Viana Spa and Dinner with Friends

I don’t get a lot of relaxing days when I am traveling, but my first full day at the Viana Hotel & Spa in Westbury, New York, was a perfect one.

 

The best way to start a day is without an alarm clock and that’s what I did. I took my time putting on something comfortable and went down to the Marco Polo restaurant for breakfast. The buffet had a nice assortment of items, and there was a spot to get custom omelets, which I did, as well as pancakes and French toast.

It was comforting to be in a place that is wheelchair accessible on all floors. There were wide open hallways and, even though there were stairs in the lobby to go up to the restaurant or down to the spa, you could also take the elevator to both.

After breakfast, I caught up with emails and then went downstairs to wait for my daughter. We had a spa date at this Long Island hotel I was looking forward to.

 

Viana Hotel has a full-service spa that includes massages, treatments, nail, and hair services. There is also a small indoor pool and whirlpool, as well as a sauna and fitness center. We had plenty of time to hang out in the water and dry off in the sauna before our appointments.

My daughter went for a Swedish Massage, while I decided to go more to the holistic with the Reiki (they also have reflexology). Reiki is said to help promote energy movement in the body, boosting the immune system and lowering stress. I did have any miraculous cures, but I felt more relaxed and balanced. Sam also enjoyed her massage.

We waited in the comfortable lobby for my friends, Lynn, and Gail. The three of us have known each other since our five-year-old girls played on the same soccer team. I see them whenever I come to New York and Lynn has traveled with me often.

Sam left and we went to the Marco Polo restaurant for dinner. After such a wonderful meal the previous night, I was excited to go back. There was plenty left to try on their very unusual Asian-Italian menu.

 

We started with the dumplings and salads. I recommended the Korean BBQ Ribs and Lynn agreed they were delicious, but Gail and I went for dishes that really reflected the restaurant. It was Penne Ala Sake for Gail, a take on penne ala vodka that substituted the Japanese spirit. I did the Lo Mein Bolognese, which, in addition to the Asian noodle, changed up the dish with a bit of unique flavoring in a normally Italian sauce.

We rounded off the meal with some traditional desserts (cheesecake and red velvet cake), which were as satisfying as the rest of the dinner.

 

It was a wonderful day catching up and relaxing at Viana Hotel & Spa and I was ready to get back to my room. I had a more active one planned for the next day, to a place I lived 10 minutes from for nearly 20 years, but never made it to.

 

I was hosted for some of this part of the trip, but opinions are my own.