A few blogs ago, Morissa Pawl wrote about creating an oasis for yourself and I couldn’t agree more! I’m always trying to figure out how to create a level of balance in NY and due to space restrictions in the big city, creating an oasis can be difficult, but yesterday I finally figured out a solution: Spa! Now, I know this is not a new discovery by any means, but I have always been reluctant to indulge in this age-old tradition and I have no idea what my hesitations were before yesterday.

OK, maybe I know a few. I’ve only had spa experiences abroad while traveling and fortunately at some of the best hotels in the world (I know … cry me a river!). But, when returning to NY, I’m always skeptical of some of the spas I see on the street, the amount of people that pass through them daily and the cleanliness and professionalism that may, or may not take place. So, I finally put 2 and 2 together and said if I were abroad, I would go to a nice hotel and get a massage, so I splurged yesterday and did just that.

I made an appointment at the Jumeirah Essex House and once I walked into the spa, I was transported into a different world and had a luxurious experience. I tried out the steam room and passed on the sauna, both of which were recently part of a $90 million refurbishment to the hotel. The treatment room was peaceful and the spa therapist was every bit professional and even better than some I’ve experienced while abroad. Without a doubt, I will be back again and will be sure to budget the spa into a more frequent treat, as it will act as my oasis to help me keep sanity in this faced paced city!

Also, check out our monthly spa features in Global Traveler for some of the best spas around the globe! For any business traveler, I believe the spa is an essential part of your routine, especially if you don’t have time to exercise. No matter what age you are, if you’re on a plane several times a month, especially long haul, the spa helps get your blood flowing and rejuvenates you for the busy schedule ahead!

–Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher