Once upon a time, spas were seen as the playgrounds for the rich and famous only. Today, they’re revered by all, not just as a mere indulgence to pamper and preen, but as a necessity to combat the day-to-day stresses of 21st-century living. Whether you book a trip to a spa as part of your vacation or as a means to an end in itself, we have all become much more aware that an occasional (or regular) spa treatment is just as important as healthy eating and exercise. Here are our favorite spa getaways that feature enough pampering, primping and variety to address your individual goals.
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UNITED STATES
 Hawaii
Kohala Coast
Mauna Lani Resort
www.maunalani.com
This is the place to go for true Hawaiian hospitality, authenticity and Aloha spirit. Embracing three miles of the Kohala coast, the spa at Mauna Lani resort has recently added a 1,000-square-foot aquatic body therapy pool to its repertoire, complete with body-temperature saltwater, underwater acoustics and a waterfall. It’s here you’ll find a treatment unlike any other: aquatic body therapy, where your therapist will massage your body as you float in the healing waters.
Nevada
Las Vegas
Bellagio
www.bellagio.com
The 65,000-square-foot salon and spa at the luxury Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas is a soothing oasis featuring reflecting pools, water walls and a candle-lit meditation room. Relax after a day in the desert sun with a myriad of pampering options, such as the Egyptian Gold body treatment (complete with exfoliation, moisturizing and dusting with real gold). Take a yoga class, try the Watsu water therapy or enjoy your vacation with a loved one and splurge on a couples’ massage.
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AUSTRALIA
Queensland
Tallebudgera
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat & Spa
www.gwinganna.com
Retreat to the Southern hemisphere where everything moves at a slower, easier pace, especially at this idyllic, ecologically diverse rain forest resort. Even Gwinganna’s signature spa treatment is a four-hour-long indulgence comprised of a soothing soak in a tub, an aromatic scrub, head massage, body wrap and a luxurious body massage. All-natural Australian botanicals are used in treatments in this healthy lifestyle retreat, which also boasts organic produce.
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BRITISH WEST INDIES
Anguilla
Cuisinart Resort & Spa
www.cuisinartresort.com
Ah…Anguilla: where the Mediterranean-style gleaming white buildings rise up from a cerulean beach at Rendezvous Bay. The resort’s Venus Spa offers an array of pampering treatments, from customized facials, hydrotherapy and aromatherapy, to anti-aging treatments, body wraps and the signature Anguillan massage, customized to the guests’ individual needs. Nourish your body with food from the resort’s on-site organic garden and hydroponic farm.
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CHINA
Hong Kong
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
www.mandarinoriental.com
If it’s Zen-like tranquility you’re after, then The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Spa is the place to park your weary limbs. Here you'll have a hard time deciding where to indulge in this facility that covers two entire floors of the hotel. Rejuvenation is on hand in the vitality pools or in an “experience” shower. If you’re visiting with a partner, be sure to relax in the Sanctuary Suite with its heated amethyst crystal steam shower, vitality tub and futon mattress in front of a flat-screen TV.
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GREECE
Crete
Blue Palace Resort & Spa
www.bluepalace.gr
Can you say "thalassotherapy"? That’s what the Elounda Spa at the Blue Palace Resort & Spa is founded upon: utilizing seaweed and other marine-based products from the Mediterranean to provide restorative treatments. Indulge in the spa’s signature treatment, a traditional olive oil massage prepared with local Cretan oil. Swim in the triangular pool and then retire to your villa, complete with satin bed linens, a marble bath and stunning sea views from your verandah.
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SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town
Cape Grace
www.capegrace.com
Situated on a private quay on the Cape Town waterfront, Cape Grace’s spa is located on the top floor of the hotel overlooking the awe-inspiring Table Mountain. Inspired by local culture, the spa’s traditional African Cape Massage is a full body experience using traditional indigenous Khoisan techniques. After your treatment, take a picnic basket for a leisurely lunch on the beach or relax in the outdoor heated pool.
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SWITZERLAND
Geneva
Beau-Rivage Palace
www.brp.ch
Live like a king or queen at the Beau-Rivage Palace, surrounded by views of Lake Geneva and the Alps. The hotel’s Cinq Mondes Spa serves up a treatment menu that draws on therapies from around the world. The Taoist ritual includes aromatic scrub spices, a Taoist massage, flowered Japanese bath and plantar reflexology. There is something for everyone’s inner royal at this spa, from the tropical shower promenade and relaxation room to the indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
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THAILAND
Phuket
Banyan Tree Phuket At Laguna Phuket
www.phuket.com/banyantree
Welcome to Asia’s original tropical garden spa, surrounded by coconut groves and blonde beaches. Indulgence is the key word here, from the Royal Banyan signature treatment with its lemongrass and cucumber scrub and acupressure massage, to the myriad of holistic therapies based on traditional Thai practices. Jacuzzis, steam rooms, outdoor showers and sunken pools are just some of the delights that await you at Banyan Tree’s flagship resort.
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UNITED KINGDOM
London
Sanderson
www.sandersonlondon.com
Situated in a 1950s landmark building in the heart of London’s West End, Sanderson hotel’s Agua Spa places an emphasis on the whimsical. You’ll be transported by the billowing white curtains delineating each treatment room. Sink into the agua Milk and Honey Aryurvedic massage or go out on a limb with an Indian head massage. Whether you’re looking for a traditional sea-salt exfoliation or a lymphatic drainage facial, you’ll feel rejuvenated in this minimalist, open-plan spa.
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(Updated: 05/08/08 ET) |
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