Sandos Spa Experience

In March, the former Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa was transformed into the Sandos Cancun Luxury Experience resort. Located in Cancun’s hotel zone adjacent to the brand-new Secrets the Vine and the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, the property is on prime real estate. Promising to deliver a luxury experience, the boutique property certainly lives up to that with its Spa del Mar.

The 15,000-sqare-foot facility includes 12 treatment rooms, one luxury suite, men’s and women’s hydrotherapy treatment areas with a Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and cold plunge and a relaxation room. Included in the spa area is a high-tech fitness facility with a view of the Caribbean Sea and equipped with Life Fitness cardio and strength-training equipment. There is also a separate spinning room.

During my recent visit, I tried the hydrotherapy circuit as well as a deep tissue massage. What stood out for me was that a spa associate walked me through the hydrotherapy treatment rather than just providing instructions on how it was done. So, I didn’t have to guess how long I was in the sauna. After the prescribed 10 minutes, she came to get me, handed me some water and walked me to the cold plunge (which was, in a word, cold). Then she walked me to the steam room, set up towels to lie on, provided me with a cold cloth for my face and came back 10 minutes later to walk me to the Jacuzzi. After 15 minutes, she returned and told me it was time for my massage. I found that this really added to the whole relaxation part of the spa and my treatment. I am a worrier and am always concerned that I will spend too much time in the Jacuzzi — my favorite part of any spa — and then miss my treatment. Here, this wasn’t even an issue.

My treatment was a great combination of shiatsu massage techniques and traditional deep tissue massage practices. My therapist was very communicative and truly listened to what I had to say. Deep tissue massages are all about pressure, and he didn’t skimp on my back and shoulders, which I find often happens even when I indicate that I would like a lot of pressure. Plus, he didn’t gloss over other areas as some do when I say that I’d like to focus on my back and shoulders. In all, the treatment was relaxing, and the intended results were achieved.

The other nice feature about the Spa del Mar is that there was no push to purchase any products afterward. They encourage you to enjoy the relaxation room and some tea or water and, afterward, ask you to rate your therapist before you head out.

In addition to a wide menu of spa treatments that include a relaxation massage, a sports massage and treatments in aromatherapy, prenatal, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, hot-stone and more, the resort also offers hand, feet and nail treatments as well as traditional beauty treatments in its Stylist’s Center.

The Details