Pamper the winter away in Montreal’s best spas

As the temperatures dip, the idea of a hot sauna followed by an expert massage has even more irresistible allure. And how about being your friends’ favourite Santa ever? Giving the gift of lasting relaxation and pampering is no sweat this holiday season thanks to some red-hot deals in Montreal spas. They’ll warm your cockles – and your soul…

PRIMP YOUR FRIENDS

Your generosity will be rewarded by the kind folks at Bota Bota, Spa Sur l’Eau: until December 1, with every purchase of $200 in gift certificate you’ll get a gift yourself, for a free Layover session in the spa’s famous water circuit. Give four of your friends a treatment like the Honey and Sugar Scrub ($55), which will leave them feeling as sweet as a Christmas cookie, and enjoy the spoils. Perfect for couples, Le Crystal Hôtel offers a spa treatment at Amerispa as part of their Relax Together hotel package, which includes accommodation in a Superior, Deluxe or Executive Suite, a 50-minute massage, free indoor parking, late check out and breakfast. Or, just splurge on an indulgent three-hour Moment of Happiness treatment ($215): it includes a warm aromatic oil massage, a honey and shea butter pedicure and the Fundamental Facial treatment.

Throughout November at L’Aquarium Fish Spa, get the second luxury fish pedicure half price when you purchase one. Talk about an opportunity for a fun day out: grab your bestie and your courage together, then get all the dead skin on your toes eaten away by tiny fish! Help your friends float their holiday stresses away at Spa Ovarium with one of many gift certificate choices, including the full meal deal La Totale ($135), including a 30-minute Pulsar treatment, a 30-minute NeuroSpa experience, 60 minutes in a floatation tank and a 60-minute massage.

If you’re looking for a fun holiday girlfriend getaway, try Le Nouvel Hôtel Spa’s special package, which includes an Executive room, a 30-minute therapeutic massage at Spa Tais and a healthy breakfast. They have a full menu of mani-pedis, if you want a little extra.

Until January 15, 2014, buy a gift-card of $125 or more at Spa Eastman Montréal and get a Destination-les-Bains gift certificate (a value of $69) for yourself for free. It includes access to fitness activities and conferences, to the Spa Eastman gym and 15 km of trails in the Eastern Townships, unlimited access to their hammam, swimming pool, outdoor hot tubs, polar bath, Kneipp circuits, Igloo shower, infrared sauna, dry sauna, natural pond for swimming and relaxation room… or, before December 15, buy a gift certificate and get a chance to win a two-night stay at Spa Eastman in the Townships!

STAY WARM

After hours of hunting for gifts in the cold streets of Montreal, you’ll deserve a bit of warmth. Thaw out a little from the blistering winter cold with a stop in Avie Spa’s hammam. Prepare your skin by exfoliating it with black soap, then liberate toxins, relieve stress and feel rejuvenated with a body wrap made to measure, depending on your needs. Choose a chocolate wrap for its intense hydrating properties and amazing aroma. Let the sun shine into your sould at Rainspa, in Place d’Armes Hotel Suites, with its special nearly three-hour package called Sun-Kissed ($190). It’ll leave your glowing after a body exfoliation, self-tanning body treatment, mani pedi and access to their legendary hammam.

Located in a historic space built as the Merchant’s Bank vault in 187o, the spa in Hôtel Le St. James is the perfect spot for an other-worldly two and a half-hour Desert Treasure package ($360), including a Desert Oasis body wrap rich in copper, magnesium and zinc, followed by a 90-minute hot stone massage.

Warm up from the inside out at Scandinave Spa Vieux Montréal, with a good few hours spent in their water circuit (start with a steam bath, followed by a cold shower, dry sauna, cold plunge pool, then relax in the warm pool for a good while – then start again) followed by a hot stone massage. The basalt stones are heated in water, then placed on specific points on the body to warm the muscles – it’ll make winter seem like a distant memory.

GET PARTY READY

Now that your friends are taken care of, what about you? You’ve got to look your best for your holiday parties, whether they’re office parties, family reunions or house parties gone wild. Gibson Salon Spa in the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel has the perfect package: Montreal By Night ($275) is four hours of primping and relaxing, including a full-body massage, a facial and a paraffin mani-pedi. AwaySpa in the W Montreal has a special beautification package called Done Up ($195): two and half hours of amazing, with a facial, a mani and a pedi.

Mann Grooming for Men in Delta Montréal is the city’s first and only one-stop grooming destination exclusively for men. Get the Blade Runner ($30) old-fashioned shave treatment, with hot towel treatments, straight blade shave and a soothing mini facial massage. Or splurge on the total Big Day ($225) experience before your New Years bash: two and a half hours that include teeth whitening, manicure, pedicure, express facial and a Happy Eyes treatment.

Come to Montreal and book a Sweet Deal Hotel Package with up to $500 in savings on great activities and attractions!