Discover Costa Rica’s Eco-luxe Spas - The Harmony Hotel

While the multi-hued tropical sunsets of Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast will force you to slow down each night and take in the vibrant, natural beauty of this Latin country, expect to marvel at the variety of remote yet luxurious hotels and spas that dot its far reaches, forging an amenable partnership between nature and human architectural prowess.

From a quiet “green” haven in the hip surf outpost of Nosara, to a glorious enclave high in the lush Gaia reserve, here is the first of five unique eco-luxe spa-hotels that harmonize local, indigenous knowledge with state of the art amenities and treatments highlighting Costa Rica’s natural beauty in an ecologically sensitive manner, while offering the discriminating traveler a unique vacation experience.

The Harmony Hotel

Luxury meets laid back at Harmony Hotel, a low-key yet glamorous eco resort, cradled on the ocean’s edge in the sleepy Pacific Coast village of Nosara, where you may spot Susan Sarandon sipping a raw green smoothie beside you at the coconut palm-roofed raw-bar, just a few steps away from the chlorine-free, salt water pool.

Fit surfers as well as weekend wave warriors make up much of Harmony Hotel’s clientele and deep-tissue massage to ease those tired surfed-out muscles such as the intriguingly named “Octopus Massage,” where four hands work their expert magic on you, are bestsellers at the hotel’s Healing Centre and Spa.

Ostensibly, you cannot go wrong with anything on Harmony’s Spa menu, especially since ingredients such as the fresh papaya, avocado and bananas utilized in the whole body skin-fitness treatments such as “Banana Bliss” and “Papaya Delight” are grown right on the hotel property and laced with essential oils harvested from a Costa Rican perma-culture farm. And if you want to push your spa sustainability sensibilities, you can also harvest you very own scrub-loofah from the loofah plant in the spa’s herb garden, and après treatment, take it home.

Expect not just to connect to, but tango in tune with your natural rhythms at the Harmony Spa.

Harmony Hotel: Room Rates from $135/night
Massage rates from: $90 - 90 minutes, $75 - 60 minutes
Body Treatments: $75 - 90 minutes
All prices in $USD.

~Insiya Rasiwala, Spas of America
When not writing about the benefits of health and wellness, Insiya is a bliss promoter and practices and teaches yoga in Vancouver, Canada: YogueStyle. Article previously published in www.luxurylatinamerica.com.

Experience Rosehip Oil at Hills Health Ranch, Canada

Juanita Corbett could be Canada's answer to the Body Shop's Anita Roddick. Corbett, who owns the unique Hills Health Ranch in 108 Mile Ranch, B.C., has a touch of the eccentric, just like Roddick. She's a former Grand Ole Opry singer from Kentucky who found her calling as a homeopathic esthetician. The ranch is a weight-loss and de-stressing spa that's just like a good old-fashioned fat farm. Corpulent CEOs sometimes stay for months at a time.

It's also the place where Corbett manufactures her Canadian Natural Oils line of curative and beauty products, including her cult rosehip oil. When she and her husband bought the ranch in the B.C. Cariboo that so inspired artist Emily Carr, Corbett didn't know what to do with the 20,000 acres of prickly rosehips growing on the grounds. She thought the prolific plants an unwanted nuisance.

But you know the old saying, if God hands you rosehips, make rosehip oil. Corbett did some research into the weed and found it to be one of the Earth's most powerful healing herbs, with a high concentration of vitamin C. She began making rosehip oil using a cold press.

The rosehip-oil wrap and facial Corbett gave me is not a treatment I will soon forget. It started with a massage with a dry brush that looked a lot like a horse brush. (Very possible. Riding is one of the activities offered here.) Starting with my feet, Corbett dry-brushed her way up my body. She advised me to administer the same treatment to myself daily. (Invest in a natural bristle brush, she said. "It costs about 50¢, takes a few minutes a day and will not only increase blood circulation and remove dead layers of skin, but stimulate glandular hormones as well.") After I was sloughed soft, out came the rosehips. The oil was massaged into my body, then I was wrapped in a plastic sheet and heated blankets to warm me up. While I was slow-cooking, Corbett gave me a facial with more rosehip oil. Then she left the room for 15 relaxation minutes. The sweet aroma of the rose oil filled the small treatment room. I felt like Jeannie inside a perfume bottle.

Corbett and her staff are highly specialized and have a very Old World attitude to health. Beauty treatments are as much rehabilitation as indulgence. The facial included much examining of my skin with a magnifying glass and suggesting internal remedies for what ailed me. Liver and digestive problems, she guessed (correctly, as I do a lot of traveling), were giving me circles under my eyes, so she advised me to drink lots of water and eat yogurt with acidophilus, a friendly intestinal bacteria. After she unwrapped me, my skin was soft and fragrant and I felt so relaxed that I missed that afternoon's workout session.

Hills Health Ranch

Karen Burshtein, Weekend Post

Post Hotel and Spa, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains in the majestic wilderness of Banff National Park, Post Hotel & Spa is a model of understated elegance. Canada’s largest ski area is just minutes away and the abundance of snow is just one reason a growing number of skiers visit the area each winter. An award winning wine list and fresh market cuisine are featured in the renowned dining room.

