Similar to every aspect of the hotel, Spa Montage at The Montage Resort Laguna Beach offers a peaceful sanctuary with elegant design that acknowledges and blends in with the area’s coastal beauty. The luxurious women's lounge was stylish, immaculate and larger than most people’s houses, complete with a relaxation room with fireplace and food, marble steam room, sauna, showers, lockers, outdoor cold plunge and whirlpool, as well as outdoor lounge chairs. Plus, I saw about three Spa service women for every one client.

I was excited about learning more about the Spa’s long list of inventive and restorative treatments that the staff proposed led to more balanced living. One of its Signature treatments, the Laguna Beach Kur began with me lying in a paper bikini inside a bathtub for the hydrotherapy part of the session -- warm water jets and the therapist’s hose massaged up and down my entire body. I enjoyed the smell of the mustard and eucalyptus infusions, which supposedly boosted my metabolism and immune system. Then the therapist led me into another room where I laid down on top of freezing cold white sheets that initially had me gasping for air. But after the therapist wrapped me in the sheets like a mummy, my body temperature warmed up quickly and I actually found the remaining 20 minutes so relaxing that I started to doze off. Finally, I stepped into a Body Spa shower whose warm waterfall reminded me of vacationing in Hawaii. While I’m accustomed to muscle massages, this treatment didn’t necessarily go deep, but it was a welcome change that cleansed and purified my system.

The only drawback of my whole experience was the yappy and cliquish housewives that seemed to disregard anyone without a boob job. Despite the signs prohibiting cellphone use, one woman beside my locker talked loudly on her phone as if planning her shopping trip that afternoon was the most important thing she’s ever done. Considering she was based in Orange County, perhaps it was.

But I’m eager to return to this heavenly spot, and I’ll be sure to wear my iPod to tune out everyone else.