In recent
years, the Swedish massage has become the missionary
position of the spa treatment world. Been there, done
that. Then, for a while, spicing things up meant adding
a Vichy shower, followed by a Watsu pool. But these
days, with hotel spas proliferating like bee-stung
lips on certain Hollywood starlets, a hotel spa must
do more than embellish the classics to stand out.
On our list, you will find post-facial cosmetic surgery
care, Zen and the art of archery and Arabian Nights
treatment tents. If only it was healthy to have a
ciggie after your treatment, the experience would
be complete.
Prepare
to light up your life at Hyatt
Regency's Spa Avania. Working in harmony with
your body's inner clock, rituals incorporate music,
essential oils, antioxidant teas and natural light. Holistic sensory experiences are
in sync with the time of day that you visit: morning
treatments awaken, midday pampering balances and afternoon
therapies renew. Customized elements include a body
scrub made with locally harvested white sage. Soothing
embellishments, such as a lotus pond, strike a stunning
note in this desert setting.
Coconut
Grove
SPATERRE MIAMI: The Grove Isle
Hotel & Spa www.groveisle.com
Although
SpaTerre Miami is inspired by the aesthetics and philosophies
of Indonesia,
it is still Floridian at heart: airbrush tans, Key Lime Margarita Pedicures
and pre- and post-facial cosmetic surgery care are
on the menu. You will find the expected basics—Watsu
pool, yoga platform and Vichy shower—as well
as exotica such as the Javanese Lulur Royal Spa Treatment,
complete with rose petal soak. Thatched roofs, candlelit
treatment spaces and therapists in sarongs ensure
the romantic appeal at this private
island resort.
This Sin
City spa is proof that tried-and-true classics
can benefit from fresh new twists. A hot stone massage
here is served On The Rocks and a body polish and
wrap morph into the No Regrets Hangover Treatment,
the latter presumably to cure you after shenanigans
at onsite Cherry nightclub. Along with microdermabrasion
and Couperose Ampoule (an anti-redness serum for "velvety
soft" skin), you can try an Adventure Treatment.
Unconventional, these outings include horseback rides
and canyon hikes. Essentially, they aren't treatments—particularly
the Adventure Bus Trip—but we laud the spa for
working them into the repertoire.
Part-owned
by Olivia Newton-John, this Down
Under eco-friendly retreat near Byron Bay takes
the Aussie songbird's anthem one step further: it
wants you to get spiritual, as well as physical. Choose
a Ritual Asian Adventure, incorporating jasmine, sandalwood,
ginger and lime essential oils. Or go for Dreamtime
Travel, with its soothing use of macadamia and Tasmanian
lavender. To fully appreciate the setting, wander
up to Samira Lookout at the highest point on the property,
for views from the ocean to the Nightcap Ranges.
This
year we bypassed some impressive properties in Turkey and Greece to take you down a less trodden path. Cyprus is much
quieter than its overcrowded neighbors, and with the
arrival of Anagenisis Spa, it now has its own holistic
retreat. Along with incorporating local menu items,
such as organic olive oil, sea salt, fresh herbs and
yogurt, it uses Sodashi, an all natural skin care
line, whose philosophy mirrors the spa's: ingredients,
as well as actual treatments, should be in harmony
with nature.
The
healing quality of amber is the standout feature at
the Feng Shui-influenced The Bagua Spa. Petrified
tree sap, this gemstone is an antioxidant and found
in abundance on the Dominican Republic. Hence the
fittingly named Amber Coast, where this resort resides.
Along with the Salt and Gem Exfoliation, using crushed
amber resin and ocean salts, we recommend the turndown
couples massage in the privacy of your room, and treatments
in an oceanfront gazebo set over a tropical pond.
We must confess, we long resisted Dubai's mega-everything attitude the way we once opposed Las Vegas's too big, too tacky resorts. But times are changing, and there’s no surer sign of this than a spa that personally caters to individual needs in this larger-than-life place. The therapists at Talise blend international techniques with therapies from ancient cultures to create their signature treatments, such as the Talise Herbal Stone Poultice: dark green adventurine spheres and lavender are applied to the skin to awaken the body’s healing abilities. Guests can enjoy exquisite pampering in one of the spa’s 26 unique rooms or stroll through private courtyards and gardens.
Just
north of London,
the debonair Sequoia provides a pleasant complement
to the country estate it inhabits. The Grove is particularly
proud of its therapists' backgrounds, which range
from the Royal Ballet to the movie "Van Helsing"—as
a result of the latter, archery is now offered. Day
packages get you access to the hotel's grounds, which
include 300 acres of park and woodland for cycling,
and a two-course lunch in the Spa Garden Room. The
Spa and Golf Combo pairs 18 holes on the resort's
own course with a muscle relaxing massage.
Luang
Prabang is arguably one of the most enticing towns
in Southeast Asia. Simply being there is calming.
Add to that a treatment at The Spa at La Résidence
Phou Vao, and relaxation is assured. Custom rituals
include the Mohom Indigo Healing Art, using the native
indigo plant, and the Piu Nuan Lao Secret of Sensual
Skin, featuring an herbal compress of local sticky
rice, black sesame seeds and heated honey.
Created
just for Pezula Spa & Gym, a Maruwa product line
contains ingredients from Western Cape fynbos—shrub
vegetation—which have been used medicinally
by the indigenous San and Khoikhoi people for centuries.
Added draws at this savvy spa, located along South
Africa's scenic Garden Route, are soothing sand
tones, unobstructed open spaces, yummy three- and
five-day packages, and the signature post-treatment
treat: a heated water bed that massages you into a
state of bliss.
Combat the stresses of modern living at one of our favorite spa getaways. These relaxing retreats from around the globe feature enough pampering to soothe the wearied mind, body and soul.
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Whether your trip involves taking in the culture of bustling Shanghai or rolling the dice in the gambling mecca of Macau, our list has you covered. These are some of the best hotels where you can get a good night's sleep while visiting one of the world's largest countries.
