So...at long last, I made it to King Spa in Niles, IL. (www.kingspa.com)
I invited a girlfriend to join me to check out this Korean wellness spa, which came highly recommended from several people.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, even though I visited their website beforehand (see above). One of the things that intrigued me was the fact that they're open 24/7....really? Also, there was a menu of sauna rooms from which to choose...the Amethyst Room, the Charcoal Room, the Salt Room, the Pyramid Room...9 in all! Each promised to heal and detoxify in their own way. There were spa treatments, a food court, even a movie theatre....why would you ever leave?
So we set off on a bright sunny day and made the trip to Niles. The Spa is located in a strip mall (!) next to a large Korean grocery store. Once we checked in, we were directed to the ladies locker room. I have to admit, we were a bit confused and overwhelmed by the place, kind of reminded me of a Chinese restaurant in an SNL skit! The ladies were friendly and offered suggestions re: the treatments: we decided on the Queen package (of course!), which included a 90 minute body scrub and massage. We changed into the "uniform" ( pink t shirt and shorts) we were given and set out to explore the sauna rooms before our scheduled appointments.
We tried the Charcoal Room (so so), the Base Rock Room (TOO hot) and my favorite, the Pyramid Room.
Then it was time for the scrub!
We returned to the locker room, showered and were directed to the ladies who would be giving us the treatments. If you're self conscious, this may not be your cup of tea...no fluffy robes at this joint! Everyone except the employees are nude. There are no fancy frills, just the basics. But the scrub was divine! I joked that I wanted to have 5 pounds of that dry skin that had been plaguing me all winter scrubbed off....and that very well may have happened! The scrub lasted about 60 minutes, the massage about half an hour. I was giddy when I got off that table!
Total cost: $90, tip included! ( A separate admission fee is paid when you check in...we used a Groupon for a reduced rate.)
If you're in the Chicago area (they also have a location in Dallas, according to their site), treat yourself to a day at this spa. While it may not have all the frills of the Four Seasons, you get a great spa experience for a reasonable price!
I will definitely be back!
