Hotel Spas – Islands https://www.islands.com The world's most beautiful island travel to the Caribbean, Hawaii, Tahiti and Mexico with expert reviews of resorts, snorkeling and the best islands to live on. Thu, 22 Jun 2023 11:54:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.islands.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/favicon-isl-1.png Hotel Spas – Islands https://www.islands.com 32 32 Best All-Inclusive Resort Spas: Islands All-Inclusive Awards https://www.islands.com/best-all-inclusive-resort-spas-2019/ Thu, 17 Jan 2019 20:56:23 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=41034 Offering everything from massages with bamboo sticks to papaya body wraps, these all-inclusive resort spas put the "ahhh" in spa.

The post Best All-Inclusive Resort Spas: Islands All-Inclusive Awards appeared first on Islands.

]]>
all-inclusive awards

Our editors and writers scoured the globe to find the best all-inclusive resorts based on standout offerings, from top-notch dining options and cool bars to over-the-top suites and white-glove butler service. We also asked our readers to vote for their favorites in each category. We’re proud to present the winners of the 2019 Islands All-Inclusive Awards.

Looking for next-level vacation relaxation and a “no problem” state of mind? You’ll find it at our favorite all-inclusive resort spas, where you can check in and chill out in no time flat. Perfectly positioned on Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Jamaica’s north coast, they’re the Caribbean’s best.

A couples treatment at Barceló Maya Grand Resort’s U-Spa

Winner, Editors’ Choice: Barceló Maya Grand Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

A couples treatment at Barceló Maya Grand Resort’s U-Spa Courtesy Barceló Hotel Group

“Go big or go home” seems to have been the thinking behind the massive U-Spa and fitness center at Barceló Maya Grand Resort, which is shared between five Barceló resorts (Maya Beach, Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, Maya Tropical and Barceló Maya Palace). The sanctuary itself has 22 treatment suites, where you can enjoy body wraps with chocolate, papaya and pineapple or unwind with hot stone massages.

Before your service, reserve time to try the hydrotherapy circuit, which features hot and cold plunge pools, aromatherapy showers and an ice bath. We were also impressed by the kids’ spa and salon, where little ones can enjoy manicures, “Super Hero” haircuts, and massages to melt away any middle-school stress.

As for the gym, it boasts 15 treadmills, 19 spin bikes, eight wall-mounted TVs, and Technogym strength training equipment — plus all the complimentary fruit and bottled water a gym rat could desire.

The Oasis Spa Villas at Couples Tower Isle

Winner, Editors’ Choice: Couples Tower Isle, Jamaica

The Oasis Spa Villas at Couples Tower Isle include unlimited spa treatments Courtesy Couples Tower Isle

If you and your sweetie are serious spa mavens, this is your resort. Because at Couples Tower Isle, a classic couples-only playground just outside Ocho Rios, a clutch of eight suites come with a major bonus on top of the usual all-you-can-everything perks.

Reserve an Oasis Spa Villa or a larger Signature Oasis Spa Villa (which have secluded terraces, plunge pools and private pathways directly to the Oasis Spa) and both of you will enjoy unlimited spa treatments every day of your stay. Yes, you read that correctly, unlimited spa treatments every day.

Relaxation begins on arrival, when you bypass the front desk to check in en suite, and continues with a customized regimen of treatments (devised in advance by a spa concierge), performed either in the privacy of your villa or the comfort of the spa.

Hard-core spa lovers can squeeze in as many as six treatments a day, including the Bamboo Fusion massage, which uses heated bamboo sticks to knead away muscular tension. Want a rubdown before breakfast, a pedi at lunchtime and a facial at 5pm? No problem; even gratuities are included.

spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Winner, Editors’ Choice: Grand Velas Riviera Maya, Mexico

The 75,000-square-foot spa at Grand Velas Riviera Maya Courtesy Grand Velas Riviera Maya

Clocking in at 75,000-square-feet, Grand Velas‘ spa claims to be the largest in the Caribbean, and the palatial sanctuary is undoubtedly one of the region’s best. Spa valets (wearing walkie-talkies with headsets) are on hand to guide you so you’re never left wandering aimlessly around the expansive, two-story space.

The Water Journey — a sublime odyssey that entails drifting from clay room to steam room, ice room to hot tub, massaging shower to jetted pool — is offered complimentary with every treatment of 50 minutes or longer.

And the treatments themselves, many of which incorporate Mayan techniques and Mexican ingredients, are superb. Our pick: the Bacal massage which uses, of all things, steamed corncobs, to muscle-melting effect.

Secrets St. James spa

Winner, Readers’ Choice: Secrets St. James, Montego Bay, Jamaica

Treatments at the Secrets St. James spa incorporate local ingredients like coffee and sugar Courtesy Secrets St. James

Relaxation comes easy at Secrets St. James, an adults-only playground. It starts with the resort’s secluded location on the Montego Freeport peninsula. And it is enhanced in the spa, where the amenities and therapies (many incorporating local ingredients such as coffee and sugar) conspire to encourage beachfront bliss.

Enjoy body scrubs, facials, massages or soothing after-sun treatments in the sanctuary, and then make use of the hot and cold whirlpools, sauna, steam rooms and a tropical yoga garden to completely de-stress.

Couples should consider the Moon and Stars massage, which combines Swedish techniques, sparkling wine and an outdoor location within earshot of the waves.

The post Best All-Inclusive Resort Spas: Islands All-Inclusive Awards appeared first on Islands.

]]>
This All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica Offers Unlimited Spa Treatments https://www.islands.com/this-all-inclusive-resort-in-jamaica-offers-unlimited-spa-treatments/ Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:04:12 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=42126 Here’s what it’s like to stay in an Oasis Spa Villa at Couple’s Tower Isle in Ocho Rios.

The post This All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica Offers Unlimited Spa Treatments appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Oasis Spa Villa
Guests who stay in an Oasis Spa Villa can book an in-villa couple’s massage Courtesy Couples Tower Isle

“Can you can overdose on spa treatments?” my husband asks.

It’s not a facetious query; it’s a reasonable question. Because I already have four spa treatments booked — with four more scheduled for tomorrow — and it’s not as if I’m any more stressed than the average person.

