The world's best spas
| The spa is the latest in pampering luxury to have taken hedonism to a new high. Baths "" hot, thermal, healing, massage, scrub "" have been around presumably as long as humankind, but over the last decades have come to represent a sort of wellness getaway. |
| What started as little more than health clubs in hotels have bloomed into full-fledged resort spas. And "treatments" can vary from the cosmetic ("Darling, I feel like a foot scrub today") to the healing. |
| At the heart of most resort and destination spas are signature treatments though there is usually a mix of massages with oils and unguents that have healing properties, diets; rest and relaxation. |
| Choices in therapy can vary from the Indian (meditation, yoga, ayurveda) to the oriental (Thai massages, for instance), or European massages and treatments. |
| All this within a secluded world where soothing music, water, natural elements and the hushed footfalls of service play an equally important role in restoring and rejuvenating tired, jaded bodies and minds to increased activity and alertness. |
| In the last few years, spas have opened across all continents and in many countries. |
| The traditional hot water springs of Europe and the treatment spas of Asia, however, are the most popular; now, these facilities are being provided at most major destinations, so people can combine a holiday with a spa break "" a retreat away from the pressures of work, even family: an escape to bliss. |
| Just how popular spas have become can be seen from the recent launch of Spa (Taschen, edited by Allison Arieff and Bryan Burkhart, 480 pages, $39.99) that lists its selection of spas in seven geographical regions of the world. Here is a preview of one spa each from the seven sections in the book. |
| AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST Who thought that amidst such poverty and conservatism, you'd find such luxury? But that's forgetting that it might well have been Cleopatra who, with her milk baths, probably invented the concept of a spa centuries ago. |
| Amanjena Resort & Spa Marrakesh, Morocco |
| Amidst desert winds (and sands) in the romantic city of Marrakesh, you'll find en suite pools and private gardens, sensational dining and all the treatments of an Aman spa. |
| Rooms are $800-1,350 per day, and suites $2,100-2,800 with 10 per cent service charge and an additional 10 per cent government tax. Er, the treatments are extra. |
| Signature treatment: Steam baths Email: amanjena@amanresorts.com |
| ASIA This is where the action has shifted in the last few years, with a wide variety of local (certainly Asian) treatments, combined with treatments from the West, as well as hospitality that just gets better and better. |
| Roppongi Hills Spa Tokyo, Japan |
| In case you thought Japan was only tiny spaces and accommodations, here's a surprise. Mind you, the spa is very un-Asian in that it is Conran-designed and extremely modern, but even so, has the sensibility of an Asian spa, complete with preparatory area prior to the restorative area. |
| Since it is located in Tokyo's downtown cultural centre, you can pop in for a treatment during your lunch hour too. Rates on application. |
| Signature treatment: Shiatsu massage Email: info@hillsspa.com |
| CARIBBEAN Imagine the playground of the stars and oodles of sea, and you can see why the Caribbean might be ideal for this sort of thing. |
| Shambhala at Parrot Cay British West Indies |
| A beachfront resort with colonial style interiors on a private 1,000 acre island "" what more need one say? Average room rates are $481, though you might effect a "bargain" if you book during the lean season. Be prepared to pay extra for transportation to the island. |
| Signature treatment: Abhyanga Email: res@parrot.tc |
| EUROPE Remember when people would go to the "baths"? Those hot water springs in Austria, or Germany, or Iceland "" part of the "cures" people sought when ailing "" have now become the resorts of the pampered. |
| Vigilius Mountain Resort Lana, Italy |
| Surrounded by mountains, and with the flowing waters of a spring, this is almost the ideal place in which to seek relaxation. The Shiseido Qi (energy of life) treatments come heavily recommended. |
| Week-long package rates are Euro 1,350-1,980 for a room, Euro 3,390 for a suite; midweek rates for a three-night package is Euro 562-825 for rooms, Euro 1,412 for suites. |
| Signature treatment: Focus weeks Email: info@vigilius.it |
| NORTH AMERICA Since the most developed part of the world wants its bit of old-world treatments, there's a high density of spa resorts here. |
| Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Paradise Valley, Arizona |
| Imagine 53 acres on the "rocky mountain high" (or thereabouts) and you might have just glimpsed a bit of this luxurious world with a therapeutic Watsu pool, a shaded outdoor lap pool, and Arizona's largest infinity-edge resort pool. |
| Plus, world class tennis, golf and fitness facilities. A range of packages and programmes, of which the Spa Programme for two nights is priced at $956-1,101 for rooms, $1,280 for suites (breakfast and two treatments are complimentary). |
| Signature treatment: Sumatra coconut polish Email: info@sanctuaryaz.com |
| OCEANA Australia, Fiji and Polynesia too have their share of spa getaways. |
| Namale Fiji Islands |
| There's a huge booking list here, so reserve in advance for this tiny piece of paradise in the South Pacific. |
| There's a choice of bures (thatched cottages, $850-1,075 per night) or villas ($1,950), though if you're looking for a bargain then there are guesthouse rooms for $300-500 as well. |
| Massages are typically $85 for 45 minutes, $125 for 90 minutes. Besides, there's deep sea diving and scuba diving too. |
| Signature therapy: Namale tandem massage Email: reservations@namaleresort.com |
| MEXICO & SOUTH AMERICA Okay, not too many Indians get there "" but shouldn't that be reason enough to venture forth to this mysterious and exciting part of the world? |
| Explora a en Patagonia Puerto Natales, Chile |
| Imagine an outdoors jacuzzi, invigorating dips in the pool, even an indoor heated pool in a 28-room eco-lodge in the lap of glacial peaks... Located next to a national park, you can take an eight-day package for $2,770-4,778 including transfers, sightseeing, all meals and bar. Treatments are extra. |
| Signature therapy: Swedish Massage Email: reservexplora@explora.com |