We all know summer is the superior season 😉 Rather than complain about the cooler weather this year though, I’m on a mission to embrace winter in all its “Wow-it’s-cold-today-isn’t-it” glory.
As tempting as hibernating for three months is, I’m here to coax you away from your comfy home and encourage you to venture out and add a little indulgence to the coldest time of the year.
And the perfect way to start is with a hotel day spa. Or more specifically, a hotel spa day at the iconic five-star Sydney hotel, the Sheraton on the Park.
You might associate hotel day spas with holiday time, but that’s the beauty of them! They offer a chance to vacate your normal life for a day of hotel bliss. Here’s how to do it…
1. Pick your partner in pampering
Meeting my mother-in-law in the Sheraton on the Park’s glamorous foyer, it’s fair to say we both need a little R&R following a busy week.
After checking in at the concierge desk, we’re given a pass and directed to the far lifts that take us all the way up to level 22. So many hotel spas are tucked away in hotel basements or dark corners, so I know we’re onto a good thing before we even get there 😉
Behind these doors, a sanctuary of relaxation (otherwise known as On the Park Rejuvenation Day Spa) awaits. And, oh boy, are we are ready.
2. Select your treatment
On the Park’s spa menu is extensive, but today we’re both opting for a 60-minute aromatherapy massage. And that’s where the fun begins. Spa Manager Melanie Richard reveals a board of essential oils. Rather than choose by name, we’re instructed to smell each of the tiny bottles and choose the one we like the most. They’re laid out perfume-testing style, complete with coffee beans to refresh our sense of smell between bottles. The idea is that through this process, our bodies will choose the oil that they most need.
In my case, it’s ‘De-stress’ and in my MIL’s case, it’s ‘Balance’. We both agree with those assessments. Next stop, the change rooms. It’s robe time!
Before long, we’re collected by our therapists. I immediately know I’m in very good hands with Mira – literally!
In fact, after my hour massage – during which Mira manages to hit all the right spots with just the right amount of pressure – I feel like a new woman and decide that Mira must be short for ‘Miracle Worker’ 😊
It’s one of those rare massages that feels longer than it actually is because every minute is pure gold – there’s no filler time here.
I walk out floating and find my MIL in the same state. That, my friends, is 60 minutes well spent.
3. Continue the fun
Of course, your me-time doesn’t have to stop there. Here are three more ways to make the most of your visit to Sheraton on The Park:
1. Enjoy the spa facilities
Okay, so going to the gym might be a bit of a stretch on a pampering day (unless you go before your relaxing treatment – it is one of the larger hotel gyms I’ve seen), but I’m willing to bet time in the rooftop pool, jacuzzi, sauna, or steam room will tick some of your chill-time boxes.
2. Soak up the view
Those amazing 22nd floor views are put to very good use with the spa’s terrace. Complete with sun loungers and gorgeous views overlooking Hyde Park, it’s a perfect spot for a post-massage lunch – you can even order from the room service menu. A club sandwich and a vino enjoyed in the winter sun while wearing a robe and slippers sounds pretty good to me 😉
3. Pick your favourite type of food experience
If you want to linger longer over your meal, the Sheraton isn’t short on amazing spots to sort you out when your tummy starts to rumble.
Hello, high tea: If you’re lucky enough to be here on a weekend, the high tea buffet is the stuff of sweet-tooth dreams. You can read more about it here.
• Say yes to all of the seafood: I’m more of a savoury girl myself, so the award-winning signature seafood buffet held in Feast restaurant has my name written all over it. Unfortunately, they’re booked out on the day we visit, so make sure you book well ahead!
• Hit the bar: If your treatment is later in the day, a post-pamper cocktail might be the perfect option for you. After you’ve had plenty of water first to re-hydrate, of course 😉 Open from 4pm, the Conservatory Bar boasts a great list of local and international wines, beers, ciders, and spirits, as well as fun and classic cocktails and mocktails.
Of course, if that’s all too hard to decide between, you could really treat yourself and book a weekend stay to do them all!
Ahead of the Sheraton on the Park’s 25th anniversary, the hotel has recently been treated to a $40 million overhaul of its 558 guestrooms and the Sheraton Club Lounge, with a focus on sophisticated yet relaxed luxury. If that doesn’t sound like a great excuse to leave the house this winter, I don’t know what does 😉
CHECK OUT THE SHERATON ON THE PARK SEE MORE LUXE SYDNEY STAYS