The reason for my spa smorgasbord? I’m finding out what it’s like to stay in an Oasis Spa Villa, a new room category at Couples Tower Isle in Jamaica. The beachfront cloister near Ocho Rios was the playground of stars such as Lena Horne, Walt Disney and Joan Crawford in its 1950s heyday. In the late ’70s it became Jamaica’s first all-inclusive resort.

And in 2016, the couples-only classic debuted eight villas that come with the usual all-you-can-everything perks, plus unlimited daily spa treatments for both people for the length of their stay. Want a massage at in the morning, a facial at midday and a body wrap at 4 p.m.? No problem; even gratuities are included.

So after touching down in Montego Bay, the husband and I are whisked via private car (also included in the rate) to the resort, where we’re led to our villa to check in. Spa receptionist Lasonya swings open the gate to our weekend home, leading us past the plunge pool and into the white-on-white villa, redolent with the scent of peppermint and lemongrass. Let the spa binge begin.

Oasis Spa
The Oasis Spa at Couple’s Tower Isle Courtesy Couples Tower Isle

The first order of business is to schedule my treatments, and spa manager Denise walks me through the choices, a cavalcade of comforts far more comprehensive than I’d anticipated. There are eight massages and as many facials and couples treatments to choose from, as well as all the usual hair and nail services. But any stress I feel at having to decide (most guests book their treatments in advance online) is mitigated by the refreshing absence of prices next to each description. I feel relaxed already.

Eventually I finalize my schedule: four treatments per day for the next two days. Denise encourages me to choose more (hardcore spa goers book as many as six per day, she tells me) but since my husband would rather stick pins in his eyeballs than be touched by a stranger, in the interest of marital harmony I demur. No, darling, I don’t know if you can overdose on spa treatments… but I’m about to find out.

“I feel blissfully intoxicated, happily riding a Jamaican high that’s languorous — and legal.”

Day One

After a green smoothie (banana, papaya, lychee, and bok choy), I pad along a palm-fringed pathway in my robe and slippers to the spa. The centerpiece of the sanctuary is a sapphire pool with a stone Buddha fountain, flanked by eight treatment rooms. My therapist, Sharon, shows me to Room 5, where for the next 55 minutes I’ll be enjoying the Vita Cura Five-Phase Firming Facial. As a Bob Marley classic plays faintly in the background, she mists, massages and manipulates my skin with a series of serums, peels, masks and moisturizers. I lose track of time and before I know it the facial is over, my skin feels soft and dewy, and it’s on to treatment two, the Signature Body Polish.

Oasis Spa Villa bedroom
A bedroom in an Oasis Spa Villa Courtesy Couples Tower Isle

In long sweeping strokes, Sharon applies a honey-and-almond scrub to my entire body, wraps me first in a cotton sheet, then plastic wrap, then a Mylar blanket and then towels. I feel oddly (but pleasantly) like a burrito wrapped around a churro, covered in sweet sticky grains. When I shower off, my body feels velvety soft, and when I hop back onto the table so Sharon can finish with a scalp-to-sole application of a seaweed-based cream, even she remarks on its smoothness.

By now it’s lunchtime, so I stumble, slightly bleary, from the spa to meet my husband at the oceanview buffet. There are Jamaican specialties such as jerk chicken and curry goat on the line, but I limit myself to half a Tastee patty; full tummies and spa treatments don’t mix.

The afternoon brings more back-to-back indulgence: First, a seaweed-peppermint body wrap that makes me feel simultaneously uncomfortably hot and deliciously tingly but also makes my skin more buttery than I ever thought possible. And then an 85-minute aromatherapy massage that leaves my limbs looking like polished mahogany and smelling of sweet oranges. As hubby and I sit down to dinner at the water’s-edge restaurant that night he tells me how relaxed and content I seem. Truth is I feel blissfully intoxicated, happily riding a Jamaican high that’s languorous — and legal.

plunge pools
Oasis Spa Villas come with private plunge pools Courtesy Couples Tower Isle

Day Two

I wake up before the alarm and feel unusually calm, a feeling confirmed by my Fitbit, which shows my resting heart rate at an all-time low of 52 beats per minute. Back at the spa for my Lava Shell Massage (a treatment available exclusively to Oasis Spa Villa guests), I feel like a pro at this spa thing. I head straight to “my” locker to drop off my phone and sunnies, and when Marie offers to leave the room so I can undress, I tell her not to bother, slipping out of my robe and under the sheet without even a shred of self-consciousness.

Marie firmly kneads my arms, legs and back with the heated shells, and I can feel the running-induced knots in my quads dissolve with her touch. Clover finishes the job with an hour of reflexology, a pressure point massage of my soles with a peppermint-scented lotion. Never have my feet felt so soft and minty fresh.

Later that evening, with my final two treatments (yet another body scrub and a painstaking mani-pedi) complete and our departure the next morning looming on the horizon, we sip rum punches under the canopy of a poolside almond tree wrapped in fairy lights. And my husband asks me again, “So, can you overdose on spa treatments?” I pause for a moment to consider. “I don’t know yet,” I say. “Give me two more days here and I’ll get back to you.”

The post This All-Inclusive Resort in Jamaica Offers Unlimited Spa Treatments appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Best Hotel Spas in Bali https://www.islands.com/best-hotel-spas-in-bali/ Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:52:46 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=41685 Looking for a Bali spa? Find your zen at these hotel spas in Ubud, Seminyak and beyond.

The post Best Hotel Spas in Bali appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Bali is a spiritual island, promoting harmony between the mind, body and soul. So what better way to treat yourself on vacation than relaxing at a hotel spa? We’ve rounded up the best Bali spas in Ubud, Seminyak and beyond so you can find total relaxation and rejuvenation. Namaste.

Hotel Spas in Bali: Amankila
Amankila Courtesy Amankila

Best Local Experience: Amankila

Amankila is set on a hilltop surrounded by the dramatic backdrop of Mount Agung, a volcano referred to as the home of the gods by the Balinese. This year, the resort celebrates its 25th anniversary with a bevy of special events and cultural experiences such as 25-minute masterclasses of Kundalini yoga and kendang drumming, along with 25-minute specials, including foot massages and temple blessings.

