What would you do with a gift certificate for the Mandarin Oriental (spa or hotel)?

[Anonymous]

I have $300 to spend, thanks to a generous relative. I was planning to try the spa, but the reviews on Yelp are not encouraging. Is there a service there that you strongly recommend? Or should I just a get a room for a night and enjoy sleeping in?

[Anonymous]

Definitely the spa! I wouldn't let the Yelp reviews stop me.

[Anonymous]

Can you use it for the restaurants? I would definitely go to CityZen or even Sou'Wester. I've had great food at Sou'Wester.

[Anonymous]

Is it only for DC? I think there's one in Miami and lots of other cities - if you can use it anywhere, I would apply it towards a trip somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Spa or Cityzen. It won't go very far, but it will be nice.

[Anonymous]

Agree w/ spa or Cityzen. Or the recommendation to use it in another city -- could be a nice way to upgrade your hotel the next time you travel.

[Anonymous]

I go to the spa for the afternoon and meet my husband for dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree w/ spa or Cityzen. Or the recommendation to use it in another city -- could be a nice way to upgrade your hotel the next time you travel.

PP here. I should note I used to work in the neighborhood. I've visited the spa several times for routine stuff like manis and pedis and didn't really find it all that special. Haven't had a massage or anything like that. Washingtonian mag does a spa issue every so often (maybe yearly) and reviews services -- I would check out their reviews. From what I understand, it is about the most expensive spa in the city. I'd also call and ask what other amenities people using the spa have access to, such as a steam room, whirlpool, regular pool, etc. Even if you got just one service, you might be able to make a nice day of it.