Spas

I Had a Public Massage - True Story of a Beachside Spa Treatment

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) — Aug 27th 2010 at 9:01AM

It was a beautiful day at the Curacao Marriott, and an hour-long massage had been booked for me at the spa. When I arrived at the spa, I was delighted to hear that my massage would take place right on the beach. How fabulous!

I followed my masseuse, who carried a large pile of towels, across the property. I assumed we'd be going to a secluded cabana somewhere, but as we continued walking, I found we were headed toward the side of the resort where my room was -- and there was certainly no cabana there. We approached a sunlit area with a few ineffectual bushes and a gazebo-like structure (above) where I understand weddings are often held. Weddings, as in, declaring your love for all to see in public. We entered the gazebo and I examined the roof and sides. There were no shades, no blinds; there was absolutely no privacy. People were lying on the beach (and even on the deck) on three sides of the gazebo, and the fourth side faced the open ocean, where resort guests were swimming and playing paddleball. I pretended this was normal to me for as long as I could.

It was only after she had covered the table with towels and said, "Okay, lie on your stomach facing this way," that I blurted out, "Um, I don't have any clothes on under this robe, you know, right?"

Tags: Beach, Beach Massage, Beaches, Curacao, Curacao Marriott, Marriott, Massage, Spa

Continue reading “I Had a Public Massage - True Story of a Beachside Spa Treatment”

The 5 Most-Naked, Least-Modest Spa Treatments in the World

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — Aug 23rd 2010 at 11:01AM

When you go to a spa, you expect a few nods to modesty -- a private room, for instance, and artful draping of your naughty bits, which are usually Not to Be Touched. And while spas that cater to Westerners around the world do tend to observe these protocols, there are a few entirely legit spa treatments that make these modesty-preserving measures entirely counterproductive.

Here are five spa treatments for which you'll just need to let it all hang out.

1. Turkish Hammam: A Turkish Hammam is sort of a like a communal bath, where you spend time in rooms of varying heat. The highlight is having your skin nearly flayed off with a loofah. (Some people call the resulting ribbons of removed skin "spaghetti".) In a traditional hammam, this scrubbing is administered by a person wearing a bathing suit, and usually within few view of everyone else. My observation has been that people mostly avert their gaze from the scrubee, these are rarely attractive angles for anyone.

There are spas that offer a more modest variation on a hammam treatment. The spa at La Mamounia, for instance, has a shared steam room (which you enter wearing a bathrobe, leave it on or take it off as you wish), and then a private room for the scrub-a-dub, with private shower. The post-hammam moisturizer is applied in a communal relaxation room, so gaze aversion strategies are still a must if you don't want to get an eyeful.

Tags: germany, hammam, India, japan, most naked spa treatments, naked, spa, tokyo

Continue reading “The 5 Most-Naked, Least-Modest Spa Treatments in the World”

Locally Grown Spa Treatments The Latest Luxury Trend

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — Aug 13th 2010 at 8:01AM

Traditionally in the world of spa and beauty treatments the most exotic treatments have been the most luxurious, but recently the local food craze has spread to the spa world and the demand for treatments using locally grown fruits and herbs has increased dramatically. The Ojai Valley Inn in California is a good example, it offers a Pixie Tangerine & Pomegranate Scrub for $145 that involves using locally grown tangerine halves to scrub the body with a sugar-based exfoliant mixture. "When they put this stuff on, I can smell fresh juice," said one guest.

It's that freshness, along with feelings of social responsibility and a love for unique experiences that's driving the trend. "People don't necessarily want to have the same experience in Florida as they have in New York as they have in California as they have in Dubai," says spa consultant Matt Wuttke. And because locally sourced spa treatments support nearby farmers and reduce the carbon footprints of transported goods there's even more warm fuzzies to be had from what is often considered a guilty indulgence. The only downside? In many parts of the country 'local' also means 'seasonal' so you're favorite Elderberry Facial ($190, Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake) probably isn't available year round.

