It's a spa owner's worst nightmare. You're at Cosmoprof in Europe. The first day at the expo is tremendously successful. You've found a new massage table from Italy and placed an order to refit all of your massage treatment rooms. Before the expo starts on the second day, you get a phone call. There's been a fire. How bad?, you ask. No one wants to tell you. Finally, a brave soul let's you know it's bad - chemical combustion at 12:30 am - very, very bad. This sad event happened to Luda Conti, owner of Avanti Day Spa in Manalapan, New Jersey in March 2007. She returned home on the next available flight to find her spa destroyed and her entire staff of 70 in the parking lot anxiously waiting for her leadership. Luda wasted no time. Within three days, she opened a temporary spa in an adjoining shopping center and placed her stylists in nearby salons so they could continue serving their clients. Luda spent next 10 months working with architect Robert Henry, rebuilding and improving. The spa reopened on February 22, 2008.

I sat in the new Tranquility Room at Avanti as Luda shared her story with me. Although she said no tears were shed over the fire, her voice was filled with emotion. Her passion for her business was evident. However, she turned her misfortune into an opportunity to take Avanti to the next level. “I wanted to make Avanti better than ever so that the facility, services and staff will make people feel like they went to a resort.” Hence the name change to Avanti Day Resort. Appropriately, Avanti is the Italian word for "move forward."

My first visit to Avanti was in 2000. I had been impressed by the richness of the décor and the unique services and equipment (razul and soft pak). Avanti was the first spa I saw that used beautiful glass vessel sinks. It was the first spa I saw that used Venetian plaster on the walls. It was the first spa I saw with lovely slate showers. In fact, it raised the bar on what I expected from spas after that visit.

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Original Entrance

New Entrance

Reception Desk*

Salon

The espresso bar has been transformed into more of a cafe that serves coffee, espresso, cappuccino, teas and snacks. A boutique offers products including handcrafted Sorrelli jewelry, Bare Escentuals natural cosmetics, Éminence Organic Skin Care, Kérastase Paris, Shu Uemura, Ojon Organic Hair Care, SkinMedica and much more.

Cafe	Retail Area*

The finishes and décor are lovely - hardwood floors, white-pebbled walls, marble-ized walls, Dale Chihuly glass art, crystal chandeliers and more.

White-Pebbled Walls and Three Royal Crystal Chandeliers in the Manicure Area

The spa has also been expanded from 11 treatment rooms to 15, adding a couple’s room and an executive male retreat that offers men's treatments, organic juices, teas and and other beverages, newspaper and flat-screen television. Of course, all the massage tables are the new, Italian models Luda ordered at Cosmoprof that feature a waterbed top and chromatherapy.

Executive Men's Retreat

Couple’s Treatment Room with Steam Shower for Two

And there's more to come. During my visit, they were putting the finishing touches on the Razul area. The original Soft Pac bed has been replaced by a new version with chromatherapy and massaging features. The massage table has been replaced with an upscale floor mat for authentic Thai massage. Not yet started is a large, authentic banya (steam room) to occupy the space of the previous tea room.

Razul at Avanti Spa Resort*

Back in the salon, a 16-seat color bar has been installed where patrons may have their hair colored while watching one of eight flat-screen televisions with Internet service. They were putting the finishing touches on the new Kérastase Paris Hair Spa, a private room featuring a YUMI massage chair and consultation area where stylists will offer Kérastase professional hair care rituals. This unique space is one of five in the US and the first and only one in New Jersey to date.

16-Seat Color Bar*

Private Kérastase Paris Hair Spa*

The facilities were wonderful. How about the service and treatments? They did not disappoint.

I checked in at the reception desk and was escorted into the spa and was lead through the Tranquility Room, down the architecturally interesting hallway with undulating walls, past a peak at the roof of the razul and into the women's changing room.

The Spa Tranquility Room

Spa Hallway to Changing Rooms

There I was given a locker, comfortable robe and sandals. The spa attendant put my name on the locker - a practice I appreciate. With keyed locks, the locker number is usually on the key ring you take with you. With electronic locks, as in Avanti, you have nothing to remind you of which locker is yours. In my usual zoned-out state after a spa treatment, I have often forgotten which locker was mine. I've also forgotten the code, but not this time.

