Nothing beats a spa day. The right amount of relaxation and pampering can make or break your vacation, so a great spa program is essential when deciding on a luxury getaway. That means travelers are turning to destinations that offer more than just a massage.
Treatments that are both body and life changing are on trend this travel season as guests seek retreats that line up with their wellness lifestyle goals. From full-day immersions to virtual reality-enhanced mediation, these are the latest offerings from luxury hotels around the world.
The Santuario LeDomaine Wellness & Spa at the Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine – Mindfulness Spa Experience
Photo Credit: Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine
LeDomaine’s Santuario Spa has introduced the Mindfulness Spa Experience, combining virtual reality with guided meditation. The experience is a pre-treatment ritual that combines welcome body touches with an immersive virtual reality video complete with audio. The sound focuses guest’s thoughts on the treatment to come while guiding their breathing.
The subsequent touching of the therapist’s hands and gentle massage pressure results in heightened sensations that stimulate the release of neurochemicals related to positive emotions in the brain, promoting calmness and serenity. Santuario Spa also launched a 3D Collagen Shock treatment—a powerful regenerative and rejuvenating treatment based on a smart combination of three types of collagen with different molecular weights to improve skin density.
Le Royal Monceau,Raffles Paris – Baby Spa Therapy
Photo Credit: Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris
The Royal Monceau, Raffles Paris and the Spa My Blend by Clarins have created the ultimate spa program catered to new mothers and their babies. The all-new Baby Spa, a Thalasso Therapy Bath treatment, is a one-hour experience divided in two steps to calm both the mother and baby’s nervous systems by replicating the experience inside the womb.
First, babies are placed in the 98.6°F water and rocked under a warm water jet by a trained expert. Then, babies and mothers enjoy a soft, relaxing massage together. The “Baby Spa” is offered exclusively at Spa My Blend by Clarins and is performed by a qualified nurse.
Casa Violeta, Tulum – Temazcal
Photo Credit: Casa Violeta
At Casa Violeta, a private bungalow-only resort in Tulum, guests can experience the art of starting over with the Temazcal. Temazcal, a Mayan word meaning “medicinal house,” is a powerful healing ritual that has been used by the Mexican Aztecs, Mayans and Native Americans for centuries. At Casa Violeta, volcanic rocks are infused with healing waters create a steam bath atmosphere that guests immerse themselves in. This ancient process is said to call on the power of the four elements to cleanse the body, mind and spirit.
Following the ceremony, guests can realign their spirit with an abdominal Sobada Maya—an ancient Mayan massage practice of restoring the natural balance of the body by correcting the position of organs that have shifted and restoring the flow of blood, lymph nerve and chi energy.
Ritz-Carlton Grand Grand Cayman – Caviar Lift
Photo Credit: The Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman
La Prairie Spa is famous for its skin healing beauty products and forward-thinking skin science. They bring that all to the The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman resort. With a variety of pampering skin services offered in-room or at a private luxury cabana, there is no shortage of indulgence here. But the star of the show is their caviar facial using La Prairie’s exclusive line of caviar-enhanced skin care products.
The treatment aims to to lift and firm the skin. Serums are massaged into the skin with focus around the eyes and mouth. Since caviar has a cell structure similar to that of human skin cells and collagen and fish eggs are packed full of vitamins A, D, B1, B2 and B6, skin becomes more resilient. The result is the stimulated production of collagen and ultra hydrated skin.
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai – White Flowering ‘iliahi
Photo Credit: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai At Historic Kaupulehu has launched a new treatment for the festive holiday season called the White Flowering ‘iliahi. This 80-minute treatment sources ‘Iliahi (sandalwood) from the only sustainable forest in the world, on the beautiful slopes of Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i Island. The rich and fragrant sandalwood and pikake flowers offer calming aromatherapy during the treatment, easing restlessness and allowing for deep meditation and relaxation.
Royal Mansour, Marrakech, Morocco – Bespoke Hammam Treatments
Photo Credit: Royal Mansour
Royal Mansour tailors each of its Bespoke Hammam Treatments to the specific skin care needs of each guest using locally sourced Moroccan nature ingredients. Purifying clay, for example, has been collected from the Atlas Mountains while roses from the Kalaat Megouana valley are gathered and used in a regenerating body wrap. Local saffron is infused into the ‘gourmet glow’ wrap.
The treatment begins in a humid room on a slab of heated marble, where the therapist douses the body in water and black soap that is made with olive oil and vetiver. The guest is then scrubbed head to toe with miel d’ambre, before enjoying the customized treatment. Then it’s time for one final rinse and a dip in the icy cold plunge pool. The body is left spotlessly clean and utterly rejuvenated.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, Saint Lucia – Sulphur Seduction Treatment
Photo Credit: Sugar Beach, Viceroy
More than just a body treatment, the healing Sulphur Seduction treatment at the Rainforest Spa at Sugar Beach—a series of tree houses situated on the lower slopes of a UNESCO World Heritage site—involves a morning trip to the nearby volcanic sulphur springs to bathe in the black waters. Guests then soak in a sulphur mud bath before taking on an exfoliation treatment. After rinsing off in the naturally warm Piton waterfalls, guests return to the spa for an indulgent massage.
Capella Ubud, Bali – 24 Hours of Wellness Indulgences
Photo Credit: Capella Ubud
The Capella Ubud in Bali offers 24 hours of wellness indulgence to couples or groups hoping to reconnect and revive on a journey together. Taking place from sunrise to sunrise, the experience begins with a Balinese holy water ritual and pranayama yoga on a private deck. The exploration of self-healing through Swadistana Cakra Balancing comes next.
The immersion continues with pampering during a Senja Sunyi massage, including a full bathing ritual, before enjoying Camp Roast Dinner crafted by camp’s chef. The experience ends the next morning with a sunrise purification ritual at Wos Beji River temple.
Retreat at the Blue Lagoon,Iceland – In Water Massage
Photo Credit: Retreat at the Blue Lagoon
Unifying the dynamic pleasures of massage therapy, the Retreat at the Blue Lagoon offers the unique option of having a massage in an actual blue lagoon. Using the revitalizing powers of geothermal seawater, and the stunning beauty of the surrounding area, therapists stand alongside guests as they float amid the volcanic landscape, massaging muscles and releasing tension.
The lagoon’s potent array of minerals are said to have energizing effects on the mind and body, with the ability to exfoliate skin and stimulating circulation. All the massages and in-water treatments takes place in a private area of the lagoon, open only to guests having a treatment. It also has a limited view for other guests in the lagoon.
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