Tags: local, local food, locavore, spa, spa treatments, spas

What Is Luxury Health Care? A Visit To Switzerland's Clinique La Prairie

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) — Jul 19th 2010 at 8:02AM

Luxury health care? You don't hear the term very often. From a social perspective it is a bit of a tricky concept. To imply that some types of health care and medical treatments are 'excessive' and for the well-to-do only seems to contrast with the humanitarian concepts of treating the ill or injured. In fact, luxury heath care has been around for eons. The tonics a king would drinks, the ointments of an emperor. Things not necessarily meant to cure, but enhance or enliven.

Today luxury health care often falls under the category of "elective procedures." A rather tedious concept probably coined by insurance companies. It implies that you don't need it, or rather that the patient, versus the doctor is prescribing the treatment or procedure. We often look down upon things like cosmetic surgery publicly - although it is so much a common practice world wide. So back to the initial question - are such 'elective procedures' all that is encompassed under the umbrella of luxury health care? No. In fact luxury health care is probably what health care should be in an ideal world. Proper attention, good doctors, and the time taken to properly diagnose and treat, whatever the problem may be - whether it is necessary to sustain life, or elective to enhance it.

I travel to Switzerland and visit the Clinique La Prairie (CLP) to see if I can answer my question about luxury and health care. The Clinique is a rather famous (if you swing in the right circles) "wellness center" that has been around for about 80 years. Located right on Lake Geneva in Montreux Switzerland, CLP is nestled away in a small, but highly desirable location near France. The beginnings of the Clinique are rather retro sci-fi in concept. I will let CLP give you its full history, but a doctor had an interesting idea of injecting people with young organ cells collected from sheep. The theory was that these early organ cells would stimulate cellular rejuvenation and offer a series of "wellness" benefits meant to make you feel younger and stimulate the immune system. Sounds a bit mad scientist-ish, but people much more picky than I swear by it.

Tags: care, Clinique La Prairie, CLP, health, luxury, medical, review, swiss, switzerland

Continue reading “What Is Luxury Health Care? A Visit To Switzerland's Clinique La Prairie”

Terranea's Luxury Boot Camp

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — Jul 18th 2010 at 6:02PM

The Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes, California isn't just a place to go visit for a getaway, it now also offers boot camp classes. The Terranea's Boot Camp Resort Package offers an hour-long, "military-style" workout that makes use of the resort's 102 coastal acres, followed by access to Terranea's luxurious oceanfront spa facilities for a relaxing post-workout cool down.

The workout begins at the fitness center at 6 a.m. where participants warm-up with traditional calisthenics by the pool deck. After that either a short jog to get to the next location or, on a particularly hard day, lunges up a steep coastal hill. The class eventually makes its way down to the beach cove to begin speed and agility drills in the sand. Along the way, the class stops at various points for a variety of exercises including tricep dips, push-ups and sprints. The class concludes back at the fitness center where participants are guided through mat work targeting abs and arms, followed by stretching.

After the workout, participants can grab a meal at the spa café or enjoy the steam, sauna, swimming pool, outdoor hot tub and cold plunge. For an additional fee, guests can order services including massage, body treatments and facials.

Terranea's Boot Camp is offered throughout the year in six-week intervals with the next session beginning July 26, 2010. The program is open to both resort guests and non-guests who can either drop by for a single workout or participate regularly throughout the session. Participants can purchase either the Basic Boot Camp which is workout only for $20 per session, $325- three days a week for six weeks and $395- five days a week for six weeks. The Resort Style Boot Camp with spa access cost $40 for a daily drop-in with $650 for three days a week for six weeks or $795- for five days a week for six weeks.

Tags: boot camp, extreme boot camp, fitness, palos verdes, terranea

La Prairie's $410 Platinum Facial

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) — Jul 18th 2010 at 4:01PM

You can get a facial at almost any spa, and even in some nail and hair salons. But will it be platinum?

If you visit the spa at the Ritz-Carlton in NYC, it can be. Since the spring, the spa has been offering The Platinum Rare Facial, a 90-minute treatment that is priced at $410, typically including product samples. Add a 20% tip and you're at $500.

According to the "Vain Glorious" department in The New York Times's T Magazine, "This ultra-pampering facial is more like a spa manicure and pedicure, massage and facial in one. It's performed by both a nail technician and an aesthetician -- the former soaks, scrubs and swathes the extremities in the brand's lavish products while the latter massages the neck and shoulders in between steps of the main event: a customized facial using La Prairie's Platinum Collection (including Cellular Cream Platinum Rare, which retails for $650 per ounce)."