Lockers in the Women's Changing Room	Seating in the Women's Changing Room
Vessel Sinks in the Women's Changing Room	Showers and Robes in the Women's Changing Room

After changing, I returned to the Tranquility Room. The spa attendant offered me water, tea and snacks. I ordered lunch to have between treatments. I settled into the comfortable sofa, pulled a soft blanket over me and started to watch the video that was playing on the large flat-screen television.

Fireplace in The Tranquility Room

The Tranquility Room

Ashes and Snow

My first treatment was an Up in Smoke Massage. My therapist, Ann, escorted me from the Tranquility Room down a softly lit hallway to my treatment room. The first thing I noticed was the blue glow coming from the Z-1 chromatherapy massage table Luda had ordered from Italy. The second was the cleansing ritual Ann offered me. She explained that it was a granola-type mix of hemp seed, agave nectar and goji berries to help cleanse the body. I finished the sweet mixture and drank water from a lovely little glass. Ann then brought my attention to the hemp candle that was burning. She explained that as the candle burns, it produces a warm, fragrant oil that she would massage into my skin. This warm, moisturizing oil contains soybean, coconut, avocado, apricot, jojoba, and Vitamin E oils and would leave my skin silky soft. She left the room while I got situated on the table. It reminded me of the water bed I had years ago. There was no face cradle, but the warm water provided a comfortable cushion (Luda says she is ordering new tables with holes for the face for those that prefer a face cradle). I watched the colors slowly changing on the table until Ann returned. Once the massage started, I closed my eyes. The warm oil from the candle felt soothing as Ann gave me a wonderful massage. The massage felt especially nice on the cushion of water. Gentle waves responded to each move of the massage. I thoroughly enjoyed the Up in Smoke Massage. As an added bonus, I was given the candle to take home with me to burn for aromatherapy, melt for oil or to scoop out cold for a skin moisturizer (a tiny spoon was included).

Z-1 Water Top, Chromatherapy Massage Table

Cleansing Ritual of Hemp Seed, Agave Nectar and Goji Berries

I returned to the Tranquility Room where my lunch had been set up for me. I relaxed and enjoyed my salad while watching Ashes and Snow. When I was done, Sheila, my esthetician, escorted me down another hallway to a facial treatment room. The first thing I noticed was a built-in basin in the treatment table filled with water. Sheila explained that I could soak my feet in the warm water while I had my facial. She added salts and rose petals to the basin then offered me the Cleansing Ritual and left the room so I could get situated on the treatment table. When she returned, I was settled in with my happy feet soaking in the warm bath. My Oxy-Fusion Facial included exfoliation, cool towels, Vitamins A, C, E and natural jojoba oil massaged into my skin, an enzyme mask, a fabulous foot massage and a cool infusion of pure oxygen. According to Sheila, this is an intensely nourishing treatment that penetrates vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and oxygen directly into skin cells to hydrate the skin, strengthen collagen and increase suppleness and elasticity. Sheila said it works especially well in a series of monthly treatments. However, I could feel the difference right away. My skin felt very moist and healthy afterwards.

Hallway to Facial Treatment Rooms

Facial Treatment Room

Built-In Foot Basin in Facial Treatment Table

Sheila escorted me to Pedicure Area and introduced me to my nail technician, Carmen. While Carmen collected everything for my Mediterranean Olive Oil pedicure, I played with the settings on the leather pedicure chair - massage, heat and recline. I was very comfortable and appreciated the privacy that the shear curtains provided that separated my space from the other pedicure stations and the rest of the salon. I noticed the unique chandeliers and asked if they were created by Dale Chihuly. They were. Carmen started my pedicure by having me soak my feet in the Murano glass pedicure bowls. Hydrotherapy jets treated my already pampered feet to a soothing foot massage. Carmen used pure jelly olive oil, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E in the Mediterranean Olive Oil pedicure. She said they all work together to stimulate cell renewal and keep the skin hydrated. Traditionally, olive oil has been used to sooth arthritic and muscular pain, and any skin inflammations. My feet felt and looked terrific when it was finished.

Pedicure Area with Dale Chihuly Chandeliers

Other Treatments and Services offered at Avanti Day Resort at the time of my visit include:

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Avanti Day Resort. While I am sorry Luda had to experience the loss the fire caused, I think she has done a wonderful job rebuilding and improving. I know I won't wait another eight years before I return.