In need of a quick spa getaway, I booked a weekend at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. What enticed me most was the sprawling spa’s own building, nestled between The Ritz-Carton and the JW Marriott. It looked like the kind of place where I could easily spend an entire day exploring the spa and its facilities.
Even walking up to the spa feels like an experience. The large, Italian-style oasis is surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, with an adults-only pool and balconies shaded by palm trees where you can step outside for some fresh air between treatments and time in the thermal area.
After being warmly greeted at reception, I headed upstairs to the locker room, changed into a plush robe, and made my way upstairs to the coed lounge. It was a summer holiday weekend, and the space quickly filled with couples, groups of women, and adult families. The whispers gradually turned into chatter, so I was relieved when my masseuse arrived and led me to a quiet treatment room.
I opted for a 50-minute hot stone massage with a scalp massage. The hot stones were a welcome comfort despite the Florida heat, gliding over my muscles as I felt the tension leave my shoulders. And just when I thought I couldn’t relax further, the scalp massage sent me into a blissful nap. I immediately regretted not booking the 90-minute treatment.
After my massage, I returned to the women’s lounge, which was stocked with muffins, water, tea, and pretzels. I helped myself to quite a few muffins before exploring the thermal area. The centerpiece was a warm hydrotherapy pool surrounded by lounge chairs, with a Finnish sauna just off to the side.
I alternated between the sauna and hydrotherapy pool, taking refuge in the quiet lounge whenever the thermal area filled with busy groups. One thing I did miss was a shower immediately outside the sauna, which would have made moving between the sauna and hydrotherapy pool more convenient. Between sauna sessions, I hydrated at the snack station and settled into one of the cozy lounge chairs to rest.
Soon, the afternoon rolled around, and I made my way down to the pool. The main pool was packed with families, so I was glad to have a smaller adults-only pool as a retreat. For lunch, I ordered a Caesar salad with crispy truffle fries and settled in poolside. I spent the rest of the afternoon cooling off in the water and reading under an umbrella. I ended my day with a shower in the women's locker room that was stocked with soothing shower steamers.
While the spa was busier than I had hoped, the massage and leisurely afternoon by the pool still made for a relaxing start to the holiday weekend.
