Startle

The waiting area at Mayflower Spa is simply stunning. As you walk into the elegant and sparse white room at the Five-Star Connecticut spa, you’re immediately enveloped in a soothing, soft light. From the white Venetian plaster finish on the walls to the glowing white sconces that illuminate them, every detail is well thought out and executed. It is luxurious and modern, airy and expansive. White chenille tête-à-tête chairs with rounded edges sit in the center of the spotless room atop a plush patterned Stark rug. The walls feature large framed black and white photographs of nature scenes from the nearby Steep Rock preserve. They immediately bring to mind a calm, inner peace. Similar images can be seen throughout the Mayflower Inn, but their best home is on the walls of this welcoming room.

Mayflower Spa always makes us feel renewed and relaxed. Here are five amenities at the Five-Star Connecticut spa that never fail to send us into a state of sheer bliss.

1. Luxurious waters. We love the spa’s stunning light-filled, blue glass-tiled heated indoor pool and domed whirlpool. They’re the perfect spots to unwind after a treatment or a long day of activities at the Mayflower Inn.

2. Zen-like relaxation room. It’s hard not to feel at peace in the utterly blissful white relaxation room with a view, known as the Garden Room.

3. Warming room. No matter what time of year you visit the Connecticut spa, you’ll want to indulge in its signature hammam-like marble warming room called the Thermal Sanctuary. It features healing colors, a scented moisturizing mist and music that will lull you into total relaxation.

4. Aromatic steam rooms. There’s nothing we love more than a good steam room, and this spa has one of the best.

5. Activity. The spa has a wide variety of private and small-group classes that are offered daily — you’ll find everything from yoga and Pilates to sleep and stress-management workshops to meditation walks and guided hikes.

The interior design of Mayflower Spa is contemporary, airy and elegant. It is designed for comfort and luxury — from the white Venetian plaster walls to the plush white chenille chairs and Stark rugs to the glass tile-lined pool. It is utterly luminous, with gorgeous soft white lighting and plenty of natural light coming in from the many windows of the Five-Star Connecticut spa. The clean, fresh design reflects and complements the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Venetian and artisanal glass vases sit atop white marble tables, and large framed photographs of the nearby nature preserve adorn the spa’s white, sky blue or light pastel-colored walls — some of which feature beautiful hand-painted murals.

Mayflower Spa is the perfect place for couples who are on a “babymoon,” celebrating an anniversary or just on a weekend getaway. Bring your sweetheart to the Five-Star Connecticut spa to enjoy a side-by-side couples’ massage or any other body treatment in a gorgeous, large and dimly lit treatment room that’s complete with soaking tub. For a little more privacy, you can also enjoy a couples’ massage in your room at the Mayflower Inn. You have your choice of a male or female therapist; and you can opt for a 60-minute couples’ massage for $330 or a 90-minute one for $490. Couples can also request a private steam room, or get a side-by-side manicure or pedicure in a curtained-off area of the salon. The spa offers other private activities for couples - everything from yoga and kayaking to hiking and biking trips.

The spa’s modern, gender-neutral design makes it welcoming to both men and women. Couples can often be found snuggling together on the white chenille loveseats in the Garden Room, which is the stunning white relaxation room that overlooks the Blue Heron Pond.

Like the rest of the building, the locker rooms at Mayflower Spa are spotless, uncluttered, light and airy. The spacious changing area features freshly painted snow white and soft blue walls, a row of windows that let in a flood of natural light, and a charming curtain-drawn space for those who prefer privacy. There are plenty of white Digi-lock lockers, each featuring several shelves and a hanger rod. You’ll also find plush white terry-cloth and microfiber robes to cozy into while you wait for your treatment.

Step inside the gorgeous neutral beige mosaic tiled aromatic steam room, and you’ll get a good whiff of the signature New York-based Red Flower brand’s “icelandic moonflower” scent. The locker room also houses three spotless bathrooms and three individual glass-tiled showers (one of which is ADA compliant), which could be an issue if it’s a busy day. There’s also a swimsuit drying machine in the shower area, so you can air out your suit before heading back to your room at the Mayflower Inn. You can also primp before you head out — just outside the changing area is a separate and large bright white space with rows of mirrors and baskets full of hairbrushes, hairdryers, lotions and other supplies.

Mayflower Spa has a stunning indoor pool that’s lined with individual one-inch blue glass tiles. Its white room features a wall of paned windows, which let in a flood of natural light and offer beautiful views of the great Connecticut outdoors. The room and the pool itself are both heated to 86 degrees. The small rectangular pool is used for recreational purposes and for aquatic classes — it is not a pool for you to count your laps in. It is four-feet deep at either end and four feet and three inches at the deepest point in the middle. The pool also features jets, which are great if you’re in need of a little lower-back massage.

There are many unique treatments and programs offered at Mayflower Spa — from reflexology and acupuncture to Reiki and lymphatic massages. The Five-Star Connecticut spa offers a massage that uses warm river stones from a nearby nature preserve. Another way to get in touch with Mother Nature is the antioxidant Moor peat therapy wrap, which draws on the natural and healing benefits of Moor mud. If you prefer an invigorating deep tissue massage, opt for a Shiatsu or a Thai massage. The spa also has scented “rituals” that are meant to be “soul-enhancing” experiences. These combine a variety of treatments, including the popular hammam ritual, which features intoxicating aromas in a steam room. From a PMS treatment to a post-natal massage, you are sure to find something on the menu that you’ve never tried before.

Outside of the treatment rooms, the spa offers host of unique mind-body workshops and programs, such as music therapy, knitting, women’s sexuality and body appreciation. A full menu of fitness classes and outdoor activities are offered on the grounds of the Mayflower’s 58-acre property. Try your hands at everything from archery and fly-fishing to journaling and watercolor.

What you wear to Mayflower Spa depends on the type treatment you’re receiving at the Five-Star Connecticut spa. If you’re getting a massage or another body treatment such as a scrub or a wrap, it’s best to undress and don one of the plush robes that you’ll find in the locker room. If you’re getting an active massage (e.g. a Thai or Shiatsu massage) or are participating in a fitness class, you’ll be most comfortable wearing loose-fitting clothing. Don’t worry if you have nothing appropriate to wear — the spa provides Pima cotton warmups and T-shirts, as well as robes and slippers, for you to use during your stay there.

Mayflower Spa offers a handful of luxurious and detoxifying body wraps. The Antioxidant Body Wrap involves a thorough dry brushing that’s followed by a nutrient-rich red clay mask application from your shoulders to your toes. Or you can get in touch with your natural side by opting for the Moor Mud Wrap, which features a gentle exfoliation and a therapeutic blend of antioxidant-rich Moor peat and green tea. Finally, there’s the Herbal Detox wrap. It features a gentle polishing and exfoliation that’s followed by an application of hot, fragrant, herb-soaked linens.

While you are enveloped in a warm, cozy blanket, you can request a scalp massage or foot treatment. Whichever treatment you choose, you will feel like a butterfly emerging from a luxurious cocoon.

Mayflower Spa offers a variety of acupressure treatments. The Mayflower Sweet Surrender massage, for example, features a blend of acupressure and other techniques to dispel tension and soothe your body. The revitalizing Thai massage, which is a popular choice at the Five-Star Connecticut spa, uses a combination of acupressure and assisted stretches. If you can’t find what you’re looking for on the treatment menu, we recommend having a chat with a member of the spa staff. Therapists here are trained in a wide range of techniques, and they’ll be happy to customize a massage that will meet your needs and desires.

There are several different treatments offered at the salon at Mayflower Spa. The salon is clean, modern and filled with lots of natural light. Step into the neutral-colored 1,200-square-foot room to get cleansed, hydrated and pampered from your head to your toes.

One of our favorite salon treatments is the 30-minute Deep-Scalp Rejuvenation. It’s a deeply relaxing treatment for your scalp, and it includes a cleansing, deep conditioning and massage treatment. You can also take care of your neglected nails here. The 45-minute Mayflower Nourishing Manicure and the 60-minute Mayflower Nourishing Pedicure will leave your hands and feet feeling rejuvenated, hydrated and beautiful. Polish changes are also available. And don’t worry, men — the salon has options for you, too. Men can be treated to a 30-minute Gentlemen’s Manicure and a soothing 45-minute Gentlemen’s Pedicure, both of which include exfoliation and a massage as well as shaping and buffing. Couples can enjoy a side-by-side pedicure in a lovely light-filled private area of the salon.

