When booking a trip I always search for non-stop flights, particularly with a small child. It’s one thing if you are traveling alone but getting to or from my destination, as easily as possible, is key for me. I just returned from a 5-week trip through Spain and Morocco. We had a direct flight into Madrid but returning from Barcelona in October there were no direct flights to the DC area. So we had a 5-hour layover at Newark Liberty Airport. At first I was really dreading the wait but in the end it went by quickly.
At first I was going to go to the United Club which was located on Terminal C (my flight was leaving from A). A man at security said I couldn’t go to C with my boarding pass BUT I could go into A then take the shuttle bus to C. We almost got to the club when I thought 1) Ellie might be bored and 2) I don’t drink so maybe $50 for a day pass is better spent on massage. I remembered that there was a spa at Newark as well (some of you may remember that I had massage businesses in airports for years).
I happily realized that the D_parture Spa was just a few feet away and that my feet would soon be happy. After 5 weeks of walking through two countries my piggies were in desperate need of some TLC! The nail tech was very good and the pedicure was just as good as the one at my local salon. They have nice, modern equipment and I enjoyed a nice “chair” massage as well. It cost $45 for about a 30-miute pedicure.
I had really come for a massage. I needed a 3-hour table massage but with a 4-year old a 30-minute chair massage would have to do. Thank goodness for iPads. As someone who was in the business for many years I think it was one of the BEST MASSAGES of my life. My therapist Julio, a gentleman from Ecuador, had hands that knew where every inch of soreness was located. I begged him not to stop 🙂 but if we were to eat something we would have to go. I’m not a big foot massage person but HOLY MOLY were they sore, sorer than I ever felt. OK, who needs food? A 30-minute session also cost $60 but I think I went over about 10-15 minutes. All in all I think it was $135 for 75 minutes in a spa, not bad for an airport. D_parture Spa is located in Terminal C and can be reached at (973)504.8600.
I found a restaurant called Wanderlust just outside the spa and we plunked down on the bar stools to order food from an iPad. Ellie needed to eat so I let her pick – steak frites, medium well (steak and fries), two plates. It came out raw and the fries were mushy and cool. I had to send it back. Second time it was very well done. Never eating at that place again. Worst of all the iced tea was terrible. MY FIRST iced tea after 5-weeks in withdrawal and a total let down.
Anyway, I’m skipping the food next time :-). Either way, if you have time to spend in an aiport, do something that brings you happiness. Maybe for you it’s the open bar and amenities of an airline club.
Safe and happy travels!
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