You know how you feel after racing all over Manhattan for meetings? Like you’d give anything to hibernate in a sound-less cave in the middle of nowhere. With stiff shoulder and back muscles, I retreated from the city chaos by visiting the more convenient Peninsula Hotel Spa by Espa, located on Fifth Avenue near Henri Bendel and Bergdorff Goodman. Recently renovated and reopened in January 2009, this Spa is a serene sanctuary of bamboo walls and floors with a fancy fitness center, rooftop glass-enclosed pool with lounge chairs (and assistants to bring you food and drinks), private couples room, sauna, steam room…the list goes on. My favorite addition to the Spa is the sun terrace where you can tan and unwind as if you’re on the beach but realistically only blocks from your apartment.

I recommend trying one of the delicious body treatments or a Spa Journey which is offered at a half-day or full-day price. The Swedish Institute-trained therapist gave me a foot massage, exfoliated skin all over my body and limbs, then gave me a powerful – but not too harmful – deep tissue massage that left me wanting to put her on my speed dial.

The next time I hear from a friend in New York who’s overwhelmed with work and demands but lacks vacation time to escape the city, I’m immediately calling to buy her a gift certificate to the Peninsula Spa.