By Deanna Pai, Best Life
You have spas, and then you have spas. You know, where the
treatments are top-notch, the locale is unreal, and the interior makes
you feel as though you’ll be able to spend the rest of your life in
harmony with your surroundings. After a long day—or week, or month—at
the office, there’s nothing better than taking a weekend to fully relax.
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Now, a treatment at one of these luxurious spas may be a splurge, but it’s a worthy one—and one that might just merit a repeat. Whether you love aromatherapy, want to try “sound healing,” or just need to float away from your stresses, here are the most otherworldly spas to check off your list. And while you’re feeling the self-care vibe, treat yourself and start planning one of these 8 Exclusive Trips to Take With Friends.
This desert hideaway, tucked into the rugged mountains of Utah,
offers a range of services inspired by local Native American rituals.
The Desert Rain treatment ($350) includes a water immersion to help
restore and rebalance, while the Crystal Sound Bath ($250), an ancient
healing technique using harmonic frequencies, renews energy. The
surroundings add to the ethos, with a yoga pavilion that offers
breathtaking views of the mesa wall and a soaking pool (heated in the
winter, of course) encircled by the desert landscape. If the mountainous
landscape reminds you of how much you miss skiing, here are the 5 best luxury ski trips you can take.
Gilded to the nines, this spa recalls a very ornate, indulgent
underground lair (think lots of chandeliers and shiny, shimmering
finishes). If nothing is glamorous enough for you, you’ll feel right at
home here. Try one of the aromatherapy-fueled body treatments (starting
at $200) or feel fresh-faced again with a plumping facial ($300)
featuring the plant-powered formulas of French skincare brand Sisley.
Afterwards, linger at the Carlyle’s storied Café Carlyle for a drink
and—depending on the night—a live jazz performance with Woody Allen. And right next door is The Carlyle bar, Bemelmans, one of The 20 Greatest Hotel Bars in America Right Now.
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Take a break from wine tasting
at this Napa sanctuary, which is nestled in a woodsy, moss-covered
canyon. A long soak in the spa’s healing mineral pool will help you
unwind before your Calistoga Cure treatment ($460), a two-and-a-half
hour experience that begins with a mineral salt body scrub, followed by a
soak in a private outdoor bath, and an energy balancing session. It
eventually ends with the spa’s signature massage. (Naturally.) Then,
re-tox with a forest hike to a nearby winery, where you can enjoy a
private wine tasting and meal. To continue feeling pampered after you
leave, start stocking your own wine cellar—here’s advice on how to start a collection, by the world’s #1 wine expert.
Once you’re done ogling the incredible views of Central Park and
midtown Manhattan, unwind in the amethyst crystal steam room and take a
dip in the vitality pool. Then, treat yourself to Oriental Harmony
($820), which entails a massage by two therapists and a personalized
consultation. Or do a mini digital detox with the Digital Wellness
Escape (starting at $240), which helps undo the strain from hunching
over screens all day. An afternoon in the Asian-inspired surroundings
will provide all the Zen you need to handle the fast pace of the city.
And if you get hungry while you’re in the area, head over to Norma’s for
its Zillion Dollar Frittata, which has everyone asking, Is This the World’s Best Omelette?
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Give your skin the TLC it deserves with an appointment at the
celebrity skin guru’s flagship spa. Fender’s known as much for her
holistic, natural product line and custom-blended formulas as she is for
her star-studded clientele (think Julianne Moore and Gwyneth Paltrow).
So take a break from the beach with her restorative Signature Treatment
($300), which pairs rhythmic massage with reflexology, or enjoy the Hollywood treatment with Oscar Night Facial Treatment ($175), which restores skin with potent ingredients and oxygen therapy.
With a steam room that’ll transport you to Morocco—and
true to its LA ethos—this spa is all about excess. Try the Diamond Rose
Body Treatment ($425), which transforms skin to its softest, smoothest
state with a combination of Damask rose oil and diamond dust gel. Or, if
you really want to get into the SoCal mindset, opt for the Superfood
Detox Wrap ($325), which nourishes skin with antioxidant-packed green
tea seed oil and a chia-infused body wrap. Once you’re done, head
outside to the pool for some sun and a shot-glass smoothie (although no
one will blame you for going to Rodeo Drive instead). If you can’t bear
to leave LA, check into the Maison 140, one of the 12 Swankiest Boutique Hotels in America (according to Anthony Bourdain).
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Visit for the treatments, but stay for the immersive natural water
journey. Before your appointment, the spa recommends warming up in the
Herbal Sauna, turning it up in the Salt Stone Sauna, moving to the
invigorating Aromatherapy Shower, and then relaxing in the
chamomile-infused Oriental Steam Room before making your way to one of
the heated recliners. And that doesn’t even include a treatment like
Chuan Tao of Detox ($460), which entails a full-body exfoliation, marine
algae wrap, a massage, and—can’t forget your complexion—a deep
cleansing facial. To keep your skin shining and healthy when you get
back home, incorporate these 25 foods that will keep you young forever into your diet.
Far ahead of the curve, the treatment of the moment in Seattle is
flotation therapy. Calm your mind and rest your body in one of Level
Float Spa’s futuristic float pods ($89), or opt for more room and space
in a float suite. Each pod and suite contains roughly 900 pounds of sea
salt, which infuses the water with minerals that benefit your hair and
skin. Plus, people swear by floating for everything from chronic pain to
stalled productivity.
Alternately, you can go the extra mile in a sensory deprivation tank.
The benefits of Level Float Spa are just one of the many reasons to
stick around Seattle—another is that it’s one of The 100 Happiest Cities in America.
