Zoom fatigue getting you down? It’s time to book not just a spa day, but a spa vacation. We surveyed the globe and found some of the best spas to check out. Log out and slam that laptop shut. It’s time to rest, rejuvenate on your spa adventure. Soak it all in, you deserve it!
First up, it’s the Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Rai, Thailand (www.anantara.com)
The Anantara experience first emerged in 2001, with their first luxury property in Hua Hin, Thailand. Each of their stunning hotels and resorts tells a different story. Their world-famous Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in the fabled Golden Triangle, situated on a hill overlooking the confluence of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar offers grazing elephants in the most stunning natural landscapes imaginable. This resort, an elephant camp, was created in 2003 to rescue elephants. Over sixty 60 elephants have been rescued from Thailand’s city streets and guests can interact in a variety of elephant experiences including their signature Walking With Giants experience that provides an optimal way of getting to know the elephants and develop a deeper emotional connection.
Spa guests enter to the delightful fragrance of lemongrass and ascend to private teak wood suites overlooking the three countries. The spa menu draws from northern wellness traditions as well as indigenous and medicinal ingredients. Spa experiences at the resort include a Gua Sha facial treatment, which combines the a blend of nourishing plant extracts and traditional Thai ingredients to encourage cell renewal and oxygenation to promote anti-aging, smoothed wrinkles and relax facial muscles. Guests will also find Yam Khang fire therapy, which is an ancient Northern style, Lanna Thai healing practice that uses heat, oils, and mainly the feet to massage and treat the body. They also offer traditional Thai Ya-Pao detoxification therapy. This starts with a traditional Thai abdominal massage to clear out blockages, increase blood flow and encourage the circulation of the lymphatic system and is followed by herbal burning on the abdomen to help relieve discomfort, balance the elements and help rid the body of excess air, which causes bloating, distension and pain.
Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa in Lenox, Massachusetts (www.miravalresorts.com/berkshires)
There’s something special going on in the Berkshires. Creatives like Edith Wharton, Norman Rockwell, and Nathaniel Hawthorne have long been drawn to the storied mountains for inspiration. James Taylor, Yo-Yo Ma, and Meryl Streep are just a handful of the celebrities who have homes in the area. In addition to the abundance of arts and culture happening in the area, there’s something especially healing and transformative. Miraval Berkshires, a resort and spa destination is smack in the middle of this movement. Miraval Berkshires’ stunning grounds are centered around a regal 1894 mansion with 380 acres designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect responsible for Central Park in New York City. A trip to Miraval gives guests an opportunity for an immersive experience which includes fitness, yoga, and wellness programs as well as spa treatments.
Their spa, Life in Balance Spa, designed by Clodagh, features outdoor adventure programming, equine therapy and more. Guests are greeted with a hand-crafted metal mandala and invited to indulge in 29,000 square feet of pools, saunas, lounges, and treatment rooms. Innovation meets tradition at Miraval Berkshires, where nature nourishes the body. Body renewing rituals include a Manuka Honey Quench, Almond Orange Brightening, a Lemongrass Escape, and more. Those looking for Ayurveda, or the “Science of Self-Healing” can experience a new treatment called Pradhana Veda, a 90-minute session combining the core elements of Ayurveda for the ultimate restorative fusion. In addition to these unique and game-changing treatments, there’s opportunities for Reiki, Reflexology, Yoga, Thai Massage, Vibrational Sound Therapy, Crystal Energy Work, and so much more. There’s a plethora of encounters and experiences at Miraval. If you only have time for a short stay, consider indulging in the Miraval Berkshires Day Package and embark on a complete retreat for mind, body, and soul from 8:30am to 5:00pm. By the end of the day you’ll feel refreshed and renewed, but might just end up calling in and staying the rest of the week.
The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia (www.omnihotels.com/hotels/homestead-virginia)
There’s something in the water, and we’re all about it. Omni Homestead Resort’s Warm Springs Pools recently reopened after a 14-month, $4 million renovation. These 19th century bath houses have long been sought after by weary travelers looking for renewal. The baths, fed by four natural warm springs, rich in mineral content, offer a bounty of health benefits from soothing the skin to boosting blood circulation and relieving pain. Omni Homestead Resort is located across over 2,000 acres of scenic Virginia landscape. The property has been visited by 23 U.S. Presidents including Thomas Jefferson and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Jefferson was such a fan, in fact, that he took baths several times a day for three weeks. Until recently, the baths were named the Jefferson Pools. Omni Homestead Resort purchased the pools and gave them just the “updo” they needed. In addition to the healing pools, the spa at Omni Homestead offers Swedish and deep tissue massages, classic European facials, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and salon services. Spend a long weekend at the property and maximize the healing properties of the springs. There are 15 minerals at work and the water is continuously flowing at over 1,700,000 gallons each day.
