No screaming alarm clocks, just friendly wake up calls. Breakfast in bed courtesy of room service. Mini-bars stocked with Moët champagne splits. Turn down service, and a Godiva chocolate on your pillow. There’s a reason (or five) why they call it ‘the suite life’.
In true treat-yourself vacation fashion, along with sleeping in on a Tuesday, and mimosas for breakfast, a trip to the hotel spa is pretty much a necessity. From Spain to St. Barths—and many destinations in between—these swoon-worthy hotel spas promise to pamper you like royalty.
SPAIN
Villa Padierna
Fit for a first lady, the luxurious Villa Padierna has hosted former FLOTUS Michelle Obama and her daughter, Sasha. If that’s not reason enough to book a stay, a look at the Marbella hotel’s luxury spa should do it.
Crisp, bright, white interiors with a Mediterranean style decor, the spa at Villa Padierna exudes elegant simplicity and serenity. In addition to standard treatment rooms, the spa offers a floatarium, three different steam baths, saunas, and a nebulization room.
CALIFORNIA
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Photo courtesy of Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Just off the coast, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa sits on over 200 lush acres, overlooking the picturesque Topatopa Mountains. This five star, award-winning, hotel offers five star spa facilities, too.
A Kuyam chamber (pictured above), where clay therapy takes place, aims to bring together comfort, culture, and cleansing. The space is inspired by Ojai’s indigenous people, the Chumash.
Other facilities and therapies include a Somadome, a private woman’s area with Moroccan inspired decor, and—if you’re affected by celestial and cosmic energy—Ojai Valley Inn & Spa even offers a Mercury in Retrograde package.
BRAZIL
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa
Photo courtesy of UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa
Tranquility in Trancoso. You won’t find another spot quite like this one where tropical meets rustic, and Bahia authenticity is preserved, and treasured.
With one-of-a-kind facilities, like a crystal laden pool (it’s adorned with 40,000 pieces of aventurine quartz) and once-in-a-lifetime therapies to try (guests can head out to a lagoon for a white clay treatment), UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa is the perfect place to reap the many benefits of trying new things.
WYOMING
AMANGANI
Photo courtesy of AMAN
A hot tub overlooking Jackson Hole’s snowcapped mountains? Yes, please. At AMANGANI nature provides the perfect backdrop, and can be found sprinkled into the spa’s treatments, too. For example, the hot stones in your hot stone massage? They’re sourced from nearby Snake River.
Guests can also indulge in energy, and spiritual healing, too, AMANGANI Spa offers Reiki and chakra balancing.
FRANCE
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo
Photo courtesy of Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo
Nothing says luxury quite like sleek, stunning slabs of marble, gold accents, and Givenchy. Hats off to architect Didier Gomez. Spa Metropole offers various massages and treatments, and if you’re heading in from afar you won’t want to skip the rejuvenating ‘anti-jet-lag interlude’.
If you like it hot, there’s a caldarium on-site, as well as a sauna and hammam. And, if you like it cold, cryotherapy can also be included in your treatment.
ZANZIBAR
Essque Zalu Zanzibar
Photo courtesy of Essque Hotels
Zalu Zanzibar’s spa has a unique natural, earthy vibe—from its aesthetic to its therapies. Each treatment offered at the spa uses AFRICOLOGY products that are 100% organic and made from all-natural ingredients.
Guests can enjoy standard treatments including facials, massages, and body wraps. For a truly special experience, and a taste of culture, try the Maasai Ritual.
Unlike many spas, Zalu also offers treatments for kids, as they believe it is important to allow children to learn about and embrace wellness and a healthy lifestyle.
ST. BARTHS
Le Sereno Hotel
Photo courtesy of Le Sereno Hotel
Le Sereno Hotel in St. Barths is the epitome of tropical beachfront luxury. The spa’s open air treatment rooms create a relaxed atmosphere allowing the sounds of nature to be the soundtrack to your therapy of choice. Who wouldn’t want a deep tissue massage with the sounds of the ocean in the background?
If that’s not enough, the spa actually incorporates bits of the beach into its treatments, too. Skip the hot stones and opt for a warm sea shell massage instead.
Water-based therapy is offered here, too. Allow your stresses, aches, and pains to float away during a Eau De Reve treatment that will help you to achieve complete relaxation.
For more information, visit Dr. Brian A. Levine's social media: