The Spa at Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa on Marco Island, Florida
Julie Register visited this resort spa in Florida in November 2003

*I visited the Spa at Marco Island a few weeks before its opening in December 2003. Amid the last-minute rush of training, construction, installation and decoration, Spa Director Bryan Huckabee proudly gave me a tour of the new two-story, 24,000-square-foot Spa. The rich Venetian plaster on the walls, the gleaming glass shelves and warm woods of the retail display cabinets, the mural being painted on the stairwell, the bamboo in the treatment rooms, the brilliant tile being laid in the women's wet area, the recently unwrapped chairs in the women's relaxation lounge and the pedi-thrones waiting to be installed all gave a hint at the final product.

*Part of an $80 million renovation, the Spa at Marco Marriott now features a Balinese theme and decor, the spa has separate men's and women's changing areas each with sauna, steam room and hot and cold plunge pools.

The ladies relaxation area overlooks the beach with a gulf view, while the men's relaxation room is more of a lounge with ESPN on television and drinks available.

There are 24 treatment rooms with six seaside terraces off the suites allow clients to go outdoors between treatments to relax or enjoy lunch or cocktails.

A Bose surround sound system provides music on several channels, or a person can bring their own music to play while they are undergoing a treatment.

*Additionally, there are wet rooms with hydrotherapy tub and vichy shower, a couples treatment room, salon, cafe, and outdoor beachside watsu pool and whirlpool.

The fitness facilities have separate weight, cardio and aerobic rooms.

The spa retail shop offers treatment products, spa-logo clothing, resort wear, jewelry, and hair products from the salon.

While I couldn't have any treatments in the new spa, I did have two terrific treatments - one right outside of the spa in the spa's new beachside watsu pool. My therapist, an esthetician who had recently been trained to do watsu, escorted me into the 95 degree water. She explained what was about to happen and asked me to trust that she would support me and not let me "go under." I did. She had me close my eyes and float on my back. For the next 40 minutes or so, she gently glided me through the water, stretching my body through a full range of motion. It was extremely relaxing. All my cares floated away. My therapist and I had complete privacy. However, I do wonder what the experience will be like when the surrounding patio and six overlooking balconies are filled with other spa guests having lunch or are enjoying the pool and adjoining 104 degree whirlpool.

*The other treatment I had was a Carita facial in a nearby guest room - a temporary treatment room used until the spa opened. There Debi gave me a fabulous facial. It started with a gentle makeup remover and cleanse. Then came a deliciously slow massage with Fluid 14. Debi called it a "dance on the face" to stimulate lyphatic drainage. This was followed by the Renovator - a mixture of ground sunflower seeds, thyme, clove and lemon. This was brushed off slowly at the same time sloughing off layers of dead skin. An anti-aging serum came next for me, but woul be determed by individual needs for others. Then came a mask applied with another facial massage topped off with eye and lip patches to minimize fine lines. While these worked, Debi massaged Fluid 14 into my hands, arms, feet and lower legs. Off came the patches and mask and on went a serum for lifting and firming on my face, throat and decolete. A protective cream finished the facial. It was profoundly relaxing and my skin felt wonderful afterwards.

Other treatments offered include:

Oxygen Facial - an advanced treatment using natural botanicals. The "oxygen cocktail" combines aloe vera gel and vitamins A and C to calm, soothe and replenish the skin.
Bali by the Sea Scrub - a warm deep-sea exfoliation to remove impurities and prepare new skin with a deep cleansing. An intense seaweed mineral moisturizer is applied over the entire body, resulting in smooth and supple skin.
Aloe Vera Rehydrating Body Mask - relieves skin from intense tropical sunshine — including the pain of sunburn — using a hydrating mask of natural aloe vera extracts.
The Men's Tribal Collection - a half-day ritual to tame, tone and tighten. This 80-minute Deep Tissue Massage is followed by a Gentlemen's Facial by Decleor, reflexology and pedicure...
as well as massage (Swedish, LaStone, and more), body treatments, Bali baths, facials (intense hydrating, protection, antiaging, firming), microdermabrasion, hair services, manicures, pedicures and makeup.

*The Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Course & Spa has lots to enjoy in addition to the spa. The resort's The 18-hole Rookerie Golf Course, pro shop and Nick Faldo School of Golf is five miles away. At the resort, there are two additional pools and lots of watersports.

Marco Island is the largest of 10,000 islands. They offer some of the world's best shelling. I particularly enjoyed taking a waverunner out to one of the smaller islands to have lunch and look for shells. It wasn't too hard. A beautiful variety sat on the sand just waiting me to pick them up. If they would just offer massage on one of these islands! I can't think of a more romantic location for a couples treatment.

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Contact	Related Resources
Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa • Address: 400 South Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, FL, 34145, USA • Phone: 239-394-2511  • Fax: 1-239-642-2672 • Reservations (from U.S. and Canada): 800-438-4373 • Web Site	• Discover More Spas in Florida • Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center, Orlando, Florida • Marco Island Water Sports • Greater Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades

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Photos Copyright Julie Register 2003
except those marked * which are courtesy of Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa