Menla Retreat & Dewa Spa - Retreat center in Phoenicia - 375 Pantherkill Rd, USA

I had the great pleasure of staying at Menla Retreat Center for four days. While there, I indulged in several of the treatments at the Dewa Spa. This is not your traditional resort spa. It is an amazing health and wellness center that takes spa treatments (and pampering) to a whole new level! I had four treatments: KyNye Massage, Nejang Tibetan Longevity Yoga, Anti-Aging Facial, and the Tibetan Tones Sound Healing. It's seriously difficult to pick which one is the best. They are all very different and I'm glad I did each one but if you forced me to pick one, it would be the KyNye Massage. It is extremely relaxing. While the therapist didn't work out any knots, after the massage, my knots were gone. I had an amazing night's sleep that night and I'm sure the massage was the reason. Now a word about Menla Retreat Center -- when you enter the property, there is instant peace. It is breathtakingly beautiful with many hiking trails of different difficulty. They serve three meals a day (it was included in the price of our retreat) and the food is delicious. As one would expect, it is largely vegan (though there are some dairy and eggs available), serving whole grains, organic vegetables, unlimited tea and a varied menu. There's no reason to leave the property once you arrive. Will I go back? YES! My only question is how soon!

I booked a Menla weekend retreat for my 50th birthday. By far, one of the worst experiences I have ever had.  I would NOT recommend Menla.  The cost of a weekend getaway for two people was over $2500. At very minimum, I would expect a clean room free of bugs and mice droppings. The location of the facility is beautiful, nestled in the mountains and we went at the perfect time of year because the foliage was changing color. The inside of their facilities was a different story. The room we booked had a colony of lady bugs. We reported the situation to the front desk, and they advised us that there was nothing they can do about the situation because the housekeeping team had left for the day. They offered to give us the room directly under the one we were in but after standing in the room for a few minutes, we noticed it had the same ladybug issue. It seems as if they were getting into to the room through a crack in the foundation of the building, especially by a window that was next to the bed. Don’t get me wrong, I am a nature lover and don’t mind a ladybug or two but there were hundreds. There was a vacuum cleaner in the second room that was offered to us, so we brought it upstairs to the original room we reserved. We spent more than two hours vacuuming the ladybugs and the more we vacuumed, the more appeared. We finally resorted to other measures, we used alcohol and coffee as a deterrent at their point of entry, which made the situation manageable. Since the ladybugs were so close to the bed, we decided to sleep on the pullout bed that was located further away from the window. To our surprise and disgust, when we pulled out the bed it was infested with mice droppings. It was already late, and we were exhausted from the drive and situation, so we opted to sleep closer to the ladybugs than the mice droppings. We were exhausted from the drive and the whole Menla experience. The next morning, we reported the mice dropping issue to the front desk and they immediately issued a full refund. We decided to check out a day early since the weekend was not going as planned. We had spa reservations and asked the front desk if we could leave our stuff in the room while we went to the spa, and they happily obliged.  By the time we returned to our room, we had housekeeping knocking at the door asking us when we were going to leave; not to address the issues we brought up but to get the room ready for another occupant.  The absolute nerve!!!!

Just spent the day at the spa, and here I am in the afterglow of pure bliss. The energy and love that the staff and practitioners exude is reaffirming that there are true healers offering their gift in a space not of spa pretense or formality, but in love and kindness…set in a clean, relaxing environment tucked in the magical energy of the Catskill Mountains. The joy of being surrounded in deep spiritual traditions, honored still today was a gift. Jeanettes Kunye massage was beyond description, so very grateful to have had that healing experience, and Miriam’s bath potions are truly sublime. It expanded my knowledge of Tibetan history and medicine that has always called and intrigued me. Dewa Spa is a beautiful gift to give yourself or someone you love, and I can’t wait to return again and again.

A lovely spa in the Catskills surrounded by beautiful gardens and woods. Justin was a terrific massage therapist who really listened and focused on my specific body aches. Highly recommend and Definitely going back.

Visited Menla for a site inspection prior to hosting an event here in a few months. I found the staff to be very friendly and knowledgeable, and eager to assist. The grounds and meeting spaces are beautiful, well manicured. Lots of love goes into this place, it's obvious. Enjoyed the wildlife and hikes, truly beautiful and very quiet. Perfect place for a retreat. Add their delicious food into the mix and you won't want to leave!

Once again, a deeply satisfying experience at Dewa Spa @ Menla The moment we drive through the entranceway, we are enveloped by the sacred spirit of this place Every single human being working at the spa emanates a deep respect for humanity and the privilege of being on this particular piece of land My massage with Ruth was excellent in every way. After spending lots of time in the sauna and eating a Clementine in the waiting area, I left, feeling deeply rejuvenated and ready for the new year!

Everything about my retreat experience at Menla was amazing. The property is gorgeous and so peaceful, the accommodations were very cozy, and the food was incredible. I am so grateful for the experience with my teacher and all the amenities we were able to access while there. We had good weather for hiking in November and the views are just incredible.

The menla spa surpassed my expectations and was nicer than the spas I’ve been to in the manhattan area. It’s a tranquil place with super friendly staff, yummy tea and super interesting Tibetan flare. My massage therapist Dusty was amazing and super knowledgable / experienced and I think even gave me a couple extra minutes which was a special treat. I went for a prenatal massage and she made me feel super comfortable and the music was lovely. I want to plan a trip back and try some of the other interesting treatments they have to offer!