LAJA SPA, BELMOND CASA DE SIERRA NEVADA
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, MEXICO
Like the rest of this charming property, the Laja Spa is a luxurious escape within an authentically Mexican city. The spa belongs to Belmond’s Casa de Sierra Nevada, a beautifully contextual hotel whose 37 unique rooms and suites occupy a cluster of historic buildings in central San Miguel de Allende. The town itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which means it’s both incredibly photogenic, loaded with history, and easily walkable. Laja Spa is a block up from the main building, occupying a renovated wood-and-stone colonial structure whose cool, low-lit ambience is a welcome escape from the high sun of the Sierra Madre. Its traditional treatments—massages, facials, body wraps, nail treatments—pamper you with botanical oils and aromatics to suit your tastes. Laja’s menu tempts guests with services that fit the environment, like the Signature facial with fresh-fruit exfoliant, mask, and mas- sage cream (80 min/$77); or the Hydrating facial (50 min/$68) with seaweed mask and acupressure head and neck massage. Laja combines two local ingredients for its Cocoa and Chile Wrap (80 min/$74) meant to nourish and moisturize skin, just be prepared to crave mole sauce post-treatment. The hotel also offers great packages that, for example, may include accommodation, breakfast, a trip to the thermal springs (transportation too), and massages of your choice all for one rate. Since Belmond is a corporate member of IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association), it’s also an exceptional brand for LGBT travelers to enjoy. www.belmond.com
— Kelsy Chauvin
ZENTROPIA SPA, GRAND PALLADIUM RESORT
RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO
Nestled between Playa del Carmen and Tulum on a pristine stretch of beach that overlooks the Caribbean Sea, the Grand Palladium Resort located on the Mayan Riviera encompasses five interconnected properties and an endless bounty of recreational and dining options. Created exclusively for adult travelers, the Royal Suites Yucatán by Palladium is a luxurious resort within the resort, with butler service, exclusive restaurant access, and premium cock- tails. For the ultimate indulgence, spend a day (or two) at the on-site Zentropia Spa. At nearly 20,000 square feet, the sprawling spa draws inspiration from Mayan culture as evident by its hand-painted murals and architectural details. The water garden represents an avant-garde approach to hydrotherapy; featuring indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, open air showers, water cascades, cold plunge bath, meditation rooms, and eco-palm shelters to keep the scorching Caribbean sun at bay. Entry to the water zones is included for guests at The Royal Suites and $10/day for those staying at other properties within the resort. Consider a body scrub and Vichy massage (50 min/$179) after a day at the beach, which includes an invigorating exfoliation using an exclusive product line created for Zentropia. The multisensory experience will melt away tension (along with dead skin cells), and if you haven’t experienced a Vichy massage table, it’s like falling asleep at the foot of a gentle waterfall. Enhance your Zentropia experience by adding on a Flash facial (30 min/$119) for a glowing complexion, and if all the pampering induces guilt, you can always opt for a complimentary yoga or Zumba class at the neighboring fitness center. www.zentropia-spa.com
— Matthew Wexler
Montage Kapalua Bay
CARIBBEAN
OKEANOS SPA, RENAISSANCE ARUBA RESORT AND CASINO
ARUBA
On an already relaxing island, why not coax out a few more impurities at Okeanos Spa? Located within the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino in central Oranjestad, the Okeanos Spa takes full advantage of both its serene setting and the island’s biggest export, the almighty aloe vera. A wide variety of enticing treatments add locally inspired angles to facials, massages, body wraps, and services customized for men. Its “Menu 22” incorporates 22 percent of Aruban aloe’s restorative ingredients into face, body, and scalp treatments, as well as a four-hand massage. One uncommon service is the “Better Than Botox” mini-treatment ($75) that uses Escutox, a blended extract of Aruba’s native plant Hibiscus Esculentus (part of the okra species) and oligosaccharides that works as a natural alternative to Botox. The sleek and spotless indoor facilities include saunas, juice bar, salon, and a 3,500-square-foot fitness center. But the big attraction is on the 40-acre Renaissance Island, Aruba’s only private island. Hop on a motorboat to visit Spa Cove for a secluded massage on the sea’s edge, complete with private wading area and outdoor shower. Okeanos offers several packages for Spa Cove that include cock- tails and lunch, or private access to the cove with open-air couples Swedish massages, champagne, and fresh fruit for two for extended hours during the morning or at sunset (150 min/$440). Special eye-mask ($65) and lip-plumping ($65) mini-treatments will boost your rejuvenation, but for those who found the Caribbean sun just a little too tempting, the “Take the Burn Out” sunburn-soothing massage (75 min/$140) will help return your skin to full health. www.renaissancearubaspa.com
— Kelsy Chauvin
SERENITY POINT SPA, SONESTA OCEAN POINT RESORT
SINT MAARTEN, DUTCH WEST INDIES
When spas incorporate their beautiful surroundings into their services and treatments, it’s always a winning situation. Located on the very edge of Sint Maarten, the Serenity Point Spa inside the brand-new Sonesta Ocean Point Resort is one of our favorite spas in the entire Caribbean. My Partner and I made a deal: we would only indulge in treatments that used the beautiful surroundings of the resort. To our great surprise, there were six natural treatments available out of dozens. Since we had only three days, we decided to partake in half of those natural treatments. We started with the Thermal Stamp Massage (55 min/$130), where they use a unique fabric stamp filled with ingredients like clay, tropical ginger, and white tea. This treatment was designed to draw out impurities, stimulate circulation, and smooth out the skin leaving it soft to the touch—yes please. The following day, we tried the Guava Berry & Sugar Scrub (55 min/$105 per person). The guava berry blossoms, those delicate pink and white flowers along with its juicy berries, grow throughout the island of Sint Maarten. They are put into a natural sugar scrub to exfoliate the skin. We left looking radiant, and I couldn’t keep my hands off my partner’s skin that day. On our last day, we felt like we were due for a massage, so we booked the Couples Beach Massage (55 min/$135 per person). This relaxing, side-by-side massage inside your private gazebo overlooks the beautiful ocean. The soothing waves were the best accompaniment we could hope for, and the Caribbean Sky was the perfect backdrop. We had a wonderful time at Serenity Point Spa and can’t wait to return soon. www.sonesta.com/oceanpoint
— H. Luiz Martinez