Bali Spa: Soori Bali
Soori Spa at Soori Bali Courtesy Soori Bali

Best Family-Friendly Spa: Soori Spa at Soori Bali

Perched atop a black volcanic beach, Soori Spa features a meditation pool surrounded by views of Mount Batukaru and offers treatments suited for the entire family. Women should try the Soori Signature Facial using soothing lemon and rose oils and lymphatic drainage massage techniques. Guys can opt for the Soori Facial for Men, a facial involving exfoliation with local rice bran and a detoxifying mask of volcanic clay. And don’t forget to treat your little ones! The Seriously Spoilt treatment includes a signature foot bath, full body massage and a mini facial, and will make your child feel like pampered royalty.

Bali Spa: Hanging Gardens of Bali
Spa Collection at Hanging Gardens of Bali Courtesy Hanging Gardens of Bali

Best Pool: Spa Collection at Hanging Gardens of Bali

Unwind amongst the treetops at the Hanging Gardens of Bali’s expansive infinity pool suspended over the rainforest in Ubud. After a dip, grab your significant other and decompress in the Royal Spa Suite located near the Ayung River where you can both enjoy a rejuvenating body scrub, a facial, a 90-minute flower petal massage and a body bath treatment complemented with chocolate truffles, canapés and a bottle of champagne. Add-on options for the suite include a three-course healthy cuisine meal and a photo session with the resort’s in-house photographer.

Bali Spa: Viceroy Bali
Lembah Spa at Viceroy Bali Courtesy Viceroy Bali

Best View: Lembah Spa at Viceroy Bali

Set atop a ridge overlooking the Petanu River gorge, also known as “The Valley of Kings,” Lembah Spa at Viceroy Bali provides a secluded space of serenity for spa-goers. Enjoy these tranquil views even more from the spring-fed plunge pool or infinity pool on the spa’s relaxation decks. For treatments, we recommend a combo package that fuses both fitness and pampering. Choose from either yoga, cycling or trekking, paired with a two-hour spa session including a Balinese massage and body scrub, yogurt body mask and a flower and steam bath.

Bali Spa: Como Shambhala Estate Ubud
Como Shambhala Estate Ubud Courtesy Como Shambhala Estate Ubud

Best Wellness Program: Como Shambhala Estate Ubud

Como Shambhala Estate Ubud provides three-, five-, or seven-day wellness programs such as Cleanse (if you want to detox), Be Active (for fitness-fanatics), Stress Management (if you’re looking to release day-to-day tension), Rejuvenation (a combo of beauty and spa treatments), Oriental Medicine (balances the physical, emotional and energy systems of the body) and Ayurveda (one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems). The resort also hosts seminars and workshops throughout the year led by yoga, spa and fitness experts, so you can learn everything you need to know about living a holistic lifestyle.

Bali Spa: The Chedi Tanah Gajah, Ubud
The Spa at The Chedi Tanah Gajah, Ubud Courtesy The Chedi Tanah Gajah, Ubud

Best Rustic Vibe: The Spa at The Chedi Tanah Gajah, Ubud

Set on 12 acres of scenic rice paddy fields, The Chedi Tanah Gajah, Ubud provides a rustic yet luxe escape just outside of Ubud. Take a soothing dip in the 25-meter outdoor lap pool surrounded by lotus ponds or head to the spa pool villa with your significant other for a healing bath treatment. We recommend The Chedi Love Bath Ceremony complete with rose petals, “love potion,” champagne and canapés — let the romance begin.

Bali Spa: W Bali - Seminyak
Away Spa at W Bali – Seminyak Courtesy W Bali – Seminyak

Best Ambience: Away Spa at W Bali – Seminyak

Unplug in the healing-centric space of Away Spa. In typical W fashion, the spa boasts fluorescent-lit, modern treatment rooms with mediation platforms, a detox and oxygen room and a Chill bar where you can unwind between treatments and sip on mocktails. And when you’re ready for some fresh air, head to the Escape Cabana for a relaxing beachfront spa treatment. We recommend the “Morning After,” a detoxifying full-body massage infused with herbal oils that will help ease your muscle aches from a night out.

Bali Spa: Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Mandapa Spa at Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Courtesy Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Best Holistic Experience: Mandapa Spa at Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a high-end private sanctuary along the Ayung River valley, surrounded by ancient temples and rice paddy fields. Indulge in an in-depth holistic experience based on Mandapa Spa’s six pillars: Balinese Spa, Detox, Nutrition, Alternative Therapy, Body Therapy and Healing. Traditional Balinese touch massages include holistic approaches like chakra healing and a treatment performed by an intuitive blind healer. The spa also offers personalized spiritual, wellness, health and detox programs guided by a full-time patih (butler).

Bali Spa: Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Best Yoga Program: Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Awaken your soul at Sacred River Spa, set in the verdant jungle along the Ayung River valley. Melt away your tensions with a variety of yoga classes ranging from AntiGravity Yoga (combines the practice of flying with the motion of dance), to Laughter Yoga, which combines the health benefits of laughter with yogic breathing and poses. Don’t let the yogi-fun stop there, sign up for the Dharma Shanti half- or full-day program to receive a 60-minute AntiGravity Yoga class, a 30-minute Meditation class with former Buddhist Nun and resident wellbeing mentor Ibu Fera, a three-course lunch and a two-hour ila Chakra Ceremony.

Bali Spa: The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa
Kahyangan Spa at The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa Courtesy The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa

Best Beachfront Spa: Kahyangan Spa at The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa

Head to The Seminyak Beach Resort & Spa for an oceanside escape complete with traditional Balinese thatched pavilions, an expansive infinity pool and front row beach views. Get pampered with your significant other in one of the spa’s couples’ massage rooms where you can take a relaxing soak in the open-air bathtub while enjoying the surrounding views of the Indian Ocean. For treatments, we recommend The Kahyangan Delight, a 110-minute treatment including a massage and a body exfoliation of your choice.

The post Best Hotel Spas in Bali appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Best Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean https://www.islands.com/best-hotel-spas-in-italy-spain-greece-mediterranean/ Fri, 16 Jun 2017 22:30:16 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=39511 De-stress and unwind at these tranquil Mediterranean hotel spas.

