No matter where I go I'm always looking for a good spa. So I was happy to find a little gem called GLO Spa in Hartford, Connecticut, on the top floor of the Marriott Hartford Downtown.
The hotel itself is a 22-story high-rise overlooking the Connecticut River, with 409 rooms to accommodate groups using the Hartford Connecticut Convention Center. That means it's a popular spot for business travelers.
But I was in Hartford with my Mom to enjoy some of Hartford's most celebrated attractions. The first was Mark Twain's home, a gorgeous 19-room mansion where he wrote his most celebrated books, including "Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
Our other stop was Wadsworth Atheneum, the very first art museum in America when it was founded in 1842. Its excellent collection is particularly strong in American art and furniture.
Just a few blocks away is The Marriott Hartford Downtown, which a fine place for spa-lovers to stay. The modern hotel has a dramatic entrance and comfortable, light-filled rooms with all the amenities you would expect -- great beds, flat screen TVs and internet access.
GLO Spa Overlooks Hartford
Up on the 22nd floor, GLO Spa is small, but everything is beautiful and clean. Don't expect a lavish locker room with steam or sauna, but there's a comfortable place to eat snacks and have a cup of tea while you wait for your therapist to pick you up.
The three treatment rooms are right off this waiting area so you will see therapists coming and going, but it's dimly lit and nicely decorated in tasteful hotel style.
I was scheduled for "Exhausted Traveler" ($120), an 80-minute treatment that includes massage, mini-facial, foot massage and scalp massage, but I had so many knots I switched in the treatment room to an but an 80-minute "Glo Massage"($135).
Rebecca, my therapist, was warm, professional and able to customize the massage to meet my needs. She was also highly skilled and included a special foot massage where she wrapped warm towels around my feet and then massaged them with a minty foot balm from Comfort Zone that felt wonderful.
My mom was next door getting a body treatment called "Get Gloing" ($75 for 50 minutes). This was an interesting treatment because it used gommage, It's harder for the therapist than a salt glow, but it leaves your skin feeling even softer. I highly recommend it. Mom also got an add-on 25 minute massage ($50) which is a great idea.
Mom also loved her therapist, Kirby, who became a massage therapist since because she loved giving her Dad a foot massage when he came home from work. It's always a good sign when the therapist has a calling!
Other nice amenities at this spa are the pool where you can swim laps, then relax and enjoy stunning views of the city. There's also a hot tub you can hop into. The well-lit fitness room has state-of-the-art cardio equipment with free weights.
GLO Spa At At Glance:
Type of Spa: hotel spa
Address: 200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT.
Room Rates: $109 - $309. Book Now.
Room Reservations: 800-447-8679
Spa Appointments: 860-760-2300
Website: Hartford Marriott Downtown
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations and treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
The hotel itself is a 22-story high-rise overlooking the Connecticut River, with 409 rooms to accommodate groups using the Hartford Connecticut Convention Center. That means it's a popular spot for business travelers.
But I was in Hartford with my Mom to enjoy some of Hartford's most celebrated attractions. The first was Mark Twain's home, a gorgeous 19-room mansion where he wrote his most celebrated books, including "Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
Our other stop was Wadsworth Atheneum, the very first art museum in America when it was founded in 1842. Its excellent collection is particularly strong in American art and furniture.
Just a few blocks away is The Marriott Hartford Downtown, which a fine place for spa-lovers to stay. The modern hotel has a dramatic entrance and comfortable, light-filled rooms with all the amenities you would expect -- great beds, flat screen TVs and internet access.
GLO Spa Overlooks Hartford
Up on the 22nd floor, GLO Spa is small, but everything is beautiful and clean. Don't expect a lavish locker room with steam or sauna, but there's a comfortable place to eat snacks and have a cup of tea while you wait for your therapist to pick you up.
The three treatment rooms are right off this waiting area so you will see therapists coming and going, but it's dimly lit and nicely decorated in tasteful hotel style.
I was scheduled for "Exhausted Traveler" ($120), an 80-minute treatment that includes massage, mini-facial, foot massage and scalp massage, but I had so many knots I switched in the treatment room to an but an 80-minute "Glo Massage"($135).
Rebecca, my therapist, was warm, professional and able to customize the massage to meet my needs. She was also highly skilled and included a special foot massage where she wrapped warm towels around my feet and then massaged them with a minty foot balm from Comfort Zone that felt wonderful.
My mom was next door getting a body treatment called "Get Gloing" ($75 for 50 minutes). This was an interesting treatment because it used gommage, It's harder for the therapist than a salt glow, but it leaves your skin feeling even softer. I highly recommend it. Mom also got an add-on 25 minute massage ($50) which is a great idea.
Mom also loved her therapist, Kirby, who became a massage therapist since because she loved giving her Dad a foot massage when he came home from work. It's always a good sign when the therapist has a calling!
Other nice amenities at this spa are the pool where you can swim laps, then relax and enjoy stunning views of the city. There's also a hot tub you can hop into. The well-lit fitness room has state-of-the-art cardio equipment with free weights.
GLO Spa At At Glance:
Type of Spa: hotel spa
Address: 200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT.
Room Rates: $109 - $309. Book Now.
Room Reservations: 800-447-8679
Spa Appointments: 860-760-2300
Website: Hartford Marriott Downtown
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations and treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
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