SHINE SPA AT SHERATON GRAND MACAO
MACAO, CHINA
Macao is Chinaโs Las Vegas, and its location (a 45-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong) is quite convenient for international travelers. I arrived exhausted after a New York-Taiwan-Macao flight, but true travelers know to skip sleep and adapt to their locationโs time zone. Luckily thereโs help at the Sheratonโs Shine Spa. Theyโre spectacular at figuring out how to conquer your jet-lag problem. The 15-treatment-room spa, amazingly quiet despite the huge hotelโs 24/7 action, is the place to get your act together, especially if youโre traveling on business and recuperating quickly is key. Spa guests are greeted with an iPad-toting therapist whose job is to dig into your soul and design your custom-made treatment. Provide your zodiac sign, favorite season, color, and what time of day youโre most active, and voila the appropriate services are suggested. Iโm a summer-loving, red-color adoring Virgo whoโs most productive during midnight hours. Thatโs why a 9-5 life isnโt a good fit for me (the therapist gave me this tip, but I already knew that). My answers determined which essential oils would be used in my treatment, but, their attention to detail didn’t stop there. Shine has a feng shui-inspired menu, which balances metal, water, wood, fire and earth. Wood is my element, so the Lava Bamboo Massage (60 min/$123) was recommended. A herbal bath using chamomile tea, and the spaโs Terrakรฉ-brand lavender oil (30min/$64) is super-relaxing (especially if you flew coach class). Naturally, an assortment of teas is offered pre- and post-treatment along with an invitation to stay as long as you wish. My body wanted to veg out, but suddenly my brain had more energy than ever. Mission accomplished. www.sheratongrandmacao.com
โChanize Thrope
Shine Spa at Sheraton Grand Macao
WILLOW STREAM SPA AT RAFFLES MAKATI
MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Sharing a building with two siblings, a 237-unit Raffles Residences and 280-room Fairmont Makati, the 32-suite Raffles occupies a prime location within Makatiโs Ayala Center district, which includes the energetic Greenbelt shopping center, Legazpi Sunday Market, and a superb restaurant/cafรฉ scene. Blending its historic Singapore flagshipโs luxurious colonial style with contemporary flair and conveniences, the four-yearold Raffles is also distinguished by its gorgeous fourth floor pool and adjacent Willow Stream Spa. The ridiculous, soul-sucking snarls of Manila traffic are completely forgotten once checking into this almost 13,000-square-foot facility. Creamy off-white and soft colors, and dashes of Asian-Western art and design set the tone, while pre- or -post treatment time can be spent in a blue light-bathed Jacuzzi or the inviting, sunkissed outdoor pool. Perusing the spa menu, a handful of options stood out: the Traditional Hilot Foot and Body Massage (10 min/$100), the Ultimate Willow Stream Experience (150 min/$179), and Age Repair Facial (90 min/$125). However, having come all this way to the Philippines, it seemed sage to experience some local-centric pampering, so Kultura (120 min/$125), incorporating indigenous products and several different Filipino techniques and treatments, emerged victorious. A banyos (foot wash) commenced the experience, an herbal solution disinfecting my feet. Next, my entire body received a detoxification through a kapeng baranko (body scrub) with strongly scented coffee grains sourced from the Batangas provinceโand yes, their brew can be quite rich, and purchased in local supermarkets. I loved this! After showering off the dark brown residue, I enjoyed an Albon Hilot, a style of massage from northern Ilocana that is heavy on thumb and forearms with alternating pressure and soothing strokes. Finally, I felt a firm yet pleasant tool applying pressure to points on my feet: a wooden dagdagay stick, with beaded shapes carved into its length for incredible acupressure effect. Could this be the next Filipino crossover product? I hoped and wonderedโฆ www.fairmont.com
โLawrence Ferber
AWAY SPA AT W TAIPEI
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
