged into the skin using warm stones. It ends with a warm scalp treatment.
Don’t forget to visit to Mokara’s luxe salon. The Paradise Manicure and Pedicure also use Pure Fiji products— the Coconut Milk series—and begins with a refreshing soak, followed by a sugarcane scrub. Then comes an exotic oil massage, to remove stubborn callouses.
When it comes to nail services, guests are in for a treat with the Dazzle Dry System. This four-step system offers beautiful results without the use of chemicals. It’s long-lasting and you’ll have hard-set nails in just five minutes without using UV light.
Gel manicures are also available. Parrafin wax dips, which help increase blood flow and relaxes muscles, is an add-on to any nail service.
Seasonal specials abound here: Through May, indulge in a Himalayan Salt Stone Massage and a SkinCeuticals Luxury Age-Defying Treatment.
For more information and a full menu of services, visit omnihotels.com/hotels/orlando-championsgate/spa
