Spa

A former NHL hockey player is one of the investors behind a luxurious new spa. Vincent Damphousse is a part of the $8.5-million Scandinave Spa Whistler, opens this month just in time to ramp up for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The Vancouver Sun reports that Damphousse owns a 25-per-cent stake in Quebec-based spa developer Gestion Riviere du Diable Inc. (GRD), which has spas in Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Quebec and a franchise spa in Blue Mountain, Ontario. Another player, former defenseman Eric Desjardins owns five per cent of the company.

The project has six separate buildings with green roofs and offers a spa experience that starts with a steam bath or sauna before a quick cool off in Nordic waterfalls or a cold bath or shower, a process that is repeated several times. The baths experience costs $55 and there are also packages that include massage.

Damphousse has been involved with GRD since 1999, when he was still actively playing. He was later the National Hockey League Players Association's director of business relations and is on the boards of four different companies.

What if you could go on vacation, and get a tan so profound they would name a shade of 'golden' in your honor -- in the middle of winter, no less -- and skip the part with skin damage and wrinkles? If you're interested, Pueblo Bonito in Los Cabos, Mexico will address the vacation part, and their Thermage spa treatments will attend to your skin.

Thermage -- or radiothermoplasty for you Gray's Anatomy types -- delivers radiofrequency waves to the collagen-producing level of the skin. Collagen, remember, is the stuff that Angelina Jolie has made famous and her synthetically-inclined colleagues have made infamous. The non-invasive procedure's radio waves are meant to make the skin's natural collagen contract and tighten, as well as spur the production of new collagen and its remarkable ability to fill and plump. Voila, wrinkles are no more.

Pueblo Bonito has partnered with the Raquel Sarfati Medical Spa to offer the treatments at all four Pueblo's locations, but only be for a limited time: from December 15, 2009 to January 9, 2010, at Pueblo's award-winning Sunset Beach Spa. They'll even give you a free consultation so you can find out if thermage is the ace you want up your sleeve. Even so, thermage isn't exactly inexpensive, but you didn't expect the phrase "supple bronze goddess" to be, did you?

If nothing else, there's still that mesmerizing tan in the middle of winter for you to work on. You'll get no help with that, but we're sure you and the peninsular sun can work something out between yourselves.

The Beau-Rivage Palace has just what you need to heal your soul from all that holiday stress (and eating and drinking). The palace, adjacent to Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps (see above) on ten acres of private, wanderable gardens, has a new restaurant featuring France's only female chef with three Michelin stars, as well as two other restaurants, two bars with sweeping terraces, and the Cinq Mondes Spa, where they will fix you up for 2010.

The three-night Boost Your Immune System Package, available through March 19, 2010, starts at approximately $1,437.00 (based on double occupancy) and includes:

• Accommodations in a lake-view room
• One-hour session with a personal trainer
• Welcome glass of freshly squeezed Vitamin C-rich orange juice
• Daily buffet breakfast with a wide selection of freshly squeezed juices, fresh fruits and vegetables and home-made yogurts (among other options)
• Special antioxidant-rich lunch or dinner at Café Beau-Rivage
• Daily in-room vegetable and fruit basket, freshly squeezed juices and a selection of herbal teas
• 50 minute body massage at the Cinq Mondes Spa
• 20 minute facial massage at the Cinq Mondes Spa
• Free access to the Cinq Mondes Spa, fitness room and tennis courts

Now that's a getaway. Wait till you see the rooms.

Massages are a wonderful luxury and also one of the few traditionally "guilty pleasures" that aren't so guilty after all. Massages are a great tool for relaxation and stress management, as well as beneficial in treating a host of other problems and giving some unexpected health benefits.

Pain Science has yet to discover exactly how massage helps with pain but somehow it does. Theories surround the fact that massages relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and stimulate good hormones. Pain due to fibromyalgia, migraines, and back pain respond particularly well to massage therapy.

Self-Esteem Believe it or not regular massages have been shown to raise self-esteem in some people. Direct contact in the form of touch can help a person feel connected and cared for, and as a result have a greater feeling of self-worth and higher self-esteem.

Mood One of the most common benefits of massage is a decrease in stress hormones and an increase in 'feel good' hormones, which means decreased stress, anxiety, and depression, and improved relaxation and overall mood.

Immunity The stress hormone cortisol impairs the body's immune system, but massages reduce cortisol and so give your immunity a boost.

Sleep/Alertness Massage, depending on what kind, can either stimulate deeper sleep or improved alertness.

Pack your bags for Tunisia! A new Radisson Blu Resort & Thalasso has opened in Monastir. It's the second Radisson Blu in Tunisia and boasts 280 rooms on beachfront property -- facing the Gulf of Hammamet in the Mediterranean Sea. The resort has 264 guestrooms, 14 junior suites and two senior suites, all equipped with high-speed access (no fee!) and a private balcony or terrace overlooking the pool and sea.