Palazzo Fiuggi in Fiuggi, Italy (www.palazzofiuggi.com)
The Italian village of Fiuggi is famous for its Acqua di Fiuggi, low-mineral water that flows down from the mountains. Located a little over an hour outside of Rome, the healing waters of Fiuggi have been used as early as the 14th century. Palazzo Fiuggi, is a stunning wellness and medical spa designed to encourage relaxation and encourage a lifelong approach to wellness. The property opened less than two years ago and has already won some of the most prestigious international awards and accolades. The facility, which draws on the local natural springs, fuses ancient holistic disciplines with traditional Western medicine. The heart and soul of the spa is their thalassotherapy baths with sea minerals and a spa suite that includes a whirlpool, sauna, and Turkish baths. Their main swimming pool dates back to 1936 and, at the time, the building was the first in Europe to have an outdoor pool. Guests these days can soak in three magnificent swimming pools and even book an indulgent spa suite. Step back into Ancient Rome at The Palazzo’s recreation of the experience of the ancient Roman Baths at their Roman Therme.
Need to get out of the water? Special treatments include the MLX Dome, combining Far Infrared Rays (FIR) technology with Plasma Light Therapy (PLT) to rejuvenate the skin; Terapia Psammo, which is a therapy carried out via a specially equipped bed that supports the body and allows the dry heat of natural quartz sand to relieve muscle and joint pain; Quartz Vibra Sound Healing; and so much more. Looking to focus on your face? Dr. Barbara Sturm, the aesthetic doctor, renowned worldwide for her non-surgical approach to anti-aging, consults with the spa to offer treatments like Bio Lifting, Celliss, and a variety of treatments to help guests radiate beauty from the inside out. For the ultimate experience, book a room at Villa Luisa, the 7-bedroom Villa located on the grounds where you can retreat to your own private spa with sauna after indulging in a long and blissful day at the Palazzo Fiuggi spa and medical facilities.
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives in Fari Islands, Maldives (www.ritzcarlton.com)
The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives, is a 45-minute journey by speedboat or a 10-minute seaplane flight from Malé International Airport. The resort is heralded for its overwater villas, white sandy beaches, turquoise lagoons, and coral reefs with marine life. Shaped by the Maldivian sun and shored by the Indian Ocean, the property is renowned for its signature Ritz-Carlton Spa. The wellness spa, inspired by the Earth’s energy, is a ring-shaped sanctuary tucked over the breathtaking and tranquil turquoise lagoon. It features nine spa treatment rooms including a spa suite with its own relaxation lounge, a salon and a boutique. Treatments include the Bamford Signature Journey, which combines Japanese Shiatsu and Swedish motions to ease tension and balance meridians, followed by wave-like massages in unison with the ocean’s rhythm; their 90-minute Bamboo Massage which penetrates deep into the tissue by using heated bamboo sticks, kneading the muscles to stimulate blood circulation while enhancing flexibility; and their signature treatment, the Maldivian Signature Rejuvenation, which incorporates organic coconuts and pearly-white sand in a full-body massage to relax, nourish, and rejuvenate.
The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Miami Beach, Florida (www.marriott.com)
Miami is known for beaches, art, and the art of party, but The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is serious about R&R and the art of wellness. The property, stretching 27 stories above the white sandy beaches of Miami, offers an idyllic wellness getaway for travelers in search of privacy, exclusivity and relaxation. Guests can unplug at The St. Regis Spa, which recently introduced a new spa concept, featuring an all-new menu of luxury treatments and wellness experiences inspired by Caroline Astor and the resort’s sense of place. The 14,000-square-foot spa offers wonderful treatments from the signature Caroline Collection, Wellness Collection, Body, Massage or Facials, all of which feature products from world-class spa and beauty brands including Sothy’s, Omorovicza, and Intraceuticals. Go for the gold with the 24K Gold Wrap, a 90-minute journey designed to relax and reconnect the mind and body while leaving the skin hydrated and luminous. The treatment starts with an invigorating full-body exfoliation using a golden sugar scrub, followed by a gentle scalp massage. While the cleansing mask works to warm and detoxify the skin, a harmonious hydro-massage leaves the mind deeply relaxed. In the mood to splurge? Book the Illuminate & Lift treatment, a 90-minute journey featuring the best of science and rare ingredients with instant, visible results to preserve the youth of the skin. AHA’s remove congestion while plumping facial massage lifts. Enjoy a tightening bio-cellulose mask that firms while rose stem cells and porcelain flower oil repair damaged skin performed with SOTHYS products from Paris, known for their extraordinary treatments and science of results.
