the 07/17/2008

Spas Go All Out

Scooops Kids Spa at the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pa., was -- nosurprise -- the most kid-friendly spot we visited. The spa revolvesaround an ice-cream theme: The pedicure chair is a big plasticsundae and the lotions and scrubs are chocolate, vanilla andstrawberry-scented. The entire lodge is devoted to the pint-sized:The main draw is the huge indoor-outdoor water park. Madison,Wis.-based Great Wolf Resorts has opened Scooops spas in 10 of itslodges in the past year. The demand has been so great that thecompany is already in the midst of doubling the size of the spas atsome of its locations, says Kim Schaefer, Great Wolf Resorts' chiefoperating officer. Kids of any age can get manicures and pedicuresat the Scooops spas. Teens 13 and older are welcome at theadult-oriented Elements spa for massages and other treatments, Ms.Schaefer said. The antsy 4-year-old we heard about was anexception, she said.

Our 15-year-old tester, Caitlin, tried both spas. She wasn't wowedby the teen express massage at the Elements spa. "There wasn'tenough pressure," she said. "It was really weak." She also foundthe New-Agey music a bit irritating: "It was like space disco," shesaid. She was happier with her Mini Ice Cream pedicure, done in aplush room with big leather massage chairs (also at Elements). Butthe spa forgot to give her the promised (edible) ice cream cone.

Later, Caitlin had a manicure at Scooops. The aesthetician was warmand friendly, asking questions about school and camp while shescrubbed and moisturized Caitlin's hands. In the next chair over, avery poised 4-year-old was also getting a manicure. Her mother saidshe gets one (with Mom) every week. After her manicure, Caitlin wasgiven a voucher for a free ice cream cone in the cafe nearby. Whenwe told them Caitlin didn't get one during her pedicure earlier,she was given an extra voucher.

We also visited the Mario Tricoci, Hawthorne Center in VernonHills, Ill., near Chicago, an outpost of a Midwestern chain. Our14-year-old tester, Aishling, tried the $193 "Just for Teens"package that included a facial, manicure, pedicure, haircut andmake-up application. Aishling, who had never been to a spa before,had a great time -- and she learned a lot, too. She appreciated theadvice on how to take care of her skin and the lesson on applyingmake-up. Aishling raved about the pedicure, particularly the footJacuzzi. Mom, however, was left at loose ends. The spa was missinga relaxation area where she could wait.

Maya also checked out the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles, anultra-exclusive hotel located in a residential neighborhood inBeverly Hills. The hotel's spa offers an "Ice Cream Pedicure" foryoung girls, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Thetreatment is offered indoors in a private suite equipped with anoversized massage chair or outdoors in a private cabana by thepool.

The pedicure starts with a soaking "scoop" of ice cream infusedwith essential oils. The papaya-nectar flavor of ME!Bath lookedjust like real ice cream, and when the pedicurist dropped it intoMaya's tub, it erupted into a soup of fizzy soda. Sipping a berrysmoothie and savoring being spoiled, it was clear Maya could easilydo this again and again. Mom, however, suffered major stickershock: The treatment cost $130, more than double the price of atypical pedicure.

We also headed to Bliss Soho, part of a chic chain of nine day spasowned by

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

 Inc. Our tester, Caitlin, initially wanted a massage, but when wetried to make the appointment by phone, we were told that teens 14to 16 could only have a facial, a manicure or a pedicure. So webooked the "Dew" Diligence facial. But when we arrived for ourappointment, the clerk said Caitlin, 15, could get a massage. We stuck with the facial, which Caitlin said was"great," though she did say part of the cleansing process hurt.

It turns out that both representatives were wrong about the spa'skid policy. As of last month, kids under 16 can have only manicuresand pedicures. Teens 16 and 17 can have a basic facial or massage-- if they have a signed consent form.

Susan Grey, Bliss Spa's regional spa operations director, said itmade the change as more parents began bringing ever youngerchildren. (She said the company is in the process of educatingstaff about the new policy, thus our conflicting instructions whenbooking -- and our success in scheduling a facial for Caitlin.)These kids were also demanding more sophisticated services, makingspa staffers uncomfortable. "Is microdermabrasion or bikini waxingessential for a minor?" says Ms. Grey. "Our feeling is 'no'."