Of course, it's nice to have a comfortable room, but when you really want to unwind, you're looking for the spa. The Radisson Blu in Monastir has a 150,000-square foot facility in the Royal Elyssa Spa Cinq Mondes & Thalasso, with a 48,000-square foot Thal'ion Thalasso center that specializes in restorative treatments using seawater. The spa facilities are set to open early next year and will also have a fitness club and salon. The saunas, hammams and treatment rooms are great, but you'll want to get to the top floor, where you'll find 20 spa suites, many of which will boast private Jacuzzis.

The "Mammoth" in Mammoth Mountain, California actually comes from the 19th century gold rush, when a group of prospectors among the clamoring hordes founded the Mammoth Mining Company. But with winter -- and a yearly average of 400 inches of snow -- rapidly approaching, the kind of mammoth you should be concerned with right now is the resort, its luxury, its skiing, and the fun you can have with all of those.

The Westin Monache Resort in Northern California is Mammoth Mountain's only 4-star resort, and it intriguingly lists "excellent soundproofing" as one of its signature features. When you're finished testing your bedside klaxons, you'll find it is also just steps from the mountain's 15-passenger express gondola that will begin the trip to 3,500 skiable acres and 3,100 vertical feet of skiing at a maximum altitude of 11,053 feet.

At the conclusion of exploring any of the 150 named trails you can head back to your suite -- the resort has 230 of them in studio, 1- and 2-bedroom varieties, each one benefiting from a kitchen and a fireplace, and that Heavenly Bath (you'd never guess how good a second shower head can make you feel; it's almost like being tenderly scrubbed to by mermaids... or so we've imagined). Regardless of whether you brought your own skis or snowboard or used the on-site shop's pro fitments, the ski valet will be happy to relieve you of your equipment and prepare it for the next day's adventures, 24 hours a day.

Book a package before November 5 and you could save 25% on your winter getaway. Direct air service on Horizon Air begins December 17 from some West Coast and Nevada cities, and the Village Ski Back Trail should open around that time as well, so you can glide straight from the mountain into the base Village. The only thing you'll need to worry about then is getting back in time for the Korobuta pork chop in a cognac demi-glaze at Whitebark and saving room for s'mores...

Last year we wrote about the $30,000 Damascene razor from Hommage, the Parisian purveyor of luxury grooming equipment, skincare and spa services for men. Now the brand, a favorite of celebs like Anthony Hopkins, Hugh Laurie and Robert Sean Leonard, has come out with ShaveCare Emollient: Relieve, formulated for the time-restricted man who wants a flawless, mistake-free, professional-level shave at home, and on-the-go. The water-resistant, transparent oil-gel does not melt off the skin like normal gels and creams, making it the ideal in-shower shaving tool. Core Relieve ingredient, the NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor) Complex, smoothes and arms the skin while softening the hair for a perfectly quick, close shave. The emollient leaves skin nourished, soft and protected without the need for after-shaves or moisturizers. The new ShaveCare Emollient: Relieve is available in single capsules as well as a Home and Travel Set (above) for $100, available at Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman and Paul Labrecque Spas.

For the rates Venetian gondoliers charge you might expect a massage and a 3-course meal during your cruise of the canals. With the introduction of the Voga Voyage at Loews Coronado Bay Resort Gondola Company, you can at least check the massage off the list.

Your vessel for the journey among the Coronado Cays will be a softly wrapped, sun-warmed massage table. In turn, that table will ride upon an authentic 33-foot gondola that launches from the resort's private marina and then embarks on an hour-long cruise of Mediterranean-like waterways. Forty minutes of that will be occupied by masseurs tending to your physical needs, which includes the laying on of sunscreen before the more serious application of massaging hands. The last ten minutes of the trip will be given to sight-seeing, if you're in any mood for that, while you and your chère company feast on the gondola's supply of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Booking the $499 Voga Voyage also gets you a free night at the resort and its amenities, spread out on a secluded, 15-acre peninsula. And having saved on airfare to the Italian province, you just might have enough left over for the 3-course meal. It's certainly not what Iago meant when he mentioned "creating the beast with two backs," but this ride has a far less drama and a much happier ending...

The third tower of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is expected to be finished next February, and the resort will open its heavy glass doors to early adopters in 2011. Sitting on 1,000 square feet of sable blanc at the north end of Miami Beach, the three 27-story towers will house 511 rooms in various sizes and flavors of sumptuousness. The move south, like a snowbird from that biggest of apples, is intended to be a relocation of the New England grandeur that Colonel John Jacob Astor IV inaugurated when he opened the first St. Regis in NYC in 1904.