Post Hotel & Spa features guestrooms with mountain views, overlook trees and cabins, and the hotel’s well-manicured lawns.

Post Hotel & Spa offers renowned fine dining and an award winning wine cellar featuring 30,500 bottles and more than 2000 selections. The Post Hotel is a Four Diamond award winner and Distinguished Restaurants of North America receipts. Among a setting of character rich Canadian pine and close to the warm glow of the grand fieldstone fireplace, you will savor the talents of the Post's international cooking team.

Unwind and indulge at Temple Mountain Spa. The spa is inspired by and nestled in nature, and designed to envelop you in comfort. The newly revitalized Roman-inspired pool is perfect for a peaceful float or a few energy reviving laps.

Post Hotel and Spa

Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

Set amid awe-inspiring fairytale gardens, this 250-year old palace is one of the most romantic hotels in the world. As a testimony to courtly love, the palace brims with princely details including marble pillars, ornate glasswork, intricate paintings and much more.

Visitors will feel like honored guests of the Maharana at this exquisite white marble palace that seems to float majestically on the still waters of Lake Pichola. Originally built as a summer palace, Taj Lake Palace has recently been transformed to its former glory whose sole purpose is the pursuit of leisure.

Opulent silks, richly colored murals, and ornate carved wood furniture are just a few of the design details that envelope the guests in royal mystique. Guests experience luxury in the 83 rooms including 17 suites. Most of the rooms offer a view of the lake along with the City Palace, Aravali mountain ranges and/or the Jagmandir Palace, the neighboring island palace. All rooms are equipped with amenities like international direct dial facility, private bars, color television with satellite programs, personal safe, hair dryer and data port facility. Wi-fi wireless internet access is available.

The Royal Spa offers the ultimate in lavish relaxation in richly appointed treatment rooms. Guests can look forward to a selection of relaxation treatments, beauty enhancement, and rejuvenation sessions that suit individual needs. The Royal Spa also offers an irresistible blend of holistic body and beauty treatments, accented with traditional rituals and ancient Indian healing practices. Guests can choose from an array of international beauty products and essential oils. For maximum privacy, guests can arrange for in-suite treatments as well as yoga and meditation classes.

Taj Lake Palace

Timeless Beauty – Aspira Spa at the Osthoff Resort

Before arriving at the elegant Osthoff Resort we had already been charmed by the beautiful rolling green hills surrounding the resort’s home village of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. My husband and I were making the journey to visit Aspira, the Osthoff’s new spa addition. From the images we’d seen of the spa we knew we would be impressed, but had not anticipated such a romantic setting.

Once checked in we made our way to Aspira where we were introduced to a new peak experience in luxury relaxation – the Spa SuiteTM. Our exquisitely decorated suite came complete with a whirlpool, fireplace, lounging sofa, large shower and bathroom facilities. From the moment we entered, the stress of a month filled with travel, deadlines and countless obligations gave way to a sense of peace and comfort. Although we’d had couple’s massages in the past, we had never experienced the contentment of enjoying simultaneous treatments in a room that we could call our own after treatments.

Once settled in to the suite we welcomed in our therapists to begin our treatments. As the massage began I looked over and saw my sweetheart beaming, a happy and contented smile on his face; one could practically see the tension leaving his body as his therapist was finishing up the Swedish Tonic Massage (though I only caught a glimpse as I was far too carried away with my own soothing Aromatic Relaxation Massage). As my therapist moved on to a beautifully executed Reflexology treatment, my happy hubby slipped into the suite’s whirlpool tub to begin a long soak in a soothing Element Bath. What a pleasure - to remain in the same tranquil space while moving into different phases of our shared spa experience.

Read the complete Review

Spas of Canada - 141 Years Young!

Celebrating 141 years young on July 1st, Canada is one of the world's favorite destinations for fresh air, health and wellness. The planet's 2nd largest nation offers a wide array of experiences for the spa traveler. From Quebec's Nordic spas, Ocean spas on the West Coast of British Columbia, award-winning Destination spas throughout the country, exciting Wine spas of Southern Ontario, or relaxing Mineral Springs, Canada offers something for everyone.

Spas of Canada

Pala Casino Spa & Resort, California

Just a short drive north of San Diego, overlooking the Palomar Mountain range lies the striking Pala Casino Spa & Resort. The spa's beautiful attention to detail including bamboo flooring, mosaic tiles, wood accents and several water features creates a serene sanctuary.

The Pala Casino Spa Resort offers guests over 500 luxurious rooms and suites appointed with large televisions and high-speed internet. The resort’s eight restaurants provide a wide-range of dining choices including The Oak Room specializing in steak and seafood. Guests looking to catch some sun can take in the outdoor swimming pool. For the more energetic, the resort offers a fully-equipped indoor fitness center.

Pala Casino Spa & Resort, California

Pampering in the City of Light, 5 Paris Spas

SPA NUXE 32

Stepping into this chic retreat housed in a former wine and spirit storehouse in the heart of Paris is like walking into a shoot for an interior decor magazine. Intimate candlelight and elegant drapes hung from 17th-century beams create an amorous ambience.

