Still looking for a Christmas gift for that special someone? Don't fret! Here's a few gifts ideas from Indigo!
FOR HER:
FOR HIM:
FOR THE KIDS
Do you have any more gift ideas? Feel free to send them my way!
Lifestyle
The Spa by Ivanka Trump /
The Spa by Ivanka Trump
The Spa by Ivanka Trump is a paradise! Full stop. I have been fortunate enough to indulge in a lot of spa experiences. As a child I got no less than 13 million massages. Yes, 13 million. My dear mother, now retired, was a physiotherapist/ gerontologist and was on the sidelines of every soccer game and in the stands of every hockey game. I think I had an abundance of testosterone, even as an 11-12 year old, because I play sports hard. I banged and crashed and ran and slid and didn't really give much regard for my health. As a result I had sprains and contusions and bumps and bruises and owies and booboos. My mom tended to them, but she didn't do so in an opulent room replete with crystal and candies and Jetson-esque jacuzzis. The couples massage room at the Spa is the nicest I have ever been in and I have been to five star resorts from Mexico to Hong Kong and a bunch of places in between.
Aside from the service, which is top notch, the Spa benefits from being almost brand new and from having no expense spared! We were welcomed with champagne cocktails and an Ipad. Tapping around on it we began to craft our own signature essential oil that would form the background of our experience. Calming, invigorating, rejuvenating or any feeling under the sun. I left the device in Jenn's hands as I relaxed and sipped my cocktail and the resulting line heavy scent suited me just fine. We were left in the room to relax in the jacuzzi and enjoy the atmosphere for 20 minutes before our masseurs returned to pleasure us. And a divine experience it was. I can't go into too much detail because I reached nirvana and left the physical realm, but I can confirm you want to visit. You just do.
The Spa by Ivanka Trump Couples Room
Customizable Essential Oils
Overall the experience was nothing short of amazing! The service was excellent, the atmosphere world class and the price point was a good value. As an added bonus they sent us home with the leftovers of our custom pine tree and ylang ylang essential oil and every time we open it we're transported back there and if we close our eyes it's like we never left!
Blood & Champagne
Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan
Bare Essentials Skin Bar /
It was my first microdermabrasion, and the reason I have never gotten one previously was because I was expecting it to hurt! I've always heard it will leave your face looking red and that was a no-no. To my happy surprise, I had an amazing experience with the Enhanced Microdermabrasion applied by the very friendly, and knowledgeable Amy! All I felt was suction on my face and it was actually very relaxing, I almost fell asleep! I learned later that Bare Essentials Skin Bar uses a Diamond Tip machine that works deep to get rid of the Dead Skin and sucks it up, instead of scraping off your face!
A Tea & Skin Tester Bar
An inviting, bright facial room
You can get a quick Treatment during your lunch break, and head back to work, in time, feeling refreshed & rejuvenated!
A Private Treatment Room
Huge line of Dermalogica Products
I highly recommend Bare Essentials to anyone looking for a quick & affordable facial or microdermabrasion! Amy really is a skin guru, and will make you leave with baby soft skin! It's no wonder they ranked 2nd on TripAdvisor last year!
I will be back!
Words & Photos: Jenn Chan
Luxury Spa in Vancouver - CHI @ Shangri-la /
Have you ever noticed that the sales staff at Gucci or Prada are very knowledgeable and friendly? What about how much less scummy the salesmen at Audi or Porsche are compared to Big John's Used Car Emporium? Or how the wait staff at Black + Blue make the toddler serving you at McDonald's seem oafish and coarse? This is the main reason you head to the Chi Spa, in the beautiful Shangri-La Tower, instead of buying a Groupon for Big John's Massage Emporium; service, expertise and professionalism!
The lobby has a sleek, modern aesthetic and the receptionists are eager, genuinely eager, to provide you with refreshments and make you comfortable. Once whisked into the adjoining waiting room, with its deep, cushy seating, your experience begins. Snacks, teas and lovely flavoured waters are on hand buffet style and serene music fills the air. It would be easy to fall asleep during the few minutes while the staff put the finishing touches on your private massage room.
From there you enter a private suite that rivals, and easily eclipses, the size of most Vancouver condos. A private sitting room, rest room, large hot tub sit beside the gorgeous couples massage area. The masseuses took the time to ask us about our trouble areas and reasons to coming instead of diving right in and rubbing willy nilly. After 5 minutes I was as loose and relaxed as one can be and, after 10 minutes, fast asleep! It was the first time I had ever fallen asleep during a massage, but judging by the way my body felt when I woke up they spent the other hour and a half working intently on my lower back and right elbow as I had requested because they felt better than they had in years.
Couples Massage room with Sauna
Elegance, luxury and practical pricing make the Chi Spa an excellent value for dollar! Access to the Shangri-La pool for the day, with its simple yet delicious café bar, and the state-of-the-art fitness facilities are the icing on the cake. Come for an exceptional massage and then revel in the sun poolside in one of the most central locations of Downtown Vancouver; come on I dare you!
Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan