All About Honeymoons Review on Planet Beach Anchorage

This was written by a local wedding planner/travel consultant that has recently been in our spa.

http://www.facebook.com/jules.cherrington?ref=profile#/jules.cherri...
Planet Beach Spa Anchorage

2001 E 88th Ave Ste. 101

Anchorage, AK. 99507

346-7727

www.planetbeach.com

Melissa Rohn – Spa Director

www.hydrationstationmethod.com

This location accepts Planet Beach Gift Cards



Store Hours

Monday 930AM – 9PM

Tuesday 930AM – 9PM

Wednesday 930AM – 9PM

Thursday 930AM – 9PM

Friday 10 AM – 8PM

Saturday 11AM – 6PM

Sunday 12PM-5PM



"What is Contempo Spa®?" you may be asking.

Planet Beach® created the Contempo Spa® concept. A Contempo Spa® merges the services of a day spa to the benefits of UV Therapy, performed via automated equipment. Members don't have to worry about having to feel uncomfortable in the presence of others in order to receive the benefits of massage and tanning services, for example. In addition, all services can be performed in twenty minutes sessions [or less] each. The idea: At the touch of a button our members enjoy a private spa experience at a fraction of the cost...and in far less time than a day spa! It truly is the perfect hybrid of spa services and UV Therapy!



My free spa day experience:

Melissa Rohn (Spa Director) invited me to experience a free spa day & I gladly accepted. What woman refuses free time at a spa? Not me. I could spend hours relaxing at a spa. In fact, whenever I travel I make it a point to try out the local spa.



There are many types of spas with a multitude of services to choose from. But for me the true test of a quality spa is the atmosphere. You ladies know what I’m talking about – how did you feel from the moment you walked through the doors? Were the staff friendly & attentive or were they snobby & aloof? Did you feel like you walked into a cave or a welcoming oasis? Did you feel like you were supposed to take a number & wait or did they make you feel like a celebrity – that their whole purpose was to make you feel happy & relaxed so you could shrug off the stresses of the day (at least for a little while)?



I must say Planet Beach Spa in Anchorage is a good quality spa. The ambiance: very inviting. Melissa welcomed me in a very friendly & professional manner. Our 20 minute consultation was very informative. She explained all the services/products offered at the spa & how they help their clients achieve their goals. Once that was finished I got a chance to experience them first hand.



I started with the Hydro-Derma Fusion treatment. I struggle with keeping my body & skin hydrated & moisturized – like most Alaskans in the winter. Based on my consultation specific products were recommended for my skin type & aromatic preferences. The spa is immaculately clean & sanitary – a good sign that they take the health of their clients seriously. The robes were plush & I chose my favorite radio station. Ladies, I can’t tell you what a wonderful sensation it is to have privacy in a spa. You are completely alone in the rooms & don’t have to worry about getting changed with strangers around. I have been to numerous spas that felt more like a public pool or gym where you’re a few feet away from a naked stranger. I can NOT relax in that type of atmosphere. A spa should feel like a spa – not a high school locker room. What a great surprise!



The vitamin & steam bath lasts 20 minutes. It deeply moisturizes the skin, cleans pores, improves tone, texture & elasticity of the skin while increasing collagen. It also extends the UV & UV Free therapies for tanning by gently exfoliating the dead skin. The maximum temperature in the hydration station is 118°. But that was way too hot for me. The control panel is very close & you can adjust the temperature, light colors & face fan. I think the hottest I could stand was 113° before I had to adjust it. Of course Melissa checked how I was doing (by calling through the door – she didn’t invade my space). I have never tried Hydro-Derma Fusion before at any spa. I really liked it. My skin felt really soft immediately after the relaxing treatment. Once the time was up I was escorted to the next treatment room.



The next stop – UVA/UVB tanning beds. I am VERY light skinned. I burn in the Alaskan sun in 15 minutes so I was concerned. All I’ve ever heard is tanning is bad for you & causes skin cancer & premature aging. I couldn’t bring myself to try the Mystic Spray Tan so I did 3 minutes in the bed. The Mystic Spray Tan appears to be a great option for those concerned with tanning beds. You pick your own color cartridge yourself (they will recommend a color if you ask). It is DHA/FDA approved. However, Melissa said she does NOT recommend the spray tan for brides unless you have a day or two before you wear or try on your wedding dress (possible staining). The spray tan lasts 5-7 days (great for the bride & groom to have some color for their honeymoon or destination wedding) & is UV free. It does NOT offer sun protection. So if you are like me & want to lightly tan before going to a tropical destination to keep from burning so badly the spray tan may not be the best choice for you. I will take my vacation in a couple months to the southern Caribbean so I will definitely tan before I go. Otherwise I’ll spend my vacation burned, blistering & peeling – unable to enjoy the great sunshine!



