The Spa, Four Seasons Hotel, Philadelphia
Julie Register visited this hotel spa on Logan Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in February 2002

Outside it was a typical gray winter day. Inside the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, especially at The Spa, it was warm and cozy. I found a little island paradise in the middle of the city. 

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The warm feeling started when the concierge greeted me in the lobby and was reinforced with each Four Seasons employee I met. They all smiled, made eye contact, and addressed me by name - a small touch that leaves a good impression. They acknowledged my existence as an individual not just as one of the multitude of guests that must pass through each day. 

Bob greeted me at The Spa reception desk, answered a few of my questions and took my lunch order. The menu at The Four Seasons marks its Spa Alternative Cuisine with an asterisk (*) to indicate low fat, low sodium, low calorie, and low cholesterol selections. I couldn't make up my mind what to order, so I just asked for something low-fat and vegetarian. The hard decisions done, Bob gave me sandals and a thick robe.

I was then led through the fitness center to the Women's Locker Room and shown how to use the new combination locks on the lockers. Inside the locker room was the expected (vanity, sauna, entrance to the pool and whirlpool, showers with the Four Seasons brand of coastal grapefruit-scented shampoo, conditioner and body lotion) and the unexpected - a treatment room. This room was one of the original treatment rooms built with the hotel 18 years ago, but it had recently been remodeled to sound insulate it from the noise of the locker room (hair dryers, chatting, etc.). This room is ideal for women who don't care to walk around the rest of the co-ed spa in their robes (even though it is pretty private).

There are four other treatment rooms in the spa - a facial treatment room between the reception desk and the fitness area and through the waiting room in a separate area, a wet treatment room with private shower and two additional massage treatment rooms.

My first treatment was a La Stone Massage by therapist Mary Rembrandt. Mary described what she would do while performing the massage. She also said she would not be doing the energy work that is often part of the treatment and she would not use the cold stones. However, Mary added a very nice touch of her own to the massage. She started by giving me a wonderful stretch. She crossed one of my legs on the other by bringing the ankle to the opposite knee (like a number 4) then told me to inhale deeply then exhale. On the exhale, she gently pulled under my shoulder opposite of the bent knee towards the bent knee and repeated this on the other side. It felt terrific and is a great way to start any massage. The massage itself started with me sitting up. Mary lined hot stones where my back would be then covered them with a pillow case. I stretched out again and Mary wrapped large stones in cloth and placed one under each of my hands. Small stones were placed between my toes and large stones on the chakras at the abdomen, heart and chest. She then massaged the muscles of my legs and arms with smooth hot stones. I could feel the heat radiating deep into my body. Mary removed all the stones and it was time to turn over. She placed small stones between my eyebrows and covered my eyes with a weighted facial mask that held the small stones in place. She put a large stone at base of my spine then massaged my legs and back with more smooth hot stones. The occasional soft click of the stones hitting each other was all that kept me from falling asleep. 

I went to my next treatment feeling warm, cozy and relaxed. Esthetician Erin Corne, who is also an massage therapist, gave me a very nice facial. Here are the steps she followed:

• cleanse with a gentle cleansing cream, 

• exfoliate (Erin exfoliated without removing the cleanser. The exfoliating cream had round granules so it would not to tear the skin.),

• steam (Erin told me that steam brings blood and nutrients to surface of the skin and softens blackheads so the surrounding skin won't be damaged during extractions.),

• extract,

• tone with a moisture gel lotion,

• massage,

• moisturize with moisture plus cream,

• eye and lip contour gel on crows feet & lips for extra moisture, and a

• soothing moisture mask.

Erin never left the room during the facial (estheticians often leave while steaming or the mask is setting up). She used the wait time while my face was under the steam to massage my hands and lower arms. Another noteworthy touch was the aloe massage gel she used for the facial massage. It felt really nice. Erin has a great healing touch for massage. I enjoyed it during the facial but would guess she gives a great full body massage, too.

After my treatments, I headed poolside for my surprise lunch - a lovely and delicious salad. I find it nice (and rather unusual) that I could make a request like the one I did and have the chef make a meal to meet my specific requirements without hesitation or note. I enjoyed my meal next to the lovely 45 foot long pool to the soothing sounds of the bubbling whirlpool and cascading fountain. I paged through the Four Seasons Magazine and ran across this quote from Isadore Sharp, founder and leader of the Four Seasons hotel group "One way to characterize service would be to call it an exchange of mutual respect performed with an attitude of kindness, respecting the dignity of the individual...We demonstrate our beliefs most meaningfully in the way we treat each other and by the example we set for one another." I guess that explains that warm feeling I got in the Four Seasons Philadelphia.

The Fitness Area

The fitness area offers Stairmasters, lifecycles, treadmills, station Vectras, Concept II Rower, dumbbells as well as a complementary discman with a selection of discs to use while exercising. 

Complimentary coffee and tea is available in the waiting room and cranberry water, citrus water and Gatorade is available near the workout area. 

The Spa sells memberships which allows day spa use for non-hotel guests as well as guests.

Other Items of Note

The Spa's signature treatments are the La Stone Massage and the Mankuara Facial. It also offers a variety of massage (Swedish, deep tissue, sports, shiatsu, aromatherapy, in-room seated), body treatments (glows and wraps), and facials. At the time of my visit, The Spa was in the process of reworking the spa menu and planned to introduce the new menu in May 2002.

The Spa will refer clients to other local spas and salons when they can't provide the service the client is looking for. What wonderful customer service!