The Eastside may not readily come to mind when you think of an antidote to the stress and hubbub of daily life. But what if you discovered -- in the midst of Bellevue's myriad jackhammers, rising office towers and extravagant retail canyon -- an escape to peace?
That's exactly what Truce [0], the new spa at Westin Bellevue, pledges to be.
Step inside and you immediately feel sheltered from the world outside. I was there on a recent Saturday morning, and even at 10:30 a.m., the Eastside Shuffle was in full force. But fresh orchids and smiling attendants greeted me at the elegant front desk, and suddenly the frenzy melted away.
Truce is luxurious without being suffocating, and the staff makes you feel instantly at home. A serene attendant led me to the men's locker room and handed me a slip of handcrafted paper; it was a note that suggested I light a candle in the treatment room before my service began, as a way to let go of whatever preoccupations were on my mind.
Inside the locker room I found an open locker with a robe and slippers, and a key hanging from the hook. It was a nice touch, and just one of many special details you can find at Truce that you won't find in the chain spas.
After I changed, I headed to the relaxation room, a little piece of heaven filled with comfy cushioned wicker chairs and oversized ottomans, and romantically lit by candle sconces. Guests chill out and speak in polite whispers, if at all; the predominant sound comes from an ambient fountain placed inside a graceful peridot-colored urn that stands in the middle of the room.
The menu features a bounty of exotic spa treatments, including the Truce Signature Massage (90 minutes, $135), which features a Balinese massage, botanical aromatherapy and a "Ginger Spice" backrub (no, not the Spice Girl -- remember, this place is about peace).
You can put your Pompeii day behind you with a Volcanic Mud Wrap, which lets you cocoon in earth clay mud and island fruits (60 minutes, $115; 90 minutes includes a scrub and shower for $150). And since we're all running from some kind of lava, treat your tired legs and feet to the massage and aromatherapy of a Tropical Lemongrass Pedicure (60 minutes, $65).
I signed up for their Gentleman's Facial, which is customized for a client's individual skin type (30 minutes, $65; 60 minutes, $95). My esthetician, Jodi, was professional and knowledgeable, sharing tidbits about skin care when I asked questions but otherwise letting me melt away into the moment. She led me through cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating steam and then, gently but persistently, extraction, where she poked my pores with what looked like a big knitting needle.
And then, my favorite part: the cucumber mint soufflé massage. My moment of nirvana was amplified thanks to the chirping birds and the tranquil classical music piped into each of the treatment rooms.
After my facial, I lingered with some white tea in the relaxation room. A massage therapist came to call for her client who was waiting for his Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, a deep tissue barefoot massage that involves the therapist standing over your body, held up by what can only be described as parallel bars hung from the ceiling (60 minutes, $95; 90 minutes, $135).
"Are you ready to escape to peace?" she asked, smiling. "Are you kidding?" he replied. "I've been waiting my whole life." They shared a laugh and disappeared into the spa. I savored the last of my white tea and my newfound peace, ready to face the day anew.
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