Escape to San Francisco:
Start the new year replenished and relaxed

As the new year rolls in, most of us resolve to alter our routines in a dramatic, often demanding, fashion. We vow to build muscle, vanquish the remnants of holiday excess, and commit to the rigors of Spartan dieting. But after the harrowing obligations of the holiday season, what many of us need most is a little well deserved R&R. Consider this: the angst of decorating, cooking and power-shopping, have even led psychologists to coin a phrase for the yuletide state of stress-related anxiety: “holiday burnout.” While San Francisco’s fast-paced lifestyle could be seen as the culprit for such a condition, the city does not fail to ameliorate and soothe as unreservedly as it frazzles. A bevy of luxurious hotels replete with exquisite spa amenities grace San Francisco’s downtown district. Many of the local resorts are generously offering up packages tailored to help you resolve to face the year in a state of invigorated tranquility . These mini-escapes are ideal refuge for locals who desire to replenish energy reserves and out-of-towners with the savvy to turn a trek to the City by the Bay into an opportunity for reflection and relaxation.

One of the newest additions to the distinguished Downtown assembly of luxury lodgings is the 40-story St. Regis hotel and condominium tower. The much anticipated five-year-in-the-making, multi-million dollar project has yielded an opulent retreat in the heart of downtown. The usual rate for standard rooms in the ultra high-end hotel is $529 while suites run $1,350 per night. However, with a minimum two-night stay, guests can take advantage of the “Grand Opening Getaway Package.” The special debut season offer features a guest room equipped with a 42” plasma television, deluxe soaking tub, and the hotel’s claim to fame, the services of a St. Regis butler.  This exclusive amenity is a fixture of the brand’s century-old flagship hotel off Fifth Avenue in New York – in which guests have a valet at their “beck and call” 24 hours a day, assigned to them upon arrival. This decadence is surpassed only by the 9,000 square foot spa, Reméde, where customized facials, body treatments, massages, waxing and nail services are all on the menu. Other January deals include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Luxurious Romance in San Francisco package. Call 284-400 or log onto www.stregis.com for details.

Just one block away the W, an ultra-chic hideaway for hipsters, is situated. The sleek lines and lofty dimensions of both the interior and exterior makes the hotel seem like an extension of the nearby SF MOMA. The innovative aesthetic may be one attribute that draws the stylish and beautiful to the W’s XYZ bar, the Living Room lounge and W Café but it is certainly not the only one. Happy hour haute cuisine and elbow-rubbing are two alluring fixtures. But the jovial buzz of these communal spaces belies the most recent indulgence to round out the experience. Boasting 5,000 streamlined square feet of holiday tension-fighting facilities, Bliss Spa, located on the fourth floor, is the ideal locale to set the tone for the new year in halcyon harmony. In fact, the most requested service on the spa menu is a 75 minute massage that combines Swedish and Shiatsu techniques to loosen tight muscles and improve circulation. This January, The Bliss “Girls Getaway”  is offerd. The package is designed to lead guests down that pampered path to enlightenment. Ostensibly created for ultra-luxe slumber parties, the package includes two Wondertini cocktails, a W Munchie Box, an in-room movie rental, a local shopping guide, and deep discounts at the spa. The plan starts at $225 per night and can be altered to accommodate male guests as well. Call 777-5300 or long onto www.whotels.com for details.

Just around the corner, the regal Four Seasons Hotel rises an impressive 42 stories above Market Street. With outposts as far flung as Damascus to Dublin, the distinctive international flair of the luxury chain has long been a worldwide symbol of opulence. Guests are invited to restore and replenish at Splash, a lavish full service spa located in the Sports Club/LA on the fourth floor of the hotel. For who aspire to get fit following the decadent season of egg nog and sugar plums, the spectacularly equipped 100,000 square foot Sports Club/LA gym will inspire the inner athlete to excel. For more information call 633-3000 or log onto www.fourseasons.com.

While the Four Seasons is a relatively recent comer to the plush lodging market, the Westin St Francis has defined elegance and grandeur in the city for over a century. The stately SF landmark has retained its sophisticated air without seeming overly stuffy. And when it comes to pampering the weary of body and soul, the hotel’s spa is well-equipped for the task at hand. The Grandview Spa package for two is a soothing way to experience many of the amenities the hotel has to offer. The location is a strategic coup for those seeking to incorporate shopping and fine dining into their retreat. The Westin’s lobby is home to a variety of fine retail shops and its Union Square location is legendary as prime foodie stomping ground including Michael Minna, a top tier restaurant within the hotel.  Grandview rooms are among the best situated, many with panoramic views of the city, the Square and beyond. The rate of $799 includes two nights Grandview accommodations, two Westin Heavenly bathrobes, a welcome spa basket and a 60-minute shiatsu, deep tissue, or Swedish massage treatment for two. For details call 800-917-7458 or log onto www.westinstfrancis.com.

The Westin offers the best of both worlds, retail and relaxation, but for those who seek the ultimate SF seclusion and reprieve, the Hotel Vitale and Spa may be a more suitable solution. The hotel’s bay vistas have a soothing effect, making quotidian crises and worldly concerns seem miles away. A treatment at Hotel Vitale’s bay-view spa couldn’t hurt either. A holistic approach is what sets this urban oasis apart from the myriad options throughout the city. In fact, as the name would imply, the entire hotel is based on an integrative approach to revitalization. The guest room honor bars are stocked with the spa-focused goodies such as massage creams and bath salts. The hotel’s penthouse level, indoor/outdoor spa encompasses three sunlight-filled massage and treatment rooms. The spa features outdoor deep soaking tubs set among a lush scaled-down bamboo forest while the onsite Vista Studio offers complimentary yoga classes to hotel guests. The “Indulge your Senses Package” includes a one-night stay in a deluxe waterfront guestroom for $329 (regularly $359) and a $75 certificate towards a signature spa service at Spa Vitale. For more information, call 278-3788 or visit www.hotelvitale.com.

The focus this time of year is set squarely on pushing personal paradigms and challenging confines. Taking the time to be still and reflect on just what those challenges are can lead us to regroup and rededicate. San Francisco has no shortage of options to nurture, revitalize and quash the effects of post-holiday stress and self-imposed demands.  The quest for escape leads right back to Downtown, presenting the ultimate retreat, an urban oasis in the city by the bay.

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