Women Road Warriors in Hong KongBy Judith RitterWith more and more women traveling on their own for business and leisure, some destinations are taking women-only business very seriously. One place women on the road can be sure they will be catered to, is in Hong Kong. From one end of the “City of Life”, (as Hong Kong aficionados call it), to the other, the needs of women travelers, are front and centre, and anyone craving a little pampering, relaxation and rejuvenation won’t be disappointed. One of the things that makes Hong Kong unique, of course, is its thousand-year history of healing and beauty techniques from China. In a recent poll of Conde Nast Traveler spa -goers, more than 70% said they wanted spas with an Asian feel and with Asian treatments. Hong Kong comes by both naturally. Add to that, special attention for women and you’ve got a winning combination. Better Than Botox
I-Spa at the Intercontinental Hotel was the first stop on my ancient, Asian beauty and relaxation journey. Voted as one of the world’s top ten spas, I-spa has taken its Oriental orientation a step further. The spa was recently redone with the collaboration of celebrity Feng shui master, Chan Xue Tao. Feng shui is the Chinese practice of creating environments that are in such perfect harmony with nature, that they intensify the feeling of relaxation. For example, the spa suites at I-Spa are decorated with natural materials such as the smooth, green granite that lines the walls from floor to ceiling. Other rooms use beautiful woods such as teak and sycamore. Based on the ancient principles of feng shui, Master Chan chose flowers, fabrics and particular colors for each room. Red carpets grace entrance ways, doors are painted brilliant gold, and white orchids adorn the counters. All these details, in Feng shui parlance, contribute to tranquility, good fortune, wisdom and happiness. Whether you are a believer in feng shui or not, the cumulative effect, at least on me, was a sense of floating, even before the treatment. Treatments at I-Spa are a fusion of Asian therapies from China, Japan, Thailand and India. With panoply of choices, it was hard to settle on one, but since I am well past the age when I had a flawless complexion, “Beauty Tox”, The I-spa secret weapon against wrinkles, seduced me. Because it was billed as a non-invasive alternative to Botox, I decided to give it a try. “Age management” is the new buzzword in spa circles, but for me, at least, the words conjure up something medical rather than mellowing, and I for one don’t subscribe to the axiom “no pain no gain” so make mine non-invasive. “Beauty Tox” is more of a vigorous face massage than anything else. Using a kind of pulsating little device about the size of an electric toothbrush (and about as threatening), the technician tapped on every millimeter of my face and neck. The technique relaxes the facial muscles and uses pressure to send a collagen serum into the deeper layers of the skin. The whole thing took about an hour, was absolutely painless (even for a wimp like me), and my dramatic before and after appearance wowed an old friend who met me for dinner that evening. At least for the next six days, I was ten years younger. New Kid on the Block
Even the lucky younger ladies, who are still some years short of crow’s feet, deserve a massage. Hong Kong’s latest addition to the spa scene is Plateau. Plateau is a spa resort in the heart of central Hong Kong. Call this a sanctuary in the city because unlike other city spas, you don’t have to leave your room at the end of your treatment. In fact, you can stay the night or the week just as you would at a spa resort. Plateau, located on the eleventh floor of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, has fourteen of its own guestrooms. The bonus for women traveling alone is the perfect privacy this arrangement offers. The rooms, which have a view of the harbor, are in granite with sassafras wood floors. The Asian motif predominates with futon style beds and low tables. My massage, the signature treatment of Plateau, was a wonderful combination of Asian massage styles using lemongrass, rosemary and geranium essences to detoxify For me, however, the “piece de resistance” was the masterpiece head, neck and shoulder massage, which by itself, was worth the trip. For Ladies in Waiting
In a city of grand hotels with spas to match, it is a change to find a smaller day spa and one that really knows how to treat women even when they are pregnant. Elemis Spa (known world-wide) has a huge range of treatment options from Indian head massages to exotic coconut milk float experiences for the skin. The treatment, however, that has won kudos among women, is the specialized massage for mothers-to-be. No reason why women who are pregnant and traveling to Hong Kong, shouldn’t avail themselves of pampering too. Elemis is the place for cutting edge and safe maternity treatments. While I didn’t try this massage, I did have a chance to visit the spa, see its unique massage table with a hole just big enough to accommodate a pregnant woman’s belly, and I got to hear all about the special considerations women who are pregnant get. “We offer nine months of nurturing with special massages for each trimester.”, explained massage therapist and instructor, Cheryl Williams. “Pregnancy massages have to be relaxing and soothing. No rough handling.” The therapeutic part of the maternity massages focus on easing back pain, reducing water retention and relieving some of the strain on the pectoral muscles as a result of enlarged breasts. Treat Your Toes
Hong Kong offers beauty and relaxation treatments from head to toe, and nowhere outside of Shanghai, China do the toes get so much attention. Before leaving for Hong Kong, I was advised by an acquaintance, that Hong Kong had “the best pedicure in the world!” Of course, I had to try the famed Shanghai pedicure at The Mandarin Hotel. This pedicure is based on ancient Chinese methods and the art has traditionally been handed down from father to son, which is exactly how resident pedicurist, Samuel So, learned his trade. His father recently retired and the mantle fell to Samuel in Hong Kong and his brother, Simon, in Canada. Given So’s celebrity, I expected someone a bit more aloof, but he waved me up onto the red and gold chair on a small pedestal and examined my feet like a microbiologist with a particularly fascinating specimen. The verdict? Not bad but in order to feel the weightlessness devotees claim to experience after the pedicure, So would have some work to do. So explained that he would have to “shave” the hard skin on my feet using a row of ten steel scalpels lined up beside him. It looked frightening but one hour later, the end result of the shaving of dead skin, and a vigorous buffing of my toenails was exactly what he promised. I left walking on air! It's In the DetailsIf all the spa and beauty treatments designed to spoil traveling women weren’t enough, some Hong Kong hotels have found other small and elegant ways to cater to and nourish their women clientele. After about an eight hour long flight from the Middle East, imagine arriving at your room at the newly renovated Kowloon Shangri-La and finding an aromatic cup of tea, a stunning view of the harbor, fresh flowers and, small black satin bag of gold wrapped treats. The surprise bag contains everything from milk bath and a loofah to pantyhose and personal products. The Female Executive Traveler Programme at the hotel also provides a quick guide to shopping, and hints on personal security. Over on the other side of the harbor, at The Ritz- Carlton, a bubble bath strewn with rose petals is waiting your arrival.
And you might think you are dreaming, but the huge round wooden box on the bathroom counter, FILLED with Bvlgari toiletries, is for you too. All this is part of The Ritz L.A.D.Y program. That stands for Luxury Amenities Designed for You. The Ritz hasn’t forgotten anything for their special guests they call Female Road Warriors. They even provide keepsake silk pajamas for you to wear when you finally drop off to sleep in fabulous women- centered Hong Kong. Judith Ritter is a travel writer, and broadcaster who commutes between Boston and Montreal.
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