My daughter and I are planning a trip to Toronto in late April. Our plan is to stay downtown and treat ourselves to some spa services and shop. Does anyone know of either a good day spa or a hotel spa in Toronto? Also, any suggestions on hotels and eating places would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Hi crissy:

How old is your daughter and what types of food do you like?

A great hotel right on Bloor Street is the Park Hyatt. It has its own spa called Stillwater which offers a lot of nice services.

It is also close to Yorkville which has a lot of boutiques. For your daughter, they have a great jeans store on Yorkville called Over the Rainbow which is quite popular.

You would also be on Bloor Street which is where Holt Renfrew, our major upscale department store is located. Also along Bloor Street is a vast array of other shops, including a Winners (discount clothes and accessories), a Lululemon, popular for their very comfortable yoga clothes, and an H&M, plus the usual Pottery Barn, Gap, Banana Republic, etc.

I went to a day called Oasis in Calgary about 5 years ago, and they've recently opened up in the Distillery District. If the Calgary one is any indication, it should be terrific. My sister and I loved our day there.

Distillery District is interesting as well - some nice shops, galleries, etc. It's also not far from downtown.

Holt Renfrew also has a nice spa.

The Spa at the Elmwood is also nice, a bit more informal than some of the others. It's centrally located too, depending on where you stay. I quite like the Thai restaurant (sorry - I've forgotten the name) that's in the same building.

Enjoy your trip!

FYI - the spa at Holt Renfrew is an Estee Lauder spa - beware it comes with a sales pitch. Great for manicures though...

The Windsor Arms also has a spa, not as nice as the Stillwater. There's also a spa at the Pantages, haven't been though so can't comment. The spa at the Old Mill is said to be excellent (not downtown, but easily accessible by subway). There are really a lot to choose from downtown.

Hi Truffles -- really? you've had a sales pitch there? I've been many times and the most I've ever had is that at check-out time, the woman tells me what she used that day and asks me if I want to purchase any of those products. I know she's selling but it's really just a one sentence exchange. Generally I just say no thanks. I'm not a big user of skin care products and I've never felt pressured there.

I've been to Stillwater a couple of times as well. It's very pretty but much more expensive than Holt's. Haven't tried the Windsor Arms yet, though. I didn't realize they had a spa...maybe I can't hint for that for my next birthday!

PS -- if you're going to be here anywhere close to Mothers' Day, Holt's will probably have a special. I've bought gift spa days at M Day and Christmas -- both came gorgeously wrapped in reusable gold mesh bags and with a gift of a lovely 'gold' translucent powder compact.

I also didn't get a sales pitch at Holt Renfrew. Someone had given me a gift certificate for it and I booked a facial - very nice.

The spa at Holt Renfrew is no longer an Estee Lauder spa. It was taken over in January by a large US concern that manages department store spas. The products are no longer EL. All staff have a sales quota and are expected to sell products though customers are obviously not required to purchase anything.

IMHO the loveliest and most luxurious spa is Stillwater at The Hyatt. It's a pleasure to book an entire day of services including lunch which is served in the "tea lounge" of the spa. Here is their website which outlines their services.

http://www.hyatt.com/gallery/stillwa...nto/index.html

Enjoy!

Almost forgot - there's also a spa at the King Eddy. Not as grand as the Stillwater, but the massage therapists there are great! Also not as expensive as the Stillwater..

hdm - I guess it's moot now that it's no longer EL, but yes, I consider it a sales pitch when the facialist lists the products and there's a basket waiting for you at the end of your services. Not a pushy one, but I still didn't appreciate it..

I can't remember if they did that at Stillwater. I just had a pedicure there, so maybe there were no products to sell. I don't mind a mild sales pitch. My hairdresser recommends products too (that she stocks and sells) and I just take her recommndations or not, as I wish.

No, the Stillwater doesn't do that. I've been a couple of times for full days, and there's no basket at the end! ;o)