Think: mirrors. Lots of them. The Yabu Pushelberg interior scheme (from the firm that has lent a helping hand to Prada, Tiffany, the Mandarin Oriental, and so on) will naturally focus on textures and materials: Movingui hardwood walls, marble and travertine flooring, and etched plaster walls will abound upon entry. Guests and residents are no less looked after, with spa-like bathrooms, enclosed walk-in showers, and overflow soaking tubs. Granite makes its necessary appearance for the kitchen countertops, and the cutlery drawers will even be pre-slotted, so you'll never mistake your butcher for your cleaver.

Residences come in one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom sizes, range from 1,777 to 6,868 square feet, and start at $1.9 million. If you need more convincing -- and proof that that this St. Regis has left behind most of its New York City roots -- the balconies alone start at 455 square feet, larger than a fair number of Manhattan apartments. Amenities will include white-glove butlers, 24-hour room service, a 12,000 square foot spa, and someone to do your grocery shopping for you. Because, you know, you'll be hungry when you finally roll in from Nikki Beach...

South Africa's Molori Safari Lodge is the epitome of the new luxury safari style. Situated on a 185,000-acre game reserve on the border with Botswana, the lodge features five luxe bungalows with spacious wooden decks, private infinity pools and floor-to-ceiling fully retractable glass walls. A staff of 44, including a chef serving local delicacies like pan roasted gazelle, looks after a maximum of 14 guests. Upon arrival the Lodge's butler unpacks your bags, presses your safari suit, provides a selection of Aqua di Parma toiletries and stocks each suite with an assortment of homemade cured meats and dried fruit. Up at the main lodge a well-stocked library also features a great selection of whisky, brandy and cigars, while the wine cellar is of course stocked with the finest South African vintages. There's also one of the largest private telescopes in southern Africa as well as a holistic indoor-outdoor spa.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Sometimes it's better to start at the bottom and work your way up. But what if, at the same time, you could start at the bottom and be at the top? lebua Hotel offers just that at its Lake Okareka Lodge, set on a private estate in New Zealand. And when we say private, we mean private -- the extent of the accommodations is three luxury suites that can house, all together, nine people. Total. Maximum. When you book, even if there is just your lonesome, you get the whole thing to yourself -- "yourself" being you, your private chef, and the attendants waiting to fulfill your wishes.

Each of the suites gets lake views, private balconies, Bvlgari amenities, and the services of the estate's private chef. Should you commandeer the executive suite, you'll step up to your own lounge, spa bath, private office and walk-in wardrobe. As for things to do, the suites are set in the countryside, next to a lake, on the North Island of what is arguably one of the most beautiful countries on the planet. Should you tire of the fishing, sailing, kayaking, jet skiing, hiking, or simply being, the lodge maintains a piano room, a fantastically stocked wine cellar, and a 24-hour concierge for those urgent, 3 a.m. requests.

lebua Hotel Bangkok has quarters for more guests, but the numbers don't spoil the treatment. Each room in the all-suite hotel in the State Tower, Silom district has views of the Chao Phraya River. Naturally, all-suite does not mean all the suites have been created equal: ranging from 66 to 266 square meters, opt for the premium digs and you'll sup on multi-course meals prepared by your own chef for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, and that liquid meal known as "cocktails."

If you must go out, the bar and five restaurants under The Dome will reward you for the slipper-shod trek: Sirocco, 63 stories up, is the world's highest open air restaurant; the tables at Breeze sit on jutting balconies, where you can dine on modern Asian fare while descrying views of modern Asia; the Mezzaluna specializes in Italian and amore -- every proposal made there has been accepted; Café Mozu mashes up a DJ, a pool, and Italian, Lebanese, and Indian courses; and Distil is where you go to wash it all down... in moderation, of course.

What could be better than 5-star suites and food? Why, a party to celebrate their opening. lebua will be hosting a gala launch of the New Zealand property and the Tower Club addition to its Bangkok location in, of all places, Sydney, Australia. The soiree goes down in November, on a private yacht that will be moored in front of the Opera House, where lebua chefs will be on hand to tempt you to make the trip to those other points distant.

If one were tempted to wonder about flying to Australia to have a party for resorts in lands at least five hours away by plane, we must remember that ours is not to question why. Ours is only to ask, "Why not?" And then make reservations...

The stress of working and living under tough economic conditions is enough to trigger the urge for a trip to the spa. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough cash around to lay out for that perfect facial or relaxing massage. Rather than give up, however, most Americans are compromising. Shorter treatments are becoming more common, as many realize that something is better than nothing.

In June this year, the International SPA Association found that treatments lasting 30 minutes or less grew in popularity. Forty-six percent of the ISPA's 3,200 members reported an increase in these shorter services ... and close to have saw the amount spent per visit fall year-over-year.