Two couples’ packages are available in a spacious two-bedded treatment room with its own whirlpool bath illuminated by precious mosaics. The Sweetheart Escape combines a frothy bath with an hour-long relaxing massage together, while the Tandem Escape involves a two-hour facial and massage using carefully selected French lotions and potions. Spa Nuxe 32

LE MEURICE

Take one 18th-century grande dame, whisk in some Philippe Starck contemporary flourishes, wrap it in elegant excess and you have a recipe for sumptuous decadence that has attracted kings, presidents, A-listers and artists for a 100 years or so And excess is the word.

In its delicious spa, femmes fatales have long given in to seductive treatments that promise to hold back the years. Intensive facials from Swiss skincare specialist Valmont, combined with the latest high-tech wizardry, aim to leave you wrinkle-free and radiant. Indulge yourself. You are worth it.

The 90-minute Meurice Vitamin C intensive brightening facial costs an eye-watering (£157, $307); the brave can try the cold cryogenic body wrap (£65, $127) to tone legs and improve circulation. Brrrrr. Le Meurice

HOTEL LE BRISTOL

Just around the corner from the Champs Elysees, in the Parisian version of Mayfair, the Hotel Le Bristol is seductive, sexy and intimate.

The Anne Sémonin Spa opened in July 2007 in a building next door to Le Bristol. It’s small with three treatment rooms and classically designed with modern, beige tones. There’s a waterfall in the reception area and each treatment bed is covered with a cashmere blanket. The mother-of-pearl accessory boxes are a nice touch.

A Haute-Couture 3-day getaway costs £960, $187 and includes a personal trainer and lots of pampering. Other massages on offer include: 100 per cent Active De-Crease Facial, Deep Release Massage with hot stones and the 3 hour Face and Body Detox Therapy. Hotel Le Bristol

GEORGE V SPA

An underground spa, not far from the Bastille with a small swimming pool and Jacuzzi illuminated by a special light which replicates the daylight outside – it rises in the east and sets in the west. The overall look is Palace of Versailles. Toile de jouy fabric covers every wall, carriage clocks are on every mantelpiece. In the relaxation room there are three four-poster day beds, swathed in muslin, covered in velvet bolsters and large scatter cushions.

Disappointingly the sauna and steam room are in the women’s changing rooms. This meant there was no sense of a spa "journey" where you can move from water to hot rooms to slowly unwind before your treatment. Instead it felt like a beautifully decorated health club, where the treatment rooms were very separate from the water areas.

The website doesn’t give any prices for the treatments, but my massage cost €140 (£105, $205). You can only use the pool and Jacuzzi if you are a guest at the hotel, but anyone can book a treatment. The cheapest "George V" massage is €125, $193 and the most expensive, the "four hands" massage is €200, $309. Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

GUERLAIN INSTITUT DE BEAUTE

You can shop, sightsee then spa at this architectural landmark on the Champs Elysses, where the French dames finish off a session with a bespoke perfume.

The Institut de Beaute is essentially just that. There is no gym, sauna or whirlpool bath. Food: None to speak of, bar an array of delicious herbal teas.

A Transforming Day Experience of 8hr 15min costs €720 (about £500, $1113). Less expensive Day Experiences include the seven-hour Bridal Glow (€650, $1004), the three-hour Take A Break (€250, $386); a relaxing Imperiale Massage for 60min costs €90,$139 and a bikini wax €22, $34. Guerlain Institute de Beaute

Times Online

View Spas of France

Mirbeau Inn & Spa, New York

Situated in the storybook village of Skaneateles in central New York State’s Finger Lakes Wine Country, about 20 miles southwest of Syracuse, Mirbeau Inn & Spa blends gracious hospitality, award winning dining and a world class Spa into a relaxing vacation experience.

The French Countryside-inspired Mirbeau has earned Mobil’s Spa Four Star ranking for the first time and is now one of only two Spas in New York State to receive this award.

The spa encompasses 14,000 square feet of luxury, designed to offer a protected place of elegance and comfort. Drawing on the richness of the surrounding natural environment, Spa Mirbeau provides guests with a balanced program of classic massages, body wraps, and facial treatments.

Mirbeau Inn & Spa, New York

Skaná, The Spa at Turning Stone, New York

From the name Skaná, the Oneida word for "peace", Skaná, the Spa at Turning Stone is an unexpected oasis centrally located in the Empire State. Part of the Oneida Indian Nation's 1,200-acre Turning Stone Resort complex, Skaná follows Oneida traditions with a host of services featuring fresh herbs (such as sweetgrass, cedar and sage) and all-natural products from two of the world's leading skincare brands - Kerstin Florian and Naturapathica. Treatments focus on the use of herbal and mineral wraps, warm stone therapy, and reviving soaks to restore balance and harmony to the body, mind and spirit.

The spa's architecture is a tribute to the Oneida culture and includes a welcome area derived from a traditional arched Oneida longhouse. An American Indian sweat lodge offers guests an opportunity to experience what has been used for centuries to cleanse the body and purge the spirit of impurities. Other spa features include 12 treatment rooms, a full-service salon, co-ed mineral pool, soaking tubs, steam room, sauna, a luxurious VIP suite with plush amenities including a couple's treatment room, Boutique and the Skaná Spa Café, offering nutritious, delicious spa cuisine at breakfast and lunch.

