Calgon, Take Me Away

5 spa indulgences to escape the stress of the holidays

There's no better gift — for yourself — than rest and relaxation.
iStock
Mani-pedis, massages, facials and scrubs make great escapes during the holidays.
iStock

Who doesn't crave a little relaxation during the busiest — and therefore most stressful — season? Between the gift-buying excursions, holiday parties and must-get-done-before-the-end-of-the-year list, we are all feeling the squeeze.

Thankfully, a few of our favorite Dallas spas feel your holiday pain. Go ahead and indulge during December with these seasonal spa packages and take some much-needed time for yourself.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa
Through December 31, the Ritz is offering new detoxifying treatments, available during extended hours. At the top of our list are the Chai Soy Mud Wrap ($175) and the Thai Herbal Poultice Massage ($225). As an additional treat, you receive a signature spa gift for every gift card you purchase.

Facelogic Spa
With the purchase of a Merry and Bright Facial ($75) through December 31, you help owner Faryn Clark reach the goal of providing 100 lights to families in Zambia through the Empowered By Light organization. For every skin lightening-and-brightening treatment, one solar-powered LED light will be given to a family in Zambia currently living in darkness.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat
Just as the name suggests, Hiatus feels like a retreat from the harried holidays. Choose from one of the following packages, suited to every stress level and pocketbook, available through December 31:

Hiatus Trio ($239), with Hiatus massage, customized facial and mani-pedi
Party Perfect ($179), with perfecting facial and peel, eco-gel manicure, revitalizing eye treatment, and lip-plumping treatment
Holiday Helper ($199), with 80-minute stress fix massage, sole reflexology and Aveda take-away stress package
Body + Soul Hiatus ($329), with a signature body treatment, Stone Fusion Body Glow, customized Hiatus facial and hot-stone spa pedicure

Exhale Spa
We like the options at Exhale because the spa is committed to restorative treatments for mind and body. Plus you can load up a gift card with one of the following packages:

Balance ($130), with Fusion massage and one mind-body class
Indulge ($310), with Fusion massage, True facial and Pure mani-pedi
Evolve ($345), with Evolve mind-body 10-pack and Fusion massage
Transform ($530), with mind-body 10-pack, Fusion massage, True facial and Pure mani-pedi

Luxe Stoneleigh Hotel & Spa
The Holiday Splendor ($200) package, valid through January 6, is a sure way to unwind. Indulge in two of the following services — Urban Detox facial, Simply Swedish massage, or Uptown mani-pedi — and get lunch and a drink during your visit. Bonus: If you donate a gift for Toys for Tots at the spa's drop site by December 19, you get 20 percent off your purchase.

unspecified

E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

Unsplash

Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

politics