The post Best Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Summer means high season in Europe and along the Mediterranean. So where can you go to escape the crowds for some much-needed pampering? Whether you’re looking for post-treatment ocean views, an awesome pool or a spa fronting the beach, here are the region’s top hotel spas.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum
Outdoor pool at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum Courtesy Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum

Best Splurge: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum – Turkey

Spread out over three levels, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum offers eight treatment rooms and two spa suites, (one for VIPs, one for couples), plus outdoor spa cabanas with views of the Aegean Sea. You can even book The Orchid Spa Suite, a spa-designed hotel suite on the top floor, for en-suite massages and your own private sauna, hammam and a panoramic balcony.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
Indoor pool at GOCO Spa Venice Courtesy JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

Best Pool: GOCO Spa Venice at JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa – Italy

Set on JW Marriott Venice‘s 40-acre private island of Isola delle Rose, GOCO Spa Venice spans 18,837 square feet and is located just a short speedboat ride from the tourist-flocked Piazza San Marco. You’ll want to take a plunge into the hotel spa’s expansive heated indoor vitality pool that extends outdoors through a movable glass wall.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa
Nail bar at Six Senses Spa Marbella Courtesy Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa

Best Beachfront Spa: Six Senses Spa Marbella at Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa – Spain

Situated in the Costa del Sol region of Spain, Six Senses Spa Marbella at Puente Romano Beach Resort & Spa provides a charming Andalusian beachfront setting. Reconnect with nature in the spa’s treatment room set under a canopied roof where you can choose from locally inspired options combined with herbs, sea salt and olive oil for a truly Mediterranean experience.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino
Outdoor spa cabana at Anazoe Spa Courtesy The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino

Best Natural Spa: Anazoe Spa at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino – Greece

Replenish your mind, body and spirit at Anazoe Spa at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino. The hotel spa‘s name derives from the Greek word for rejuvenation, and it’s best known for its Oleotherapy rituals. These therapeutic olive-oil treatments are based on ancient local practices inscribed on clay tablets that were discovered at the nearby Palace of Nestor. Give your skin a healthy glow with the Traditional Olive Nourishing Facial made with lime blossom, sage and olive leaf.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Hotel Aguas De Ibiza
Roman bath at Revival Spa by Clarins Courtesy Hotel Aguas De Ibiza

Best Thermal Area: Revival Spa by Clarins at Hotel Aguas De Ibiza – Spain

The minimalist all-white space of Revival Spa by Clarins at Hotel Aguas De Ibiza creates a tranquil vibe in the party-centric city of Ibiza. Get lost in relaxation amongst the spa’s expansive thermal area complete with three indoor pools, a Finnish sauna, a hammam, an ice fountain and a stimulating walk-through shower circuit.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: D Maris Bay
Indoor pool at Espace Vitalite Chenot Courtesy D Maris Bay

Best View: Espace Vitalite Chenot at D Maris Bay – Turkey

Located at D Maris Bay, there’s no shortage of beauty at Espace Vitalite Chenot, which is set atop a cliff on the isolated Datça Peninsula in Turkey where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. You’ll want to take a break between treatments and head to the part Vitality/part indoor heated pool to soak up spectacular aerial views of the crystal-clear bay below.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete
Indoor pool at The Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy Courtesy Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete

Best Thalassotherapy: The Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy at Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Crete – Greece

Blue Palace‘s Elounda Spa specializes in thalassotherapy, a treatment that enhances your health and well-being by infusing the healing properties of the sea. Choose to unwind with the Cyclical Jets Session in the spa’s three thalassotherapy pools, or enjoy a hydro massage with 25 jets of sea water with the Thalasso Revitalizing Bath.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: La Reserve Ramatuelle
Indoor pool at La Reserve Spa Ramatuelle Courtesy La Réserve Ramatuelle

Best Health and Wellness Program: La Reserve Spa Ramatuelle at La Reserve Ramatuelle – France

Preserve your youth and enhance your figure at La Reserve Spa Ramatuelle where you can choose from two better-aging programs based on the anti-aging practices at Nescens Clinique de Genolier in Switzerland. Whether you want to slim down, tone up or simply elevate your overall well-being, these two three- to six-day programs fuse together exercise, spa treatments and balanced meals to provide speedy results.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
Patio at Cinq Mondes Spa Courtesy Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort

Best Aromatherapy: Cinq Mondes Spa at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – Monaco

Enter through a patio set under a sunlit dome where a light mist of refined aromas greets you at Cinq Mondes Spa at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort. De-stress with your significant other in the Flower Rain Suite, where you both can soak in a relaxing Japanese flower bath.

Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean: Borgo Egnazia
Indoor pool at Vair Spa Courtesy Borgo Egnazia

Best Ambience: Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia – Italy

Ambient vibes cater to the contemporary escape of Vair Spa at Borgo Egnazia, featuring creamy limestone walls and serene lighting filled with an array of candles. Reduce all your muscle tensions and increase your blood circulation with the Ancient Roman bath technique of hot and cold rooms in the spa’s Caldarium (hot room), Tepidarium (warm room) and Frigidarium (cold room).

The post Best Hotel Spas in the Mediterranean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean https://www.islands.com/best-hotel-spas-in-caribbean/ Tue, 07 Mar 2017 03:57:14 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=40896 Planning a Caribbean vacation? Here are the best hotel spas in the region.

The post Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Editor’s Note: Some of the information below may be out-of-date. Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and St. Barth were heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Please visit caribbeantravelupdate.com or the specific hotel’s website for updates.

What could be better than a sun-dappled Caribbean beach for some much-needed R&R? We love a gorgeous spa, one that offers unmatched ocean views and pampers with signature treatments using local ingredients. From a hippie-chic thatched-roof hut in Jamaica to a spa-under-the-stars experience on Nevis, here are the best spas in the Caribbean. Your next treatment is waiting.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Eden Rock
Eden Rock Courtesy Eden Rock

Best View: Eden Rock – St. Barths

Deep into an extensive revamp, Eden Rock‘s spa is très chic, flaunting a new partnership with cosmetic line Ligne St. Barth, crafted from the island’s fruits and flowers. A private terrace overlooking St. Jean Bay is one of the spa’s choice spots for a treatment, which might feature green clay and fresh melon mousse (the St. Barth Sundowner) or a massage with warm seashells (St. Barth Chill Out).

