Spa time

These 9 luxe new hotel spas are palaces of pampering in Texas’ biggest cities

The lounge at the new Ritz-Carlton Spa in Las Colinas.

Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

Sleek luxury hotels have been debuting at a dizzying pace in Texas' biggest cities in the last year. There's nothing more indulgent than arriving at a hotel and slipping upstairs for a soothing massage after a turbulent flight; nothing more celebratory than a bachelorette weekend away at a spa. Here are the nine hottest new spas at luxury hotels around Texas, all of which have opened (or reopened) in about the last 18 months. Bonus that a few new DFW hotels have must-visit bars, too.

Dallas-Fort Worth

The Ritz-Carlton Spa & Salon, Las Colinas
After a rebranding and refurbishing, the newly christened Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas hotel is ready to unveil its highly anticipated spa. According to a spokeswoman, the spa is targeting Saturday, May 4 for its grand debut. The 14,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Spa features 16 treatment rooms, including a couple’s suite and a full-service salon. (Watch the website for more information to come on services offered.) Spa packages range from two-hour treatments to full-day packages for total indulgence. The spa also features a wet and dry sauna, heated whirlpool, cold plunge pool, and a Vichy shower room – a power shower with six shower heads. The spa will welcome both hotel guests and dedicated spa-goers, 9 am-5 pm Tuesday-Saturday. 4150 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving, 972-717-2555.

The Spa and Salon at Loews Arlington
The swanky spa on the second floor of the new hotel in Arlington's Entertainment District opened February 13. The new pampering palace features six spa treatment rooms, including a dedicated Couple's Suite offering massages, facials, and body treatments; a co-ed Relaxation Lounge, and a specialty boutique. There's a full-service salon for manicures, pedicures, and hair styling to look camera-ready for Rangers' and Cowboys' games. The spa uses premium wellness products from Privai, Ultraceuticals, and Botanika Life in treatments, but the signature service is a Tequila Body Treatment, which incorporates Jose Cuervo Authentic Tequila with a detoxifying body brush exfoliation, hydrating body mask, and antioxidant-rich face, neck and shoulder massage ($200 for 50 minutes). The spa is open to hotel guests and the general public, 10 am-6 pm Sunday-Thursday and 8 am-8 pm Friday-Saturday. Check the website for a limited-time Spa Escape Package and several Mother's Day specials. 888 Nolan Ryan Expy., Arlington, 682-318-2810.

Loews Hotel in Arlington spa salon The spa and salon at the new Loews Hotel in Arlington. Photo courtesy of Loews Hotel in Arlington

Canyon Ranch Wellness Club + Spa at The Crescent, Fort Worth
Known worldwide as a premier destination spa, Canyon Ranch debuted its first Wellness Club in Fort Worth’s new Crescent Hotel in December 2023. While a membership affords some special perks, the club's luxurious spa and salon is open to both hotel guests and the public alike. A lengthy menu of services includes some high-tech facials and body treatments never before offered in Fort Worth. Among them: a multisensory Vichy table used as part of a CBD Wellness Ritual and Hungarian Mud Wrap Ritual (both $340-$350); and a Custom Ionixlight Facial, blending full-spectrum LED light with negative ion therapy, oxygen therapy, microdermabrasion, microcurrent, and ultrasound ($415-$425). Bonus: A day-pass to the spa affords access to the first-in-Fort Worth CR Vitality space, a state-of-the-art room offering infrared sauna, red light therapy, neuro stimulation, and more. The spa is open daily, 8 am-8 pm. 850 Van Cliburn Way, Fort Worth, 682-786-4656.

The multi-sensory Vichy table at Canyon Ranch.Photo courtesy of Canyon Ranch

Ash Spa, Bowie House, Fort Worth
Located on the second floor of Bowie House, the new Auberge Resorts Collection hotel in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, Ash Spa is “where the ashes of everyday life are gently swept away,” they promise. In keeping with the hotel’s Western-glam aesthetic, Ash is a tranquil space inspired by the barns of Texas and “all things wild and free,” with five treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room, fitness center, nail studio, boutique, relaxation lounge, and private access to an outdoor terrace. Experiences and treatments include water dancing, synergistic skin treatments, infrared therapy, and non-sleep deep rest massage. A signature treatment called Ashes includes compression, full-body lymphatic feathering, a targeted charcoal mask application, and advanced acupressure to promote relaxation (110 minutes, $355). A new-to-Fort Worth skin treatment called the Qi Beauty Facial incorporates 24k gold-covered micromagnets to move around subdermal fluids and promote recovery ($195-$275). The spa is open to visitors and hotel guests, 8:30 am-8:30 pm Thursday-Monday. 3700 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 855-683-4092.

The Bowie House and its Ash Spa have a Western theme.Photo courtesy of Bowie House

Houston

Thompson Spa at Thompson Hotel, Houston
Thompson Houston, Houston’s newest luxury lifestyle hotel, opened its doors in February 2024 as an urban haven overlooking the lush Buffalo Bayou Park, with rare unobstructed views of downtown Houston’s skyline. The just-opened Thompson Spa fills an entire floor, with its six treatment suites plus indoor and outdoor relaxation areas, saunas, a salon, and a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center. Customizable treatments - available to both hotel guests and spa seekers - include massages, facials, body and hydration scrubs, men’s treatments, regenerative treatments, and more featuring products from Pietro Simone and Agent Nateur. Signature treatments include the Gold Aurum Radiance Infusion Facial, incorporating a 24-karat gold activation peel; and a Texas Starry Night Massage that uses CBD and essential oils to promote deep relaxation (check website for pricing). Hours are 10 am-6 pm Monday-Thursday, 10 am-7 pm Friday, 9 am-7 pm Saturday, and 10 am-5 pm Sunday. 1717 Allen Pkwy., Houston, 346-560-4150.