Interestingly, there is a changing of the guard afoot among spa visitors. In the past, Baby Boomers were the most frequent spa-goers, but Generations X and Y are starting to see the benefits of relaxation, according to a study by SpaFinder. For many spas, this may require a change in design and treatment menus, as younger guests may not be soothed in the same ways their parents were.

The historic Hotel Ukraina, a city landmark in Moscow, Russia, is about to reopen as the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel. The property will have undergone a substantial renovation and its new look and feel is sure to impress.

The property will offer 507 guestrooms, along with 38 serviced apartments. The rooms will be 345 square feet in size, and the apartments will be quite large – from 540 square feet to 2,750 square feet. All rooms and apartments will be equipped with high-speed internet access.

What really makes the reopening interesting, though, is the connection between old and new. The property's art collection will be featured, consisting of nearly 1,000 paintings from the socialist realism school of thought, the "official" movement of the Soviet Union for more than six decades. Murals and ceiling frescoes will be restored and on display through the hotel's public spaces.

To enhance the experience, the hotel will feature a 43,000 square foot spa and wellness center, with a Turkish bath, Finnish sauna and six-lane swimming pool. There will also be a dedicated kids' club, giving parents some much-needed time to relax. After unwinding, dash up to the 31st floor bar and enjoy the views of Moscow. For another perspective on the city, you'll be able to take a culinary boat tour on the Moskva River.

"This hotel is another milestone in our history," says Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor, which owns the property. "Rezidor, the international pioneer on the Russian hotel market, is today the leading international hotel operator in Russia and the CIS countries – and now manages an additional key property in Moscow, which is one of the most remarkable hotel structures in Europe."

We all know that spas don't tend to be man caves. There's nothing macho about walking around in a soft fluffy robe, about sipping water infused with cucumbers or citrus, or contemplating the condition of your pores. Spa cuisine is also not something that's designed to appeal to a strapping appetite -- you can't score any swagger points by eating steamed veggies. And that's before you get to yoga, meditation, and aerobics classes -- all wonderful activities, but not something a guy's guy is going to brag much about.

John and Ginny Lopis, owners of The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley, Pennsylvania and spa industry veterans, knew this too, and so when they opened their own spa, about 90 minutes from New York City, they decided to purposefully make it a place where a guy would feel comfortable. This comes through in the décor of the common areas, which, true to its name, is lodge-inspired, with a bit of a feel of a traditional study thrown in too -- there's lots of wood, metal and rich cozy upholstery. This also comes across in the range of activities available -- the spa is set on 75 wooded acres, and it has its own lake, so activities include hiking, mountain biking, kayaking -- and there's a golf course right across the street. What's more, the food that's served here is certainly in the genre of spa cuisine -- healthy, lower fat, calorie conscious -- but it's not about deprivation: there's a full wine list, for instance, desserts, chocolate and treats. Ginny Lopis jokes that they think of it as a five-star ashram.

When you walk through into the spa wing, you're in more familiar territory, but it's new-age light and bright, but still, nothing aggressively pink or feminine anywhere -- except maybe in the treatments, for instance, the Lavender Garden Dream, which is a polish, wrap and fully body massage or Chamomile Flowers, a body polish and moisturizer.

Even with all of this man-bait in place, the clientele is, as you'd expect, mostly women. When I visited a few weeks ago, I noticed many mother-daughter, girlfriend getaway types of spa-goers -- but I also spotted more than handful of men, holding up their half of a vacationing couple. The menfolk were a bit furtive, and not much evidence during the day, as I took a class called "Breathe and Change Your Life", stretched in yoga, and jogged in the woods. But early one morning, as I watched knots of women striding with great purpose on the spa's fitness trail, creating flashes of neon lime and bright pink power-walking through the trees, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted one guy, going off to fish in the lake, his pole over his shoulder.

Concierge service is rewarding, but common; let's face it, Best Western has concierges. Butler service, on the other hand -- the round-the-clock ask-and-it's-done white-glove kind, that's still something special. The Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Retreat & Spa in Los Cabos, Baja California has just added butlers to its list of amenities, and they're free... well, whenever you book an ocean view suite.

Your attendant clocks in the moment you arrive and tends to the minutiae of any resort stay like dinner reservations, spa appointment, and dry cleaning. Yet the role of steward entails more than that: he will unpack your luggage, run your bubble bath, coordinate in-suite dining, plan an entire day trip and make sure your bed is turned down and your shoes are shined when you return. If there are enough of you for a cocktail party, he can arrange that as well. And anything else in between, so we're told.

Although Pueblo Bonito says "no request is too large or too small," there is one thing you can't ask your butler to do: take care of your children -- the Los Cabos property has been designed exclusively for adults. With your own butler, though, it will give you chance to be kids. Arthur would be proud...