Trisara Resort and Spa: The Perfectly Designed Hotel Suite with Plenty of Room for Spa Treatments
by Susie Ellis

Last year I experienced what I considered to be one of the most perfectly choreographed spa treatments I had ever had. It was at the Sphatika Holistic Treatment Center in New York - a 2 hour treatment superbly executed. Later I found out that they had worked on this particular treatment for five years in order to reach this level of perfection!

Well, now I feel that I have experienced the most perfectly designed resort suite. Am here at the Trisara Resort and Spa in Phuket, Thailand. And sure enough, when I had breakfast with the general manager, Anthony Lark, I found out that he had spent almost ten years thinking about and finally designing and perfecting this room. It was 1,000 square feet and all I can say is that I couldn't wait to get back to the room although the rest of the resort was superb as well.
Apparently every villa at the resort has this same design which includes an infinity pool and ocean view from every part of the villa - from the office/bedroom/sitting&eating area, and even the long bathroom that runs the length of the entire villa behind the bed and rooms. That's the ingenious part.

Take a look at the photo. You can see the bed from which the view would include the large infinity pool and past that, the ocean. If you are lying in bed, to the right of you is a large area with a desk, a large (initially hidden) area to plug in all kinds of electronics, banquette space, storage underneath and some closet and drawers all built in. To the left of you is the sitting/eating area from which you enjoy the same pool/ocean view. There is a spacious minibar area including a large pull-out shelf with coffee maker, instant hot tea maker, dishes, etc.

This large open trio of rooms has gorgeous wooden ceilings - each with a dfferent configuration and at varying heights, with all kinds of lighting effects. And then what was really cool, is that if you are lying in bed - behind you and running across the entire back of the villa - is the bathroom from which you can also enjoy the infinity pool/ocean view because there are pocket windows (mirrored) that stretch the length of the room above and behind the bed. When these are opened, they give you the ocean view from the bathroom and when closed give the bathroom total privacy.

It wasn't just the design of the villa, it was also every small little detail that felt perfect - like the reading light above your bed that shines at just the perfect angle and where you can reach the switch from your bed without straining, etc.

There is something about perfection that is inspiring...and in a way, part of what makes a spa vacation something memorable and transformative.

The only thing I felt didn't fit was a kind of elephant-like structure made out of two hand towels to which two small black slips had been added to look like eyes that was sitting on the banquette in front of the bed to greet you when you first arrived at the room. It reminded me of the "napkin-art" you get at convention meals. Odd, but I suppose, forgiveable.

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Rarely do I have a spa experience these days which amazes me. But the three hour Royal Sphatika Signature Experience at the pristine clean and inviting Sphatika Spa near Columbus Circle did just that.

Afterward when I spoke to owner Janet League-Katzin, and her colleague Candace Darling, I learned that they have been working to perfect this treatment for five years! And true to my experience, it appears that every move of the therapist's hand, every spoken word, every touch of product is choreographed to be the most comfortable, the most therapeutic, and the most restful experience possible. It starts with time in one of their three individual infrared saunas (I am a fan of infrared saunas) and moves to a treatment room where partway through the session, which includes exfoliation and massage among other blissful additions, a canopy is lowered from the ceiling and covers the body for a steam.

Helping people get into deep sleep is part of the goal at Sphatika. I was told that almost 100 percent of the people who have this Royal Sphatika fall asleep during the treatment. But it is the restorative sleep that same night that really is impressive.

My advice? This is a day spa amidst many hotels in the area - some have spas and some don't. The Mandarin Oriental is right across the street, with the Trump International Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Central Park nearby, among others. If the concierges in those hotels were smart, they would let their guests in on this secret, private, and very unusual spa.