Spa Heaven: Madrona del mar Spa at the Inn - Wendy Fenton-Brooks. Date of travel: Oct 2006
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Are you like me: getting leery of the word "spa" ? I have been to several islands now and you find these holes-in-the-wall that are calling themselves "spa". They are basically one room that someone without any training does massage in. And beware of unlicensed estheticians: who wants an untrained (and uninsured) person putting product on your face?
So how do you find out if it's a real spa? Ask these questions:
-do you have water therapies (a real spa will)
-do you have a view? are you oceanfront? is it truly beautiful?
-do you have treatments that are unique to your spa?
-do you have more than one treatment room?
-do you have natural products?
-do you have showers, washrooms, separate change rooms?
-do you have trained staff?
On the Gulf Islands, the best is Madrona del Mar Spa at the Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa. Galiano island of course. Beautiful, oceanfront, gardens, fountains, outdoor massage, unique treatments indigenous to the islands, organic products, great staff, wonderful treatments, flotation bath, steam rooms, outdoor tub, everything you would want in a Spa.....a real spa.
Pender has Poets Cove: beautiful facility too but service lacking, staff change daily.
Saltspring: only Salty Spring: not so beautiful, the "spa" is basically just room after room in a big old building. The rooms you stay in are just pine A-frame cabins. Mineral water in the big bathtubs in the rooms is the only big plus. But the Spa has none of that. Hastings House says it has a Spa, but it's just massage to your room.
Mayne Island? nothing.
Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa has my vote!
Galiano Island is the perfect British Columbia Vacation - Helen Sanders. Date of travel: Sep 2006
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We traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia first, then boarded a public ferry to go to the Gulf Islands, It was a beautiful ferry boat (the largest fleet in the world we read), and the trip was easy and lovely. We arrived at our destination, Galiano Island, in less than one hour. We walked off the ferry (although it does take cars, too) and in 5 minutes we were walking through the wrought iron gates, past fountains and through gardens to our oceanfront paradise.
The Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa is incredible. So small (just ten rooms) that it is like a private resort.
But it has everything: an oceanside Madrona Spa with all British Columbia treatments: blackberry and blueberry and glacial clay. And seawater baths and steam rooms. Massage outdoors by the pond and water falling in the distance. Or in your room by the fireplace and the oceanview. Or in the cabana by the ocean, with the sound of waves in the distance. It was heavenly. And the Atrevida Restaurant? The Dinners were incredibly good..every single thing we ordered was perfect. Was it slightly expensive? Not as much as similar fine dining restaurants we had in Vancouver and Seattle (and much much better). We ate there every night but one.
Our room was beautiful: cork floors like europe, heated spanish tile bathrooms, 24 kt gold fixtures (we felt like royalty), heavenly beds and every amenity possible: even a massage table in each room. And of course oceanviews and real fireplaces. Mmmmmm.
This place was so wonderful we want to keep it our very own secret, but since we do not know when we will visit Canada and British Columbia again: we need to tell the rest of the world about Galiano Island, and the Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa.
Information:
Ferry information: www.bcferries.com or 1-888-BCFERRY
Galiano Oceanfront Inn and Spa: www.galianoinn.com or 1-877-530-3939 to book a room or the spa.
Air Canada for travel to Vancouver from most cities in Europe and the United States. You can also take a sea plane from the Vancouver airport to Galiano (seair floatplanes).