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Take a breather and get back to nature at this intimate New England spa. Choose from Japan–
or Hammam-inspired treatment rituals, dabble in sound healing, or even
work with a personal wellness advisor to create customized
blends—formulated with marine elements, wild algae, medicinal clays,
wild herbs and organic essential oils—to address your body’s biochemical
needs. There’s no faster (or more thorough) way to feel revived and
renewed. And, the best part: It’s all located less than two hours from
New York City.
Southern living has never seemed so chic. Indoor and outdoor lounges
in the spa both have surreal views of the mountains, which you can hike
through before you settle in for the day for treatments. The spa offers
the requisite facials, but don’t miss the bespoke services, like
Raindrop Therapy (starting at $90), a technique in which essential oils
are dropped directly onto your spine and massaged in, and the range of
Lavender and Tangerine, Eucalyptus, and Grapefruit Salt Glows ($90
each). Follow your services up with a light, nourishing spa dinner
offered by the resort. And if that first hike left you wanting more,
here are the The Greatest Hikes in the World.
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Considering its Southwestern setting, there’s not much—if
anything—that’s dry and dusty about this spa, thanks in part to the
geothermal mineral springs. The grounds offer a yoga yurt and intention
garden, filed with wildflowers seeded by guests, as well as hot springs
with four different types of minerals for healing and relaxation. In
keeping with the calm, natural surroundings, indulge in the Sacred
Journey Aroma Wrap ($109), which combines essential oils, local herbs,
and the mineral waters. Then, round out your experience with a bath in a
private soaking tub. It’s guaranteed you’ll drift peacefully to asleep
after a relaxing day at this spa—but if you’re still having trouble (or
haven’t made it to Ojo Caliente yet), here are 11 doctor-approved secrets for falling asleep faster.
This is rustic done right. This spa—though landlocked—has an Aqua
Garden, with soaking pools and hydro-massage waterfalls. (And that’s
only once you make it past the rocking chairs on the porch and the
fireplace in the lounge.) Naturally, flotation therapy (starting at $90)
in the Float Cabin is available, as are intensive massages like the
Delaware River Stone Massage ($215), which uses actual warmed stones
from the Delaware River. Then, save time for a Forest Bathing class, an
ancient Japanese-inspired guided walk deep into the woods that’s known
to relieve stress. For more stress-relief tips, try The 10 Best Non-Exercise Stress Busters.
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If you’re tired of the signature massages, this is your best bet,
because the spa treatment menu reads like a novella. Some treatments
incorporate the true-to-Texas ingredients, like the prickly pear-packed
Tour of Texas treatment ($350), which includes a scrub, wrap, scalp rub,
and massage, and Best of the Southwest ($225), a scrub and wrap powered
by local mesquite and jojoba oil. If you’re looking for something a
little more intensive, the spa also offers acupuncture and acupressure.
Those with lower-back pain have often extolled the virtues of
acupuncture; if that’s something you struggle with, here’s your ultimate lower back pain-fighting game plan.
Few things are dreamier—and less attainable on an everyday basis—than
a hot bath. This spa keeps that in mind with its lineup of bath
treatments, like the Rest Assured Soak and Massage ($225), which
includes a private bath, massage, and 15 minutes for napping or
meditation, and Toast to Life Bath and Massage ($225), which
incorporates Chardonnay
into every step. Even if you opt for a regular body wrap, massage, or
facial, you can enjoy hot and cool rainfall showers, a rose- and
sandalwood-scented steam room, the hot pool infused with essential oils,
and a cold plunge pool.
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Built into Arizona’s red rocks, this spa takes advantage of its
peaceful, holistic surroundings and offers a bespoke menu of guided
meditations, like the Red Rock Inspiration meditation ($165) and
Labyrinth Walk meditation ($165). If you want to go a step further, you
can also try Reiki healing ($190) and even a Past Life Regression
session ($315) with a certified therapist. Even the massages take
mind-body to the next level: The Spirit of the Full Moon ($315) entails
writing down what you’d like to release. Healing has never been more
elegant.
After a visit to these luxury spas, you’ll be feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to head back to work—stay on top by using these 60 Ways to Buy an Extra 60 Minutes Every Day.
More from Best Life
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Now, a treatment at one of these luxurious spas may be a splurge, but it’s a worthy one—and one that might just merit a repeat. Whether you love aromatherapy, want to try “sound healing,” or just need to float away from your stresses, here are the most otherworldly spas to check off your list. And while you’re feeling the self-care vibe, treat yourself and start planning one of these 8 Exclusive Trips to Take With Friends.
Amangiri
Aman; Canyon Point, UT |
The Sisley-Paris Spa at The Carlyle
The Sisley Spa at The Carlyle; New York, NY |
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Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch
Calistoga Ranch; Calistoga, CA |
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental New York
Mandarin Oriental New York; New York, NY |
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Tammy Fender Holistic Skincare
Tammy Fender; Palm Beach, FL |
Spa at Beverly Wilshire
Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills; Los Angeles, CA |
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Chuan Spa at the Langam
Chuan Spa; Chicago, IL |
Level Float Spa
Level Float + Sensory Spa; Seattle, WA |
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Grace Mayflower Spa
Grace Mayflower Inn and Spa; Washington, CT |
Westglow Spa
Westglow Resort & Spa; Blowing Rock, NC |
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Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa; Ojo Caliente, NM |
The Lodge at Woodloch
The Lodge at Woodloch; Hawley, PA |
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Lake Austin Spa
Lake Austin Spa Resort; Austin, TX |
Sundara Inn and Spa
Sundara Inn & Spa; Wisconsin Dells, WI |
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Mii Amo
Mii Amo; Sedona, AZ |
After a visit to these luxury spas, you’ll be feeling rested, rejuvenated, and ready to head back to work—stay on top by using these 60 Ways to Buy an Extra 60 Minutes Every Day.
More from Best Life