Before the treatment, guests are invited to relax in the upscale locker room and lounge, outfitted with cool and soothing marble, a steam room with a tub of ice and cucumbers waiting outside, and a corner with chairs, fresh fruit, and dried snacks. Then guests select the music they wish to be played during the treatment. The signature seems to be the application of Cellular Cream Platinum Rare at the end of what the the Ritz calls "an experience that transcends the ordinary in every way with age-defying benefits."

Tags: facial, La Prairie, New York, platinum, Ritz-Carlton, skin care

Calistoga Ranch's Exclusive Napa Valley Getaway Package

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) — Jul 16th 2010 at 5:31PM

Calistoga Ranch offers the Ultimate Napa Valley Weekend

Looking for the ultimate getaway in Napa Valley? Auberge Resorts' Calistoga Ranch, the winner of the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Green Spa has created the "Ultimate Napa Valley Weekend," a two-night, "ultimate" fantasy weekend that includes the best and most iconic experiences that Napa Valley has to offer.

The package includes a highly coveted reservation for two and special menu paired with some of Napa's best wines at Chef Thomas Keller's world-famous French Laundry. Guests will also receive treatments at Calistoga Ranch's Bathhouse Spa, recently named as one of the country's top spas by Conde Nast Traveler. Guests will be treated to a private tour and tasting by chauffeured town car which will take them to three exclusive Napa Valley cult wineries including Far Niente (a Luxist Awards' nominee for best wine), Vineyard 29 and Chappellet.

Accommodations are in a luxurious one-bedroom Spa Lodge, featuring 1,200 square feet of indoor/outdoor living space, including a master suite with an outdoor shower and private garden, indoor and outdoor living rooms with fireplaces and a private hot tub.

Gallery: More from the Calistoga Ranch

Guests who book the "Ultimate Napa Valley Weekend" will also receive a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon from the world-famous To Kalon winery and a special French Laundry Welcome Amenity.

The "Ultimate Napa Valley Weekend" package is priced at $4,495 per couple (subject to change and availability, excluding taxes, gratuities and alcohol). The package is only available August 27-29, 2010.

For more information or to make a reservation, call (707) 254-2800 or visit www.calistogaranch.com.

Tags: awards-main, calistoga ranch, Chappellet, Far Niente, French Laundry, luxist-awards, napa valley, resorts, spa, thomas keller, To Kalon, Vineyard 29

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Offers Unlimited Golf Package

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) — Jul 13th 2010 at 10:31AM

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is offering an unlimted golf package this summer

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa in Ojai, Ca. is offering a great summer package for golf lovers.

Available now through September 2, on Sunday through Thursday nights, Ojai's "Complete Deal" package offers guests unlimited golf and one complimentary classic 50-minute spa treatment per night when guests book a "Shangri-La" room type or above. As an added bonus, guests staying in a suite will also enjoy complimentary breakfast. Rates start at $450 per night, which is less than the value of the complimentary unlimited golf and spa treatments (the approximate added value is $500).

Located on 220 tree-shaded acres, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is home to one of the country's premier championship golf courses as well as the newly renovated, world-renowned Spa Ojai. Ojai's world-class 18-hole golf course plays 6,292 yards (from the blue tees) with a par 70, a rating of 71.0 and a slope of 132. Designed and built in 1923 under the direction of George C. Thomas, Jr. and Billy Bell, the course was hailed as "a marvel of golfing architecture." The course and greens were toughened considerably in 1988 by famous course designer Jay Morrish.

In 2005, the 80-year-old resort underwent a $90 million renovation. The resort offers 308 rooms and suites, many with fireplaces and private balconies or patios overlooking the golf course and nearby mountains.

For more information, call the resort at (888) 687-8780. Availability can also be checked online.

The luxurious and historic resort was a finalist for a Luxist Award in the best extended stay spa category in March.