Spa guests stay at Turning Stone's AAA 4-diamond award-winning Lodge at Turning Stone, selected by Condé Nast Johansens as its "Most Excellent Resort" in the USA and Canada. With two AAA 4-diamond hotels, a 4-diamond restaurant (Wildflowers at The Lodge at Turning Stone).

Skaná, The Spa at Turning Stone, New York

They Came to New York for the Waters

Pungently sulfurous waters burble up from the ground alongside a concrete 1970s hospital building in Clifton Springs, N.Y., southeast of Rochester, and I’m soaking in them. That is, waters from a mineral spring renowned in the 19th century for healing properties have been pumped from a stream running beneath the hospital lawn into a new spa wing, where I’ve gone more for relaxation than anything curative, and a nurse has prepared a hot bath for me.

In a serene pale-purple treatment room, I step gingerly into the tea-colored water. The vapors clear my head, and I soon feel tingly and light, yet strangely immobile. The sound of the spring outside, gurgling into tiers of concrete fountain pools, mingles with the indoor soundtrack of pan flutes. When a knock on the door comes for my scheduled massage, I’m sorry to let the water drain.

Upstate New York is hardly known as a center of mineral springs. But in the 19th century, the golden age of mineral-water spas, at least 50 New York towns, scattered from Long Island to Lake Ontario, had resorts or sanitariums drawing on water emerging from rocky places underground and laced with elements like magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron and sulfur. “There were more mineral baths available in New York than in any other state,” said Charlotte Wytias, the program manager at the Clifton Springs Hospital’s spa.

All sorts of healing powers were claimed for the waters, which often carry a metallic or swampy taste and smell. But primarily, the resorts were places to go on vacation. “Life at the springs is a perpetual festival,” an 1850s guidebook said.

Read The New York Times Article

ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Founded by Hungarian-native Eva Sztupka-Kerschbaumer in 2001, ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare has built a reputation as a nationally known Organic Day Spa in a most unlikely place - Pittsburgh, PA. Housed in a Historic, WWI era Mechanic's garage, Eva and husband Scott, renovated the long-vacant space using environmentally responsible building methods and materials.

ESSpa Kozmetika's business model incorporates stringent sustainability protocols authored by the Green Spa Network, which has recently invited the company to join as a Cultivator Spa Member.

ESSpa Kozmetika has been voted Pittsburgh's "Best Spa" in 2005, '06, '07 & '08 - and was awarded Gold Medals for Massage, Manicures & Pedicures, and Cosmetic Skincare. Specializing in individually customized Hungarian Facials using handmade, all-natural products, ESSpa Kozmetika is a unique spa that provides a responsibly relaxing escape where restoring and protecting healthy, great-looking skin, regardless of age or gender, is the primary goal.

ESSpa Kozmetika Organic Skincare

Whistler's Spring Skiing and Spa

Beyond the hustle of the city life, past the crowded streets, escape to luxury on the doorstep of adventure at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Imagine skiing until June, impeccable service, outstanding cuisine, and relaxing accommodations at this world renowned resort.

The 550-room Fairmont Chateau Whistler resort is located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia. Tastefully designed rooms with spectacular mountain or village views were created to blend with the natural alpine setting.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler presents a unique collection of dining options that capture the essence of Whistler's lifestyle. Exceptional fine dining balanced with casual, gourmet picnics to go and a variety of flavorful choices in between! A warm, inviting ambiance is signature of The Wildflower's casual setting. Open for breakfast and dinner, the hotel’s culinary team invites you to sample a tantalizing showcase of locally inspired dishes and innovative classics. Embraced by The Wine Room's signature stone fireplace and smooth cherry wood wine cabinets, classically rustic décor creates a refined atmosphere for exceptional British Columbia cuisine.

An escape from reality to natural elegance, Vida Wellness Spa, Fairmont Chateau Whistler is an innovative spa brand emphasizing healing and health. Energize your body and add a boost to your day with a cardio workout or relax in one of the mountainside outdoor whirlpools.

Vida Wellness Spa, Fairmont Chateau Whistler, British Columbia

Spas of America Launches #600.... A California Wine Spa (Cave) Experience

Spas of America, the fastest-growing spa travel website, showcasing North and South America’s best resort, hotel and destination spas, today announced their 600th spa listing and their first underground cave spa experience: Spa Terra within The Meritage Resort and Spa.

Forty feet below the iconic grape crusher statue that graces its southern end, Spa Terra is the first spa in the world to be developed entirely underground. Nestled nel cuore della terra (“in the heart of the earth”), the spa features steam grottos, soaking pools, water walls and lavishly appointed private treatment rooms for individuals and couples. Its sumptuous decor reflects the resort’s Mediterranean theme. The Meritage Resort is located only an hour from San Francisco, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States.

“We are pleased to welcome Meritage’s Spa Terra as a premium member listing,” says Spas of America president and founder Craig Oliver. “Their presence on our website benefits our existing spa listings and provides our customers from around the world with another fabulous option when seeking exciting and rewarding health and wellness travel experiences."

Michael Palmer, General Manager of The Meritage Resort, says: “Our spa is a perfect complement to the natural beauty of Napa. We’re excited about introducing our one-of-a-kind experience to Spas of America’s targeted, spa travel audience.”

