The Santa Monica Proper Hotel Is Redefining Wellness Stays for the Health-Conscious Traveler
From Ayurveda to the Ammortal Chamber, this Southern California hotel is the ultimate restorative getaway.
Courtesy of Proper Hotels
Recently, I overnighted in a Restorative Wellness Room at Santa Monica Proper Hotel to test the experience. Other hotel stays have had my sinuses revolting and sleep score suffering. Not even a Neti pot could save me from the purgatory of stuffy rooms with sub-par bedding. These previous stays led me to this question: Could I untether myself from my home environment, where air purifiers bookend my bedroom (their white noise gently reassuring me 24/7), my shower filter is replaced dutifully every six months, and my tap water is double purified?
Proper Restoration
Courtesy of Proper Hotels
Fortunately, Proper Hotels is responding to the growing demand for wellness stays with innovative amenities. Offerings at the Santa Monica property start in your room, targeting restful sleep with the latest technology and smart habit products.
Upon entering my room, I noticed a freshness that only an air purifier can provide (if you know, you know). My eyes locked lovingly on the whisper-quiet Jaspr sleekly doing its job in the corner. At night I shifted it into “dark mode” and followed that with a switch flip to drop the blackout shades to further eliminate pesky interruptive light sources.
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Having left my Coyuchi bedding at home, the hotel answered with a plush bed outfitted in Italian linens and hypoallergenic pillows worthy of a trust fall. I definitely recommend doing some research prior to setting your Eight Sleep smart mattress cover with individualized climate controls. For me, a warmer setting soothed my joints, though an overnight cycle that includes cooler temps is recommended for deeper sleep. If you invest in an Eight Sleep system for your home, they offer a 30-day trial period so you can dial in what works best for you.
The nightstand’s Loftie alarm clock with sunrise simulation and guided sleep sounds made me realize that I truly lack bedtime rituals that support quality sleep. If you, like me, are tempted to view screens until your head hits the pillow, your Wellness Room stay also comes with ROKA Wind Down™️ glasses to filter sleep-disruptive light wavelengths.
Filtration for Peace of Mind and Body
While I typically travel with a shower filter to prevent irritated skin and dry hair, my luggage was lighter this time given that the room’s shower head and sink faucet have Filterbaby water filters installed. The sink filter tackles the usual suspects like chlorine, but also filters out microplastics. As someone sensitive to fragrance, I appreciated the fact that the Aesop products were lightly and pleasantly scented and didn’t irritate my sinuses.
Courtesy of Proper Hotels
Beyond the Wellness Room
Before turning in, I headed to the Proper Club Lounge to sit with a cuppa, as Wellness Room stays grant access to this area. The entrance was a nondescript door that gave me speakeasy vibes. Libations here, though, were limited to water and herbal teas. The hushed space was perfect for my reset state of mind. Off the lounge, dry saunas and cold plunges at varying temps awaited to further enhance relaxation and recovery. These offerings provide guests the opportunity to try contrast therapy, which gives the body a vascular workout similar to cardio. There’s also an infrared sauna in the lounge, which typically uses lower temperatures to heat the body, as compared to a dry sauna. Both induce a detoxifying sweat.
Pro tip #1: Pop into the plant-filled Palma restaurant for a healthy morning start. My eyes were on the menu’s berry-intensive Blue Zone Breakfast Bowl and the Power Omelet with kale and foraged wild mushrooms. Palma also has organic collagen, protein, and superfood powders to boost your smoothie or coffee.
Pro tip #2: Book a hi-tech test drive with the Ammortal Chamber at the property. This device leaves you feeling restored and more energetic in a short 30 minutes as it delivers multiple therapies simultaneously. The at-home price tag for the machine is beyond reach for most at $159,500, so having it on-site at the property makes it a must-try.
Spa All Day—and Then Some, Too
Courtesy of Proper Hotels
Santa Monica Proper has a jewel in its crown—the world-renowned Surya Spa—where you can Ayurveda your day away. The spa also offers wellness experiences such as yoga nidra, energetic healing, qigong, and cooking classes. You can opt in to a three-to-28-day immersive wellness retreat, too.
Bottom line: If you are a sensitive traveler prone to poor-quality sleep or want the ultimate reset, try a Wellness Room stay at Santa Monica Proper Hotel. Visit properhotel.com for bookings. No minimum stays are required.
At Home Wellness Essentials
Start with sleep basics for home and travel, and build from there. Visit our latest Wellness Gift Guide for more product recommendations by Sunset editors.
Afflatus Ear Plugs
These inexpensive silicone ear plugs have saved the day (and night) for me. Whether I’m dropping the recycling into the chute or dropping my head onto the pillow, these stay-put plugs perfectly protect my ear health and make for a more restful night.
LitBear Silk Sleep Mask
My drawer is filled with a graveyard of eye masks and their too-tight elastic bands. This one wraps around your head and has an adjustable Velcro closure. Perfect for my side-sleeping ways.
RINGA
I’m always on the lookout for a sparkling health beverage with which to stock my fridge. RINGA contains the antioxidant powerhouse moringa. In fact, this drink has more antioxidants than acai and more iron than spinach. And no added sugar! The Elderberry + Lavender Lemonade is my preferred way to celebrate these health-conscious days.
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