New Year Reviver pampering package at Plateau Spa – the ideal way to kick start the Year of the Horse!

With the rest of Team Sassy doing their bit to cover the detox cause for the start of the year, I was left wondering how I could get on the fitness bandwagon. Intense workouts? No thanks! Nine-day detox plans? Not my style! A “New Year Reviver” pampering session at one of the city’s top spas? Now that’s more like it!

I’d previously heard wonderful things about the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong’s Plateau Spa from Jaime – and lo and behold, everything she said turned out to be true! The spa is incredibly spacious (a family of four could happily live in one of the treatment rooms, with killer views, giant bathroom and changing room included), and whilst the clean modern décor isn’t exactly memorable, it’s exactly what you need to induce a feeling of serenity and calm. I particularly liked the garden courtyard outside, a cute little oasis of tranquillity in a city that lacks much of the green stuff.

I was booked in for the New Year Reviver package, consisting of a 60-minute Detox Aroma Massage and a 60-minute June Jacobs Deep Cleaning Facial. From the minute I stepped into my Plateau Spa dressing gown (possibly the fluffiest, most luxurious one I’ve ever worn), my relax button was turned all the way up to 11!

The warm blend of rosemary, geranium and marjoram oils (apparently, all great for detoxifying your body) had my aching muscles melting immediately, whilst my therapist’s long flowing strokes – at just the right pressure – were also designed to increase circulation and aid lymphatic flow. Combined with the uber Zen atmosphere, this was a massage as good as they get.

Given our blogger Emma’s experience with a similar June Jacobs facial at the Grand Hyatt’s sister hotel in Sha Tin (where the products gave her a breakout), I was a little wary about my facial… but I needn’t have been. Given the cold weather we’ve been having – and probably not helped by my toting an incredibly drying tiny convection heater everywhere around the house – my therapist determined my skin was in definite need of some serious rehydration!

Following the usual cleanse, exfoliation and extraction stages of the facial, I particularly enjoyed the relaxing hand and head massages I received during the intensive hydrating mask that was applied… all the better to lull me into further extreme states of relaxation bliss. All the June Jacobs products used did feel extremely luxurious and rich, and consequently, this wasn’t a facial where I came out instantly radiant and glowing! Instead, I was pretty unattractively shiny and oily post-treatment (so perhaps don’t arrange for date night immediately after!), but by the following morning, I could already see what a different it had made to my complexion – which was plumper, softer and brighter. Thanks June!

Meanwhile, the New Year Reviver package also includes a yummy fresh juice blend – I opted for the Re-energise, a blueberry, strawberry, mango and orange concoction that you’d normally pay about $80 to take-away from a café here! Instead, I got to enjoy mine chilling out in an amazing spa room, overlooking magnificent views of Hong Kong, whilst nibbling on a fresh fruit cup, sipping on a delicious white tea and basking in that post-treatment glow! Much preferable to a 7am boot camp or three-day juice cleanse, don’t you think?!

Don’t want the day to end? Why not make a weekend of it and check out our review of a staycation at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong here!

The New Year Reviver package costs $1800 (plus 10% service charge) for two hours, including facial, massage, a freshly blended juice, warm tea and fruit cup. It is available until 31 March 2014.

Plateau Spa  The Grand Hyatt, Wanchai, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
2588 1234  www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com/…