SPA SLUMBER PARTY

Avalon Hotel & Spa isn't one of those ultra-expensive, disciplined retreats where a buxom aesthetician named Olga reads you the riot act for your indifferent skin care and then baby-slaps you through a punitive massage. No, the Avalon is something quite different, something new to Portland. It's designed as a destination spa, where your water glass is eternally refilled and smiling attendants compliment your skin tone in hushed voices. Located between the Willamette River and Macadam Avenue, the luxurious Avalon Hotel has been receiving guests since the beginning of last summer, but its jewel--a ground-floor spa and fitness center--has just opened its doors (day one was Jan. 14). Already, the Avalon's making a sizable splash: Currently it's the only spa in the Portland metropolitan area where you can cap off a self-indulgent day of spa treatments with a sleepover in the same space. That means after a treatment, instead of stumbling to your auto in an aromatherapeutic fog, you can gently ride a silent elevator to a spare suite decked with innocuous modern art, smooth jazz and a river-view balcony. The Avalon is just the ticket for the harried in-town traveler needing a restorative escape. Bring a friend, start a pillow fight, and call it a spa slumber party. That's what we did. Here's our duo review:

SPA STATS

Avalon Hotel & Spa, 0455 SW Hamilton Court, 802-5800, avalonhotelandspa.com. 8 am-9 pm Monday-Saturday, 9 am-7 pm Sunday. Hotel rates range from $205 to $650.

AMENITIES

A fitness center packed with Cybex and Precor equipment, fitness classes, personal training, whirlpool, steam, sauna, locker room, lounge.

TREATMENTS

Besides the full suite of salon services (cuts and color, nails, waxing, makeup application, lash and brow tinting), Avalon offers an impressive range of spa treatments--facials, massages, wraps, therapeutic baths, Ayurvedic (a holistic system of medicine from India) rituals and packages that sample several services. Some treatments are Northwest-themed, like the Coastal Evergreen Body Exfoliation and Wrap ($144), which involves oils and scrubs scented with pine, balsam fir, blue tansy and lime (who knew our region was so exotic?).

SHOP

Spa director Paula Kraft was determined that Avalon's cosmetic and skin-care product lines be exclusives: Tara and Physiodermie represent the skin care. Cosmetics come from über-chic French purveyor Chantecaille.

BISTRO

Torrefazione Italia espresso drinks and coffee are available in the spa. Light breakfasts, sandwiches and salads can be ordered to the spa bistro from Rivers American Grill (only a few steps from the hotel).

DECOR

There's a vision here. Everything, from the velveteen settees in the post-treatment lounge to the liquid soap in the ladies' room, is some different shade of green. Interior designer Beverley Winn oversaw the selection of tones and textures with assiduity--there's a polished and consistent Avalon look that seems Tuscan by way of Pacific Northwest. Slate floors are set with a pebble mosaic path that leads to a copper sculpture fountain. The showers and whirlpool are set with glass tile imported from Italy in an array of iridescent greens.

SERVICES

Caryn's experience: My guide for this two-hour trip of oozing goodness was the sure-handed Heather, who comes to Portland from Miami Beach, where she also did spa work. She beckoned me with the Star of India package ($200), with includes two treatments: the Bindi Herbal Body Treatment and Shirodhara. The Bindi starts out with you lying there as the lovely Heather encrusts you with a variety of herbs and spices. Then, she takes a loofah and decrusts you, and in the process sloughs off that pesky old layer of skin you've been scratching at. After that, you're marinated with loads of warm, silky oil while being massaged about the neck, back, arms, legs and belly. Soon she loads you up with more oil, wraps you in blankets, suits you up with booties and mitts and even puts a heated pad on your tummy. Then, this crazy Shirodhara treatment begins. You lie back and a slow stream of hot oil is drizzled on your forehead (or your third eye, if you want to get hoovy groovy). Your head is tilted back and the oil streams into your hair. Heather gives your scalp and hair a kneading massage, swooshing all the herbal oil into the locks. It's a strange treatment for sure, but it works: I was so far off that at the end Heather whispered to me, "It's time to come back." I replied, "Come back to where?" And I meant it. I was on a whole different plane. Me and my third eye. Amen.

Elizabeth's experience: Maria performed my Renew Facial ($86). After scrutinizing the condition of my skin under a magnifier (no Olga-like scolding), she scrubbed my face with an enzyme exfoliation mask and soothed it with a balancing compress. She then applied a Hydro-Tonifying Serum and an Oligo Mineral Complex to augment my skin's strength and health. I'm not sure what all that means, but I don't think I need to be--my skin was softer than when I came in, and so was my mood. A nice detail was the hand massage, after which my paws were placed in herb-padded heat mitts that smelled exactly like apple cider. Very comforting.

Jason, a former ski racer, saw to my Lastone Therapy Massage ($132). I was skeptical of this trendy treatment, but if you've never had hot, oily rocks slid all over your body, I can testify that it's leagues better than the chop-chop on the folding table that typifies many massages. Twin rows of stones cradled my spine, two were placed in my hands, one on my forehead (third-eye style), and one between each of my toes. The sheer strangeness and sensuality of it is transporting. Jason concluded the treatment by placing a hand on my forehead, like a blessing.

VIBE

The aquatic colors and sound of running water over pebbles (fountains are everywhere) create a soothing cocoon of the mermaid's garden variety. The space has been carved into intimate alcoves and corridors, so it feels simultaneously intimate and spacious. The lounge is particularly lush, furnished with plush chaises upholstered in sea-floor aquas, olives and vivid chartreuse. If not the acme of relaxation, the effect is nonetheless gorgeous.

NICE TOUCHES

You can pick the genre of music you want. You get four choices: We suggest you go classical.

Tariffs for spa and salon services include gratuity, which means there's no awkward fumbling for a tip when it's time to pay the bill. Of course, you can tip your aesthetician, but it's not expected.

Parking is valet-only, which means you drop your cares the moment you reach the driveway.

The Rain Dance wet room (scheduled to open in February), featuring a Vichy shower, Swiss shower and spa tub, is where all sorts of souped-up baths will call to you.

Pillow fights: at your discretion. A good stress reliever, and the pillows are plump and engaging at the Avalon Hotel.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Spa Slumber Party
Class Act - change your life by changing your workout routine

Staying Fit in the Freezer - winter workouts
Treat Yourself - spas
Life Savers - health clubs are for everyone

WWeek 2015