Monte Carlo is luxury and glamor personified. Lamborghinis, Rolls Royces and Maybachs line the streets, the only shopping to be done is at Valentino, Céline and Hermés, and if you're not wearing fur—forget it. It's also one of the jetset crowd's favorite places to spa retreat and indulge in unusual procedures that produce incredible results. Case in point: Europe's only cryotherapy rooms at the Thermes-Marins Monte Carlo. Cryotherapy is the use of extremely low temperatures to treat symptoms such as tissue damage (it's excellent for athletes), decrease inflammation, increase cell rejuvenation, improve skin tone and reduce signs of aging. It's commonly used as a spot treatment, but at theThermes-Marins, it's a two-room experience.

If volunteering to go into a tiny room that is -110ºC/-166ºF seems crazy, it just might be. But with benefits including tighter pores, weight loss and a cure for jet lag, I was more than excited to try it. After donning underwear bottoms, a towel wrapped around my middle, socks and pool slides, gloves, a mask and a headband to cover my ears, I stepped into a small room that is -60ºC (-76ºF). This is to acclimatize you (somewhat) to the icy temps. After 20 seconds, you step through another door into the really cold room (where the magic happens). At -110ºC this room is insanely cold. A glass window looks out into the main waiting area where an experienced staff member is watching you, alternatively speaking words of encouragement and the remaining time until you can escape. Music is playing, as you are encouraged to walk around the room and dance in order to keep your blood flowing. Time spent inside the cryotherapy room is limited to three minutes (any longer and you could start to freeze), and in an effort similar to Superman, I made it two minutes and thirty seconds.

I'm not going to lie, remaining inside a -110ºC room for almost three minutes is tough—all your body wants to do is get warm. But I was determined to reap the benefits. With jet lag looming and post-plane skin a definite issue, I waited the recommended 12 hours for results. The next morning, I noticed a difference in my energy levels, managing to climb the hundreds of stairs to visit the palace, noticed an upgrade in my skin's appearance and then decided it would be a great idea to do it all over again (which I did).

It might sound a little crazy, but this was one treatment that was worth the adrenaline rush.