Tags: awards-main, golf, golf package, luxist-awards, Ojai Valley Inn Spa, spa

Summer Recipes from Canyon Ranch Spas

by Carrie N. Culpepper (RSS feed) — Jun 15th 2010 at 4:01PM

Luxury spa chain Canyon Ranch with resorts in Tuscon, Ariz., Lenox, Mass. and Miami Beach (as well as "SpaClubs" at the Venetian in Las Vegas and aboard Cunard's Queen Mary 2) is famous for its integrated approach to health and wellness. During a weekend stay you might exercise, see doctors and wellness experts and enjoy spa treatments, but the food is where some of the most subtle and sublime healthiness takes place. Earlier this year MSN named the Canyon Ranch Grill at Las Vegas' Palazzo hotel one of the Top 10 Heart-Healthy Restaurants in the U.S. We asked the culinary team at Canyon Ranch to share three healthy summer recipes and their secrets.

Salmon w/ Blueberry Mango Salsa

Health Benefits:
Fish, specifically salmon, is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids which have been shown to increase optimal brain functioning by decreasing inflammation and keeping the blood vessels flexible.

Antioxidants, found in brightly colored fruits and veggies like blueberries and red peppers, protect against free-radical damage.

[recipe after the break]

Tags: canyon ranch, Canyon Ranch Cooking, canyon ranch grill, canyon ranch miami, canyon ranch spa, summer recipes

Continue reading “Summer Recipes from Canyon Ranch Spas”

The Kuyam Treatment at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) — Jun 9th 2010 at 10:31AM

Most spas offer similar treatment menus that feature the same facials, body scrubs and massages. Spa lovers are hard pressed to find a one-of-a-kind treatment that is not to be missed. Look no further than the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, in Ojai, Ca., which is a sprawling 220-acre property with 308 newly refurbished guest rooms (including 72 suites) that is located about 90 miles north of Los Angeles (35 miles south of Santa Barbara). Ojai was a nominee for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Stay Spa in March.

Ojai's spa offers a communal treatment that is not found anywhere else in the U.S. Called "Kuyam", this signature mud treatment combines the therapeutic effects of cleansing desert clay, dry heat and inhalation therapy, with a traditional Chumash-guided mediation. Pronounced "Koo-Yahm", Kuyam is a Chumash word which means "a place to rest together." The Chumash people were the Native Americans who originally inhabitated the Ojai Valley.

The Kuyam Chamber at Ojai is a private room that is beautifully tiled and offers built in seating, including chaise lounge chairs. The room can accommodate up to eight men or eight women per session, but Ojai will not group strangers together if a private session is requested. It is a wonderful treatment to do with a group of friends or family, as I did, sharing the experience with a group of female travel writers.

Tags: awards-main, Kuyam, luxist-awards, Ojai Valley Inn Spa, spa treatments, spas

Continue reading “The Kuyam Treatment at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa”

A New Four Seasons in Hangzhou

by Bobbie Leigh (RSS feed) — Jun 4th 2010 at 11:02AM

With a new high-speed train scheduled for an October debut, you will be able to travel in great comfort from Shanghai to Hangzhou in a snap 38 minutes. As Shanghai now makes even Hong Kong seem Third World, a visit willowy West Lake, the star attraction of Hangzhou, is a great way to recover from a supercharged Chinese itinerary. The place to stay is the Four Seasons hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. Its design and architecture fit into the landscape of terraced tea plantations and mists rising from the lake as if it was always there. Unlike the starkly modern hotels of Beijing and beyond, this little gem is entirely traditional with pagoda roof pavilions linked by flower-rimmed paths through landscaped water gardens.

The hotel is impressive in that it has a subdued, understated quality although the spa is a standout with treatments you won't find elsewhere. Not-to-be-missed is the three-hour dragon-well tea and jade spring ritual ---a soothing soak, an invigorating body exfoliation, followed by massage. Check out the full menu of spa services here.

Tags: Beggars Chicken, china, China Academy of Art, china travel, four seasons, Hangzhou

Continue reading “A New Four Seasons in Hangzhou”

Swiss Skincare: Alchimie Forever

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) — Jun 2nd 2010 at 3:02PM

The Swiss are known for many things - their private banks, their fantastic chocolate and cheese, and their skincare products, to name a few. La Prairie, Crabtree and Evelyn, Arbonne and Swiss Perfection are just a few of the famed brands to make the jump to the United States, but we were particularly intrigued by boutique line Alchimie Forever on our recent visit to Geneva.

