I learned the hard way that one of the simplest ways to enhance a spa visit is to arrive early and give yourself time to decompress in the lounge before your treatment.
That lesson came into sharp focus during a recent visit to the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. I had arrived at La Paloma the day before for a business event with colleagues from Global Traveler and members of our Globility advisory board. Several of us booked spa appointments to carve out a little rest and relaxation amid a busy schedule.
Usually I prefer quiet, solo moments before a treatment, but this time I enjoyed soft conversation with friends and colleagues, all wrapped in plush robes and slippers. The Red Door Spa lounge is intimate, seating only six or seven, and while chatting with a coworker I noticed a familiar face across the room: Theresa Caputo, star of TLC’s Long Island Medium.
I’m not a devoted viewer, but I’ve seen a few episodes and couldn’t help hoping for a hint of psychic insight. Theresa was called into her appointment before any paranormal message could materialize, so I returned to my group without any otherworldly revelations.
A Red Door Spa treatment room © The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
We drifted to our private treatment rooms one by one. I chose the Red Door Signature Massage, a treatment designed to deliver full-body relaxation using olive oil and shea butter cream, with added facial acupressure and foot reflexology. The spa also offers other classic and specialty massages, including the Desert Hot Stone Massage, which combines Swedish techniques with warming stones, and a Deep Tissue Massage that applies slower, firmer pressure to release persistent tension.
For those seeking extended pampering, the Signature Stress Melter Ritual is a two-hour experience featuring an olive oil softening scrub, a hydrating body wrap and a Swedish massage. Add-ons such as reflexology, a hair and scalp massage or aromatherapy make it even more indulgent.
If your schedule is tight, the Red Door Spa provides 25-minute Time Saver treatments—quick massages, mini-facials, body polishes and reflexology sessions designed to deliver benefits in a short timeframe. This flexibility makes it easy to fit a restorative moment into a packed day.
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa underwent a major renovation that concluded in October 2013. The resort’s updated facilities include 487 guestrooms (25 of them suites), five swimming pools and a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. Outdoor fire pits fueled by natural gas create comfortable gathering spots and provide excellent views of Sonoran Desert sunsets.
On-site dining options range from the casual Azul Restaurant and Azul Lounge to the Country Club Patio, Sabino’s Swim Up Bar & Grill, Poppy Kitchen and an Espresso Café. Tennis players will find Courtside Deli at the tennis center, while the 19th Hole serves as a social hub at La Paloma Country Club.
Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa
3800 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
tel 520 742 6000
reddoorspas.com
westinlapalomaresort.com