A Royal Experience amidst Victoria’s Colonial Charm
The Magnolia Hotel and Spa
By Jane Cassie
 Victoria. It’s a destination that evokes
images of English etiquette and colonial charm. It offers the best of Britain,
without leaving the continent, and typifies jolly old England to a tee. And as I
discover, during a recent visit to the city’s sophisticated Magnolia Hotel and
Spa, it’s also a place to get the royal treatment!
While I’m cradled on warm water-filled cushions, Cheryl’s
able to access all areas of my body without turning or disturbing me. Her hands
are skilled and feel satin-soft. Like gentle waves, they float from my head to
toes, ironing out every gnarled kink along the way. The moisturizer she applies
stimulates every one of my dry pores. Its heady fragrance infuses a sense of
calm. And after being cocooned in cotton and rocked like a babe, I eventually
drift into slumber.
Cheryl is just one of the trained estheticians at Spa
Magnolia. Her background and mastery in Reiki is clearly apparent by her healing
touch, and the Rosemary Mint Awakening Body Wrap is, without a doubt, a royal
rejuvenator.
 As well as signature wraps and massages, this
pampering oasis boasts a unique array of transcendental delights. Their Aroma
Hydrotherapy promises a new sense and purity after exfoliation, hydration and
massage. The Body Elixir transports you to a state of true bliss with its high
pressure water treatment. And the Caribbean Therapy Hand and Foot Treatment
softens and renews following the seaweed masque. What about the basic facial,
you ask? There’s no such thing at Spa Magnolia. In fact, no two Aveda facials
are alike.
“All of our facials are personalized,” I’m told by Shannon,
who manages the front desk. “And all, but the Pure Focus, include a foot, scalp,
hand, and arm massage as well,”
 Prior to my treatment, she explains the five components
that imbibe Aveda’s philosophy. I complete the Elemental Nature questionnaire
that integrates infinity, fire, water, air and earth, and my aesthetician
personalizes the treatment to suit my needs. Does it work? You bet it does!
By being labeled an Aveda Lifestyle Spa, clients are also
able to purchase products used in their treatment, and continue the holistic
care in the comfort of their own home. As well as being displayed in the spa’s
chic boutique area, samples of this acclaimed line find their way to the hotel’s
sixty three well-appointed guestrooms where gleaming marble, glassed in showers
and lavishly deep tubs heighten my soak-time serenity.
It’s also from within these comfy confines
where I revel in self appreciation, and pay homage to some much needed rest and
relaxation. The generously-scaled quarters and residential touches create a
sense of intimacy that larger hotel chains are unable to capture. Rosewood
armoires, upscale furnishings, and embracing earth-tones all work delightfully
with entertaining perks like CD players, movie channels and mini-bars. Italian
coffee and delivery of the morning paper provide a start to my day. Bernard Challebaut wafers and fresh fluffy towels complete the turn down before bed. And
during my entire stay, the service is just what I’d expect from a pedigreed
property - attentive, yet skillfully discreet.
 This European-style gem, built in 1998
glitters with a four diamond rating. It snuggles seamlessly into the downtown
tradition and Tudors, yet instead of being veiled by ivy or rose gardens, her
angled exterior exudes a chic, contemporary flair. I discover, during an
interview with Jill Allen, Manager of Sales and Marketing, that the property’s
success is attributed to an operational team of women.
“The owners felt that females may have more flair when it
came to creating the perfect boutique-style property,” Allen informs. “Qualities
such as attention to detail, intimate ambience, and personalized products have a
more feminine connotation, and these are all areas that we zero in on,” she
prides.
It’s obvious that this mission is well imbibed. Bellmen,
offering valet, greet all guests on arrival. They’re ushered beneath the
entrance dome of exquisite gold leaf into the inviting fireside lobby where warm
mahogany embraces the scene. Plush furnishings, modern day artworks, and
fragrant floral arrangements also deliciously meld.
 Epicureans can be found heading beyond the
lobby, either in the direction of the Brewhouse for burgers and beers, or to the
trendy Hugo’s Grill, where wonderful West Coast cuisine is served. A continental
spread, included with each night’s stay, is also on display at this venue each
morning.
The Magnolia Hotel and Spa. It’s the perfect place to
relax, retreat, and revive. As well as embracing the arts from its inner harbor
home, it offers sophisticated luxury with a European flavour. And as I discover
during this visit, it also pampers with a taste of royalty amidst Victoria’s
colonial charm.
The Magnolia Hotel & Spa
623 Courtney Street
Victoria, B.C. Canada V8W 1B8
Tel: 250-381-0999
Fax: 250-381-0988
www.magnoliahotel.com
Photography by Jane Cassie and compliments of Magnolia
Hotel and Spa
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