Miraval Berkshires
Miraval Berkshires
Aesthetics: 8/10
Subtle blues and woodsy vibes complimented the overall chill feel of Miraval…nothing to distract you, but nothing terribly exciting other than the collection of art from local artists. Mr. Anthology was particularly enamored of a print of sheep appearing to be wearing technicolor sweaters.
Comfort: 9/10
Rooms were spacious, beds were comfy, and there were plenty of nooks and crannies around the property in which to curl up with a good book. Multiple fireplaces were lit - a fact particularly appreciated after we returned from our icy morning hike. Minus a point for the lack of a bathtub in the bathroom; I know it’s an environmental choice, but a wellness resort sans bathtub always seems lacking to me.
Food: 10/10
Healthy, creative, perfectly-sized portions. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included in the rates and there’s a delicious selection of grab & go foods available to take back to your room. The coffee bar has a daily-changing assortment of delicious baked goods and a genius barista making delights like french toast lattes.
Bar: 10/10
The bar is small - while alcohol isn’t off-limits here, as it is at rival Canyon Ranch, it’s certainly not the focus. The beverage director and bartenders spend as much energy on devising juice blends and mocktails as they do choosing the winelist and creating craft cocktails. That being said, we took an oysters and bubbles class, and the wines were superb.
Spa: 12/10
I literally can’t rate the spa highly enough. In the course of this job, I’ve been privileged to experience some transcendently good spa treatments, and both body treatments I had at Miraval (the Hara Soother and the Lemongrass Escape) were unbelievably good. They’ve taken the lead on the Best Massage of My Life list. In addition, I had an exceptionally good facial as well. The co-ed relaxation lounge is spacious, and there’s a gorgeous window-lit space with a cozy central fireplace perfect for curling up with a friend and a glass of wine.
Service: 10/10
We received fantastic service our entire stay - from the pre-stay call to arrange activities, to the creative and friendly bartenders, to the gifted spa therapists, to the kind and funny waitstaff - each and every person we encountered at Miraval enhanced our experience.
Price Point:
$$$$
Worth Going Out Of Your Way For:
For me? Absolutely. It was a six-hour drive and I’d do it again tomorrow.
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I expected our stay at Miraval Berkshires to be relaxing. I didn’t expect it to be transcendent.
We visited in late February 2021, a year into COVID. My husband had received his first COVID vaccine shot; I hadn’t yet received mine. But I knew that if anyone was going to have solid COVID protocols in place, it would be Miraval, and I was reassured by the requirements the state of Massachusetts had put into place (negative test 72 hours in advance of arrival and an online form).
Pre-COVID, I was a stressy little busy bee but made a point of making time for exercise and working out. My best friend is my trainer, so I had several sessions a week with him. SoulCycle is around the corner from my house, so I had several sessions a week there. Occasionally I’d play tennis, and I walked virtually everywhere I needed to go in DC, even if it was several miles each way.
During COVID? I sometimes wonder if I walk 100 steps in a day. I work out virtually in my apartment with my best friend training me over FaceTime, but that’s a little limited. We have a Peloton to replace SoulCycle but I hate it. My cardio capacity is so low I convinced my cardiologist to do a stress test. I eat a lot of sugar. I tell myself we’re all living through trauma and it’s fine. Which is both true, and not.
Miraval unexpectedly provided me with an opportunity to reset, to reconnect with my body, to rediscover why I like to exercise. It’s not just vanity (I mean, a lot of it’s vanity); it helps keep anxiety in check and provides me with guiderails for my day.
In no particular order, here’s what I did at Miraval: yoga nidra; a spa treatment where I was dry-brushed, then massaged, then scalp-massaged, then had my ears pulled to relieve a TMJ problem; a morning hike straight up an icy mountain while wearing little metal cleats on my boots; a spa treatment where I was scrubbed and massaged straight into bliss; a facial that left me looking plump and dewy; a guided meditation session where I was enclosed in a silk cocoon hanging from the ceiling as Himalayan crystal bowls were played, running shivers up and down my spine for half an hour; a class where I learned how to open oysters and pair them with prosecco and champagne; and last, but certainly NOT least, a class focused on allowing trauma stored in the body to release itself - it sounds weird, it was weird, I’d do it again in a hot second.
While You’re In The Area:
Wyndhurst Manor, located next door to Miraval, is a luxury Hyatt property with a great restaurant and bar. The surrounding area has a wealth of natural beauty; plenty of hiking and other outdoor activities are available. The town of Lenox is adorable in a New England-y way, and close by are several other towns worth checking out for antiques, food, and arts (the area is known for theater festivals).
Don’t Take Our Word For It:
how did we book?
Directly with the property; we received a slightly reduced industry rate.
Anthology Amenities:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
