8 Queer-Friendly Spas to Pamper Yourself
Vacationer Magazine’s list of LGBTQ+-friendly spas will help you shake off your winter blues and start the year off stress-free!
At the start of every new year, we could all use some time to reset before we take a plunge into what lies ahead. So, we thought we’d pull together a list of LGBTQ+-friendly spas where we can not only be our authentic selves but we can also treat ourselves to a variety of unique spa treatments any time throughout the year. From Chicago to New York City to Berlin – get inspired with our spa-tacular list and plan your luxurious spa getaway now!
Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa | Core Club (New York City)
Celebrity hairstylist Paul Labrecque and his partner, Brian Cantor, opened the high-end Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa in New York’s Upper East Side neighborhood more than 30 years ago. Today, the couple also owns locations in Philadelphia and Palm Beach, Florida. But what makes this spa unique is that it is one of the few certified vendors of Biologique Recherche, the coveted skincare where every facial starts with a skin consultation with an esthetician to create a treatment based on the customer’s unique needs. In addition to the virtual skincare consultations, the spa offers Facials, hair removals, waxing, masks, peels, microdermabrasion, massages, body treatments, and as well as tailored spa day packages that include any combination of hair, nail services, customized facials and massages. You can also find Pual Labrecque Salon and Spas at the Royal Poinciana Plaza in Palm Beach, Florida, and Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.
Shui Spa (Provincetown, Massachusetts)
If you’re planning a trip to Provincetown, then you should find some time to relax and unwind at the Shui Spa, located at Crown Pointe Inn and Spa. Escape the city grind and enjoy this rejuvenation spa experience that features a Himalayan Salt Sauna to improve your respiratory health, circulation, and allergies; a steam room to regain your natural glow; and a mineral soaking tub with minerals that come from the Blue Lagoon in Iceland, one of the most famous hot springs in the world. It also has indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and offers deep tissue and Swedish massages, body treatments, facials, and skincare. Before heading out for a night on the town or after a long day on the beach, visit this LGBTQ+-friendly spa to recalibrate and find your true center with energy treatments like the Reiki Chakra Balancing to release and rebalance the blocked energy in your chakras and to achieve total well-being emotionally and physically. Note: Crown Pointe Inn and Spa closes for the winter season (January and February) and typically reopens in March.
Grand Resort & Spa (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
If you’re in Fort Lauderdale, you should consider a visit to this spa located on a clothing-optional property for gay men and it’s a convenient 18-minute Uber ride away from the Wilton Manors gayborhood. The cool thing about the Grand Resort & Spa is that even if you’re not staying on the property (with 33 rooms and suites), you can still indulge in a spa treatment. The Organic Coconut Oil & Sugar Scrub and the Seaweed Gel Therapy are two Signature Scrubs offered on their spa menu.
Grand Resort & Spa also offers packages such as the Relax and Soothe, Rejuvenation, and the Day of Indulgence which includes the Organic Coconut Oil & Sugar Scrub, 80-minute deep-tissue massage, a beauty facial, standard manicure, and pedicure. If nothing else, we recommend the Extreme Ultimate Pedicure! You’ll thank us later.
Sir Spa (Chicago, Illinois)
Look your best and head to Chicago’s premier spa for men for massage, skincare, and grooming services. This award-winning, state-of-the-art spa features a fully appointed locker room, steam room and rain showers, and a relaxation lounge. Sir Spa not only has the usual treatments for waxing, trimming, nails, massages, and facials, but it also offers spa packages, including Couples Escape Spa Packages that range from $250 to $500 per couple. For solo patrons, we recommend you splurge and treat yourself to The Crown Jewels treatment which includes an hour and 30-minute SIR Customized Massage, SIR Scrub, Hydration Wrap, Age Recovery Face Treatment, Hand Detail, and Foot Recovery. Lunch is included, so go ahead… you only live once!
The Boulders Resort & Spa (Scottsdale, Arizona)
A 33,000-square-foot oasis in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Boulders Resort & Spa is the ideal spa getaway to restore your mind and body through the art of massage, the science of revitalizing facials, and other refreshing therapies infused with ingredients from the desert. In addition to the usual suspect spa options, the spa here offers unique treatments such as the Jade Stone advanced skincare treatment, the Avocado Citrus Splash body treatment, and the Desert Rose Radiance body treatment where a Jojoba and Desert Rose exfoliation is followed by a Vichy shower and soothing aloe mask for dry skin. Guests are then wrapped to maintain warmth and given a facial massage with prickly pear and pomegranate finishing with a hydrating application of Desert Rose Shea Butter crème.
Couples can reserve an 800-square-foot Spa Suite, complete with a private shower, outdoor Jacuzzi and shower, private patio, and outdoor fireplace. The adults-old resort is also approved by the Travel Advocacy Group (TAG), a collection of LGBTQ+-welcoming accommodations that have completed a qualification process based on their employment policies, services, and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Boon Hotel + Spa (Guerneville, California)
You may know Guerneville as the town in the Russian River Valley that hosts Lazy Bear Weekend every summer, but the Bears and other LGBTQ+ folx can check into and pamper themselves at the 14-room Boon Hotel + Spa. Lesbian owner Crista Luedtke welcomes all guests no matter how they identify.
The onsite spa offers several body and skincare treatments as well as add-ons such as full-body CBD treatment and the Himalayan Salt Hot Stones treatment where the stones are used to provide deep relaxation and the Himalayan salt exfoliates the skin and naturally replenish the body with vital minerals and removes toxins. For a less evasive skincare treatment, the spa offers LED (Light emitting diode) light therapy which uses different wavelengths of light to treat acne, reduce inflammation, and promote anti-aging. Ask for the red light to combat those wrinkles.
AWAY Spa at W Mexico City (Mexico City, Mexico)
For more than 20 years W Hotels has advocated for the LGBTQ community and marketed its brand to target LGBTQ+ travelers, working with queer artists and content creators, sponsoring Pride events, and producing podcasts and other media to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community.
Of course, W Hotels around the world have AWAY Spas onsite including the properties in the US, but we thought it would be cool to highlight the W Mexico City. We always like the idea of infusing the local culture into the spa treatments offered, and this spa does it! In addition to offering aromatherapy sessions, and revitalizing body treatments, this AWAY Spa bills itself as the only spa in Mexico City to offer traditional temazcal treatments and access to an onsite traditional adobe sweat lodge.
After spending your time at the AWAY Spa at the W Mexico City, you can indulge in some of the high-end restaurants in the Polanco neighborhood and you’re only a 10-minute Uber ride away from the Zona Rosa gayborhood, home to popular LGBTQ+ bars and clubs such as Nicho Bears & Bar and Bibiana Club Less, a lesbian dance club.
Vabali Spa (Berlin, Germany)
Germany is a very progressive country when it comes to inclusivity. Yes, there are quite a few queer-friendly saunas and thermal baths, but if you’re looking for a classy experience, we recommend visiting the LGBTQ+-friendly Vabali Spa, just a 30-minute ride on public transportation from the city’s bustling Schöneberg neighborhood. Think of Vabali Spa as an expansive oasis of calm with wellness experiences and spa treatments ranging from honey and fruit aromatherapy to a WellFit Kitchen that serves healthful cuisine. Plan a spa getaway here and you’re sure to go home feeling better than when you left. Just remember this spa is coed and it’s not an LGBTQ+ establishment. A Vabali Spa is also located in Düsseldorf and Hamburg.
