Day 6: SPAhh, Plancha del Mar, Gram Flip-Flop Arrives
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:49 am
Day 6: Drift Away Spa, Lunch @ Plancha del Mar, Gram Flip-Flop arrives
Today will be a short, pretty boring (no beach porn) and mostly pictureless trip report. I have no idea what the guys did. I think they hung out at the pool and then Amber (our babysitter extraordinaire) watched Mini while Belly napped, so Mr. Flip-Flop and Mr. Gromit could hit Mongoose Junction and get his watch looking fix.
Gromit and I scheduled a 1/2 day spa package at Drift Away, a new spa in the new complex near the Westin. Our package included a 60 minute massage, a facial and a mani/pedi. I don't like facials so we made the massage a 90 minute affair and ditched the facial. They added a parafin wrap to our pedis to make up the difference. Those running Drift Away definitely are trying to do it right. It is a small spa but very nicely appointed. There is a changing/locker room and a relaxation room with fresh drinks and snacks (the chocolate truffles were to die for) for you to enjoy as you relax and wait for your treatments.
For the record, I am more of a massage girl than a Spa girl. I like a good trip to the spa now and then, but really what I seek is a good, deep, muscle relaxing, unconsciousness rendering massage. Unfortunately, I didn't have the best therapist. Now this maybe my fault. When I filled out the form I indicated medium to deep pressure. Her idea of that and mine were drastically different. She was on the limp end. Its like getting a wet noodle handshake when you are expecting a firm one. I should have said something but I didn't. I take the blame for that. She kept pausing during the massage. And then she started putting hot stones on me. No, I had not signed up for the hot stone massage. It was just odd. At first I thought she was just doing it because I had a few tense spots, but I am not sure. Anyway, suffice to say the 90 minute massage left a lot to be desired. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was disappointed. I know there are more than 1 therapist so, though I won't out the therapist here if you PM I will tell you more about my specific experience. I hear at least one of the other therapists is AMAZING.
Post-Massage, I emerged not as relaxed as I'd hoped but to a wonderful little gift from my friend, Ruth! Thanks, Ruth. You are the BEST!
I moved along to my mani & pedi and those were both great. The nail lady spent a lot of time and did a good, thorough job. I even went with a crazy blue nail polish. Vicki, I know you are proud.
I do NOT want to seem overly critical of the spa, because they are ObVioUSLY trying to do it right! Really my issue was with the particular massage person and partially my own fault for not speaking up. Still a massage is a massage and it can't really suck. They owners are paying a lot of attention to the details and the staff was very pleasant. I would NOT want my experience to dampen their business. Especially if you like the Spa experience, you should give it a try. It fills that gap on STJ quite nicely. If you need a pedicure or want an on-island massage in a spa environment, it would be a great option. That said, in the future, I'll do as I have in the past and book Nomadic Spa to come to the house. You live and you learn!
Post Spa day, we had time to kill before picking up my mama, Gram Flip-Flop from the ferry dock as she was joining us for our last 5 days! Yep, we are about half way through the trip at this point. Finally, easing into island time.
We decided to try out Plancha del Mar on the recommendations of the forum and it was a hit. For those who don't know Plancha del Mar is in the Marketplace complex on the 2nd floor, above Starfish.
we started with Calamari with a really yummy dipping sauce.
Followed by a seared tuna salad (the special of the day) for me
and a Chicken wrap for Gromit
The highlight of this place was the owner/guy in charge. No clue what his name was but he was super nice and very on top of it. Again, another new business trying to do it right. Very good, fresh ingredients. Nothing fancy or over the top, just solid food. And the kicker, for our iced tea (which was delicious and very fresh) simple syrup to sweeten it! We were SOLD! Very good experience. As an aside, don't be stupid like me and confuse this place with the Surly Cantina, which is in Wharfside. I was looking all over Plancha del Mar's menu for fish tacos ... LOL. Next trip I will hit Surly Cantina.
After lunch we took a look in Nest, a shop on the 2nd level of the Marketplace as well. Cute stuff, all too big to ship home!
Then we were off to do a little shopping and kill some more time at Mongoose. We ran into the guys and shopped for a while. I don't think I bought anything. On past trips, we've planned shopping in, even planning a trip to STT for shopping, not this time. I had NO desire to leave STJ, though lunch at Gladys would have been nice!
All this relaxing at the spa and shopping had me hungry, so I decided to go get a "snack" at deli grotto!
BEST $4 I SPENT ALL WEEK
It took me 3 days, literally, to finish that chocococonut bar but man it was good. I look forward to that thing every trip. For me, it would not be a trip to STJ without it. It is usually my pick up on the way home treat. A little bit of that on the plane keeps me from blubbering like a fool.
Shopped out it was almost time to meet my mama at the dock, so Gromit dropped me to wait and made a quick run to restock at Pine Peace. By 4:15 Gram Flip-Flop was off the ferry and happy to be in St. John. She managed the travel day all by herself. Go Gram!!
We headed back over to the house and decided to grill some burgers and dogs for dinner. Gromit whipped up some beans and rice, and we had a big salad, chips, baked beans. YUMMM-tastic. Everyone chowed and relaxed into another perfect mellow STJ evening.