Of course, the salon also provides a standard shampoo and style. It uses high-end natural haircare products from the Barex and Aetó Botanica haircare lines. The good news about that is you won’t notice any strong aromas or chemicals from any of the haircare products used at the salon.

Those in need of a little upkeep will be happy to know that the salon offers hair removal as well as face and body waxing.

Overall, the salon is a lovely, intimate space that can treat everyone from brides and bridesmaids to couples looking for some side-by-side pampering.

An extensive menu of massages is offered at Mayflower Spa. You’ll find everything from soothing Swedish to invigorating Shiatsu and Thai massages, and each can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. The spa’s signature Mayflower Massage is a great choice if you’d like to experience a combination of techniques. You can also opt for a couples massage, a pre- or post-natal massage, an immune-booster or lymphatic massage, a PMS treatment massage, a river stone therapy massage, reflexology, Reiki or a cranio-sacral therapy massage. Treat yourself to a massage in your room at the Mayflower Inn or, if you’d prefer, in one of the spa’s eight spacious and cavernous treatment rooms. Whether you need soothing, balancing or help sleeping, the Mayflower Spa therapists will deliver.

There are many unique treatments and programs offered at Mayflower Spa — from reflexology and acupuncture to Reiki and lymphatic massages. The Five-Star Connecticut spa offers a massage that uses warm river stones from a nearby nature preserve. Another way to get in touch with Mother Nature is the antioxidant Moor peat therapy wrap, which draws on the natural and healing benefits of Moor mud. If you prefer an invigorating deep tissue massage, opt for a Shiatsu or a Thai massage. The spa also has scented “rituals” that are meant to be “soul-enhancing” experiences. These combine a variety of treatments, including the popular hammam ritual, which features intoxicating aromas in a steam room. From a PMS treatment to a post-natal massage, you are sure to find something on the menu that you’ve never tried before.

Outside of the treatment rooms, the spa offers host of unique mind-body workshops and programs, such as music therapy, knitting, women’s sexuality and body appreciation. A full menu of fitness classes and outdoor activities are offered on the grounds of the Mayflower’s 58-acre property. Try your hands at everything from archery and fly-fishing to journaling and watercolor.

Mayflower Spa takes a very holistic approach to its treatments, with the goal of making you look and feel better. Here are our five favorite treatments at the Five-Star spa that do just that:

1. The Mayflower Massage. Opt for this treatment if you’re looking for a combination of massage techniques. The therapist will basically customize the massage to meet your needs and desires. You will have your choice of oil or lotion, and you can also pick among three different scented blended botanical oils.

2. The Mayflower Sweet Surrender. There are few treatments more soothing — or sleep inducing — than the Sweet Surrender. It features a combination of lymphatic, cranio-sacral and acupressure work. A selection of sleep music as well as guided visualizations and aromatherapy blends are offered to boost your deep relaxation.

3. Mayflower Smooth-as Silk Scrub. This signature treatment is very popular at the Five-Star spa. A therapist will naturally exfoliate your skin using sugar and sea salt, and follow that up with a rich shea butter application and massage. Kick your relaxation time up a notch by opting for the 90-minute version of this treatment — it has a 30-minute scrub and a 60-minute massage. Both the scrub and shea butter are available for purchase in the spa shop. It’s all-natural and doesn’t contain any parabens or synthetics. Made by a botanist in Arizona, it tends to fly off the shelves.

4. Mayflower Stonecrop and Rose Facial. The spa’s potent signature facial is wonderful choice because it is customized for you. The aesthetician will handcraft a treatment that they think best fits your needs; or if you’d like to work on something in particular, they will accommodate that. So if you need a combination of soothing and hydrating, you can have both.

5. Thai Massage. This classic massage is another specialty at Mayflower Spa and a popular choice among guests. The spa has instructors who are highly trained in this invigorating massage technique. If you’re an expectant mother — not in your third trimester— you can enjoy a maternity Thai massage.

Mayflower Spa has a stunning indoor pool that’s lined with individual one-inch blue glass tiles. Its white room features a wall of paned windows, which let in a flood of natural light and offer beautiful views of the great Connecticut outdoors. The room and the pool itself are both heated to 86 degrees. The small rectangular pool is used for recreational purposes and for aquatic classes — it is not a pool for you to count your laps in. It is four-feet deep at either end and four feet and three inches at the deepest point in the middle. The pool also features jets, which are great if you’re in need of a little lower-back massage.