Spa Terra’s , signature treatment is Solo Vino. It combines an exfoliating grape seed scrub, an invigorating jet shower rinse, a hydrating body wrap with a wine cave mud mask and a Terra massage. A wine and cheese selection rounds out the two-hour treatment. Visitors can learn more about Spa Terra on the Spas of America website.

Spas of America is a global online media company focused on healthy living and travel. The Spas of America website showcases over 600 of the best day, resort, hotel and destination spas in North and South America to spa travelers around the world. Since the site launched in 2005, over a quarter million customers have visited spasofamerica.com. Spas of America is a member of the International Spa Association and Leading Spas of Canada. It also operates the websites spasoffrance.com, spasofitaly.com, spasofdubai.com and spasoflife.com, a daily spa travel blog.

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, California

For over 80 years, the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa has been considered one of the best secrets among leisure and business travelers from California and around the world. Rated in the top 25 of all US resorts by Conde Nast Traveler’s magazine, the Inn is located in a magical, secluded valley just 35 miles south of Santa Barbara on the Gold Coast.

The resort, situated on 220 tree-shaded acres, features a relaxed, casual-elegant atmosphere, luxury accommodations, and a championship golf course which has been the host site of seven Senior PGA Tour events.

Spa Ojai is the crown jewel of the resort. A beautifully spacious and bright 31,000 square foot spa village, guests are encouraged to reach greater levels of fitness, balance and awareness. Innovative programs and treatments are individually tailored. Spa Ojai offers an extensive variety of facial, skin, and body treatments designed for men and women for pampering, relaxation and detoxification.

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, California

Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, Saskatchewan

Located in the heart of downtown Moose Jaw, in southern Saskatchewan, this exquisitely designed luxurious spa resort hotel captures the spirit, history and charm of Western Canadian hospitality and features one of Canada's largest naturally heated geothermal mineral water pools.

Temple Gardens' unique nature-based Sun Tree Spa soothes the mind, body and soul with 12 treatment rooms for massage, facials and wraps. The spa's rejuvenating, mineral-rich geothermal waters are drawn from the porous rock formation of an ancient seabed more than 4,500 feet below the earth's surface. The distinctive indoor/outdoor pool is situated on the top floor of the hotel, permitting treetop views of beautiful Crescent Park from its outdoor section.

Temple Gardens Mineral Spa

Health Spa Napa Valley at the Inn at Southbridge, California

Located in a charming historic town in the heart of America’s most famous wine-growing region, Health Spa Napa Valley at the Inn at Southbridge offers guests a private, intimate and convenient escape to wellness.

The Inn at Southbridge is nestled in its own tiny quarter at the southern entrance to St. Helena, walking distance to shops, galleries and wine tasting rooms. The property features gravel pathways, bubbling fountains and several dining options, including the popular restaurant Tra Vigne, the Merryvale Winery, and a trattoria serving casual Italian fare.

The inn’s spacious rooms have French doors that open onto private balconies with views of the courtyard, health spa or hillsides. Guests enjoy winery tours, country picnics and other excursions, plus golf, tennis or croquet at nearby Meadowood.

Health Spa Napa Valley at the Inn at Southbridge

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Mexico

As its name implies, Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, is the windows to paradise. A Ty Warner Property and one of the most acclaimed resorts in the world, Las Ventanas al Paraíso has redefined luxury and pampering, reaching out with special touches that are the hallmark of refined hospitality. The desert resort captivates its guests with expansive suites, a world-class spa, inspired cuisine, and an intoxicating ambiance.

Expansive and richly appointed, all suites have marble showers and Conchuela limestone floors. At the end of the day share the warmth of a seaside fire, and be lulled to rest by the rhythm of gently washing waves. Or, turn your personal telescope toward the heavens to gaze at the shimmering stars.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso

Claremont Resort & Spa, California

Conceived as an English estate, the grounds of The Claremont Resort & Spa were selected for their astonishing views of San Francisco, California and San Francisco Bay. Two families, countless guests and one world-class resort have called this idyllic location home, the latter for nearly a century.

Since its debut in 1915, The Claremont Resort & Spa has served as a haven of sophistication, elegance and luxury high in the Berkeley Hills. Its award-winning cuisine, live entertainment and stately accommodations have drawn admirers from across the bay and the globe. Today, The Claremont Resort & Spa continues to treat visitors to an atmosphere of refinement found no place else

Claremont Resort & Spa

Kenwood Inn & Spa, California

Nationally acclaimed as one of the wine country’s most elegant and intimate country inns, the Kenwood Inn & Spa is nestled in the heart of Sonoma Valley. The Inn's buildings cluster around a center garden featuring fountains that are surrounded by mature rose and herb bushes, persimmon, fig and olive trees. To one side is a full size swimming pool, Jacuzzi and shady arbor. The central cloistered courtyard serves as a reception and lounge, café and wine bar. Second story suites allow sweeping views of some of Sonoma's most beautiful estate vineyards.

The spa at Kenwood Inn invites you to experience the benefits of their Vinotherapy products. They are proud to be one of only three Caudalíe spas worldwide.

