Where to Go in Portland, Maine: The Spa at The Francis + Giveaway

I’m often asked what my favorite thing about living in Portland is. My answer? The food; the proximity to the ocean, lakes, and mountains; the people and community; the ferries... Really, I love everything about living here. The one downside? Not being able to experience the city from the perspective of a tourist. There are so many beautiful hotels and inns peppered throughout the city where I would love to stay – but it can be hard to justify a staycation when I live mere steps away. One of the spots I’ve long admired is The Francis, which is right around the corner from where I live. I recommend The Francis to any friend or inquiring mind looking to visit Portland and seeking a place to stay – the location (not too far from downtown but not in the thick of it, either, and directly across from Tandem Coffee’s West End bakery), historic feel, and overall coziness make The Francis the perfect Portland escape for those looking to discover the city. What I hadn’t considered as a local is taking advantage of The Spa at The Francis, the hotel’s on-site spa, which offers a variety of massage specialities ranging from traditional to deep tissue to CBD, and more. After shuttering due to the pandemic, The Spa at The Francis reopened in the summer with a fresh menu of offerings, new hours, and safety procedures in place to protect staff and visitors – a detail I find especially comforting (you can read more about their procedures here). 

The Spa at The Francis

747 Congress Street

Portland, Maine 04102

December Hours:

Tuesday: 8:30am - 1:00pm

Wednesday: 1:30pm - 8:00pm

Thursday: 1:30pm - 8:00pm

Friday: 8:30am - 1:00pm & 1:30pm - 8:00pm

Saturday: 9am - 3:30pm

Sunday: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Closed Mondays

For me, massages are one of those experiences that I love, but have a difficult time justifying. Silly, I know, considering the benefits and how often my back and muscles feel tight, but massages tend to fall into a specific category of self-care that I often overlook in favor of what’s right in front of me (I know I’m not alone in this, which is a big reason why I love gifting them so much). They’re a “treat myself” moment I often forget I deserve. So after a particularly rough first half of 2021, I was thrilled to be invited in for a deep-tissue massage with their Spa Director, Melissa DeLois. 

There’s something to be said for simply walking around the corner and landing on the steps of a gorgeous historical hotel – even more for walking around the corner to get to the spa inside that hotel. But the real treat is behind the heavy double doors of The Francis. Warm and inviting – especially on a chilly winter day that calls for snow – The Francis feels at once modern and classic, a mix of old and new. After lingering in front of the fireplace, I checked in at the front desk and was whisked upstairs where I met Melissa at The Spa at The Francis, housed in a cozy room a-glow with candles and softly filtered natural light. Melissa was incredibly welcoming and took the time to discuss any specific needs or concerns I had before she began. I’ve only experienced a handful of massages in my life, but I can honestly say this one was the best. The tension release in my neck alone was incredible (who knew you could get muscle knots in your NECK?! Not me), and it was made only better by the addition of the new in-house line of oils created in partnership with local clean skincare brand, ABURA – which you can also purchase following your treatment. I left feeling more relaxed, but more importantly, I felt relief in my neck and upper back for days, two spots where tension gathers quickly from working at a desk for long hours.

It was heaven, and a good reminder that investing in a massage every now and then is well worth it and something I should be doing more often. After all, massages are one of my favorite things to gift the hard-to-buy-for – I should be gifting them to myself as well! With holiday gifting top-of-mind right now, my number one recommendation is to give experiences. Massages and spa treatments are the perfect experience gift to give the ones on your list who you have no idea what to get. A spa treatment is an unexpected gift and will give your recipient something to look forward to and – considering the holidays can be incredibly stressful for so many people – some much-needed relaxation.

If you still have a few gifts to check off your list, The Spa at The Francis offers gift certificates online or you can pick one up in person, and the ABURA products make the perfect stocking stuffer.

AND, I’m so excited to share that The Spa at The Francis is giving away a “Full Spa Treatment” to one lucky reader! 

To enter: tap this link and enter your email. That’s it! Anyone who enters will also receive 15% off their next visit. Giveaway ends 12/21.

It’s the perfect opportunity to book something for yourself with 15% off! The expanded holiday hours mean there is plenty of availability for locals to take some time for themselves and book a service (I’ll be booking another massage for myself between Christmas and New Years, the perfect way to close out the year). 

The Spa at The Francis is also a Full Plates Full Potential partner and donates $1 for every deep tissue massage booked to the Feed Kids campaign.

Looking for more? Read my full Portland, Maine Travel Guide here