The Spa at Turnberry Island in Aventura, Florida
Julie Register visited this resort spa in Florida in March 2003

The Spa at Turnberry Isle - The Spa

I was in the waiting room on the second floor of the Turnberry Spa* in one of a line of occupied Shiatsu Massage Chairs. My eyes were shut, and I concentrated on the soothing music that filled the air. Rollers slowly moved up and down my back, then they began a kneading motion. Just as I was getting lulled almost to sleep, they began to gently tap me awake again. I thought, "If I had to leave right now, I would have had a decent back massage!" In all of the hundreds of spas I have visited, this is the first that provided this kind of seating in the waiting room. I hope that it won't be the last! According to Turnberry Spa Director, Tammy Pahel, it takes about 20 minutes for a client to completely relax in a treatment. The massage chairs get the process started before the treatment even starts, so the client can be fully relaxed during more of the treatment time. When my therapist, Nathalie, came to get me for my Royal Javanese Lulur Ritual, I was very, very relaxed.

Nathalie escorted me to a treatment room she had set up for the Royal Javanese Lular Ritual. She donned a matching wrap and described the treatment to me. The Javanese Lulur, pronounced "lu-lur," is a luxurious ritual from the royal palaces of Central Java, Indonesia. The ancient tradition is performed on each of the 40 days prior to a wedding ceremony. Lulur would be given to the bride-to-be by the other women in the family as a way of privately having time together to pass on wisdom and nurturing.Additionally, it is believed that the more relaxed the bride is, the more likely she will conceive on the honeymoon night. Now the Javanese Lulur is readily available internationally and is a popular spa treatment for men and women any time - not only pre- or post-wedding.

My treatment began with a relaxing Balinese massage using Jasmine Frangipani massage oil that perfumed my skin with a strong, sweet aroma. This was followed by the "lulur" spices (turmeric, rice and jasmine) mixed with yogurt and rubbed on my body to exfoliate, clean and refresh the skin. At this point, I was instructed to get up from the table, put on my robe and follow Natalie to the women's changing room to shower. Nathalie then led me to a candlelit flower petal bath. There I soaked, relaxed and sipped cool water for about 15 minutes. When time was up, Nathalie escorted me back to my treatment room where she massaged in Jasmine Frangipani body lotion. I left with my body and mind very relaxed and my skin very soft. 

Tammy Pahel designed the extensive menu of 60+ services from around the world. “Because our average spa guest is so well-traveled and sophisticated, she or he comes to expect only the finest in both the uniqueness and quality of the service,” Pahel said. “Therefore, we have compiled a menu that offers items that reflect our commitment to our guest’s satisfaction.”  Pahel added that the novelty of these services adds to the guest’s enjoyment. Other exotic rituals available at the Turnberry Spa include: Ayurvedic Rituals from India (Herbal Bindi Body Treatment, Shirodhara Therapy, Passage to India); additional Balinese Spa Rituals from Indonesia (Balinese Massage, Bali Sea and Flower Ritual, Volcanic Earth Clay Ritual, Bali Spice Ritual); Thai Spa Rituals (Thai Massage, Ritual of Thailand, Thai Coconut Scrub); and Australian Aboriginal Rituals (Kodo Body Massage, Mala Mayi Body Ritual). You can also enjoy massage (neck/back/shoulder, Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology, aromatherapy, duet for couples, ultimate with two therapists, lomi lomi, hot rock, shiatsu, therapeutic, chair, pregnancy, lymphatic, craniosacral and energy work), facials and skin treatments, sound therapy, body bronzing, body wraps, glycolic treatments, body scrubs, hydrotherapy, baths, nail care and hand and foot treatments. Packages combining various treatments are available.

The $10 million Turnberry Spa opened in the summer of 2001. The spacious Spa’s 25,000 square feet are divided among three floors connected by a grand wrought-iron spiral staircase which showcases a 40-foot, three-story glass wall and water fountain and is topped by a glass domed skylight. There are 26 treatment rooms total. The first floor houses the main reception area and offices, including a conference room, 1,100-square-foot hair salon, and retail shop. The second floor includes a reception area and men's and women's changing rooms, each including full-size lockers, steam room, inhalation room, two private baths each, an 18-head Signature shower, private showers and vanity areas. There are also four facial rooms, three cosmetic stations, 14 massage rooms, three wet treatment rooms with Vichy showers on each table, one hydro tub room, three manicure and pedicure stations, and a meditation room. Eight of the treatment rooms include private balconies for outdoor services. The third floor offers a second set of men's and women's locker rooms with sauna and shower facilities, three additional massage rooms, the fitness center and a spa cafe / juice bar which serves a mix of fresh fruit and vegetable juice blends and smoothies and healthy foods.