There are 4 levels of tanning beds:

Level 2 (There IS no Level 1): 15 minutes max (lay down bed)

Level 3: 12 minutes max (lay down bed)

Level 4: 9 minutes max (stand up bed)

Level 5: 8 minutes max (Elite stand up)

The tanning beds include both UVA/UVB rays which helps produce & bronze melanin to help protect from sun burns.

Helpful tip: If you don’t want tan lines but still want to see how much color you are getting put a sticker somewhere on your body so you can gauge whether or not you need to spend more or less time in the beds. I wish I had but will definitely do when I return to build my tan.



The third treatment I tried was the Hydro Massage Bed for 20 minutes. I wish it had been at least an hour because it was wonderful- by far my favorite thing at the spa. It’s like a warm vibrating water bed – only better. The water is 116° & has 116 jets that target vital pressure points along the spine area from the neck to below the calves. You can adjust the speed it travels down the body, as well as the pressure. You can pause it in problem areas that need more massaging – I did this throughout the massage. I was a little concerned beforehand due to having injuries suffered in a car accident but dismissed them in the first couple minutes of the massage. The great thing about this treatment is it is safe enough to do every day if you want. A membership at the spa would be worth it for this treatment alone even if you didn’t want to use any other services they offer.



Sadly the massage ended but I recovered from my disappointment & headed off for the Luminous Facial. It uses L.E.D. light therapy combined with facial products for your skin type. The treatment is said to boost collagen & elastin to improve skin tone & texture to fight the signs of aging. Sadly I cannot attest to the results of this treatment. I am very sensitive to light & couldn’t take the brightness of the light. It felt like I was looking straight into the sun at close range. It was quite painful for me but I carried on with the treatment because the light is necessary to activate the products & get them to work. Poor Melissa tried moving the light to different areas of the room while I struggled to complete the treatment. I could tell she cared about my comfort & she really tried to help me through it. She tried to get it close enough to activate the products but I don’t know if it was successful. All the squinting & uncontrollable spasms left me quite uncomfortable. I wish I had ended the experience with the Hydro Massage – the highlight of my visit. I’m sure others will not have the problems I did with the light therapy & will be able to gain the benefits of the treatment. I only mention this in case there are others who KNOW they are sensitive to light. If you are sensitive this may not be the best treatment for you.



Planet Beach Contempo Spa is a great place to host your bachelor/bachelorette parties. They can accommodate 8-10 people having services done. Brides & grooms are welcome to reserve the spa AFTER closing hours so the staff can focus all their attention on you. You are welcome to bring your own food & champagne. The spa will provide 1 tray of snacks for the party. There is no fee to host the party & everyone has UNLIMITED ACCESS to all the services for a maximum of 4 hours. I think this would be a great place to have a party & highly recommend it to my brides & grooms.



There are 4 Planet Beach Membership Packages that are a great value for everyone.

Passport Pkg: for those who travel A LOT. You are able to visit ANY Planet Beach in the world with this membership & can take advantage of Unlimited access to services without having to pay additional fees. It is not really practical if you don’t travel a lot.

Contempo Pkg: Unlimited access to every service offered with a year contract. $89/month is a great deal when you think that all sessions cost $39 for non-members. How many massages could I get with this plan: 30 for only $89. That’s a great deal!

Glow Inclusive Pkg: Tanning only $69/month with a 24 month contract. You may freeze your account if you are taking a vacation for only $5/month.

Unlimited Months Pkg: For those who don’t want to commit to a contract. $169/mo for Unlimited access to all services or $89/month for tanning services only.

You can cancel your membership any time you want for a fee of $50 & a one month notice.

The packages are quite reasonable considering all the services you can enjoy. The maximum wait time for a particular service is 20 minutes so you don’t have to worry about fitting the sessions into your busy schedule.



Current promotions:

Teeth Whitening – Whiter Image –Lasts 6-12 months - $150 for the holidays (regularly $300). I’ll try to take advantage of this if I can find time during this busy season.

Last Thursday of each month – Spa Bucks – ANYONE gets $5 off any service – MAX use 2 at one time ($10 off )



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The bottom line: Planet Beach is a quality salon for the services & products they offer. Relaxation & customer service is the most important reason to visit Planet Beach. I do recommend their services for my brides & grooms. The membership packages provide quality services at reasonable prices. If you want to try out the spa call Melissa & request a free guest pass. She will be happy to show you how the spa can help you enrich your life.



We would also like to thank Mrs. Jules Cherrington for stopping in and enjoying our location. She was a pleasure to have and her information on what she offers seems amazing! Though my husband and I are already married, we are strongly considering having her plan a romantic getaway for the two of us. Thank you again Jules.