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: BodyHoliday
BodyHoliday Courtesy BodyHoliday

Best Fitness Classes: BodyHoliday – St. Lucia

Most of the time, that yoga or pilates class you really want to take is offered once, maybe twice, during your stay. Since BodyHoliday is 100 percent about wellness, its 20 classes range from tai chi to Caribbean dance, plus spinning, fencing and boxing. New offerings include a module of five sailing tutorials, so on your next trip you can learn how to tack your sailboat to shore.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Rockhouse Hotel
Rockhouse Hotel Courtesy Rockhouse Hotel

Best Rustic Vibe: Rockhouse Hotel – Negril, Jamaica

At Rockhouse Hotel‘s spa, all treatments begin with a foot-cleansing ritual in a bowl of fresh ocean water. Each also incorporates indigenous ingredients, including the Ultimate Coffee Scrub that uses Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, and an Island Mint Tea wrap, relying upon island-grown mint. Treatments are serviced in a thatched-roof hut perched on a cliff overlooking sea. In 2016, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, Rockhouse opened the Holistic Bath House above a private cove, exclusively for soaks.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Peter Island Resort & Spa
Peter Island Resort & Spa Courtesy Peter Island Resort & Spa

Best Pool: Peter Island Resort & Spa – British Virgin Islands

We’ve seen all types of spa pools, from kidney-shaped to infinity-edge. But our favorite, at Peter Island Resort & Spa, looks like it’s embedded in the bay, right on the beach. New at the 10,000-square-foot spa — which follows Ayurvedic principles for many treatments — are the twilight massages, which can be serviced in a bohio (thatched-roof hut) overlooking Big Reef Bay.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Courtesy Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Best Splurge: Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Puerto Rico

Get pampered with a Hammock Massage in one of the two open-walled treehouse pavilions at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve‘s Spa Botánico. (Bonus: the ginger and lemongrass growing just outside of the treehouses and used in the treatment.) Post-treatment, hang in the spa’s hot and cold plunge pools or succumb to healing aromas at the herb garden.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa Courtesy CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa

Best Dining: CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa – Anguilla

The farm-to-table vibe is prolific at CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa. Guests can sign up for cooking classes and tour the onsite hydroponic farm, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean. This also extends to the 27,000-square-foot Venus Spa, which crafts products from what’s grown on property, like cukes for the Hydroponic Cucumber & Aloe wrap. Afterward, follow your bliss with dinner at Le Bistro at Santorini for a five- or eight-course tasting menu with dishes like salmon crudo in dill oil.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao Courtesy Sunscape Curacao

Best for Adventure Lovers: Sunscape Curacao

Got an adventurous streak? Ascend to new heights on the rock-climbing wall at Sunscape Curacao. Back at the resort’s Serene Spa, tucked into a huge thatched-roof pavilion right on the water, soothe sore calves from all the belaying with a deep-tissue massage or spring for a chocolate body wrap.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Four Seasons Resort Nevis
Four Seasons Resort Nevis Courtesy Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Best for Couples: Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Every night, Four Seasons Resort Nevis shuts down its spa for two hours so that one lucky couple can experience the “Spa Under the Stars” package, which marries stargazing with massage. A partnership with French brand THÉMAÉ is unique to the island and many ingredients for the spa products are culled from the spa’s herb garden. Couples receive a bottle of sparkling wine and have free reign of the steam rooms, plunge pool, whirlpool and garden.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Natura Cabana
Natura Cabana Courtesy Natura Cabana

Best Value Spa: Natura Cabana – Cabarete, Dominican Republic

At this rustic-minded Attabeyra Spa at Natura Cabana, a 50-minute Swedish massage costs just $60, while the unique Arcillauva wrap ($50) folds in Dominican mud and red wine (both are antioxidants). Yoga classes are offered six days a week, as well as free group meditation twice weekly.

Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa
Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa Courtesy Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

Best Local Experience: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Mayan culture runs deep at a temazcal (a traditional sweat lodge). The luxurious Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa sets one up on the beach with a Mayan healer through its Kinan Spa. Performed at dusk, the 90-minute treatment — layering in chants, meditation, steam lifting off of hot rocks, and aloe-vera applications — ends with an invitation to swim in the sea. Opt for a group setting or your own private ceremony.

The post Best Hotel Spas in the Caribbean appeared first on Islands.

]]>
The Sea Is Your Spa: The Healing Waters of Molokai https://www.islands.com/sea-your-spa-healing-waters-molokai/ Sat, 24 Mar 2012 01:10:43 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=43156 Many travelers who head to Hawaii take part in the big three “S”s—sea, sand, and spa—and spend a bundle doing it. But for a truly healing experience, head to Molokai where the three “S”s are one in the same on the sunny, isolated north shore. Here, the waters are purported to have “pico,” the basic […]

The post The Sea Is Your Spa: The Healing Waters of Molokai appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Molokai_gallery_01_03.jpg
Molokai Michael Brake

Many travelers who head to Hawaii take part in the big three “S”s—sea, sand, and spa—and spend a bundle doing it. But for a truly healing experience, head to Molokai where the three “S”s are one in the same on the sunny, isolated north shore. Here, the waters are purported to have “pico,” the basic resource of life. Bury yourself in the sand, and your aching muscles will be soothed. Dive under the waves, and your sinuses will be cleared. Spend enough time in these mystical waters, and even depression, it’s said, will be lifted.

Although the water in Molokai is free to all, it’s not easy to reach. Actually, Molokai itself requires a bit of intrepidness; you must first make your way to the island of Maui, and then puddle hop by plane or ferry to the remote outer island. Once there, pico isn’t something you find in a guidebook, but something you find in the people, says island native Julie Bicoy. You’ll need the help of locals to find the sacred shore. But before long, you’ll be buried in healing sand, swimming in the soothing sea, and relaxing on a private beach of snowy sand – at possibly the best, and last spa, you’ll ever need.

