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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.

Marù Spa at Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, an Orient-Express hotel in the South Pacific's French Polynesia, has been nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa Retreat.

Located on an idyllic little motu (islet) called Toopua in the cobalt blue lagoon, Marù Spa is "the only treetop spa in Polynesia." Its wooden cabins fit elegantly into the lush greenery, waterfalls and lilies that surround it high up between two Banyan trees, tucked away from the over-the-water, pandanu-leaf-topped bungalows below. The resort was built in 1992 and is only accessible by boat. There are no roads or villages on the private isle of Toopua, just pristine beaches, blue water and an extraordinary hotel & spa.

Gallery: More from the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa

Take a walk around the grounds of The Grand Del Mar and you might think you've stepped through a wormhole to a 16^th Century Mediterranean villa. Fortunately for modern spa-goers, the resort is a reality – and a Luxist nominee in the best day spa category.

Founded in 2007, The Grand Del Mar and its 249 guestrooms are tucked between the rolling fairways of a Tom Fazio-designed golf course near San Diego, Calif. The resort's 21,000-square-foot spa was created with Renaissance sensibilities in mind, from its earthy colors to is crystal glass tiles and imported white Carrera marble. Framed Hermés scarves and vintage photos of Venice adorn the walls; sauna rooms, an indoor Jacuzzi and a stone fireplace beckon.

Inside the spa's 11 treatment rooms – including a couples' suite – guests receive a host of natural therapies, including facials, hydrotherapy and body treatments. For the body, treatments include "Renaissance," a bath of mineral mud and warm oil proceeded by a warm body wrap and rosemary-infused Swiss shower, topped off with a stretching massage (90 minutes: $310). All treatments at the Spa utilize The Grand Del Mar Skin and Body Care Collection, a private label of botanical and aroma therapy-based facial and body wellness products. The entire product line is handmade and organic (products are for sale exclusively at the Spa Boutique).

For the face, options include "Luminous," a combination of a pressure-point massage and a nutrient-rich facial (90 minutes: $270), as well as "Art for Art's Sake," an exfoliating facial followed by a neck, shoulders, face and scalp massage done with warm oils (90 minutes: $270). Not a bad way to end the day after 18 holes.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

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.

More than 500 miles off the coast of East Africa lies Frégate Island, one of the world's most exclusive and secluded spas. Unlike most oceanic resorts, Frégate is in the process of repairing its local ecosystem, not destroying it – making it a nominee for a Luxist award in the best green spa category.

Founded in 2000, this slice of Seychelles paradise was created with the coal of reversing over 200 years of destructive practices such as coconut and cinnamon growing, as well as tortoise harvesting. Today, Frégate's sanctuary boasts the second-largest herd of Aldabra Giant tortoises in the world. Guests can pay a fee to sponsor or "adopt" one of the animals until it is ready to be released into the island's jungle.

The tiny island includes 16 regular villas and one super-luxurious Presidential Villa, creating an opportunity to relax in true seclusion. Once there, the cliff-top Rock Spa offers panoramic ocean views, pools and waterfalls, and of course the treatments one would expect from such an establishment: various scrubs and oils made from the freshest possible ingredients.

Frégate's most unusual trait is its extreme isolation from the rest of the world – a welcome break from the daily grind – but it will cost you. Round trip flights include at least two stopovers (usually in Doha, Qatar and Mahé, Seychelles) and typically cost over $2,500 total. If money is no object, Frégate may end up being the trip of a lifetime.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Nestled on the north shore of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, the Sullivan Estate & SPA Retreat is quite literally an oasis in a vast and chaotic ocean. Thanks to its reliance on solar power, it's also among Luxist's best green spa nominees.

Though the Sullivan Estate traces its beginnings to 1962, it has only been in its current incarnation for a few years. In 2005, German-Australian doctor Juergen Klein bought the estate after selling his skin care company, Jurlique. He and his wife Karin, a veteran in the hospitality industry, combined their expertise to create the spa.

The estate is powered almost entirely by the energy soaked up by solar panels that adorn the roofs of nearly every structure on the property. The photovoltaic tiles on top of the main building produce more than 50 kilowatts of electricity every day – so much that the estate often has enough surplus to sell energy back to customers on Oahu's main power grid.

The OlaLoa spa is billed as a retreat for the "seven senses," specializing in solutions for those under unusual amounts of stress. All therapies are drug-free and focus on balancing all states of mind and body, including massages, yoga, Thai Chi and Quigong. OlaLoa also focuses on longevity, emphasizing the value of dietary supplements to go along with a robust exercise regimen.

Treatments include "Synergized," a 3.5-hour program built to enhance circulation and relax muscle that starts with an herbal steam sauna and ends with an aromatherapy body massage. If that's not enough for you, try "Longevity," a 4.5-hour program that begins with yoga or Thai Chi and ends with a Swedish massage. Either way, you can take comfort in the fact that you're relaxing in the most sustainable manner possible.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort is the five star home to an exquisitely developed set of natural springs in the Tuscan countryside, and an Italian nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa Retreats.

Located in San Casciano dei Bagni, Tuscany, the resort was built in the 17th century by the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici (yes, those de' Medicis) to take advantage of the therapeutic properties of the hot springs. Today, one can stay in that same, well-kept residence while enjoying the spoils of mother nature in the seven spa pools and multi-disciplinary areas of the spa.

Fonteverde offers an Oriental area with eastern treatments from massage to reflexology, as well as glass domes for Harmony Therapy, a collection of sonic experiences including the musicalization of your very own brain waves, recorded then given to you on CD. The Mediterranean area regards olive oil as "the element of life," and incorporates it into hydrating, nourishing and beautifying experiences which also utilize the Five Elements of ancient Chinese medicine.

Walk into Chicago's SIR Spa and one of the first things you'll find is a refrigerator stocked with beer. It's little things like this that make the establishment a Luxist nominee for best men's spa.

The 4,500 square-foot spa has a masculine feel to it, thanks to exposed brick walls and rich wood trim. Before and after treatments, guests can unwind in the relaxation lounge, complete with overstuffed leather recliners and a 50-inch plasma television. Many of the treatments are done in barbershop-style chairs along the lounge's wall.

At SIR, even the treatments themselves sound more like something you'd find in an auto repair shop than a spa – there's a "Hand and Foot Detail," code for manicure and pedicure. One of the most popular treatments is the "Tune-Up Massage," targeted at back, neck and shoulders to relieve chronic body pain (30 minutes: $55). The "Sports Massage" includes muscle stretching, compression and release therapy (60 minutes: $100; 90 minutes: $145; 120 minutes: $190).

The spa also offers a number of skin treatments for young and old. Freshen up your face with the "Face Firming Boost," which includes a collagen facial mask to fight wrinkles, or "Acne Treatment," which uses extractions and spot treatment to kill bacteria and heal scars. A variety of body hair trimming services are available as well. Ladies are allowed too – there's even a private treatment suite just for women.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

You won't find La-Z-Boy recliners and a fridge full of beer, but the sleek, modern atmosphere of Nickel Spa makes it an equally enjoyable place to relax. Thanks to its wide range of treatments and therapies, Nickel Spa for men is a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice nominee for best men's spa.

Founded in 1996, Nickel's first location was in Paris. Patrons were soon buzzing about its "Morning After Rescue Gel," and in 1999, Nickel opened the first men's beauty parlor in one of Paris' largest department stores. 2001 saw the opening of Nickel's flagship New York location – in the chic Chelsea neighborhood – and another in London's Convent Garden in 2005.

Nickel has styled itself as a destination for a new generation of men – not just metrosexuals, but any man who wants to be clean and well-groomed. The spa's proprietors encourage first-timers to visit; the company website even includes a section on spa etiquette "to ensure you get the most from your experience and also spare you from any crushing faux pas, red-faced embarrassment or ceremonial frog-marching off the premises.

Once at Nickel, a host of options await. There are manicures and pedicures, facials, waxing, massages and body treatments. Highlights include the "Oxygen Facial," which incorporates a mask of encapsulated oxygen to brighten dull skin (75 minutes: $115), as well as the "Rolling Hot Stone," a Swedish massage combined with the soothing power of heated stones (60 minutes: $170).

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

For those who'd like to ensure that personal relaxation doesn't have an adverse effect on the environment, Luxist's best green spa nominees offer the best of both worlds. The freshly minted Bardessono in Yountville, Calif., is one of the top options.

Founded in February of 2009, Bardessono is the product of a wealth of time and experience that belies its young age. The Napa Valley retreat was conceived by Phil Sherburne, a former Seattle city planner and son of organic dairy farmers. Now a conscientious developer, Sherburne brought Seattle architect Ron Mitchell on board to design the sustainable 62-room hotel. The resort practices green building and operating practices. It is heated and cooled by underground geothermal heating and cooling system. The hotel is powered almost entirely by its 940 rooftop solar panels.