Tomorrow: Ram Head Hike w/ LMG, Gram's Beach Choice (MAHO) & ZOZO's!
Today will be a short, pretty boring (no beach porn) and mostly pictureless trip report. I have no idea what the guys did. I think they hung out at the pool and then Amber (our babysitter extraordinaire) watched Mini while Belly napped, so Mr. Flip-Flop and Mr. Gromit could hit Mongoose Junction and get his watch looking fix.
Gromit and I scheduled a 1/2 day spa package at Drift Away, a new spa in the new complex near the Westin. Our package included a 60 minute massage, a facial and a mani/pedi. I don't like facials so we made the massage a 90 minute affair and ditched the facial. They added a parafin wrap to our pedis to make up the difference. Those running Drift Away definitely are trying to do it right. It is a small spa but very nicely appointed. There is a changing/locker room and a relaxation room with fresh drinks and snacks (the chocolate truffles were to die for) for you to enjoy as you relax and wait for your treatments.
For the record, I am more of a massage girl than a Spa girl. I like a good trip to the spa now and then, but really what I seek is a good, deep, muscle relaxing, unconsciousness rendering massage. Unfortunately, I didn't have the best therapist. Now this maybe my fault. When I filled out the form I indicated medium to deep pressure. Her idea of that and mine were drastically different. She was on the limp end. Its like getting a wet noodle handshake when you are expecting a firm one. I should have said something but I didn't. I take the blame for that. She kept pausing during the massage. And then she started putting hot stones on me. No, I had not signed up for the hot stone massage. It was just odd. At first I thought she was just doing it because I had a few tense spots, but I am not sure. Anyway, suffice to say the 90 minute massage left a lot to be desired. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was disappointed. I know there are more than 1 therapist so, though I won't out the therapist here if you PM I will tell you more about my specific experience. I hear at least one of the other therapists is AMAZING.
Post-Massage, I emerged not as relaxed as I'd hoped but to a wonderful little gift from my friend, Ruth! Thanks, Ruth. You are the BEST!
I moved along to my mani & pedi and those were both great. The nail lady spent a lot of time and did a good, thorough job. I even went with a crazy blue nail polish. Vicki, I know you are proud.
I do NOT want to seem overly critical of the spa, because they are ObVioUSLY trying to do it right! Really my issue was with the particular massage person and partially my own fault for not speaking up. Still a massage is a massage and it can't really suck. They owners are paying a lot of attention to the details and the staff was very pleasant. I would NOT want my experience to dampen their business. Especially if you like the Spa experience, you should give it a try. It fills that gap on STJ quite nicely. If you need a pedicure or want an on-island massage in a spa environment, it would be a great option. That said, in the future, I'll do as I have in the past and book Nomadic Spa to come to the house. You live and you learn!
Post Spa day, we had time to kill before picking up my mama, Gram Flip-Flop from the ferry dock as she was joining us for our last 5 days! Yep, we are about half way through the trip at this point. Finally, easing into island time.
We decided to try out Plancha del Mar on the recommendations of the forum and it was a hit. For those who don't know Plancha del Mar is in the Marketplace complex on the 2nd floor, above Starfish.
we started with Calamari with a really yummy dipping sauce.
Followed by a seared tuna salad (the special of the day) for me
and a Chicken wrap for Gromit
The highlight of this place was the owner/guy in charge. No clue what his name was but he was super nice and very on top of it. Again, another new business trying to do it right. Very good, fresh ingredients. Nothing fancy or over the top, just solid food. And the kicker, for our iced tea (which was delicious and very fresh) simple syrup to sweeten it! We were SOLD! Very good experience. As an aside, don't be stupid like me and confuse this place with the Surly Cantina, which is in Wharfside. I was looking all over Plancha del Mar's menu for fish tacos ... LOL. Next trip I will hit Surly Cantina.
After lunch we took a look in Nest, a shop on the 2nd level of the Marketplace as well. Cute stuff, all too big to ship home!
Then we were off to do a little shopping and kill some more time at Mongoose. We ran into the guys and shopped for a while. I don't think I bought anything. On past trips, we've planned shopping in, even planning a trip to STT for shopping, not this time. I had NO desire to leave STJ, though lunch at Gladys would have been nice!
All this relaxing at the spa and shopping had me hungry, so I decided to go get a "snack" at deli grotto!
BEST $4 I SPENT ALL WEEK
It took me 3 days, literally, to finish that chocococonut bar but man it was good. I look forward to that thing every trip. For me, it would not be a trip to STJ without it. It is usually my pick up on the way home treat. A little bit of that on the plane keeps me from blubbering like a fool.
Shopped out it was almost time to meet my mama at the dock, so Gromit dropped me to wait and made a quick run to restock at Pine Peace. By 4:15 Gram Flip-Flop was off the ferry and happy to be in St. John. She managed the travel day all by herself. Go Gram!!
We headed back over to the house and decided to grill some burgers and dogs for dinner. Gromit whipped up some beans and rice, and we had a big salad, chips, baked beans. YUMMM-tastic. Everyone chowed and relaxed into another perfect mellow STJ evening.
Tomorrow: Ram Head Hike w/ LMG, Gram's Beach Choice (MAHO) & ZOZO's!