For more information or to plan your trip, see our Molokai Travel Guide »

The post The Sea Is Your Spa: The Healing Waters of Molokai appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Editors’ Pick: Top 10 Exotic Island Spa Treatments https://www.islands.com/editors-pick-top-10-exotic-island-spa-treatments/ Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:53:45 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=39283 A malay massage in sync with the moon phases and a romantic ritual for couples in St. Lucia — here are just a few of the alluring island treatments we’ve uncovered. Read on, and you’ll soon be longing for these tempting treatments, just like we are.

The post Editors’ Pick: Top 10 Exotic Island Spa Treatments appeared first on Islands.

]]>
A malay massage in sync with the moon phases and a romantic ritual for couples in St. Lucia — here are just a few of the alluring island treatments we’ve uncovered. Read on, and you’ll soon be longing for these tempting treatments, just like we are.

Fijian Ritual - Laucala, Fiji
Fijian Ritual
Laucala, Fiji

What could possibly top this dreamy list? Laucala’s Bombo massage. Fijian bubus (grandmothers) have passed this healing technique, which uses indigenous herbs and oils, down from generation to generation. The best part? You don’t have to leave your room to get this treatment. Each of Laucala’s 25 villas have an outdoor massage bed. So the therapist comes to you. Picture yourself on a private 3,000-acre Fijian island, a masseuse using his hands, knees, elbows and feet to knead, thumb, knuckle and rake your muscles. Going deep into your back, arms, legs and feet, the therapist opens your body’s pathways to release any remnants of the pressures of home — you’re officially in the South Pacific now. At the end of the hour, your natural rhythmic flow has returned. The treatment has created the space in your body for your tissues to unfurl — much like Laucala, with its undeveloped lushness, powdery beaches and turquoise waters, has already done for you. $150 for 60 minutes.
laucala.com

Return to Main Page
Laucala, Fiji
Ayurvedic Indulgence - Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Ayurvedic Indulgence
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru

Handpicked basil, castor and neem, all of it warmed in oil and massaged deeply into your skin. Your body melts, reaping the healing benefits of homegrown botanticals and deep massage working in tandem. The Maldives has a reputation for over-the-top indulgence. And the Four Seasons’ Ayurvedic Elakkizhi treatment is one of the supporting reasons. They bring in bundles of locally grown herbs, all of it fresh from the medicinal garden and ready to fix whatever is ailing you. You feel enveloped in warmth and luxury. Your body is melting like butter. Don’t be sad when the two-hour treatment is over. In the Maldives, spa treatments begin each day. $260 for 2 hours.
fourseasons.com Return to Main Page
Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
Couples Massage - Jade Mountain St. Lucia
Couples Massage
Jade Mountain St. Lucia

There’s no fourth wall in your Jade Mountain suite, just stunning views of the iconic Pitons towering in the distance. No windows, curtains or even a screen comes between you and the Caribbean breeze as you indulge in the Alchemy of Two: A Romantic Ritual for Couples. Start with a relaxing bath shared together in your suite’s private infinity pool. Next, nibble on fruit and chocolate, sip on champagne and recite poems to each other. (Don’t worry: A binder of apropos choices is provided.) Then come synchronized massages given with vibrational tantra oil designed to harmonize the body’s energy flow. The end result? You, your honey, the stars and the Caribbean Sea will be one. $539 for 110 minutes.
jademountain.com Return to Main Page
Jade Mountain St. Lucia
In-Springs Massage - Blue Lagoon Iceland
In-Springs Massage
Blue Lagoon Iceland

You’re floating weightless in a milky-blue natural spring in the middle of a lava field. No big deal? Consider it’s winter. And this is Iceland. The geothermal seawater is 102 degrees, you’re on a raft and a therapist is slathering your skin with a curative, silica-rich mud. You’re at the Blue Lagoon, getting an In-Water Massage, and it’s as magical as it sounds. As your muscles are expertly tended to, the mineral salts, silica and algae in the water work miracles on your skin. Also, be sure to book the lagoon’s exclusive bath and lounge, where you’ll have your own private indoor lagoon, waitress, fireplace and special door leading to the outdoor lagoon. Later, as you enjoy lunch in the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, its glass walls overlooking the neon-hued water, you wonder what took you so long to find this otherworldly treat. From $19 for 10 minutes.
bluelagoon.com Return to Main Page
Blue Lagoon Iceland
Luxe Detox - Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Crete, Greece
Luxe Detox
Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Crete, Greece

Seawater, mud, oil and mummy wraps — they’re all rooted in Greek tradition and part of the memorable Elounda Detox Ritual. It’s a multistep process starting at the resort’s beachside Elounda Spa & Thalassotherapy center in the quaint northeastern village of Elounda. There, you spend a few hours unpeeling built-up tension, alternating between sunning, cooling off in the relaxation pool and steaming in the Turkish hammam. Any tightness starts to fade. Then you head to a treatment room for a mineral-salt-filled bath, where water jets pummel out knots and pump up your circulation. You’re feeling really loose now. Next, a therapist slathers your body with detoxifying essential oil and mud, then wraps you up to heat the skin and draw out even more impurities. Your body is jelly, your mind clear. The ritual finishes with a light, stroking massage using a blend of detoxifying essential oils to target the lymphatic system. And at this point you have a different perspective while gazing out at the incandescent Aegean Sea. $210 for 80 minutes.
bluepalace.gr Return to Main Page
Blue Palace Resort & Spa, Crete, Greece
Sore Muscle Relief - Como Shambhala Estate Bali
Sore Muscle Relief
Como Shambhala Estate Bali