The natural-based line offers a slew of skincare products for men and women alike based on treatments available at their flagship Forever Laser Institut, located just off the Rue du Rhone, the city's most elite shopping street.

We've been longtime fans of the brand's products - they maintain a flagship product store in Washington, DC and sell to several area spas - but were curious about the spa services. Was the Swiss experience going to be that much more phenomenal? Devoted testers we are, an appointment was made.

The spa boasts a distinctly modern vibe, with glowing lights in the spa's signature purple, blue and green colors and sleek, more than plush, chairs, in the waiting room. In keeping with the spa's medical-grade treatments, many of the pamphlets available for our perusal highlighted signature treatments involving lasers, including laser hair removal and Cryolipolysis (CoolSculpting), a new method of fat removal that literally freezes away trouble spots. Currently, Forever Laser Institut boasts the distinction of being the only Geneva spa to offer this treatment, developed by MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital.

Tags: alchimie forever, forever laser institut, geneva, medical spa, switzerland, washington dc

Continue reading “Swiss Skincare: Alchimie Forever”

Father's Day Spa Package In San Diego

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) — May 30th 2010 at 2:01PM

Mother's Day usually brings out the spa packages but fathers like to relax too. The Father's Journey treatment at the Blue Marble Spa in San Diego offers a papa pampering special on June 18-20. The package uses only natural and organic products and starts with a de-stress scrub with finely ground olive pits, frankincense, rosemary and ginger. This is followed by a relaxing massage that blends Swedish, reflexology, lymphatic drainage and acupressure techniques to stimulate the central nervous system and promote emotional and physical wellness. The package costs $234. The spa is part of the Mission Bay Hyatt, a hotel which recently had a $65 million renovation and has beautiful ocean views, three pools and a waterfront marina with kayaks, sailboats and sportfishing available.

Tags: fathers day, FathersDayGifts, spa package, spa packages

3 New Ways to Luxuriate in Tasmania

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) — May 28th 2010 at 11:02AM

Tasmania, Australia's southernmost island state, is positioning itself for a luxury tourism boom -- at least judging by the number of new projects in the works.

I've already told you about two of Tassie's most prominent new projects: Saffire, a new boutique hotel and resort on the Freycinet Peninsula, and MONA, a new art museum that will be the largest private art collection in the southern hemisphere.

Another newcomer to put on your radar: Harmony Hill, a spa that's opening in Margate, which is just about 15 miles south of Hobart. Harmony Hill aims to be a wellness spa with a distinctive Asian flair. (Amie Nakamura, the owner is Japanese.) The spa relies exclusively on organic products, manufactured by Nakamura, and its eco-foot print will be small -- it uses solar energy, rain water, recycles grey water, and so on.

Gallery: Harmony Hill, New Day Spa in Tasmania

Tags: hotels, luxury real estate, spa, spas, tasmania

Continue reading “3 New Ways to Luxuriate in Tasmania”

Schedule Your Beauty Appointments on Facebook

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) — May 24th 2010 at 8:02PM

Addicted to Facebook? Well now you don't even have to log off for a minute to schedule beauty and spa appointments at your favorite service providers. Schedulicity has created a new Facebook widget that allows you to set appointments within the social networking program as easily as 'liking' or 'sharing' -- with a simple click of the mouse. Advanced Bodywork Center, Kennett Square Massage, and Sunrise Acupuncture Clinic are just a few of the businesses already taking advantage of the technology (see it by clicking on the "Schedule Now" tab on the top of their pages) and so far the reviews are good. Ginny Ozelton, hairstylist, commented "My clients love being in charge of their own scheduling because they don't have to play phone tag with me anymore."

What do you think, convenient and time-saving use of technology or just another way the internet is making life more and more impersonal?

Tags: facebook, Facebook Widgets, salon appointments, spa appointments, technology, widgets

← Previous Page|Next Page →

Spas

Featured Galleries

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

Also on AOL