Los Cabos resorts are well-known for the high quality of their spas. Vacationers visiting the resorts at the tip of the Baja Peninsula have long been enjoying the tranquil benefits of a massage, the invigorating effects of an exfoliation and the confidence boost earned from an expertly executed manicure and pedicure. With adult travelers thoroughly on board, Los Cabos resorts are targeting a new market to fill their treatment rooms: kids.
Children’s spa menus offer everything from Mommy and Me pedicures to Swedish massage and even facials.
Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa has introduced a special spa menu of treatments designed for children 12 years of age and younger, with options such as “mini’s first spa day,” which includes a back or foot massage, makeup application, a mini manicure and a pedicure with nail art. At Playa Grande Spa, parents are required to stay with the child during every treatment.
“We try to create a fun and casual atmosphere during children’s treatments,” said Irena Ugalde Nadal, the spa director at Playa Grande Spa by Solmar. “The mani-pedi with mom is the most popular. We find that the girls are fascinated and almost always come back to the spa to shop for more nail polish.”
Not every spa treatment is appropriate for kids, Nadal pointed out. For example, aqua therapy is a gentle and enjoyable treatment for a child, while hot-stone massage is not, since the treatment is intended to ease very tense muscles.
Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa offers spa treatments that have an irresistible appeal to kids, such as a 25-minute chocolate oil massage with ice cream and cookies, as well as an ice cream manicure. The spa’s sunburn massage features honey and oat exfoliation and is a soothing treatment for children who have gotten too much sun. Spa services at Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa are free for children under 7 years old when parents book a massage or salon service. Treatments for children under 16 years old require a parent be in the treatment room during the therapy.
“We suggest that spa treatments be reserved for children over the age of five, since younger kids are very active,” advised Rodolfo Garcia, the spa manager of Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort and Spa. “But we’ve done massages for infants as young as one month. If we have the approval of the parent, we can arrange the treatment.”
Often a mother will have a couples’ massage with her daughter, although Garcia was recently pleasantly surprised to book a first for the resort — a father-and-son massage.
The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort also has extensive spa offerings for kids. At the resort’s Oasis Spa, children as young as 4 years old can enjoy massage treatments. Part of the Hilton’s secret to success is its fun atmosphere with kid-size spa furniture for younger clients.
“This makes children feel more capable of being part of the spa experience when their parents aren’t present,” said Adriana Tello, spa manager at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort. “It gives them a feeling that they are accepted.”
The Oasis Spa also has the capability to offer simultaneous treatments to parent and child in a couples’ massage room.
“Some of our young clients have already had a lot of spa treatments,” said Tello. “I’ve had children — usually boys — express their preferences, such as saying, ‘I’d like a Swedish massage with medium pressure and a female therapist.’”
Tello mentioned that the Oasis has never had a problem with children misbehaving in the spa.
“Kids pick up on the spa ambience,” said Tello. “My advice for parents is to tell their children to enjoy the atmosphere, the music, the sound of the water and the aromas as they move into a state of relaxation.”
The Details
Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
www.casadorada.com
Playa Grande Resort & Grand Spa
www.solmar.com
The Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort
www.hiltonloscabos.com
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Hilton Los Cabos’ spa packages for kids.
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Hilton Los Cabos Spa Packages for Kids
Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort caters to families seeking pampering and relaxation on their vacation with Cabo Kids Oasis, which allows children of all ages to enjoy a spa getaway right along with their parents.
The menu for kids ages 4-12 includes a 25-minute massage for $45, 15 minutes of reflexology for $35, an ice cream foot treatment for $40, a $20 manicure or $30 pedicure ($40 for both) and a $15 haircut.
Kids ages 5-9 can also book an ice cream party, including a foot fizz spa treatment with mini manicure and pedicure while enjoying ice cream and cookies.
Teenagers can enjoy treatments from the adult spa menu with a 10 percent discount or book a Jacuzzi party package (for teens 14-18 years old) including a foot fizz spa treatment, a mini-manicure and pedicure, hair styling and makeup application plus a selection of virgin cocktails while they relax with friends in the Jacuzzi.
Parents who want to spend time with their children can book a mother/father and daughter/son spa retreat from $175, including 50 minutes of Swedish massage in a couples’ treatment room or on the beach.