Kenwood Inn & Spa

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is an elegant oasis, blessed by natural mineral hot springs in the Sonoma Valley. An idyllic, world famous wine growing region abundant with local products, the hotels signature restaurant Santé is designed to exude the California Wine Country Spa experience.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa offers a wonderful retreat with rooms to suit every taste. Accommodations range from recently restored Fairmont Heritage rooms to signature suites. You will find beautifully appointed rooms, many with fireplaces to set the mood at the end of a perfect day touring the local wineries or enjoying the spa. All rooms feature telephones with voice mail, a selection of Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa bathroom amenities, mini-bar refrigerator, terry cloth robes, and air-conditioning.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa features a variety of fine dining, from Santé Restaurant, with its international reputation for the finest in cuisine, with its 50-year history of serving wonderful food in a casual atmosphere. The hotel is blessed to be located in a region where fresh produce and exceptional products are in abundance for use to be paired with some of the finest wines in the world. The chefs are continuously at work developing innovative dishes for guests to experience. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is one of the most comprehensive full service spas in Northern California.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is proud to be one of the only luxury spa resorts in the country with their own source of thermal mineral water, which flows from 1,100 feet directly beneath the Inn at 135 degrees. The Spa pays homage to ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilizations, who believed in the axiom, 'Sanitas Per Aquas', or healing through water.

The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Top 30 Spas of America 2007

From dynamic city day spas, to exciting hotel & resort spas, and rejuvenating destination spas, Spas of America illustrates over 600 different wellness experiences from across North & South America. Spas of America's Top 30 Spas for 2007 includes spas from across the US, Canada and Mexico. The list is generated by the popularity of page views from customers around the world.

1. 100 Fountain Spa at the Pillar & Post, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
2. Abhasa Spa, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
3. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico
4. Turtle Cove Spa, Mountain Harbor Resort, Mount Ida, Arkansas
5. Secret Garden Spa, Prince of Wales, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
6. Adolf Beiker Spa, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
7. Red Mountain Spa, St.George, Utah
8. Chrysalis Inn & Spa, Bellingham, Washington
9. Living Waters Spa, Desert Hot Springs, California
10. Aspira Spa, The Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
11. Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley, California
12. Bonneville Hot Springs, North Bonneville, Washington
13. Grotto Spa, Tight-Na-Mara Spa Resort, Parksville, British Columbia
14. Foxhollow Spa, Crestwood, Kentucky
15. Amerispa Le Westin Resort, Mont Tremblant, Quebec
16. Mohonk Mountain House, New Paltz, New York
17. Montage Resort & Spa, Laguna Beach, California
18. Golden Door, Escondido, California
19. Ancient Cedars Spa, Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino, British Columbia
20. ANARA Spa, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, Hawaii
21. Lodge at Woodloch, Hawley, Pennsylvania
22. The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia
23. Heartland Spa, Gilman, Illinois
24. Mandarin Oriental New York, New York
25. Spa Avania, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort, Arizona
26. Hyatt Grand Champions Resort & Spa, Indian Wells, California
27. Ritz Carlton Naples, Naples, Florida
28. The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona
29. Park Hyatt Toronto, Stillwater Spa, Toronto, Ontario
30. Majestic Inn & Spa, Anacortes, Washington
    
    ~ Google Analytics, January 1- December 31, 2007

The Spas and Stars of Ojai

Finding the ideal small-town retreat is getting tougher these days, at least for urban escapees whose checklist for perfection includes some potentially contradictory traits.

It has to offer seclusion, but within a two-hour drive of a major city. Natural beauty, but no weather extremes. Relaxation, but plenty to do when the mood strikes. Interesting neighbors, but not so many that traffic backs up or real estate prices get out of hand.

On all but that last count, Ojai, Calif., may be one of the few small towns in America actually to meet those demands.

In a valley less than 90 miles northwest of central Los Angeles and 15 miles inland from the Pacific, Ojai is a low-key hideaway known for attracting an eclectic mix of artists, spiritual gurus, health devotees and entrepreneurs — and, more recently, Hollywood actors and executives.

Real estate agents generally avoid discussing celebrity clients, but local newspapers said that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were house hunting in Ojai this summer, and the former “Dallas” star Larry Hagman owns a solar-powered spread there.

But by all accounts, high-profile residents tend to keep a low profile around town.

“Ojai is going to cater to a very nonpretentious type of buyer,” said Larry Wilde, co-owner of the Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe. “For those who want massive wining and dining and shopping, they’re going to go to Santa Barbara or Malibu.”

In fact, the valley’s slow pace is precisely why Eric Goode, part owner of New York City hot spots like the Waverly Inn and the Maritime Hotel, bought a home in Ojai nearly 20 years ago.

“I wanted a place that was the opposite of New York,” he said. “It’s just a funny, sleepy town.” Mr. Goode spent a couple of years in Ojai as a child and recently set up a sanctuary for 300 endangered turtles and tortoises from the Bronx Zoo — a project that has increased his visits to Ojai to about once a month.

“I’m torn between the urban world and the natural world, so I go out there for my dose of the natural world,” he said, though that doesn’t exclude merging Ojai and his work life down the road. “I would love to buy a hotel there.”

The town’s name comes from a Chumash Indian word meaning “moon” or “nest,” and a shot of the valley that appeared in the 1937 Frank Capra film “Lost Horizon” bolsters the area’s status as a modern-day Shangri-La.

