SPA CHANTERELLE,
JW MARRIOTT PHU QUOC
EMERALD BAY VIETNAM
PHU QUOC, VIETNAM
Alice isnโt the only one who deserves to spend time in Wonderland. At the luxurious JW Marriott in Phu Quoc, a five-star resort meticulously designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century French Colonial university, visitors fall into the rabbit hole at Chanterelle Spa. This blissed-out day spa boasts a Wonderland theme complete with fungi sculptures and portraitures, trippy floor tiles, woodland stenciling, and a staff dressed in blue frocks who cater to a visitorโs every need. We opted for the Soothing Facial (60 min/$125) which began with a tasty tonic in the waiting area, before being whisked away to the treatment room where a duo of aestheticians cast a spell over the both of us, and by that I mean they so artfully massaged, soothed, and painted our faces in rejuvenating lotions that we quickly fell asleep blanketed in our plush, oversized robes. Other treatment options include hair and nail care, a couples Jet Lag Package (90 min/$150), Mushroom Mycology (90 min/$150), and Thai Yoga Stretching (60 min/$125), plus stone therapy, herbal wraps, full body massages and, of course, a sauna, steam room, and relaxation area. Afterward, reward yourself with two sensual pleasures: a stroll along the resortโs private beach coupled with a sinful elixir whipped up at the open air Department of Chemistry Bar. www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/pqcjw-jw-marriottphu-quoc-emerald-bay-resort-and-spa
โChristopher Perry
ESENCIA SPA AT UNICO 20ยฐ87ยฐ RIVIERA MAYA
RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO
A rising star in the LGBQT-friendly all-inclusive hotel scene on Mexicoโs chic Riviera Maya, UNICO 20ยฐ87ยฐ is an ideal destination year round, thanks to its sizeable and elegant spa (even the fitness center has chandeliers). One of the reasons the 17,700-square-foot Esencia Spa stands out from other all-inclusive resort facilities is that most spa and beauty treatments are charged at whatโs called an โinclusion price,โ which is a rate thatโs lower than most standard pricing (since itโs a calculated discount, the prices may sometimes seem strangely specific, but the rates are undeniably attractive). That makes it easier to partake in the facilityโs impressive array of offerings. With 18 single cabins, six couplesโ cabins, and two sumptuous couplesโ suites, Esencia provides plenty of space to relax, including a hydrotherapy section that includes a plunge pool, steam, and sauna room. The exterior lounge offers further space to de-stress. And then there are the enticing treatments. From the sumptuous cocoa ritual (80 min/$92.50) to the volcanic stone massage (80 min/$87.50), there are many ways to refresh and rejuvenate at Esencia. The herbal Prehispanic treatment (80 min/$81.25), for example, features warm herbs applied with natural oils to help heal the skin and relieve stress, while the facials are treated so seriously that theyโre called โfacial ceremonies.โ You can choose from no fewer than seven treatments designed to bring back the glow to your face, ranging from age defying (50 min/$77.50) to detoxifying (80 min/$90), putting you in perfect shape to enjoy some time by one of the hotelโs gorgeous pools or on the beach. www.unicohotelrivieramaya.com
โMark Chesnut
FEEL HARMONY SPA
LIVE AQUA URBAN RESORT
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO
The postcard-perfect city of San Miguel de Allende just canโt stop attracting attention, especially since it continues to garner awards as one of the top cities in the world to visit. And while this scenic hotspot has never lacked in luxury accommodations and spas, it recently welcomed an especially noteworthy property: the Live Aqua Urban Resort, an oasis of chic and stylish calm that debuted in 2018, a few blissful blocks from downtown. The Feel Harmony Spa takes the hotelโs overall peacefulness to the next level. Youโll immediately feel the relaxing effect as you descend the stairs to enter this mostly subterranean complex of calm, which is lined with rich indigenous wood. All treatments include the hydrotherapy circuit, which can last between 40 and 60 minutes and usually begins with a shower, herbal steam treatment, energizing sauna, and perhaps eucalyptus therapy. You can also alternate heat sequences in the pressurized shower, or perhaps immerse yourself in the temperature-controlled plunge โlagoon.