Something in Sagewater Spa’s Water
Sagewater Spa is now under new management. This piece was originally published in 2018 with Rhoni and Christina as the then-owners. Please enjoy anyway!
When “Welcome home,” Rhoni and Christina would say every time we would leave and come back.
It was Mr. Sweet’s 30th birthday and to celebrate, we spent a weekend relaxing at Sagewater Spa in Desert Hot Springs. The boutique hotel looks simple at first glance but lacks nothing in luxury and comfort.
When we first settled into our room, we changed into the Frette robes hanging neatly in the closet and dug into the coffee cake given to us during check-in. Rhoni bakes the coffee cakes herself using her grandma’s tried and tested recipe, which I can personally attest to.
I enjoyed the rest of the buttery cinnamon cake alongside the mineral water pool the next morning. I tried taking as long as I could to savor every bite. I didn’t want the cake to be gone so soon.
Maybe it was the quality time I got to spend with Mr. Sweet exploring Palm Springs for the first time. Or the early morning we spent giggling together in the pool. Maybe it was something in the water.
As a writer, what happens in my life becomes stories to tell, as Anne Lamott would encourage. And as a writer, I love creativity, especially when they exude elegance and glamour.
So I sat down with Rhoni and Christina, the two masterminds behind Sagewater Spa, to understand why and how they built a premium spa hotel where simplicity means luxury too.
To start off, the two are warm and welcoming. The “welcome home” greeting every guest gets when they come back to the hotel is an example of that.
What makes Sagewater Spa luxurious?
Everyone from writers, Hollywood directors, lawyers, musicians, doctors stay here. “Quiet is the new luxury,” they said.
The hotel is exclusive, which explains the premium prices. Rooms range from $219 – $349 per night; a two-night stay is recommended. The experience you get is felt throughout the mineral pool water, luxurious Frette bedsheets, and serenity from the quietness all around.
The water itself is a spa treatment. It contains minerals, like magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Your skin feels brand new after soaking in the pool and hot tub. You can even drink the tap water because the water is that good.
How they met
They met—no surprise—while relaxing in a hot tub! in Desert Hot Springs 24 years ago. They’ve been business partners for 17. Rhoni is originally from Boston and Christina is an Italian that later became a Brazil native! Even with worlds apart between them, they own and operate a hotel where guests from all over the world come to retreat.
Being business owners
Their jobs require them to be on call 24/7. Thankfully, they have each other and as partners, they continue to forge ahead. Before Sagewater Spa was theirs, they rolled up their sleeves, did a lot of the nitty-gritty work to get the place up and running, used their own finances to make their dream a reality, and made mistakes. Plenty of mistakes.
But here they are today, providing an upscale tranquil experience for anyone that’s willing to open themselves up to the experience.
Why choose Sagewater Spa?
Sagewater Space is a simple yet luxurious experience.
To top it off, Rhoni and Christina connect with their guests in an intimate way. “People trust you. They come with their problems but after dipping in the mineral water and a peaceful weekend, they leave changed,” says Rhoni.
We all want a life that’s filled with as much peace as possible. At Sagewater Spa, you’ll feel like you can come back to your truest, most gentle self again, even if it’s only for a luxurious weekend getaway.
