Recently I spent an overnight in the lovely Boston Park Plaza Hotel in Boston and indulged myself at the new Exhale Spa, just across the street. I had a facial by the divine Diane, luxuriating on a heated table, cushioned by Turkish towels, crisp white sheets and listened to quieting, restful tunes as Diane gently exfoliated, detoxed and gently mico-dermabrasioned my skin. My treatment cost $110 plus tip, worth every cent, too.

When I looked in the mirror at the end of my hour’s treatment, I thought I looked years younger. So did my pals at the dinner I had later that night at Todd English’s fabulously romantic restaurant, Bonfire, www.bonfiresteakhouse.com in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. Enjoy the elegance of this grand old hotel and read about its history on the website at www.bostonparkplaza.com.

I heartily recommend a treatment or two at the Exhale Spa. In addition to the fab treatments, the young ladies staffing the front desk and beyond were exceptional in their courtesy and aid.

Exhale as you enter the spa,” Designed to offer a unique healing and wellbeing experience, our urban oasis inspires renewal and rejuvenation in everyday life,” say the owners.

Begin your journey to overall well being by experiencing some revitalizing spa therapies, healing acupuncture modalities or with one of our nationally acclaimed mind body classes, including the signature Core Fusion® program.

Exhale is in Boston’s Back Bay area and opened in December 2004 in the Heritage On The Garden building, overlooking the Boston Public Garden in the heart of downtown. Before or after a treatment, you can walk the Freedom Trail, or head to Quincy Market for history plus food/shopping in your spare time.

Located between the Financial District and elegant Back Bay, it is a block away from Newbury Street's fine shops, art galleries, antique shops and restaurants in America’s most walkable city.

Situated in a relaxing13, 000 square foot space with a design of multi-cultural influences, guests enjoy a relaxing lobby lounge retail area, manicure + pedicure bar, a large temple-like yoga studio, a light-filled Core Fusion® studio, and 15 quiet Zen-inspired therapy rooms for advanced skin care and therapeutic body work such as massage and acupuncture.


The menus just for facials are quite impressive. The customized basic facial uses pure ingredients designed for maximum results depending on your specific skin type and individual needs. A combination of cleansing, exfoliation, healing masks and moisturizing left my skin replenished, hydrated, purified and brighter.

The other facials include High performance, multi-action, metro facial for men, a power facial to cool laser therapy, just to mention a few.

Then there’s massage, yoga, wraps – you name it. I can’t wait to go back to Exhale. For more information, visit www.exhalespa.com. 28 Arlington Street, Boston, Ma 02116,617-532- 7000.

Step into the Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers palatial Grand Lobby. The historic hotel is steeped in history, and their standard of service is still first-class. Experience the grace and warmth that have welcomed countless travelers through these doors. At The Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers you will find 950 newly renovated guestrooms, 65,000 square feet of flexible function space, and 8 distinct restaurants and lounges featuring Todd English's Bonfire Steakhouse, Swan's Café and McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant. We are committed to meeting the needs of all who enter our doors with state of the art voice mail, in room movies, 24-hour. Www.bostonparkplaza.com.