โ Among the more unique treatments is Soffio DโPolinesia (50 min/about $99), a Tahitian-inspired massage that uses coconut oil enriched with ylang-ylang, which is designed to stimulate blood flow. The spa also has a menu of โbalance rituals,โ including the Mayan secret (80 min/about $134), which follows Mayan traditions of using stones to achieve spiritual balance. Flavorful options including the apple scrub (45 min/about $79), which employs apple tree stem cells that penetrate the skinโs surface to counter aging and sun damage; a coffee scrub (45 min/about $79) designed to revive skin and stimulate blood flow; and a tropical exfoliation (45 min/about $79) with mango and passion fruit. The coffee ritual (80 min/about $134) is yet another interesting option; it opens with an exfoliation before applying a body wrap that combines coffee and seaweed extracts. Whichever treatment you choose, it will surely be a wonderful way to rejuvenate after a day wandering the streets of this beautiful city. www.liveaqua.com/en/destinations/sanmiguel-de-allende
โMark Chesnut
SANTA YNEZ INN AND SPA
SANTA YNEZ, CALIFORNIA
At this gracious inn in the heart of the Santa Ynez wine region near Santa Barbara, it’s all about the bubbly. Okay, thatโs not all thatโs on offer, but youโve come all this way to experience a wine-infused vacation, so why not extend that to your spa treatments? In an earth-toned room, where a floral print on the wall provides a low-key, calming feeling, youโll discover the meaning of relaxation. Perhaps itโs not surprising that the Signature Massage (50 min/$135, 80 min/$185) comes with champagne body butter, champagne-infused aromatherapy, and of course a flute of sparkling wine for you to sip (if itโs not all used up in your treatment!). The same intoxicating treatment is available as a Couples Massage (50 min/$270, 80 min/$370), so you can enjoy all the heavenly, champagne-filled delights together. Of course, you can always choose a teetotaling treatment like the Deep Tissue Massage (50 mi/$135, 80 min/$285) and save the best vintage to enjoy back in your room, newly relaxed and refreshed. After a long day of exploring the regionโs best wineries, isnโt this the perfect thing to find waiting for you in your home away from home? www.santaynezinn.com/spa
โRich Rubin
Saltwater Relaxation Pool
At The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
THE CAPITOL KEMPINSKI HOTEL SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE
I love me a sprawling, tricked-out destination spa with immersive, beautiful design (you too, right?), but sometimes a hidden away, cozy retreat earns a place on a best spas list: such is the case with Singaporeโs luxurious new Capitol Kempinski Hotel. Occupying the former 1905 Capitol Building and adjacent Stamford House, the 155-room Kempinski is home to buzzy restaurant 15 Stamford, with menus by Hong Kong celebrity โDemon Chef โ Alvin Leung, a rum-centric bar, a shallow outdoor saltwater relaxation pool with Jacuzzi jets, and an intimate, adjacent spa withthree treatment rooms (one for couples). Checking in for my spa treatment, the 90-minute Singapore Massage ($176), I was given a warm lemongrass welcome drink and led into a small, wood-toned treatment room. Soon enough, the massage therapist was applying strokes that stretched out my skin and muscles. A sort of pulling down and away technique was used, and movements of brushing and wiping the skin. Pleasantly, my butt cheeks received a good dose of attention, too. The time went by like a flash, leaving me tempted to add on an Intense Relaxation Massage (60 min/$133, 90 min/$177) or Oriental Massage (60 min/$133, 90 min/$177). Facial offerings, incorporating products from Australiaโs Gaylia Kristensen, include the 75-minute Face For Men ($184), and a Vitality: Stress Release Facial (60 min/$206) specifically targeting damage and tensions caused by smartphone and computer use.The spas lengthiest treatment, Nirvana Mind & Body Experience (120 min/$279), melts tension in both the face and body through deep tissue pressure point techniques. Yep, good things do come in small spas. www.kempinski.com/en/singapore/the-capitol-singapore
โLawrence Ferber