Traveling with the hubby? Go ahead and book The Four Elements Couples Journey, which features a two-person soak tub, private rain showers, and separate treatment areas. At 90-minutes long, the natural treatment begins with a personal consultation and includes an immersive full-body exfoliation, hydrobath, and back and scalp massage, using CBD-based products to target inflammation, nourish the skin, and promote deep relaxation. It’s been said that “Miami is always a good idea,” so why not say yes?
The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town, South Africa (www.12apostleshotel.com)
The Twelve Apostles, part of the Table Mountain Range, overlooks Camps Bay in Cape Town, South Africa. Rising up from the mountain range is The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, possibly one the best hotels in not just South Africa, but all of Africa. The award-winning luxury Spa at The Twelve Apostles Hotel, overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and offers an abundance of wellness and rejuvenation, surrounded by the natural beauty of the Table Mountain National Park.
The spa is designed by owner Toni Tollman, the all-white crystal grotto in natural muted tones of white, beige, stone and marble, exudes an aura of tranquility and calm, allowing guests to succumb to the hands of expert therapists with treatments that heal, restore and pamper. The spa offers personalized, individual treatments and Spa Journeys for both hotel guests and day spa visitors, as well as a variety of half and full-day Spa Packages. The Ultimate Spa Package is a four-hour experience that includes an Aromatherapy Massage followed by a 60-minute facial treatment and spa manicure and pedicure. Enjoy lunch and a glass of bubbly as part of the package, or book the Secret Indulgence two and a half hour experience to take in an exotic Elemis salt scrub followed by the Elemis Absolute Spa Ritual and then a Deep Tissue Massage to ease away your tension and leaving you feeling blissfully invigorated. If you’re coming with your beau, the Total Relaxation Duo is a five and a half hour experience offering a 60-minute Hydrating Milk Bath Wrap, 60-minute facials, a 90-minute Relaxing Stone Massage followed by a 60-minute manicure and 60-minute pedicure. Feeling a little tipsy afterward? It’s because they give you a bottle to share, along with lunch and chocolate covered strawberries. Ooh la la, indeed!
Whiteface Lodge in Lake Placid, New York (www.thewhitefacelodge.com)
Whiteface Lodge is tucked away into the woodlands surrounding Lake Placid in upstate New York. The Spa at Whiteface Lodge is an intimate 5,700-square-foot spa that takes its inspiration from the complex mosaic of Adirondack Mountain life. It’s no surprise that Condé Nast Traveler recently named the spa one of the top 100 Spas in North America, as this serene and blissful destination is destined to make you feel like a brand new you. Spa guests can embark on a variety of spa adventures from massage, skincare, body treatment, to salon experiences. Whiteface Arnica Recovery Wrap is an 80-minute gentle exfoliation with Arnica infused sugar. An Arnica infused shea butter masque is applied while you are wrapped in a warm cocoon,
allowing you to soak in rich minerals and healing Arnica extract. Once you’re all wrapped up, enjoy a Deep Tissue Massage to relax the body and mind. The Lodge Mud Wrap is a 50-minute detoxifying and nourishing full-body mud masque. The wrap utilizes minerals and clay to draw out toxins and impurities, and a relaxing scalp massage while enveloped completes the sensory journey, letting stress melt away. A massage of rich shea butter completes the treatment, which leaves visitors feeling refreshed, clean, and energized. If traveling with two, go for the Great Salt Lake Bath and Massage Ritual, an 80-minute experience including 50-minute traditional therapeutic massages followed by submerging in a warm 25-minute hydrotherapy bath of sea salts, magnesium, and arnica. This mixture of minerals will help rejuvenate and extend the benefits of your massage while soaking in an oversized hydrotherapy tub designed for two.
Whiteface Lodge is the type of destination you can’t just go to for a couple of days. There’s plenty to see and do after your spa adventure including tennis, pickleball, basketball, an onsite movie theater, old-fashioned two-lane bowling alley, bonfires in the evenings, and delicious dining options. Book your stay today!
Last modified: April 14, 2023
