What is the waiting area like at The Umstead Spa?

  1. Wind your way through the halls on the lower level of The Umstead Hotel and Spa and you’ll find the ultimate escape from your day-to-day life: The Umstead Spa. The spa’s lobby is spacious and refined, with a curved wooden front desk, a soothing water wall and several displays stocked with the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa’s own signature line of products. Several large windows offer a glimpse of an outdoor seating area, where you can lounge in front of a fountain, if you’ve got the time and inclination. Inside, you can take a seat before your appointment, but the wait will go faster if you spend the time sniffing and sampling the lotions before the front desk attendant arrives to whisk you away — where you’ll head back to the locker room for your scheduled treatment at the luxurious spa.