Thompson Hotel Spa Couples may utilize a dedicated treatment room at the Spa Thompson in Houston. Courtesy of The Thompson Hotel Houston

The Total You Medical Spa, Blossom Hotel, Houston
Open since March 1 in the two-year-old hotel in Houston’s Medical District, The Total You is not only a relaxing retreat inspired by Asian temple architecture, but a high-tech, cutting-edge med spa (a rare offering for a hotel). Available to both hotel guests and the public, The Total You offers a lengthy menu of services from classic facials and massages to medical aesthetics like fillers and body sculpting. Among the unique and cutting-edge services are ultra-hydrating IV drip therapy, stem cell-driven exosome treatments for skin and body rejuvenation, and easy platelet rich fibrin (EZ PRF) facials, which use plasma to smooth wrinkles for smoother, youthful-appearing skin. But for those who just want to indulge in some tranquility and self-care, a menu of massages starts at $155 for a 60-minute Classic Swedish. The second-floor spa has four massage and treatment suites, plus a large IV drip lounge. To celebrate the spa opening, Blossom Hotel Houston guests will receive an additional 15 percent off all spa services with proof of their activated key card through Labor Day (September 2). Open 10 am-6 pm daily. 7118 Bertner Ave, Houston, 713-940-1808.

The Total You Medical Spa, Blossom Hotel Houston The Total You spa takes design inspiration from Asian temples. Photo by Alex Montoya

San Antonio

The Spa Plaza, San Antonio
After months of anticipation, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, the city’s first Marriott Autograph Collection property, checked in its first guests in mid-January. Surrounded by lush gardens and greenery, the Spa Plaza is located in two beautifully re-imagined historic homes that date to the 1850s, the Elmendorf-Tyler House and The Staffel House. It features six treatment rooms, a Zen Lounge, and a Wellness Concierge. Treatments include massages, facials, and nail services, along with three "Immersion Packages" ($360-$790) that offer multiple treatments, plus tea service or a full lunch. Open 9 am-6 pm Tuesday-Saturday, 9 am-4 pm Sunday. 555 S Alamo St., San Antonio, 210-353-8016.

Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa opened in early January 2024. Photo courtesy of Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa

Austin

Away Spa, W Hotel, Austin
The W Austin's Away Spa underwent a complete refresh in 2023 and now features a new aesthetic, new menu of services, and new products. Away Spa is a go-to in Austin for massages, facials, body wrap treatments, manicures and pedicures, and other beauty services. Unique offerings include ashiatsu, cupping therapy, couple’s massages, oxygen facials, and a suite of other enhancements. All Away Spa guests receive complimentary valet at W Austin for three hours, and full access to Wet Deck and Fit, a full gym complete with Peloton, yoga studio, and Pilates reformer. Hours are 9 am-6 pm Sunday-Thursday, 9 am-7 pm Friday-Saturday. 200 Lavaca St., Austin, 512-542-3626.

W Austin Away Spa Away Spa's concierge can help you plan a full spa day with your squad. Photo courtesy of W Austin

Milk + Honey Spa, The Loren Loren at Ladybird Lake, Austin
The sweet boutique hotel The Loren didn't look to some swanky international brand for its wellness offerings; it partnered up with Milk + Honey, an acclaimed Austin-based spa (which has several locations outside the city). The entrance is actually across from the hotel, under a breezeway that faces South Riverside Drive and South Lamar Boulevard. (Don't worry, there's complimentary valet parking.) After a few deep breaths in the Relaxation Room, guests settle in for signature Milk + Honey facials, body polishes and wraps, and even medspa treatments like fillers and injectables. Open 8 am-9 pm Monday-Sunday. 1211 W. Riverside Dr., Ste. 200, Austin, 512-580-1182.

Loren hotel Austin The Loren at Lady Bird Lake features a location of Milk + Honey Spa. Courtesy of Loren Hotel

luxury spas hotels

DART News

DART receives $7 million federal grant for new low-emission buses

Gillig

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Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has received a grant to update its fleet of buses. According to a release, the agency was awarded a $7.094 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to support the purchase of new buses as the agency phases out its fleet of older model vehicles.

The grant awarded to DART is one of 165 transit projects across the U.S. funded with more than $2 billion in federal grants.

In February, DART purchased 476 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from Gillig, a California-based manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, to fulfill their goal to modernize their transit system over the next decade — particularly via new buses and light-rail vehicles to replace the oldest units in their aging fleet.

The phase-in of those new vehicles is expected to be executed through 2027.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered buses are a near-zero emission option, which was a key component in DART qualifying for the federal grant. Gillig has already delivered the first buses ahead of a Spring 2026 timeline — meaning that DART riders will get to start riding the upgraded buses on routes by the end of December 2025.

In a statement, DART President & CEO Nadine Lee says the timing is perfect.

“The timing of this grant couldn’t be better as we begin to receive early delivery of new, state-of-the-art vehicles from Gillig and as we move ahead with preparations to provide service to the massive crowds we expect next year with the FIFA World Cup," Lee says. "We are grateful to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, FTA Administrator Marcus Molinaro, and our entire congressional delegation for valuing their strong federal partnership with DART, recognizing the need to find additional funding to support transit programs in one of the fastest growing metro areas in the nation."

This new grant is in addition to $103 million initial federal grants, bringing the total federal support for DART’s purchase of new buses to more than $110 million – reducing the overall cost to DART and member cities.

U.S. Congressional delegates, representing communities across Texas, were instrumental in securing the funding for the grant. The purchase of 476 buses is one part of DART’s Transform, a $2.5 billion 10-year plan to modernize and upgrade the DART system.

transportation