The relaxation area at Mayflower Spa, called the Garden Room, is a dream. This expansive and luminous white room is the highlight of the 20,000-square-foot Five-Star Connecticut spa. The modern and airy space features a white marble fireplace, round marble tables, artisanal and Venetian glass sculptures, and bookshelves filled with a variety of spa-related reading material. You won’t be able to resist sinking into the utterly luxurious and inviting white chenille chaises, armchairs and loveseats. But the pièce de résistance is the view from floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the unspoiled woodlands and the Blue Heron Pond. Here, you can snuggle up with your loved one or curl up with a cup of herbal tea and a copy of Architectural Digest. You might even catch a glimpse of a deer prancing outside as you drift off into dreamland.

Mayflower Spa is the perfect place for couples who are on a “babymoon,” celebrating an anniversary or just on a weekend getaway. Bring your sweetheart to the Five-Star Connecticut spa to enjoy a side-by-side couples’ massage or any other body treatment in a gorgeous, large and dimly lit treatment room that’s complete with soaking tub. For a little more privacy, you can also enjoy a couples’ massage in your room at the Mayflower Inn. You have your choice of a male or female therapist; and you can opt for a 60-minute couples’ massage for $330 or a 90-minute one for $490. Couples can also request a private steam room, or get a side-by-side manicure or pedicure in a curtained-off area of the salon. The spa offers other private activities for couples - everything from yoga and kayaking to hiking and biking trips.

The spa’s modern, gender-neutral design makes it welcoming to both men and women. Couples can often be found snuggling together on the white chenille loveseats in the Garden Room, which is the stunning white relaxation room that overlooks the Blue Heron Pond.

Mayflower Spa does have a fitness center, which is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is a small workout room with cardio and weight-training equipment. There are two Cybex treadmills, two Arc trainers, one stationary and one upright bicycle, a set of free weights and a weight machine. However, the equipment at this Five-Star Connecticut spa is a bit outdated, so it leaves a lot to be desired for those who are used to state-of-the-art gyms and fitness centers. The spa tells us that it’s planning to replace all of the equipment in its workout studio.

Mayflower Spa has a very holistic philosophy. The goal at the Five-Star Connecticut spa is to provide you with the tools to help you address all levels of your wellness, so you can feel better, look better and be healthier. The spa staff will guide you, listen to you, and offer suggestions for programs and treatments that meet your individual needs and goals. It’s all about flexibility and customization for the guests.

This philosophy is reflected in the variety of programs and activities offered. In addition, all of the products used in the treatments are natural or organic, and there are healthy, spa-inspired dishes on the menus of the Mayflower Inn’s restaurant. The spa is not looking to be just a quick-fix, but to help you make lasting change in a way that works for you. In fact, the spa staff will often stay in touch with guests after they’ve left, and they might even e-mail you additional information and resources in your hometown. Whichever treatment or program you choose, you will likely feel nurtured and pampered.

The spa is designed as a safe, calming environment in which to try unusual programs, which include women’s sexuality, acupuncture, nutrition, life coaching and a variety of unique stress management sessions. There is a feeling of intimacy and privacy in the spa — even though it’s a 20,000-square-foot building, it is never very crowded, so you feel like it’s your own private sanctum in which to unplug and unwind.

The interior design of Mayflower Spa is contemporary, airy and elegant. It is designed for comfort and luxury — from the white Venetian plaster walls to the plush white chenille chairs and Stark rugs to the glass tile-lined pool. It is utterly luminous, with gorgeous soft white lighting and plenty of natural light coming in from the many windows of the Five-Star Connecticut spa. The clean, fresh design reflects and complements the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Venetian and artisanal glass vases sit atop white marble tables, and large framed photographs of the nearby nature preserve adorn the spa’s white, sky blue or light pastel-colored walls — some of which feature beautiful hand-painted murals.

Mayflower Spa always makes us feel renewed and relaxed. Here are five amenities at the Five-Star Connecticut spa that never fail to send us into a state of sheer bliss.

1. Luxurious waters. We love the spa’s stunning light-filled, blue glass-tiled heated indoor pool and domed whirlpool. They’re the perfect spots to unwind after a treatment or a long day of activities at the Mayflower Inn.

2. Zen-like relaxation room. It’s hard not to feel at peace in the utterly blissful white relaxation room with a view, known as the Garden Room.

