Tucked into the heart of the Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière is the U Spa. Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière is an Art Déco masterpiece perched on the corner of the Champs Elysées and Avenue George V and adjacent to the famous Parisian landmark Fouquet’s restaurant (established in 1898). The hotel opened in 2006 and is comprised of several buildings surrounding a lovely central courtyard. Jacques Garcia oversaw the design of the hotel and installed sound-proof windows and doors in all rooms and suites (helpful for silencing any Champs Elysées traffic din). There are many 
rooms with stunning views of the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées and – my favorite — the Eiffel Tower. All rooms feature separate dressing rooms and well-appointed massive bathrooms with flat-screen TVs and waterproof remotes — nice perk! The hotel also features one of the few Michelin-rated restaurants in 
Paris, Le Diane, which has large windows that overlook the hotel’s charming courtyard.
Now back to the U Spa — naturally a Leading Spa! I had the recent pleasure of escaping the cold of Paris and transporting myself to this oasis of tranquility and relaxation. The U Spa is a 8,600 square foot sleek sanctuary of rich wooden walls, reflective mosaic tiles, dim lighting and crisp white flowing curtains all nestled into a hideaway from the hustle and bustle of The City of Lights. There is a sauna, steam room and seven large treatment rooms–all intimate sanctuaries amidst the larger spa haven. There are several water therapy pools and one large swimming pool (one of the largest for a Parisian hotel). The decor is crisp and sleek and the environment is warm and relaxing. There is even a large relaxation area, adjacent to the pool for napping, reading, or enjoying tea and a snack. I managed to swim a few laps and swam over to the labyrinth of a water trail that is part of the spa’s balneotherapy regime.
Overlooking the pool area is the sleek and modern fitness center. It is just the right size and naturally shares the same cool decor vibe as the spa. There are numerous body rituals in which to partake and the staff is very helpful in finding the best treatment or treatment processes for one’s needs. The spa specializes in balneotherapy, and uses Sensai Kanebo International and Cinq Mondes expert massage and treatment techniques. Parfait!
I have loved hotels for as long as I can remember. As a child, I thought it was revolutionary that I got to stay in rooms that had a stocked refrigerators filled with all the treats I wanted (albeit a minibar–at the time this seemed almost space-age), and the ability to pick up the phone and get things sent to the room at any time–and if there was a pool at the hotel, then that was simply the icing on the cake. I remember staying at a ski resort when I was about twelve that had an indoor/outdoor pool with a wall that one could swim under, to go from hot to cold–I loved it and thought this was simply the coolest hotel ever. After hours of back and forth…cold to hot…hot to cold…I was told the “Spa” was closing shortly. Spa? I was at a spa? I then asked the attendant what else the “Spa” had. There was the obvious, steam and sauna, but they also had a cold plunge, an apres ski lounge and a light therapy room. The only light therapy I had known of was something about photosynthesis from science class about plants and had no idea I could have light therapy too! So, here at the age of twelve is where I can trace my first steps into a fondness for 
I spent the afternoon at the Auriga Spa at 
