A few weeks ago I made a trip to Vail, CO, in search of cool mountain air and a quiet spa paradise. Fortunately, I found both during a visit to The Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, where I spent a morning experiencing their signature Tranquila Ritual along with the many amenities and luxuries the spa has to offer.

Spa Profile: The Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail

Upon arriving at the spa, I checked in with the front desk where an attendant greeted me warmly and escorted me to the women’s locker room. I was given a tour of the amenities and provided with the resort’s famous robe and a pair of slippers prior to my scheduled service. If you’ve ever experienced a Four Seasons spa robe, you know exactly how luxe, soft, and fluffy it is. I was delighted to slip into the cloud-like cover-up.

Here’s what you’ll love about The Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail: 

• Cloud-like  spa robes, expansive locker rooms, and amenities including a sauna, steam room, cold plunge, jacuzzi, and showers with eucalyptus spray.

• A spacious and beautifully designed relaxation lounge with fruit, tea, and house-made snacks.

• A wide-range of service offerings including couple’s treatments, salon and barber services, nail care, and signature ritual treatments to explore and enjoy.

• Artfully designed treatments specific to Vail like the High-Altitude Adjustment Massage and S’mores Indulgence Facial.

• The spa boasts a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, a major nod to the quality of service, amenities offered, and overall ambiance of the facility.

• Guests can shop at the spa boutique which retails a variety of brands and offerings in clothing, accessories, face, body, home and wellness—so many great gift options!

The locker room was grandiose with generous amenities from the lockers and shower facilities to vanity areas. The ambiance was warm and rich with earthy rock details on the wall. There were oversized jacuzzis and a cold plunge, in addition to a steam room and dry sauna. I would be back to enjoy them all!

Next up: the relaxation room and Tranquila Ritual time!

The relaxation lounge was artfully rustic with light, warm hues and access to an outdoor zen space. A fireplace was located in the middle of the room with plenty of comfortable seating accompanied by a spread of various teas, water, fresh fruit and house-made snacks.

After pouring myself a cup of warm herbal tea, I settled into a corner spot, kicked my feet up, and nibbled on a tasty chocolate and oat bar that was made by in-house by a pastry chef.

Right on time, I was greeted by a friendly therapist who walked me throughout the 13-room, 14,000-square-foot spa to my treatment room. It was inviting and impressive with the bubble bath prepared, products to be used on display, and a tray of treats and bubbly to snack and sip on while soaking in the jetted tub. The room also had an adjacent shower where I would rinse off the body polish prior to the massage.

The Tranquila Ritual is a signature 100-minute service at The Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail that includes a bath, body scrub, and full-body  massage. The treatment was designed to inspire healing and restoration to the mind, body, and soul in a luxurious and therapeutic atmosphere.

Sanara is a plant-based body care line that is used throughout the service beginning with Yerba Mate Bath Soak followed by Bamboo Fiber and Mango Seed Body Polish during the exfoliation portion, and finally, the brand’s Chilean Rosehip Seed Body Oil for the massage.

Each step of the service felt entirely relaxing and purposeful. The therapist working on me asked thoughtful questions before each step in an effort to customize the treatment to fit my needs. The body scrub felt utterly relaxing while beneficial, ridding my skin of dead cells which allowed the products to absorb better.

The massage was customized according to my needs, which on this day were tight shoulders and a stiff neck and upper body. The pressure was perfect and I felt comfortable enough to express any concerns and request adjustments that I needed throughout the treatment.

I also opted for an add-on Scalp Ritual Enhancement, which included warm Moroccan oil drizzled and massaged into my scalp for a deeply relaxing experience that left my hair nourished and hydrated. Other enhancement options guests can choose from include collagen face and eye masks, a foot scrub and arnica muscle relief, among others.

After the treatment, I was greeted with a handmade chocolate caramel, a locally made indulgent treat. I was also gifted a bag of products to use at home.

Still on a high from my spa experience, I spent additional time enjoying the sauna and jacuzzi before taking a shower in the private area of the locker rooms. The showers were stocked with eucalyptus mist for added relaxation and nasal relief.

On my way out I stopped by the spa’s retail boutique to browse the shelves, which were filled with brands like OM4 Organic Male, Eminence Organic Skin Care, Phytomer, Natura Bissé, TARA body and massage oils, Zents, and Sanara.

Luxury Gift Items from Hotels Around the World

In addition to clothing and accessories there was also a shelf of Four Seasons candles, which are top sellers in Vail (their popular scents include S'mores Pine and White Birch). Invigorated and restored, I was off to spend the rest of my day exploring beautiful Vail.

Cost: Tranquila Ritual ($535/100 min); add-on Scalp Ritual Enhancement ($30)

Insider Tip: Give yourself extra time to enjoy the spa facilities. Spa locker rooms are open for guest use of the amenities which include the jacuzzi, cold plunge, steam room, and dry sauna.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Daily hours for spa treatments), 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Daily hours for spa facilities)

Address: 1 Vail Road, Vail, CO 81657

Phone: 970-477-8630

Email: spa.vail@fourseasons.com

For more information on The Spa at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail, visit their website and follow them on Instagram: @fsvail

[Photos by Alisha Racker]

Alisha Racker’s beauty career has spanned over a decade as she's worked as a master esthetician, skin care PR-pro and freelance writer. She lives in the beautiful mountains of Salt Lake City with her husband and daughter.