3. Warming room. No matter what time of year you visit the Connecticut spa, you’ll want to indulge in its signature hammam-like marble warming room called the Thermal Sanctuary. It features healing colors, a scented moisturizing mist and music that will lull you into total relaxation.

4. Aromatic steam rooms. There’s nothing we love more than a good steam room, and this spa has one of the best.

5. Activity. The spa has a wide variety of private and small-group classes that are offered daily — you’ll find everything from yoga and Pilates to sleep and stress-management workshops to meditation walks and guided hikes.

The refreshments at Mayflower Spa are light yet satisfying. Beverage options include pitchers of lemon-infused water and a selection of black, green and herbal teas. For a snack, you can grab a fresh apple, a single-portion plastic bag of organic almonds, organic raisins, the chef’s housemade trail mix blend (complete with cacao nibs) or a chewy peach Fruition bar. In addition, a small bottle of water — with a Mayflower Inn sticker on it — will be handed to you after your treatment.

Mayflower Spa has a very generous four-hour cancellation policy. This is one of the things that sets it apart from most other Five-Star spas, which typically require more notice if you need to cancel an appointment — in some cases, up to 24 hours in advance of your appointment. So even if your plans change on the day of your appointment and you want to hop on that guided hike or go antiquing instead (or if you simply can’t get out of bed), you can still make that call up to four hours ahead on your scheduled treatment. With no deposit required to book an appointment at Mayflower Spa, you have nothing to lose if you change your mind — as long as you give them at least four hours’ notice.

Like the rest of the building, the locker rooms at Mayflower Spa are spotless, uncluttered, light and airy. The spacious changing area features freshly painted snow white and soft blue walls, a row of windows that let in a flood of natural light, and a charming curtain-drawn space for those who prefer privacy. There are plenty of white Digi-lock lockers, each featuring several shelves and a hanger rod. You’ll also find plush white terry-cloth and microfiber robes to cozy into while you wait for your treatment.

Step inside the gorgeous neutral beige mosaic tiled aromatic steam room, and you’ll get a good whiff of the signature New York-based Red Flower brand’s “icelandic moonflower” scent. The locker room also houses three spotless bathrooms and three individual glass-tiled showers (one of which is ADA compliant), which could be an issue if it’s a busy day. There’s also a swimsuit drying machine in the shower area, so you can air out your suit before heading back to your room at the Mayflower Inn. You can also primp before you head out — just outside the changing area is a separate and large bright white space with rows of mirrors and baskets full of hairbrushes, hairdryers, lotions and other supplies.

The waiting area at Mayflower Spa is simply stunning. As you walk into the elegant and sparse white room at the Five-Star Connecticut spa, you’re immediately enveloped in a soothing, soft light. From the white Venetian plaster finish on the walls to the glowing white sconces that illuminate them, every detail is well thought out and executed. It is luxurious and modern, airy and expansive. White chenille tête-à-tête chairs with rounded edges sit in the center of the spotless room atop a plush patterned Stark rug. The walls feature large framed black and white photographs of nature scenes from the nearby Steep Rock preserve. They immediately bring to mind a calm, inner peace. Similar images can be seen throughout the Mayflower Inn, but their best home is on the walls of this welcoming room.

The best way to make an appointment at Mayflower Spa is to call the Mayflower Inn, where the spa is housed. When you book your stay at the Five-Star Connecticut hotel, it is best to book a spa appointment at that time. The confirmation e-mail for your room at the inn will include information about the spa. But if you haven’t decided on a treatment when you book your room, you will receive a reminder phone call two weeks prior to your stay. Keep in mind that Mayflower Spa is not a day spa — it is exclusive to guests of the inn.

You should make an appointment at Mayflower Spa as far in advance as possible — ideally when you book your stay at the Mayflower Inn. When you get your room confirmation, you will also get a reminder from the spa to make an appointment. Make any specific requests at this time, or tell the spa staff of any specific needs or goals you may have.

There are 30 guestrooms at the Five-Star Connecticut inn, so there is a maximum of 60 people who could be staying there at any given time. The spa has eight treatment rooms, so if you’re hoping to nab a Saturday afternoon time slot during busy season, you might have some trouble if you don’t book it well in advance. While the staff will do whatever they can to accommodate you, our advice is to book an appointment as far in advance as possible to avoid any scheduling conflicts.