After conquering San Francisco’s famously steep hills, a spa day—like a four-hour romp in the saunas and jacuzzis at Imperial Spa—isn’t just a luxury, it’s well-deserved recovery time. Holiday lights are great and all, but Laser Lipo might still the the best use of light scientists have come up with. During these treatments, red laser light targets common problem areas, allegedly causing the fat cells to release their contents so your body can burn it off easier. Thai massage is different from most other types of massage. You get to keep your clothes on, for one, and there’s no kneading motions. Instead, the therapist helps you into yoga stretches on a mat, and uses rocking motions to dissolve your stress. Here, you also get hot tea in the lounge before your massage. If I could, I would listen to Michael Jackson wherever I go, so I love that every room at I Spa has its own iPod dock. Except the eucalyptus-scented steam room, of course—stop by after a massage, facial, or pedicure. A day pass to Imperial Spa equals four hours of bliss. The red clay sauna gives off dry heat, which supposedly helps boost your metabolism and makes you feel energized. If you get too hot, you can always take a dip in the cold jacuzzi. The students at Cinta Aveda Institute are all hard at work kickstarting careers in the beauty industry. During the signature facial there, a student aesthetician cleanses and brightens your skin with Aveda products, and give you a de-puffing eye treatment.