W Taipei is, without any doubt, Taiwanโs gayest, most glamorous, and bestlocated property, right in the heart of Xinyiโs upscale dining and retail district with the iconic Taipei 101 just minutes away (the awesome, upscale Breeze Xinyi shopping center that opened across the street from W in late 2015 is a must for its dining alone). As one would expect from W, thereโs a clubby, postmodern element to the entire property, including Taipeiโs AWAY Spa. White walls with bursts of bubbly textures, shiny black, and off-white tiles with golden illustrations, a copper ice fountain, retro-futuristic furniture, beds, and colored glowing lights in the three treatment rooms. Itโs all very sci-fi Zen. The AWAY Spa here stands apart from its international sibling spas with new exclusive treatments. This year saw the addition of the Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift (50 min/$150, 75 min/$194) and the Ultimate Spa Experience (135 min/$278), both incorporating Elemis products. The latter package includes the Quartz Lift, clinically proven to firm up skin and smooth out wrinkles with just one treatment, plus a deep-tissue massage. I chose the AWAY Signature massage (90 min/$150). A completely bespoke 90 minutes of oils and techniques depending on your personal preferences. The massage, while penetrating, was also quite relaxing with super-intuitive strokes, to the point I completely dozed off during its second half. www.wtaipei.com
โLawrence Ferber
COOL SPA AT SRI PANWA
PHUKET, THAILAND
Far-flung from raucous Patong beach, Cape Panwa is among Phuket Islandโs most majestic, scenic spots. Perched upon its green tropical cliffside is Sri Panwa, a stunning full-service villa resort boasting over 100 pools, dramatic sunset cocktail spot Baba Nest, a brand new 30-unit wing, The Habita, geared to wedding and events groups, and of course, the world class Cool Spa. A small pool with lily pads greets spa visitors, while blue and wood tones dominate the buildings. The treatments menu is so extensive itโs almost dizzying, from 30-minute traditional foot reflexology to creative multi-day programs and packages. For example, massage categories encompass signatures (Traditional Thai, Sri Panwa Serenity), pressure point (Sport, Deep Relax), warming (Sabai Hot Stone), and soothing (Balinese, 4-hand Heavenly Bliss). A full-day โCool Man Space Retreatโ (290 min/$307) includes personal training, scrub, massage, menโs facial, pedicure/manicure, and light spa snack, while the most lengthy package is โ3 Days Spaโ (360 min/$435), six hours worth of treatments: Swedish, sports, and Indian head massages, a body polish, wrap, and facial spread out over three days. Catching my eye above all else, a handful of Cool Spaโs herbal body scrubs represent and incorporate traditional Thai flavors and dishes: Tom Yam, Somtum, Milk Tea, and Mango Sticky Rice. The Thai Herbal Supreme package (150 min/$195) seemed an ideal sampling with its Tom Yam scrub, floral footbath, herbal body bath, and Thai Herbal Healer massage. I adore Tom Yam, and sure enough the scrub included edible ingredients that smelled absolutely delicious. www.coolspaphuket.com
โLawrence Ferber
Spa at the Twelve Apostles, Cape Town
AFRICA
THE SPA AT THE TWELVE APOSTLES
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Serenity comes with the location at this award-winning spa 20 minutes up the Cape Town coast, at the luxurious Twelve Apostles hotel. Its secret is occupying a grotto within the hotelโs private corner of the Table Mountain foothills. From its own alcove, the Spa at the Twelve Apostlesย delivers peace and quiet in a low-lit haven, perched between the mountain and the South Atlantic Ocean beach. Like other Red Carnation properties, the spa here is led by an incredibly warm, accommodating staff thatโs eager to please. The spa has several signature treatments, offered for singles or couples, which incorporate proprietary B|Africa products blended from native African-plant extracts. The traditional Arabic Rasul (60 min/$50) applies mineral-rich mud to skin and hair for detoxing and rejuvenation, removed with a gentle steam and indoor โrain showerโ inside the spaโs cleansing-ritual chamber. If a coupleโs treatment is preferred, B|Together (90 min/$100 per person) uses rose quartz to promote compassion and balance through stone application and massage oil. Healthy skin is the focus of many aromatically inspired treatments that include a Coconut Rub and Milk Wrap (60 min/$80), Lime and Ginger Salt Glow (30 min/$40), and other fruit and herbal facials. The services are impeccable, but the space itself sets this spa apart. There are two outdoor gazebos with ocean views available for massages, a salon for mani-pedis, a tranquility lounge to relax pre- or post-treatment, and a saltwater flotation pool for a โreduced-gravity experienceโ to gently recover from jet lag and improve sleep. www.12apostleshotel.com
โKelsy Chauvin