After a hard day’s work in the rolling, terraced fields, Balinese farmers used to calm their screaming muscles with an herb wrap. And now you can enjoy it at the COMO Shambhala Estate. It’s the jungle life that wakes you up in this lush inland paradise north of Ubud, the morning song of the wild and its aliveness inspiring you to make it to a yoga class before breakfast. Yesterday began with a guided hike through the verdant mountains; in the afternoon you went to several fitness classes and then soaked in a fresh mineral pool. It’s day two at this luxe wellness retreat, and your muscles are starting to feel it. It’s time for your Warm Muscle Wrap. While you gaze out floor-to-ceiling windows, a therapist applies a borah (warmed paste) of clove, ginger, black and white pepper, sandalwood, cinnamon and nutmeg mixed in a rice-based powder to areas of tension on your body. Covered in a blanket, you feel the warmth of the spices activating. Because of your aching muscles, she keeps you under the blanket for 40 minutes, massaging your head and scalp the whole time. Next, you take a warm shower to remove the spices and then step into a flower-strewn bath to soak. With your muscles warmed and primed, it’s time for a 60-minute Balinese massage. After this type of treatment, you’ll want permanently sore muscles. $150 for 120 minutes.
cse.como.bz Return to Main Page
Como Shambhala Estate Bali
Soothing Sunburn Relief - Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque, Canary Islands
Soothing Sunburn Relief
Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque, Canary Islands

Your body is cocooned in banana leaves, your skin soaking in locally grown plants. Why? You’re sunburned. But it’s not all your fault. In the spirited Adeje Coast on the south of Tenerife, it’s not uncommon to spend too much time in the sun. But unlike the past when you simply had to grin and bear it, the Soothing Aloe and Banana Leaf Ritual from the Spa at Bahia del Duque by ESPA brings all-natural, welcome relief. After soaking your feet in a warm footbath, a therapist rubs aloe vera onto your skin in slow, gentle strokes. That alone feels like heaven, but it doesn’t end there. Next, your body is enveloped in banana leaves. While your skin is soaking in the soothing properties of the locally grown plants, the therapist focuses on your face, giving you a mini rehydrating facial. By the time the treatment ends — with a full-body application of a refreshing balm infused with lavender and cypress — your skin, and mind, are calm and comforted, and you’re ready for another evening of fun. $225 for 2 hours.
bahia-duque.com Return to Main Page
Gran Hotel Bahia Del Duque, Canary Islands
Urban Escape - The Capella Singapore
Urban Escape
The Capella Singapore

The sun is going down, the moon is rising and you’re sipping tea waiting for your Senja Sunyi Massage to begin. It’s done at dusk during a rising moon because Capella’s Auriga Spa therapies are created to be in sync with the phases of the moon. It starts with long, slow, flowing strokes of organic rose-and-pomegranate body balm. The rose essence, a treasure for centuries in Islamic countries, wafts through the room and you’re at once calmer. You can’t possibly have any more kinks left, but the therapist uses warmed “moon” stones to smooth the rest out. You’re only minutes from Singapore’s bustling financial district, but it’s as if you’re light-years away. $220 for 90 minutes.
capellasingapore.com Return to Main Page
The Capella Singapore
Rainforest Facial - El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico
Rainforest Facial
El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico

Inspired by the nearby El Yunque rainforest, the Rainforest Facial at the renowned Golden Door Spa uses an all-organic product range comprised of herbs, plants and pure hot-spring water. Peering out over the sparkling water from a 300-foot bluff, you feel radiant. And you look that way too, thanks to this treatment. In addition to the natural products, gentle extractions and experienced touch of the esthetician, what makes this facial extra special is the four hours you spend pre-treatment in the 26,000-square-foot, three-story spa (the largest in the Caribbean). Encouraged to come early and enjoy the amenities, you popped in to a few fitness classes, refueled with antioxidant-filled fresh juices and took a nap in the relaxation area. This was more than your average facial, and you’ve just helped give your skin a lasting glow from the inside out. And it shows. $135 for 50 minutes.
elconresort.com Return to Main Page
El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico
Just Let Go - Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows Big Island, Hawaii
Just Let Go
Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows Big Island, Hawaii

The lush, colorful foliage and thatched-roof hale treatment rooms say Hawaii. But with the location of the Lava Watsu treatment, there’s no mistaking you’re on the Big Island in particular. Taking a cue from the hardened lava fields of the nearby Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, enter a lava-rock cave with a waist-deep pool in the middle. Your therapist, already acclimated to the body-temperature water, leads you into the pool. No need for a treatment table; the pool is your indulgence for the next 50 minutes. The therapist leads you through passive shiatsu stretches, aligning your spine, neck, shoulders and whole body better than any chiropractor. The water takes away all of your body weight, allowing you to focus on each gentle stretch. It’s relaxing. It’s meditative. It’s Hawaiian. $169 for 50 minutes.
maunalani.com Return to Main Page
Mauna Lani Hotel and Bungalows

The post Editors’ Pick: Top 10 Exotic Island Spa Treatments appeared first on Islands.

]]>
Best Island Spas https://www.islands.com/best-island-spas/ Tue, 05 May 2009 01:40:24 +0000 https://www.islands.com/?p=42010 For the June 2009 issue of ISLANDS, the editors updated the master list of the world’s best island spas. Find the new favorites highlighted in yellow on the map, as well as more spectacular spas we recommend. There’s no better way to indulge on an island than with a day at the spa. The nine […]

The post Best Island Spas appeared first on Islands.

]]>

For the June 2009 issue of ISLANDS, the editors updated the master list of the world’s best island spas. Find the new favorites highlighted in yellow on the map, as well as more spectacular spas we recommend. There’s no better way to indulge on an island than with a day at the spa. The nine spas on the 2009 list offer a true taste of the islands. From the colorful Fijian rainforest to Porto Santo’s golden-sand beaches to the deep-blue ocean in the Maldives, these spas speak to the senses in the same ways their island locations do: with stunning sights, calming aromas, soothing sounds and a healing touch. Click on the spas’ links below to book a treatment on your next trip!