With just 8,000 residents, Ojai has long had an anti-development stance, preserving its reputation as a haven for healthy living, in contrast to the crowds, pollution and excess of Los Angeles. It is also something of a spiritual mecca, home to the Krotona Institute of Theosophy and a retreat dedicated to the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, once an Ojai resident.

These days, visitors and transplants are more likely to be seeking a massage or a Mediterranean-style ranch. Those in search of more active pursuits will find miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as golf courses, tennis courts and yoga classes. But the growing popularity of spa vacations has put Ojai on the map.

One of the main draws is the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, a 220-acre Spanish colonial-style resort that finished a $90 million renovation last year. With three pools, four restaurants, an 18-hole golf course, a 31,000-square-foot spa and activities ranging from guided hikes to art lessons, it’s a popular escape for Los Angeles residents as well as for travelers who fly in.

It’s also a favorite location for corporate retreats and special events, making headlines Labor Day weekend when the “Private Practice” star Kate Walsh held her wedding there.

With weekend rates starting at $400 a night and a 50-minute massage priced at $140, the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa draws a deep-pocketed crowd for its style of deep-tissue relief. On the more economical end of the spectrum, weekend room rates at the Oaks at Ojai spa start at $190 a person, based on double occupancy, but include meals and classes, while a 50-minute massage costs $75.

Read the complete article from the New York Times

St. Regis Monarch Beach & Spa Gaucin, California

Situated high on a bluff overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, stands a landmark resort of legendary proportions. The five-diamond St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa, built in Tuscan-style, is devoted to the pursuit of service and elegance with a seamless blend of comfort and technology. St. Regis Monarch Beach is the first of its kind, an ideal combination of luxurious rooms, a breathtaking location, world-class spa, private beach club, and oceanfront golf course.

St. Regis Monarch Beach & Spa Gaucin, California

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, South Carolina

Sitting upon a wide stretch of pristine sand beach amongst acres of lush landscaping, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is a premier escape destination where modern luxury is accented by traditional Southern charm. The resort is home to Westin's new spa brand - 'Heavenly Spa'. The experience offers guests a modern, yet simplistic architectural elements designed to enjoy the relaxing sanctuaries and alcoves complimented by soothing sounds and water features throughout the 8,000 square-foot facility.

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, South Carolina

Cap Estel, Côte d'Azur, France

At the end of the 19th century, a Russian prince built on this historical site between Nice and Monaco. In the 1950’s the Cap Estel was developed into a deluxe hotel, welcoming luxury travelers for all over the world. After a three year renovation program Cap Estel has again found its former splendor with state of the art technology. In the guest rooms at Cap Estel, contemporary furnishings with pure lines opt for noble materials, delicate nuances or glamorous tones. Their balconies or terraces offer unique views of the Mediterranean. Cap Estel also offers suites, each with a different design and style. In order to preserve the privacy of the site and its personalized service, the establishment proposes restaurant service at the Pool House or in the dining-room.
Cap Estel, Côte d'Azur, France

An Investment in Wellness ~ Rancho La Puerta, Mexico

“Does it hurt?” Rosario asks me. Her question lingers in the air like a rare white cloud on a beautiful clear Tecate afternoon. I’m lying on my stomach with my eyes closed, somewhere between the lands of relaxation and nirvana. Rosario is at work on my legs, her 17 years of Rancho La Puerta massage therapy experience delicately unbraiding my tender calf muscles after this morning’s three-mile hike. “No,” I say through clenched teeth. “It’s like love ... sometimes it’s supposed to hurt.”

Whereupon Rosario lets out a polite chuckle and quietly returns to my 90-minute Healing Massage treatment. A true professional, Rosario, like many other therapists on the Spa & Wellness team at Rancho La Puerto, has been at “The Ranch” longer than many other destination spas have been in business.

Over the course of 60 years, Rancho La Puerta, just south of the U.S. border in Baja California, has evolved from a rustic ranch to a sophisticated destination spa resort. It’s a palette of wellness awaiting your arrival, with creative organic cuisine, eye-opening nature at every turn, and hundreds of activities and programs to keep you busy -- or not, the choice is up to you.

In addition to set programs, the Ranch offers specialty weeks set out almost a year in advance. During my visit, Phyllis Pilgrim, the Ranch’s fitness director, and Irene Borger, a popular writing coach, held a daily class entitled Inspiration: Yoga and Writers’ Workshop. Activities carry on into the evening with movies, lectures on the changing political landscape of Mexico, and a not-to-be-missed bingo night.

The pre-breakfast morning hikes are an invigorating start to each day. Lasting 45 to 60 minutes, they offer stunning views of mystical Mount Kuchumaa and the rugged Baja California topography. Guests are free to choose from a variety of hikes led by experienced guides. Not to be missed is a hike to the Ranch’s organic farm and home to the new cooking school La Cocina Que Canta -- “The Kitchen That Sings.” La Cocina will soon be the hub of any food lover’s vacation dreams, featuring hands-on cooking classes with just-harvested organic ingredients.

With over 150 activities and classes available, guests may venture to try new activities such as Feldenkrais or Pilates or settle into old favorites. Although the majority of guests are women, more and more men are visiting, and the Ranch also offers custom programs, including circuit training, yoga and stretching classes.

