UNITED STATES
AMARA RESORT AND SPA
SEDONA, ARIZONA
The word “sanctuary” applies to the Amara Spa, considering the peaceful, even spiritual atmosphere in Sedona, Arizona. It’s well known that the four energy vortexes that surround this small city add an element of intrigue, and perhaps even enhance a sense of healing and well-being. The spa at the Amara Hotel layers on even more serenity with signature services, free morning yoga classes, and treatments designed to suit the arid climate. The High-Desert Salt Scrub (60 min/$125) is a good start for an exfoliation that boosts circulation and cell repair with blended, aromatic oils and a Shea- butter rubdown. The Winds of Change treatment (90 min/$190) pairs massage with spiritual healing that balances chakras, sweeps away tension (with a feather), and incorporates sage, crystals, and oils to connect you with the healing spirits. The spa also offers several manicures and pedicures that include nail, skin, and light muscle treatments topped off with vegan quick- dry polishes. But the Soleful Traveler pedicure (90 min/$95) stands out for its Sedona-mud leg wrap and hot-stone massage. Makeup consultations and applications are offered along with a bridal package (60 min/$140), and other hair and beauty options. Once you’re limber and spiritually recalibrated, you can head to the resort’s tranquil infinity pool on the edge of Oak Creek and contemplate the stunning red-rock vista before you. And because Amara is an LGBT-friendly Kimpton property, you can even reserve your room with the special rate code “TRPR” that takes 15 percent off your room rate and donates $5 per stay to the Trevor Project. www.amararesort.com
— Kelsy Chauvin
OSMOSIS DAY SPA
FREESTONE, CALIFORNIA
With its rushing creek, Japanese-style gardens, and soothing ambience, you could probably end up relaxed just from stepping inside Osmosis Day Spa, in the tiny Sonoma County town of Freestone. There’s so much on offer, though, that you might want to spend the entire day indulging. Their signature treatment is the Cedar Enzyme Bath (90 min/$99), which originated in Japan and is offered in the US exclusively by Osmosis. First, you’ll change into a robe and sip organic herbal tea while strolling through the Zen gardens. When it’s time for your immersion, your attendant leads you to a large tub filled with ground cedar mixed with rice bran, a concoction that immediate- ly starts warming you with a metabolic heat that’s similar to your body’s own. As you lie in the bath, the consistency of light mud, you can feel the warmth soothing away your pains, the biological action of the active ingredients work- ing to boost metabolism and stimulate circulation. Move an arm or leg, and the heat intensifies. Lie still, and the warmth remains even and soothing, the fragrant cedar perfuming your experience with an organic scent. You can (pardon the pun) wrap things up with a relaxing Metamusic session, but we suggest you splurge on a package like Rejunvenation, with a Swedish-Esalen-style massage following your cedar bath (150 min/$219 for the combination). Of course, you can do the massages on their own (75 min/$149), and they offer a variety from reflexology to sports massage to deep tissue, but we’d hate for you to not experience the uniquely healing properties of the cedar bath. If what you really need is Complete Immersion (and you know you do), spend the day with Osmosis. In this ritual (270 min/ $459), you’ll move from Cedar Enzyme bath to massage in a creekside pagoda, a session of sound therapy in the field of hammocks, wonderful lunch from nearby Fork Roadhouse, a 75-minute facial, and all the time you want in the Meditation Garden. www.osmosis.com
— Rich Rubin
Mandarin Oriental Paris Spa Pool
BLISS LOS ANGELES SPA AT W LOS ANGELES
WEST BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA
The W Los Angeles has just completed a $25 million renovation that includes newly designed guest rooms inspired by the bungalows of Beverly Hills, an updated Living Room with a hidden alcove in the center featuring a relaxing 12-foot water wall and reflecting projections, a new live music series taking place each Thursday, and a new home for STK Los Angeles. Unchanged is the signature Bliss Spa, 7,000 square feet of the spa brand’s trademark bright vibes, ten treatment rooms, yummy brownies from its snack-bar buffet in the lounges, movie-while-you-manicure nail stations, and amenities such as steam rooms and saunas. The Fabulous Facial (60 min/$130) insinuates exactly how you’ll feel after the treatment. Starting off with a neck and shoulder massage, a helpful skin consultation is given. Once the expert aesthetician talks to you about your skin and gives their suggestions, your skin is then cleansed and exfoliated with necessary extractions performed to prep your skin for the treatment. Afterward I indulge in their Blissage 75 (75 min/$160), that features a full-body relaxing rubdown designed to loosen you up by targeting troubled muscles. The service also includes a warm paraffin foot wrap to help the body relax. www.wlosangeles.com
— Andrew Villagomez
ROCK SPA AT HARD ROCK HOTEL
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
The Hard Rock Hotel Palm Springs is an escape for modern-luxury enthusiasts with its vibrant décor, and also for the music lover of course, with its rotating memorabilia collection with items from the likes of Lady Gaga and Elvis on the property. On the lower level is the Rock Spa. The spa is among the first of the Hard Rock Hotel properties to welcome the brand’s new Rhythm & Motion spa treatments. Noted as a world’s first when released earlier this year, the new services immerse and infuse music into the treatments to blend the healing benefits of multi-sensory properties with massage therapy. There are four Rhythm & Motion treatments, and among them is a pulsating massage service, Synchronicity (50-80 min/$155-$205). Styled to a blended soundtrack, the Synchronicity treatment at the Palm Springs property features a mix of soft rock and indie tunes that the therapist synchronize to Swedish massage-based techniques. On top of that, the table features a built-in speaker that allows bass vibrations to further enhance the spa experiences and provide even more relaxation. As you exit on your musical high, you are treated to tea in a keepsake Hard Rock shot glass. www.hrhpalmsprings.com
— Andrew Villagomez
THE CHUAN SPA, LANGHAM HUNTINGTON
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA
Only 20 minutes from burgeoning Downtown LA, the charming city of Pasadena lures visitors for notable places like The Rose Bowl, Albert Einstein’s home, and, arguably, the most popular attraction, Langham Huntington, a historic, 101-year-old grand hotel known for its sprawl- ing, verdant lawns, romantic guest rooms, intimate courtyards, and lush Japanese gardens. The Chuan Spa, recently revamped to the tune of $4 million, is quickly becoming a destination in itself. In its own stand- alone sanctuary on the property, the 12,000-square-foot spa now flaunts seductive Asian motifs while keeping its California cool. Featuring an expansive retail space, larger fitness center, and 12 treatment rooms, the destination spa has become a true experience with the addition of a sauna, herbal steam room, and whirlpool in a contemporary setting that appeals to all senses. Considering Chuan means “flowing water” in Chinese, guests can f ind water as a constant theme, like the calming wall fountain in the waiting area. Guests get properly Zen’ed out with the various treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine like the Chuan Stone Therapy massage (90 min/$275) that uses both cold (yin) and hot (yang) stones to balance the respective energies and increase body circulation, not to mention melting the stress right off your sore spots. Chuan is one of the few places in LA to feature HydraFacial MD facials (60 min/$250), the only hydradermabrasion treatment that simultaneously provides cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, and hydration. It’s intensely effective, and immediate results make it a favorite for the Hollywood set, but the pampering doesn’t stop there. Post treatments, guests are whisked to the Dream Room, a therapeutic lounge that’s equipped with gorgeous waterbeds (known to help reduce back problems and relax spinal musculature) for further Zenful moments. www.langhamhotels.com
— Jimmy Im
