AWAY SPA, W LONDON
LONDON, ENGLAND
London may not be widely known as one of the worldโs top tanning capitals, but the W London and its Away Spa are out to remedy that forever. Set on the sixth floor of the hip and ultra-gay-friendly W (with its sublimely central location on Leicester Square in the heart of the city), Away Spa employs an elite family of celebrity therapists, including UK tanning expert James Harknett, whoโs been called โthe Tom Ford of spray tanning.โ Harknettโs line of bespoke tanning treatments, pegged as 2019โs Best Wellness Experience by British GQ for its annual Grooming Awards, runs the bronzing gamut from the fresh and natural Punta de Mita to the dark and dreamy Doha, each costing about $75 per 60-minute
session. Away Spa also offers a full range of massages, facials, and rituals, including its exclusive Citrus Essence Ritual (80 min/$153). Developed specifically for the spa by Spanish luxury skincare brand Natura Bissรฉ, the ritual starts with a soothing lomi-juma massage (blending Pacific and Mediterranean practices), then continues with a Tolerance Enzyme Peel with extracts of prickly pear and papaya, and a vitamin scrub to help improve your skin’s natural radiance. A vitamin concentrate is then applied directly to sun-damaged areas, followed by a soothing face and neck massage, and an ascorbic facial mask for all-over repair and protection. Away Spa additionally offers a number of treatments
designed distinctly for men, including the detoxifying, restoring, and hydrating Man Up facial (75 min/$144), and the Grooming Handsome package (105 min/$194), which includes a massage, a scalp massage, a facial, and a gentleman’s manicure. www.awayspalondon.com
โDan Allen
ZENTROPIA PALLADIUM SPA & WELLNESS
MAYAN RIVIERA, MEXICO
Sprawled across 51,000 square feet over two levels, the Zentropia Palladium Spa feels roomy enough to be a boutique hotel on its own. Rather, itโs a destination within the brand-new Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort, a private beachside haven just a short drive north of Cancun. The Mayan-inspired spa design adds to the resortโs high luxury, and features hot and cold whirlpools, dry and moist saunas, ice cabin, salt room, meditation rooms, and a fitness center (with a range of exercise classes). Along with relaxation areas and a smoothie cafรฉ, Zentropiaโs upper-level, semi-outdoor pool lets you relax with a Gulf view. The standout attraction is the โwater garden,โ a huge open-air pool with cavernous
ceilings and various hydromassage jets and beds. In Zentropiaโs 16 individual rooms, seasoned therapists and salon stylists provide everything from signature couples treatments and facials, to body scrubs, wraps, and massages (services start at $90 for shorter treatments). All treatments use Zentropia brand or other luxury products like Pevonia, Alfa Park, and Kerastase. The Grand Palladium is a family-friendly resort, and Zentropia spa access is available for $85/day, or free with any spa treatment. However, guests of TRS Coral, the Palladiumโs adults-only complex, can enjoy the spa at no extra cost. The resort also is home to the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre, where guests can play or train in tennis and other
sports. www.zentropia-spa.com/en/spa/riviera-maya-complejo
โKelsy Chauvin
PICCOLINO SPA AT CASA LUCILA
MAZATLAN, MEXICO
Mazatlan is known for its wide beaches, but seasoned travelers realize that the so-called โPearl of the Pacificโ is also celebrated for its historic city center, a beautifully restored downtown unlike anything offered in other Mexican beach destinations. And itโs in the increasingly stylish urban center that youโll find one of the best places to get a spa treatment, specifically at Casa Lucila, an upscale boutique hotel set in a former private home. The propertyโs overall outstanding attention to detail and quality extends to the tiny and exclusive Piccolino Spa. People donโt make an appointment at Piccolino if theyโre looking for something big and overpowering; this isnโt the place to wander a cavernous, grandiose spa among countless other guests. You check in here for the array of unique services, as well as the scenic venues where you can enjoy them. Consider experiencing a well-being stone ritual with hot basalt river stones and cold marble stones, designed to relax and increase circulation, while lying on your own private terrace and enjoying a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean (all one-hour treatments are $60). Or sign up for the spaโs Shirodhara treatments (60 min/$75), based on ancient Ayurveda techniques, which is an option not found in most of Mazatlan. Also noteworthy are the hotelโs rooftop yoga sessions, led by Karina Bรกrcena, a certified instructor of Hatha and Ashtanga yoga and co-organizer of Holi Fest Mazatlan, a local yoga festival. Sign up for Casa Lucilaโs yoga and meditation package (60 min/$60) and youโll be treated to yoga, meditation, and breakfast by the rooftop infinity pool. www.casalucila.com
โMark Chesnut
SPA MARQUIS
MARQUIS REFORMA HOTEL & SPA
CIUDAD DE MEXICO
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
The fact that the word โspaโ is in the hotelโs name says a lot about how important the wellness component is at the Marquis Reforma. Another clue: not only is the overall property a member of Leading Hotels of the World, the giant spa itself is billed as the only certified โLeading Spaโ in Mexico City. In other words, this is one of the best places to stay in North Americaโs largest city if youโre truly serious about relaxing and restoring your energy. Its prized location on the grand Paseo de la Reforma boulevard, just a few blocks from the LGBTQ-popular neighborhood called the Zona Rosa (Pink Zone) also helps to make it a standout. Measuring more than 16,000 square feet, the Spa Marquis has 10 private treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy tub, sauna, and steam room, as well as a sizeable, adults-only indoor relaxation pool with giant windows that let in lots of natural light. The extensive spa menu includes a four-hour Marquis Luxury Package (240 minutes/about $354), which promises an โexperience of kings,โ complete with an Egyptian bath, a facial, reflexology, and use of the full facilities. Other treatments include a Natura Bisse magnetic ritual (75 min/about $174), shiatsu massages (75 min/about $127) and targeted treatments like a pregnancy massage (50 min/about $87), and a โgents packageโ (100 min/about $156) with facial and massage designed for the males of the species. www.marquisreforma.com
โMark Chesnut
AWAY SPA AT W MEXICO CITY
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
Step โawayโ from the bustle of central Mexico City for a serious detox and chill session at this award-winning spa. Overlooking the pleasantly green, decidedly chic Polanco district, the AWAY Spa at the W Mexico City is a polished sanctuary that balances tradition with modern luxury. Most notably, the spa offers a special on-site experience using its Temazcal (an ancient-style adobe sweat lodge) paired with an herbal bath to purify both body and spirit (25 min/$20). The spa also offers specialty treatments using traditional herbs and aromatherapy for massage, hair, and nail services, and other revitalizing body sessions. Among them is the Mexican Massage using pre-Hispanic ancestral techniques meant to merge and refresh mind, body, and soul (50 min/$70). After a night on the town, donโt miss the 90-minute Hangover Facial ($110), which invites add-ons like a cacao exfoliation or healing mud wrap. Even without a treatment, AWAY Spa access ($20 for hotel guests) is a pleasant escape to a roomy terrace with indoor pool awash in natural light, where you can relax in the steam room, sauna, and hot tub. www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/fitness-spa-services/details/mexwm-w-mexico-city/6031918
โKelsy Chauvin
