When it comes to staycations, I have one golden rule: no spa, no booking. A plush bed and room service are lovely, of course, but if I’m going to indulge and unwind, I need a proper spa—not just any treatment room tucked behind a gym, but a full-on sanctuary. And at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in Denver, I found exactly that.
Tucked inside the hotel’s polished downtown property, the spa spans a generous 6,000 square feet and feels like a world apart from the urban buzz outside. It’s outfitted with steam rooms, whirlpools, and serene relaxation lounges, each space curated for quiet luxury. But it’s the menu—comprehensive and customizable—that really sets it apart.
With twenty-six massage styles and a wide variety of indulgent add-ons and day packages, the options seem endless. Facials range from glow-inducing to genuinely transformative, like the non-surgical facelift facial.
Feeling sore from hiking and stiff from sitting at my desk, I booked The Ultimate 5280, an eighty-minute head-to-toe treatment complete with a full body CBD massage, foot scrub and paraffin treatment, and a scalp and hair oil ritual. From the moment I sank into the dim, cocoon-like treatment room, I was transported. Zen music trickled in, and the subtle scent of eucalyptus filled the air. The therapist managed to melt away every knot in my shoulders without ever crossing into the bruise zone—a delicate art. As she massaged warm oils onto my scalp and around my temples, chills ran down my spine. I was in a state of meditative bliss from start to finish. Time blurred. I floated out.
By the time I stepped back into the lobby, glowing and borderline euphoric, I was already plotting my return. The Ritz-Carlton Spa didn’t just pamper me; it pressed pause on the chaos and reminded me what it means to feel like myself again. It’s not just the best part of a staycation—it’s the reason to book one.