The Spa at Turnberry Isle - Fitness

The 3,650 square-foot fitness center on the third floor of The Spa at Turnberry Isle offers state-of-the art Cybex and Life Fitness equipment as well as a complete assortment of free weights, ab rollers and exercise balls. The Cardio Room includes Stairmasters, treadmills, cross trainers, elliptical machines and bikes (all with individual TVs). There is an aerobics studio as well as a Pilates studio. A number of fitness classes are offered including Aqualflex, Flamenco Dance, F.I.T Training, Hatha Yoga, Broadway Jazz, Gentle Yoga/Meditation, Kardio Power Play, Magic circle Pilates Class, Cardio Shape Up, Pilates, Power Hour Step, Qu Gong, Resist-a-Ball, Rumbasize, Spinning, Tai Chi / Self Defense, Ultimate Sculpt, Yoga for Golfers and Yoga-Lates. A weekly schedule is published with times and class descriptions. For hotel guests, $10 + a service charge fee was posted to the room account per each class attended at the time of my visit. Check with the spa for current charges. 

I had an opportunity to take Yoga with Sally, and I really enjoyed it. Sally made sure every person in the class was comfortable with each pose. She provided rolled up towels to help support those needing them (including myself) to take pressure of the back, knees, etc. It's amazing how much easier and enjoyable it made the class.

I also took Meditation with Shiloh. She led the class through a wonderful visualization that was relaxing and refreshing. 

A series of physiological fitness tests are available to assess your current fitness level needs, select training requirements, evaluate progress and motivate you. These include a body composition analysis, submaximal cardio and cardiopulmonary tests, and flexibility, muscular and endurance tests.

Certified professional trainers are available for private exercise sessions to develop and individualized program based on your needs and goals.

The Spa at Turnberry Isle - Nutrition

Nutrition lectures include Food & Fitness - Build a Healthy Lifestyle, The Fats of Life, Intuitive Eating - Why Diets Don't Work, Effective Meal Planning, and Vitamins, Minerals and Alternative Medicine - Who Needs Them?

Suite Serenity

Shortly after my visit, Turnberry Isle Resort was going to unveil a concept that I hope will catch on everywhere. Targeted to the health-conscious traveler, Suite Serenity in the Magnolia Wing is furnished with unique touches to make a stay here a holistic delight for all the senses. Depending on the time of day, Suite Serenity is lightly scented with one of four aromatherapeutic blends: energy, relaxation, jet lag and balance. An iWellness Relaxation ZONE with sound system playing "iWellness Music™: Volume 1 sets the mood. A Shiatsu massage chair for total relaxation and stress relief beckons the weary guest who can cover up with a cashmere throw and eye mask. An ion tower air filtration/oxygen room system purifies the atmosphere. Perhaps a relaxing whirlpool bath would be desired. The water is purified with iWellness Water Filtration Systems. However, the guest may choose to add iromas™ aromatherapy essential oils to their bath. When done, the guest can cuddle up in a luxurious robe and slippers. When ready for bed, the guest can enjoy Tempur-pedic mattress and pillows and wake up to a gentle-wake alarm. Other features of the room include MetaTreks™ Next Generation Fitness Shoes, a weighted shoe with patented design exclusive to iWellness for guests arriving when the Fitness Center is not opened but who desire a little exercise; travel accessories; ergonomic office chairs; a mix of custom pharmaceutical grade nutraceuticals designed to bolster the traveler's immune system (SleepWell, RX Formula, Immunity, and others); iromas™ essential oil blended chocolates; and a collection of healthy teas. For travelers who will be coming from a long distance, a jet lag cure is available. Seven days before departure, a special jet lag kit is sent to the guest with products and instructions of what to do before, during and after the trip to minimize jet lag. According to Carmen Ackerman, Director of Public Relations, Suite Serenity will cost only $40 over the normal room rate. While I enjoyed my stay in Room # 622 in the Jasmine Wing - a very spacious, very comfortable room with a lovely view and whirlpool tub and TV in the bathroom, I would definitely choose to stay in Suite Serenity next time I visit. The only thing that would make it even better would be if it were connected directly to the Spa.

The Hotel and Resort

The 5-star-diamond Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is located on 300 acres 12 miles south of Fort Lauderdale International Airport and 18 miles north of Miami International Airport. The Mediterranean-style hotel has a total of 395 spacious guest rooms and suites. Guest room amenities include AM/FM clock radio, in-room fax machines, fresh orchids, 26" cable television with remote control, mini bars, fruit platter upon arrival, three dual-line telephones, nightly turndown service, walk-in closets with safes and umbrellas and shower amenities (custom formulated skin and  hair care products, hair dryers, showercap, two thick terrycloth robes). It is a non-tipping resort.

In addition to the Spa and Salon, the resort has a pool, two Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship golf courses, two tennis centers offering 19 courts, a three-mile jogging path, a private Ocean Club on the Atlantic Ocean, a full-service marina with charters and sport fishing, shops and boutiques, a conference center, five restaurants and four lounges. During my visit, the 18th Hole "Island Green" was off limits due to filming a scene for the Farrelly Brothers movie "Stuck on You" starring Greg Kinnear and Matt Damon. A complimentary shuttle service runs throughout the resort and to the Aventura Mall.

*The Spa at Turnberry Island has changed to Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club since my visit.