Every room at Bardessono is designed as an environment-friendly personal spa, from the locally sourced stone and salvaged woods to the organic food, bedding and even cleaning supplies. Spa Suites offer an open living space and generous amounts of natural light with a luxurious bathroom, gas fireplace and a private courtyard. The custom bathroom, designed to double as a private spa, features a concealed massage table, a soaking tub, separate shower, and double vanity. The Spa Therapy Center offers rooms for couples' massages and facials. The saunas are equipped with a far-infrared sauna for the ultimate purification.

Specific in-room massages range from the 60-minute Vinotherapie Massage ($125), where your skin will be rejuvenated with organic Chardonnay grape seed oil, to the 120-minute Soothing Warm Stone Massage ($280), complete with river-worn stones applied by an experienced therapist. What better way to relax body, mind and conscience.

To use the words of a Luxist reader: "The resort is beautiful, the accommodations outstanding and the personnel very professional---and it is all green!"

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Where can the modern man go for a complete spa treatment without feeling the least but self-conscious? One place to look is Gentlemen's Tonic, a Britain-based establishment that claims to be both "comfortable and stylish" and "reassuringly masculine."

Founded in 2004 in London's Mayfair neighborhood by French-American Olivier Bonnefoy, the spa nevertheless maintains old-time English sensibilities. Gentlemen's Tonic aims to provide the atmosphere and services of a traditional barbershop, along with massages, alternative therapies and other amenities to make visiting chaps feel sound as a pound.

Plenty of modern perks adorn the establishment as well. Guests enjoy music consoles and LCD screens in every private haircutting station and treatment room; newspapers and magazines from all over the world serve as additional diversion. Each treatment room comes with a private shower for those who prefer a quick rinse before or after a rub-down. But no funny business, warns the company's website: "When being massaged, please ensure that your undergarment is kept on at all times."

For those who can't make the hop across the pond, Gentlemen's Tonic also has a single U.S. location in Houston. For those outside London and the Lone Star State, there's a line of products available on the web including basics like shampoo ($22) and conditioner ($23) up to a shaving gift set for men with sensitive skin ($81). Unfortunately for the ladies, this Tonic is only for Gentlemen.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

One&Only Palmilla has been nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa.

The property, which is part of the One&Only luxury resorts brand owned and operated by Kerzner International, has long been a favorite retreat for Hollywood celebrities and savvy travelers alike since it originally opened in 1956. One&Only Palmilla is located in Los Cabos, Mexico and offers dramatic views of the Sea of Cortéz. It recently completed an extensive, $120 million expansion and renovation project.

The resort's One&Only Spa is a luxurious indoor/outdoor 22,000 square foot facility inspired by the artistic and architectural themes of Mexico with stunning natural vistas of the Baja landscape. The spa is comprised of six buildings surrounded by lush landscaping and features 13 private treatment villas, accommodating either one or two people – allowing guests to enjoy their spa regime in complete sanctuary, whether for a few hours or a half-day.

With 20 locations around the world, its own line of take-home products and an attitude almost as refreshing as its spa treatments, Bliss is an obvious candidate for Luxist's best day spa award.

Bliss was founded in 1996 as a stand-alone spa in New York's stylish SoHo neighborhood, setting itself apart from rivals with its irreverent approach to relaxation. The proprietors of Bliss chose to play R&B tunes instead of the usual elevator music – "whale music," as they call it – and brownies replaced veggies at the spa's snack table. The approach made waves in the industry, and soon the spa's popularity helped it expand beyond the Big Apple.

Today, Bliss boasts that it has given "a million massages, a trillion triple oxygen treatments and about a bazillion Brazilians." Some of the treatments that made it a hit include "Best of Skintentions," a traditional facial combined with skin-specific exfoliation and a massage (60 minutes: $120), as well as "Blissage 75," which includes a warm wax foot softening wrap and a massage (75 min: $150).

For those who'd like to take some Bliss home with them, the spa offers a full line of skin care, anti-aging and general beauty products. Offerings include "Fabulous Foaming Face Wash" ($34) and "Best of Skintentions" daily moisturizer ($35). For those who'd prefer a bricks-and-mortar spa, new locations have just opened abroad in Singapore, Barcelona and Hong Kong; a Dubai spa is also in the works.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.