best extended stay spa

Best International Spa
Deep within the lush rain forest of Costa Rica, Tabacón Grand Spa & Thermal Resort is the Winner of the Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa.

Tabacón Resort is an oasis embedded in a primary rain forest, featuring twelve natural thermal spring pools and lagoons, waterfalls, exotic gardens and trails. Geologically, Tabacón Resort's hot springs are 97% rain-based and 3% magma-based. The resort is a three hour drive (150 km) north of the San José International Airport. The resort sits near the base of Arenal Volcano, and is surrounded by the wildly diverse flora and fauna of the tropical rain forest. Tabacón Grand Spa & Thermal Resort is committed to sustainable tourism with a core mission that includes the protection and improvement of the environment.

Miraval is a one-of-a-kind Tucson, Arizona resort and spa, is the winner of the Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Day Spa.

Miraval takes the money stress out of your spa retreat by offering all-inclusive stays which cover airport transportation, welcome gifts, accommodations, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, "growth activities," fitness and yoga classes, full resort amenity access and a daily $130 resort credit to be used for spa services, private consultations, Dinner with the Chef, or a round of golf. For anyone who's concerned about how much money they'll spend on their retreat, this is an ideal situation.

The desert resort was built in 1995 in the shade of the Santa Catalina Mountains and offers everything from spa and beauty experiences to nutritional counseling and horseback riding. Miraval is the kind of resort you don't leave at all while you're there. You can attend the luxurious lunches in your robe and choose your daily experiences as you go, according to how you're feeling -- no need to plan it all in advance. You can view sample weeks, called Experience Guides, which are updated monthly, here.


Many of the spa treatments can be enjoyed in the harmoniously designed Clodagh Outdoor Treatment Rooms, such as Outdoor Nuture, a "six part ritual" which involves brushing the skin with warm loofah mitts and a full-body massage with Arctic berry milk cream. Divine. Outdoor Ginger Healer consists of a deep tissue massage with healing ginger and rosemary, a wrap, a facial marma point massage while wrapped, and then a ginger salt scrub. Most magnificent of all is the Outdoor Miraval Journey. Your body is scrubbed with volcanic pumicen then massaged with Edelweiss-infused lotion. Then, you are wrapped, and given a scalp and face massage, followed by a foot massage.

As you can tell from those three samplings, attention is paid to each delightful, exotic detail of the treatments, providing a rich and unforgettable experience. Readers report that Miraval is a wonderful place to get away even on your own; it's not awkward to be there alone and it's easy to make friends. The balance of "Chill Out" spa services and "Clue In" activities is said to "calm stressed minds, relieve exhausted bodies, console grieving hearts, break negative behavior patterns, excite the senses and generally prepare the human spirit for a more magnificent life."

Miraval also hosts special events such as seminars on esoteric and metaphysical topics, usually centered around well-being and happiness. Visit the website for more information.

Nominations have been received and vetted for the best-of-breed in day spas, green spas, extended stay spas, men's spas and international spa retreats. The Luxist Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Spas will be awarded based on your voting.

Vote for what you believe is the best of breed for each of these categories. The Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Spas will be announced on April 1st.

Best Day Spa
The first nominee has 20 locations around the world, its own line of take-home products and an attitude almost as refreshing as its spa treatments while the second nominee is a luxurious spa ensconced in a sumptuous hotel located in one of the most splendid cities in the world. The third nominee is widely recognized for revolutionizing the day spa, while stepping into the fourth us reminiscent of a sixteenth century Mediterranean villa, albeit in San Diego. The final nominee offers body treatments and skincare with techniques borrowed from European and Asian tradition with sweeping views of the Hong Kong Harbor.

Bliss
Dior Institute at the Plaza Athénée
Exhale
The Spa at The Grand del Mar
Peninsula Spa by Espa

Best Green Spa
The first nominee is a Napa Valley retreat that opened a year ago while the second, also in the California wine country takes green to a whole new level. The third nominee is in Australia, nestled in the middle of the world's oldest living rain forest, while the fourth is located more than 500 miles off the coast of East Africa, making it one of the world's most exclusive and secluded spas. The final nominee is located in Hawaii and is powered almost entirely by the energy soaked up by solar panels that adorn the roofs of nearly all of its structures.

Bardessono
Calistoga Ranch
Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa
Frégate Island Private
Sullivan Estate & SPA Retreat

Best Extended Stay Spa
The first nominee is the recipient of countless awards and accolades for its innovative approach to health, wellness and holistic and integrative care while the second offers different site-specific perks at each of its five locations. The third nominee offers all-inclusive stays that include airfare and is located in the mountains of Arizona. The fourth nominee dates back over 80 years and is located in a charming historic town 35 miles south of Santa Barbara and the final nominee is the original destination fitness resort and spa.

Canyon Ranch
Golden Door Spas
Miraval
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Rancho La Puerta

Best Men's Spa

The first nominee offers the best of ancient Asian relaxation techniques while the second is "comfortable and stylish" and "reassuringly masculine." The third nominee has earned the title of "El Primer Spa Masculino" in its native Buenos Aires. The fourth nominee has styled itself as a destination for a new generation of men and the final nominee, which is based in Chicago, has a distinct masculine feel to it, thanks to exposed brick walls, rich wood trim and a beer-stocked refrigerator.

Chuan Body and Soul
Gentlemen's Tonic
Markus for Men
Nickel Spa
Sir Spa

Best International Spa

The first nominee offers results-oriented programs and is located on the island of Capri in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The second nominee was built in the 17th century by Ferdinando I de' Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, in the Tuscan countryside while the third nominee is the only treetop spa in Polynesia. The fourth has long been a favorite retreat for Hollywood celebrities and savvy travelers alike since it originally opened in 1956. The final nominee is in Costa Rica amidst a lush rain forest setting complete with a thermal mineral river and a volcano.