One of my favorite memories is finding myself in the middle of a stretch class with a dozen other guys each bending in and out of shape. All the while, golden sunlight streams in from outside and James Taylor’s “Mexico” plays overhead as if on queue: “Oh, down in Mexico / I never really been so I don’t really know / Oh, Mexico / I guess I’ll have to go.”

(The yoga and stretch classes were so rewarding, they inspired me to continue the practice at home.) The well-appointed Men’s Fitness Center, with sauna, steam room and private outdoor Jacuzzi, was a welcome sanctuary, and conveniently located adjacent to the computer room --– for those of us who couldn’t leave home without it.

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Wild Spas of Italy

The steamy sulfur springs north of Rome may be out of Dante’s “Inferno,” but locals and pleasure-seekers find them refreshing. Bulicame is one of the natural sulfur springs that dot the province of Viterbo, near Rome. They were discovered by the Romans in the fourth century B.C.

"It's an inferno in here,” yelled a middle-aged woman as she plunged into a foul-smelling hot spring in central Italy. She wasn't the first to compare these scorching sulfur baths to Hell. In Canto XIV of “Inferno,” Dante wanders past a pool oozing with boiling red water and is reminded of these thermal spas about an hour north of Rome “whose waters are shared with prostitutes.”

Read the complete article from the New York Times

Win a Great Grape Spa Escape

You and a lucky friend will spend 3 fabulous nights in romantic Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Straight from the vines to the spa, you’ll experience the healing properties of grape extracts in a signature vinotherapy treatment in one of Canada’s most intimate spas — Secret Garden Spa at Prince of Wales.

Enter the contest

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Arizona

Situated on 1,300 acres of pristine, multi-hued desert that invites exploration, The Boulders Resort & Spa is one of America’s premier destination resorts. Accommodations range from casitas (cottages) to villas to haciendas, all radiating a warm, elegant Southwestern atmosphere. Special touches include overstuffed leather chairs, hand-hewn wood beams and wood-burning fireplaces. Besides the best in golf and tennis, guests enjoy four swimming pools, six dining choices and numerous outdoor activities. For local flavor, there’s el Pedregal Festival Marketplace, with its upscale boutiques, sidewalk cafes and open-air concerts.

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa

The Carneros Inn, California

Nestled among 27 acres of seemingly endless rows of grape vines, unspoiled farmland, and scenic apple orchards, The Carneros Inn's design is based on cues from the local countryside - including barns, silos and ranchers' cottages - and combined with stylish, modern interiors - to capture Napa, California's distinct charm. Gravel paths that crunch underneath your feet, private gardens where you can enjoy a glass of California's finest wines, open-air fireplaces for chilly nights, exclusive dining, outdoor showers under a blanket of stars, crisp white linens, and decadent spa treatments inspired by local ingredients ensure an experience you'll never forget.
The Carneros Inn, California

Cliff House Resort & Spa, Maine

Since 1872, the Cliff House Resort & Spa on the South Coast of Maine has long been the vacation resort for greater Boston, only an hour away. Experience the vastness of seventy acres of oceanfront resort, high above Bald Head Cliff. Every room offers guests their own balcony with an ocean view. Hear the ocean roar, see the sun rise and set against the distant horizon, and... relax. The Cliff House Resort is ideal for spa getaways featuring a full service oceanfront spa as well as fine dining, conferences and corporate meetings.

Cliff House Resort & Spa

The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida

Discover the healing powers of citrus-inspired beauty treatments amid a lush garden landscape. With 40,000 square feet dedicated to rejuvenation, the Ritz-Carlton Spa, Orlando provides an elegant and relaxing retreat from the outside world -- a place where the sense of touch can relax the spirit and refresh the soul.


The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, Florida

The Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia

With a leading reputation for wellness, health and weight loss, the Hills Health Ranch, set on 20,000 acres in British Columbia’s scenic Cariboo region, offers a unique combination of rest, relaxation, education and adventure. Hike rangelands dotted with peaceful lakes or challenge yourself in a class of your choosing to reach new fitness goals.

The Hills Health Ranch, British Columbia

The Delano, Aqua Spa, Florida

Located in the heart of South Beach and directly on the ocean, Delano is the ultimate world-class urban resort and self-contained destination. The Aqua Spa, is cleverly located on the hotel’s roof, a serenely beautiful and peaceful space that offers state-of-the-art spa treatments aimed at rejuvenating the body, mind and spirit. Housed in a pristine white setting, with miles of sheer billowing curtains, an enormous private terrace and 360-degree views, Agua is the ultimate sanctuary.
The Delano, Aqua Spa, Florida

The Homestead, West Virginia

Built in 1892, the Homestead Spa is one of America’s most historic luxury spas. Still fed by the historic hot springs that have attracted travelers since the 1700s, the spa provides the ultimate in rejuvenation and relaxation. Treatments and amenities include massages, mineral baths, aromatherapies, steam and sauna, and skin, scalp and intensive facial therapies.
The Homestead

Spa Savanna, Montreal, Quebec

Drawing its inspiration from the natural restorative balance that exists on the African grasslands, Spa Savanna is a special place where the forest and the desert meet, allowing harmonious rejuvenation of the body and spirit. Centrally located in the metropolitan hub of Montreal, the spa offers elegant design, attentive staff and relaxed comfort.
Spa Savanna