I Spent $648 on a Spa Day… Was It Worth It?

Alright my Knotty Krew… tax season is officially DONE. And if you know, you KNOW. The last two months had me running on Mexican Cokes, client emails, and pure survival mode. And honestly… I deserve a medal, a nap, and a massage. Immediately.

Like, no mom duties, no tax talk, no anything. Just peace.

So I asked Lexi’s caregiver if she could watch her on Saturday, which is not her usual schedule. When she said yes, I swear I heard angels singing. I was like HELL YES, we are doing this.

I immediately booked myself a spa day at The Spa at Pelican Hill because if I am going to reset, I am going all in. I wanted a whole vibe. A book, a robe, some quiet, and just a full nervous system reset.

But of course… life had one more plot twist.

Two days before my appointment, Lexi’s caregiver got seriously sick. What we thought was food poisoning turned into something way worse. Her appendix actually burst and she ended up in the ER being prepped for emergency surgery. I was just sitting there like… no no no, not my spa day 😭

But listen, I was determined. I had already mentally checked out. So I called my dad and asked if he could watch Lexi for the day… and THANK GOD he said yes. Crisis averted.

Spa day was back on.

So let’s get into it, my Knotty Krew.

I booked The Reset Ritual which was $648 and here is how they describe it:

“Recenter, restore, and reawaken with this holistic full body ritual designed to harmonize body and mind. This deeply calming experience begins with a gentle exfoliation to smooth and awaken the skin, followed by a deeply nourishing body wrap infused with age defying botanicals, organic shea butter, and CBD rich balance oil. As you relax in a cocoon of warmth, the healing properties penetrate deeply to soothe muscles, calm the mind, and revitalize the skin. A relaxing massage completes the experience, releasing tension and realigning energy, leaving you in a state of rest and reset.”

Sounds dreamy right? Okay… let me tell you how it actually went.

My therapist was Dale and on the Knotty Scale he gets a solid 5 out of 5 knots. He was so kind, super attentive, and the pressure was exactly what I needed. Not too light, not too aggressive. Just perfect.

The treatment was 105 minutes and from the moment it started, I was like… okay yes, this is what I needed.

He started with a full body scrub using this shea butter situation mixed with essential oils that smelled INSANE. Like I wanted to take it home and live in that scent forever. It felt so good and honestly I didn’t realize how much I needed a full exfoliation until that moment.

Then he had me hop in the shower to rinse everything off and BABY… when I tell you my skin felt like a newborn baby… I am not exaggerating. I was in there like okayyyy, who is she.

After that I got back on the warm table and he massaged CBD lotion into my skin and I swear I melted. Like fully gone. Mentally checked out. Floating somewhere above my body.

The actual treatment itself? Incredible. No notes.

Now let’s talk about the spa overall because this is where things shift a little.

The property at Pelican Hill is absolutely gorgeous. It is up in Newport Coast, literally one of the bougiest areas in Newport Beach. You expect luxury. You expect a full experience.

But… the spa itself did not fully match that expectation.

First of all, how are we in Newport Beach, with perfect weather, ocean views, sunshine for days… and there is NO outdoor area??

Like I cannot wrap my head around that.

I came with my book fully ready to lay out, soak up the sun, and romanticize my life for the day… and instead I was inside in a dim relaxation room. Now don’t get me wrong, the room was beautiful and had a nice vibe, but it is not the same as being outside in that California sunshine.

I definitely had to knock off some Knotty points for that because that was a big part of the experience I was looking forward to.

Then the amenities… they were fine, but nothing special. The sauna and steam room were good, but very basic. For this price point, I expected a little more wow.

Also, small thing but it matters… I had to leave the spa area and go all the way up to the front desk just to ask for a plastic bag for my swimsuit. And they did not have one of those swimsuit dryer machines which I feel like is a standard at nicer spas.

It just felt like they had the basics, but not the elevated touches you expect when you are spending $648 on a treatment.

The space itself is beautiful, no doubt. But it did not give full luxury experience.

So here is my final verdict, my Knotty Krew.

The treatment? 5 out of 5 knots. Dale absolutely understood the assignment.

The spa experience overall? 3 out of 5 knots.

Would I go back for that price? Probably not.

Pelican Hill… I love you, but you need to step it up.

Until next time… stay relaxed, my Knotty Krew.