Capri Palace Hotel & Spa
Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort
Marù Spa at Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa
One&Only Palmilla
Tabacón Resort

The Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Entertainment will be awarded based on your nominations and voting. We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Brew Pub
Best Cocktail Lounge
Best Coffee House
Best Hotel Bar
Best Wine Bar

Canyon Ranch is nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended-Stay Spa. Canyon Ranch is the recipient of countless awards and accolades for its innovative approach to health, wellness and holistic and integrative care, as well as for the uniquely relaxing and inspiring experience it provides.

In 1978 Mel Zuckerman was 40 pounds overweight and had asthma, high blood pressure, a hiatal hernia, ulcers and diverticulitis. He had never exercised, had poor nutrition and his primary goal was to succeed in his home building business. His father had recently passed away as a result of cancer from smoking. His grief was mixed with the fear he was heading down the same path as his father.

Zuckerman checked himself into the Ojai Ranch & Spa for a 10 day stay to learn how to get on track. There, he exercised and ate right. He noticed how great he felt and extended his stay to a month. "After that I never looked back," he says. After he returned home, he and his wife, Enid, launched a dream to make healthy living their business---and hence Canyon Ranch was born.

Canyon Ranch opened in the Sonoran Desert and the mountains in 1979 in Tucson, Arizona. It was a radical idea at the time---a comprehensive, healthy living resort with no smoking or alcohol. Within a few years, Canyon Ranch had gained a strong reputation and was influencing the evolution of spas around the world.

Miraval is a one-of-a-kind Tucson, Arizona resort and spa, nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Day Spas.

Miraval takes the money stress out of your spa retreat by offering all-inclusive stays which cover airport transportation, welcome gifts, accommodations, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, "growth activities," fitness and yoga classes, full resort amenity access and a daily $130 resort credit to be used for spa services, private consultations, Dinner with the Chef, or a round of golf. For anyone who's concerned about how much money they'll spend on their retreat, this is an ideal situation.

The desert resort was built in 1995 in the shade of the Santa Catalina Mountains and offers everything from spa and beauty experiences to nutritional counseling and horseback riding. Miraval is the kind of resort you don't leave at all while you're there. You can attend the luxurious lunches in your robe and choose your daily experiences as you go, according to how you're feeling -- no need to plan it all in advance. You can view sample weeks, called Experience Guides, which are updated monthly, here.

There are five Golden Door Spas in the US and Puerto Rico, and each has its own unique charm -- so much so, that the entire collection has been nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Day Spas.

The predecessor of Golden Door was founded by Deborah Szekely in Mexico in 1940, starting with modest bring-your-own-tent retreats. Szekely's philosophies about health and fitness attracted a broad base of followers, which led her to open the revolutionary Golden Door in 1959, which "combined intensive training in personal health with gracious hospitality, inspired by the ancient Honjin inns of Japan." Spa Escondido is still running today as a Golden Door Spa.

Today, four of the Golden Door Spas are located on Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts properties, while the original Golden Door is a LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels property, ensuring your stay is seamless and tranquil. Each Spa offers its own site-specific perks. For example, at the original Spa Escondido, you can indulge in a week long stay (they have men's, women's and co-ed programs) to not just relax and rejuvenate, but truly rediscover your health and learn smarter daily practices along with the help of 39 other people there for the same purpose. This is a fantastic way to get back into shape if you've fallen off the wagon, as well as to make meaningful new friends.

The Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a nominee for a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended Stay Spa.

Dating back over 80 years, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is located in the charming and historic Spanish-style town of Ojai. It is fourteen miles from the Pacific Ocean, 35 miles south of Santa Barbara and 73 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The world-renowned Spa Ojai, located on the resort grounds, offers an extensive menu of experiences ranging from traditional massage and skincare treatments to one-of-a-kind and seasonal signature treatments unique to Spa Ojai. Take for example, the "Kuyam", which is the signature mud treatment at Spa Ojai. It is a Chumash word that translates as "a place to rest together," however the Kuyam also takes inspiration from the traditional healing rituals from many cultures. This treatment combines the therapeutic effects of cleansing mud, dry heat, inhalation therapy and guided meditation.

Essence in Balance is one of the newest therapies at Spa Ojai, and is also one of the most personalized and unique treatments available. Guests begin their 3.5 hour session at the Artist's Cottage & Apothecary, where they create a personalized blend of essential oils to address whatever/however they are feeling or are needing at that exact moment in time. The oil is then used for their massage, providing an aroma-therapeutic treatment that culminates into a truly healing
experience.

Rancho La Puerta, founded by Edmond and Deborah Szekely in 1940, is the original destination fitness resort and spa and remains family-owned and operated. Today's guests enjoy the very best resort spa experience, shaped by expertise developed over 65 years. So it should come as no surprise that Rancho La Puerta is a nominee for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best Extended-Stay Spa.

Each week, some 150 guests share 3,000 acres of mountains and meadows beneath 3,885' Mount Kuchumaa and where the meandering Kumeyaay Creek meets the Tecate River. The peak straddles the U.S.-Mexico border, and Native Americans consider its slopes and summit a sacred place - so much so that it was the first geographic feature in the U.S. to be named a National Historic Site by the Department of Interior based on spiritual significance.

Rancho La Puerta, which is located in Tecate, Mexico (a 45 minute drive southeast of San Diego) offers 32 acres of gardens, hiking trails, an organic farm, several pools, extensive spa and fitness facilities, a salon, individual casitas for guests, a large dining hall, gift shop, and an intimate library -- as well as numerous inviting lounges and conference rooms.