Miami’s: The Standard Spa & Hotel

A huge ambition of mine for this global trip is to visit a spa in each city. Not because I’m a pampering princess but because for about 10 years now my interest with my interior design education has lied within the pampering industry. If you read my bio you’ll see that I talk about how I believe in and am “fascinated by the things that make us feel beautiful and pampered while remaining as natural and creative as possible.” The ambiance and experience that is given through the actual space and procedures of a spa are beautiful thing to me. (I hope to one day make that a more affordable thing for all.) Just as I find yoga hugely beneficial to ones demeanor and overall longevity, I find allowing yourself to be pampered by another, a beautiful treasure. And enjoying such a zen-filled space and experience is a beautifully manipulated thing of this world.

My first stop along my one month journey is in Miami. I asked my girlfriend Amanda, whom I am staying with, where she recommended (being a local) and she said The Standard Hotel & Spa. I looked it up and was smitten.

I flew in on the evening of Saturday July 4th and 9am Monday morning I made my way to my first spa visit of this trip. Upon arriving to the picturesque hotel, I was welcomed inside by the concierge who opened the doors with a gracious smile. The sweet girls at the front desk, made of driftwood, in the very casual – and large – lobby, pointed me to the elevator that would lead me to the spa on the third floor.

As I stepped off the elevator I walked into a space filled with natural sunlight and bright colors. The receptionist and my masseuse for the morning were promptly waiting for me, bathrobe in hand. I was escorted down the otherworldy hallway…where thin wood lat beams lined the left, right wall and ceiling – paired with appropriate ethereal lighting. We made a right into another hallway that led to the massage rooms. We entered the quiet space of the room where she asked me to undress and lie down and she would return shortly.

The service I chose that day was the Body Detox Scrub with massage. I had yet to have experienced an exfoliant service at a spa and considering I love any sort of exfoliating, especially since my dermatologist has told me my thick skin could always use a good, and often, rub down…I looked forward to experiencing how this was performed. Using exfoliant gloves and an oil she scrubbed/massaged my backside first, then massaged with her bare hands and then did the same to my front side. It was 60 minutes of rejuvenation.

Afterward, given my purchase of a service, I was granted access to the grounds of the hotel which included the rest of the spa, the gym room, the juice bar cafe, the lounge gardens, the pool, bar and adjoining restaurant. I first decided to walk the whole spa…checking out it’s warmed marble stair-stepped tile room that housed steel bathtubs for relaxation. Another sector of the spa included a steamy, super sunny, steam room, a shower outside of it and then a room where more messy exfoliation scrubs (think mud) could be provided. Down the opposite hall there was a really neat round room tiled in all blue tiles with an almost eerie skylight shining down from above. In that same area was the dry sauna. The layout was easy to maneuver in and very thought out when it came to intricate details, color pallets, and room layouts. I loved every bit of it.

By this point I had worked up an appetite so after walking the grounds, sitting in a hammock, swinging in a hanging chair, grabbing a picture of the awesome pool area, and seeing all the hotel had to offer, I stopped at the Juice Cafe to enjoy a little brunch-like meal. All-in-all this spa experience was worth every penny and highly recommend not only an experience here but a stay at this beautiful little oasis in Miami.

I hope you enjoy my photos!