Where Is It: Double Bay, NSW.
Why Go: Great location, treatment options for face and body.
Best For: Couples, girlfriends.
Three Things We Loved: The lavish decor, the private suite, the treatment menu.
The Ultimate Factor: It's in divine Double Bay!
Overview:
There was much excitement over the opening of the new InterContinental Sydney Double Bay at the end of 2014, a glamorously revitalised luxury hotel on the site of the former infamous Ritz Carlton. A lavish spa was also expected among its mix of premium accommodation and fine dining, and it arrived as Trumps Spa, tucked quietly away in the elegant refurbished shopping arcade beneath the hotel. So what’s great about it? For one, there’s the location, with Double Bay reestablished as a romantic getaway hotspot thanks to the new hotel, with fine dining and designer shopping for visiting couples to enjoy, and Sydney’s key sightseeing only a short ferry or bus ride away. But it’s also a facility with a wonderfully lavish decor and everything that discerning spa-goers demand, including a full service hair salon. It is run by sisters Davina and Dianah, who are continuing a legacy started by their mother over 40 years ago.
The Decor:
Trumps has five treatment rooms, a sauna, a steam room, a spray tan booth, and a VIP room for anyone seeking extra privacy. As you walk into the reception area, you can’t help but be wowed by the elaborate decor which draws on the glamour and heritage of the local area; part old Europe, part Spanish-Moorish and part Moroccan. The result is a wonderful colour scheme of cream and white, accented with a combination of rich brass and chocolate brown tones, featuring a polished floor with eye catching inlaid hammam tiles. The lighting is low to create an instant sense of relaxation, and the music soft to ease your mood. Forget clinical; this is a space which transports you somewhere more warm and exotic. The spa menu also has everything from luxury Payot and Sodashi signature facials to chakra balancing massage, couples’ massage, and body exfoliation, with some of the more unusual offerings including a Hammam Ritual and a Spa Jet Vichy Shower, the latter a fusion of steam, light therapy and massage. Packages are also available from 60 minutes to seven hours in duration.
The Treatment:
The Sodashi Jet Lag Recovery is a one-hour, balancing and revitalising treatment for a traveller and will no doubt prove popular with the hotel’s international visitors. It’s a treat for both face and body, which begins with a relaxing back massage. My therapist asked me about my specific needs, which always involves built-up stress in the lower back, base of the neck and shoulders, and she also regularly checked on the pressure and worked intuitively. Following the massage, and now fully relaxed you’re treated to a full-body exfoliation to scrub away the dry; this uses a combination of Himalayan salt and hot oil, which is gentle but highly effective, and leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and silky. The final part of the process is a simple facial with double cleansing, which is great for when you have travelled long distance and have distressed skin, a gentle exfoliation, a massage to stimulate blood circulation, and the application of Sodashi Jet Lag Tonics to boost your skin and return it to normal.
The Verdict:
After an hour in this new Double Bay haven, I left with my shoulders lower, my back freer and my skin looking plump and fresh; next time I plan to stay longer.
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