lanatolman
Jun 29, 02, 7:09 pm
After flying all night from LAX, you get off the plane in Auckland at 7:00 am. Boy do we feel like the road slime as hit. Drive straight to the new, sleek, ultra modern and totally hip, Hilton Hotel on newly developed Princes Wharf. This hotel looks like an Ian Schrager copycat complete with the well-dressed valets. The floor to ceiling windows in the lobby and bar overlook the beautiful harbor of Waitemata and the Auckland Bridge. It's not Sydney, but close enough. The Princes Wharf has everything you could image. No need to venture beyond. It has a very handy wine shop. Numerous restaurants and second most importantly to the wine shop is the heavenly sanctuary of the “Spa de Serville".
By the time you arrive the hotel at around 8:00 am, your room will not be ready, unless you have paid for the previous night. This could mean endless hours sitting in the lobby or having at least a 3-hour breakfast and then a 2-hour lunch to pass some time. Check in time is officially 2:00pm but they do try to accommodate early travelers.
With no prompting from the front desk, we walked down the wharf and ended up quite mistakenly at the Spa de Serville, almost next door. After about 30 seconds we decided what better way to relax and unwind after the long flight. If you arrive during the week the spa is open between 7:00-8:00 am and Sunday 10:am. Book in advance, this Zen upstairs hideout can be busy.
Paul Huege de Serville dream was to create a unique environment where his clients could experience a complete selection of hair, body and wellness experiences. He found the perfect location where vitality, reflection, and elemental awareness permeate this retreat.
It was hard to decide which treatments to release, relax and unwind our minds. Jim debated between the Duo Touch where two therapists work on you simultaneously on your body or the Massage Experience of 90 minutes. I decided on the Vichy Aqua Massage. Everyone tells you they have the best cure for jet lag, here is mine. You lie down in a special room that is like a very large shower and let the power of seven individual showerheads work in unison with the massage therapist. She will adjust the water temperature perfectly. Your skin begins tickling with the power of these jets of water, while the therapist is simultaneously massaging your body. As you succumb to the water and massage your body is awakening like you have never felt before. Talk about skin awareness. After 60 minutes of bliss, the showers unfortunately stop and you are dried off. After the Vichy Aqua Massage, I remembered thinking, how could I ever take another long distance flight without this treatment at the end. Must come to Auckland more often on the way to Australia.
You can also indulge yourself in a La Stone Therapy. This involves deep penetrating heated and cold marble stones on the body. With over 50 different treatments available, including a pedicure room that will hold at least 6 people as your feet are being pampered you gaze over the harbor, it is hard to decide on which treatment. You can download their spa services at the web site.
You can spend 60 minutes or 7 hours with the Seize the Day package. Who cares what time the room at the Hilton is ready. But at last, your triangle shaped "Bow Suite" at the Hilton is ready and it is time to reflect while watching the boats in the harbor just float by. "That was a great flight"
Salon de Serville
Level 1 Shed 20
Princes Wharf
Auckland, New Zealand
PH 09-309-9086
FAX 09-309-9517
EM spa@servilles.co.nz
www.servilles.co.nz (http://www.servilles.co.nz)
By the time you arrive the hotel at around 8:00 am, your room will not be ready, unless you have paid for the previous night. This could mean endless hours sitting in the lobby or having at least a 3-hour breakfast and then a 2-hour lunch to pass some time. Check in time is officially 2:00pm but they do try to accommodate early travelers.
With no prompting from the front desk, we walked down the wharf and ended up quite mistakenly at the Spa de Serville, almost next door. After about 30 seconds we decided what better way to relax and unwind after the long flight. If you arrive during the week the spa is open between 7:00-8:00 am and Sunday 10:am. Book in advance, this Zen upstairs hideout can be busy.
Paul Huege de Serville dream was to create a unique environment where his clients could experience a complete selection of hair, body and wellness experiences. He found the perfect location where vitality, reflection, and elemental awareness permeate this retreat.
It was hard to decide which treatments to release, relax and unwind our minds. Jim debated between the Duo Touch where two therapists work on you simultaneously on your body or the Massage Experience of 90 minutes. I decided on the Vichy Aqua Massage. Everyone tells you they have the best cure for jet lag, here is mine. You lie down in a special room that is like a very large shower and let the power of seven individual showerheads work in unison with the massage therapist. She will adjust the water temperature perfectly. Your skin begins tickling with the power of these jets of water, while the therapist is simultaneously massaging your body. As you succumb to the water and massage your body is awakening like you have never felt before. Talk about skin awareness. After 60 minutes of bliss, the showers unfortunately stop and you are dried off. After the Vichy Aqua Massage, I remembered thinking, how could I ever take another long distance flight without this treatment at the end. Must come to Auckland more often on the way to Australia.
You can also indulge yourself in a La Stone Therapy. This involves deep penetrating heated and cold marble stones on the body. With over 50 different treatments available, including a pedicure room that will hold at least 6 people as your feet are being pampered you gaze over the harbor, it is hard to decide on which treatment. You can download their spa services at the web site.
You can spend 60 minutes or 7 hours with the Seize the Day package. Who cares what time the room at the Hilton is ready. But at last, your triangle shaped "Bow Suite" at the Hilton is ready and it is time to reflect while watching the boats in the harbor just float by. "That was a great flight"
Salon de Serville
Level 1 Shed 20
Princes Wharf
Auckland, New Zealand
PH 09-309-9086
FAX 09-309-9517
EM spa@servilles.co.nz
www.servilles.co.nz (http://www.servilles.co.nz)