One of the joys of living in Singapore is the access to a selection of excellent spa facilities, most of which are located in the city’s top hotels. Last year, the ranks of world-class spas available in the city-state grew further with the opening of One Farrer Hotel and Spa. This impressive urban resort-style property, located in the historic cultural enclave of Farrer Park, offers travellers a refreshing change of scene from the city’s more established properties surrounding the CBD.
It also offers one of the best spa facilities in Singapore, with a list of treatments geared towards both men and women. The 90-minute ‘Executive Retreat’ treatment was originally designed as a male treatment but is now popular with both sexes. The emphasis here is on relaxation, so although the actual treatment is only 90 minutes long, guests are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the spa’s facilities before the treatment begins. Apart from the hotel’s Olympic-size pool, each changing room features an al fresco garden with hot and cold plunge pools, a Jacuzzi and a warm mineral pool infused with Magnesium. Soaking in the Magnesium pool provides an ideal way of preparing for your treatment, calming the mind and nourishing the body with its essential minerals.
The Executive Retreat begins with a 30-minute body scrub, with the therapist exfoliating and replenishing the skin with rhythmic strokes that have you slipping into unconsciousness well before the massage itself begins. Once you’ve been thoroughly scrubbed, it’s time for a quick shower before the massage begins. The Executive Retreat’s main attraction is the one-hour hot stone massage, which from personal experience takes you as close to sensory nirvana as you could ever possibly hope to attain in a 60-minute treatment. Here the therapist skillfully uses the hot stones to massage away any knots or tension in your body, employing hypnotic strokes that nullify any anxiety or stress, rendering you into a contented state of sleepy bliss. Starting at the feet and continuing up each leg into the problem areas of the lower and upper back, all tension is erased by the calming rhythmic motion of the stones. It’s the kind of treatment you never want to end, but end it does rather quicker than expected because you’ve very likely snoozed your way through half of it.
I’d recommend not organizing any important meetings after one of these massages as you won’t make much sense for at least an hour or two, staring instead into space with an immovable inane grin on your face. Instead, spend some time enjoying the spas other relaxation facilities or just lounge by the pool and soak up some sun in this garden oasis.
One Farrer Hotel and Spa
1 Farrer Park Station Road, tel: 6363 0101