View Larger Map

Fiji: The Koro Sun Rainforest Spa at Koro Sun Resort The trickling streams and calling birds you’ll hear during your coconut-oil massage at this spa on Vanua Levu come from the lush Fijian jungle just outside your window. And the detoxifying bindings that swaddle you during your body wrap come from the banana trees in the resort’s own grove. Even the coconut shavings used to polish and exfoliate your skin in the Sensational Scrub are gathered from a nearby plantation. That’s because everything at Koro Sun Rainforest Spa is as homegrown as possible — from the three treatment bures lighted by candles and lanterns and decorated with giant ferns to the 11 treatments ripe with ingredients like organic papaya, aloe and cucumber. All you have to do while you’re here is sit back, relax — and see, feel, hear and smell the island. korosunresort.com

Hawaii: Mauna Lani Spa at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows The spa at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows isn’t just located on Hawaii’s Big Island; it’s a part of it. After all, how many spas leave you with a pule, or Hawaiian blessing and a handmade ti-leaf lei? A saltwater watsu pool for aqua therapy is built into the entrance of a lava tube; the nine treatment hale, or huts, feature thatched roofs woven by the spa’s therapists; and the open-air sauna comprises lava rocks from the island. More than 40 treatments help you merge with this aloha-infused environment at the piko (center) of five mountains, such as the Fire and Ice Pa’akai Therapy, which uses a sea-salt-enriched pikake oil made from Hawaiian jasmine. Leave feeling more relaxed — and more connected to Hawaii — than ever. maunalani.com

Indonesia: Amanjiwo When you walk into the Amanjiwo resort’s spa on the Indonesian island of Java, you may suddenly feel like royalty. It might be the hypnotically twanging degung music; it could be the cool ginger, turmeric, galangal & honey drink you’ll be served, called jamu; or it may be the deep, therapeutic massage you’ll receive using pijat techniques. Which ever detail amid the 20 treatment options, baths and rituals inspires your indulgences at this intimate, one-room spa, you can be sure it’s based in Javanese tradition. It feels like the royal treatment because the Mandi Lulur ritual actually is: Javanese princesses preparing for their weddings once received this massage, followed by a white turmeric and honey rice-scrub, capped off with an herbal bath filled with rose petals. Bask in that knowledge as you soak in your rose- petal bath — fit for a king, naturally. amanresorts.com

Maldives: Lime at Huvafen Fushi Traveling to the North Male Atoll in the Maldives means soaking in luxury and even surrounding yourself with inky blue water. But few places can offer immersion like Lime at Huvafen Fushi resort. In addition to six glass-floored overwater treatment bungalows, the spa features two rooms and a relaxation suite actually submerged in the sea-life-rich Indian Ocean. From 13 ft. below the surface, the underwater world provides the backdrop for customized treatments, such as the Unite Me Crystal Ritual. Like many of the 30-plus treatments on the menu, this combination of scrub, wrap and massage uses indigenous ingredients like lime and virgin Maldivian coconut oil. But whether you experience it from above or below, the main ingredient at this spa is most definitely water. huvafenfushi.com

Nantucket: Spa by the Sea at the WauwinetThe Spa by the Sea lives up to its mariner-esque moniker. The spa’s inn home, the Wauwinet, sits perched on the north coast of Nantucket, backed by sprawling ocean views and a soundtrack of rolling waves. Windows in the spa’s three treatment rooms open toward the Atlantic Ocean, and the menu of more than 20 massages, scrubs, wraps and facials incorporates sea salt, sea weed, sea mist and, well, cranberries. For a sweet taste of inland Nantucket, opt for the Cranberry Crush Body Treatment, which uses a blend of New England cranberries, cane sugar & orange to tone, exfoliate and hydrate. Still, whether you choose ocean salty or cranberry sweet, this spa promises an experience you will savor. wauwinet.com

New Zealand: Cavalli Island Retreat and Spa If mud is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of luxury, the Cavalli Island Retreat and Spa will change that. The therapists at this hideaway out in the midst of New Zealand’s Cavalli Islands incorporate the earthy essence in many of the spa’s 18 treatments. From the Tropical Spa Mud Wrap to the Mineral Mud Bath, the menu combines ingredients like avocado oil, fresh lemongrass and coconut milk with natural clay, using techniques based on Maori beauty regimens. Rinse off in the spa’s eight-headed Vichy shower or in the Pacific Ocean, which surrounds the main treatment villa and open-air massage room. Getting dirty has never been so delightful. cavalliislandretreat.co.nz

Porto Santo: Hotel Porto Santo & Spa Anyone who’s ever enjoyed a relaxing stroll along the beach knows there’s something therapeutic about sand. But on the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, it’s a scientific fact. Researchers from the Portuguese University of Aveiro have confirmed that clay and sand from the island have high mineral concentrations with healing properties for rheumatism and ailing skin. That’s why many of the 30-plus treatments at the Hotel Porto Santo & Spa incorporate the golden grains. But if a white-sand wrap coupled with a rhythmic massage in one of the spa’s two treatment rooms doesn’t satisfy your aches — or if you just want a bit more beach-inspired wellness — slip into a hot sand bath in the morning and again at night, letting the mineral-rich sand (kept at a comfortable and soothing 102 degrees) work its magic. Long walks on the beach haven’t got a thing on this spa. hotelportosanto.com

St. Lucia: Lapli Spa at Discovery at Marigot Bay The lush, green landscapes and swirling, indigo seas of St. Lucia make it difficult to step indoors — even for a spa treatment. At Discovery at Marigot Bay’s Lapli Spa, you don’t have to: Two outdoor treatment rooms (in addition to four indoor rooms) are built from locally grown bra-madam wood and allow Caribbean breezes to drift across your skin as you unwind. The spa’s 30 treatments range from massages and facials to body wraps and scrubs. Local remedies — like a papaya facial to exfoliate or a cocoa body wrap to hydrate — use ingredients brought in fresh each day by local farmers, and aloe-infused therapies use the garden’s own flora. You’ll leave with an even deeper appreciation for the island’s nature. Turns out those orchards and plantations climbing across the hills aren’t just beautiful to look at; they’re also wealthy with the makings of pure spa bliss. discoverystlucia.com

St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Amrita Spa at Raffles Canouan A view of the Caribbean Sea can enhance any experience — especially a spa treatment. So why should those gently lapping, electric-blue seas disappear when you lie face down on the massage table? At the Amrita Spa at Raffles Canouan, they don’t. Two of the spa’s 11 bungalows — each named for the varying shades of blue surrounding the island — are built on stilts over the water. And thatched roofs and glass floors mean you’re surrounded by sea air and sea views as you indulge in any of more than 30 selections, which include touch-therapy and after-sun treatments. After taking in the ocean vista mid-massage, absorb it from an upright position on your treatment bungalow’s private balcony; you may find you have a whole new perspective on the ocean. rafflescanouan.com

The post Best Island Spas appeared first on Islands.

]]>