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12 August 2024So spa, so good
Spas are two a penny these days, but there are some that really stand out from the crowd – meet the luxury venues pushing the boat out
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
You’ve got to hand it to the Swiss – not only are they light years ahead in terms of eco-credentials, timekeeping and politics, they also know a thing or two about science.
Instantly visible results with no downtime is what’s promised at the Laser Centre, the latest medical installation at Bad Ragaz where the glamorous recoup amid Alpine peaks and faultless Swiss functionality.
Even the water from the resort’s natural spring is said to be like liquid Botox on the skin, a promise that appears to attract celebrities in their droves. Lift that slice of cooling cucumber and you may well spot someone famous.
The resort is vast – think three hotels, 11 pools and seven restaurants – and guests can saunter from treatment room to lounger, pool to sauna and medical centre to lunch in fluffy white-robed comfort. All the food at Bad Ragaz is sourced from the local valleys too, meaning it’s as delicious as it is nutritious.
If you shed some pounds during your stay, show off your new figure in the ‘textile free’ sauna and steam room (naked to you and me). If you start to feel uncomfortable, you can always stare at the mountains (or yodel) – this is Switzerland, after all.
resortragaz.ch
Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia
A spiritual monk blessing by the sea isn’t necessarily de rigueur at most spas but then Song Saa Private Island is no ordinary resort. Guests arrive by speedboat, say goodbye to their shoes on arrival and stay in luxury lodges with their own infinity pools.
Start the day with yoga on the beach followed by a breakfast of homemade bread, tropical fruit and eggs. The cooling infinity pool then beckons, as does the pristine private beach where you can snorkel, scuba dive and kayak.
Or simply ask a passing waiter for a cold beer and spend the afternoon swinging in a hammock and staring at the sea.
You can always warm up in one of five saunas where red throne chairs, coloured lights and a tree trunk add a touch of quirk
Song Saa’s spa is a welcoming space with a range of locally inspired treatments expertly delivered to a soundtrack of Hindu chants. The Khmer Reflexology option comes highly recommended after a hike in the nearby jungle.
Come evening, tuck your feet into the sand and watch the sky turn orange to pink to star-studded. If your bliss monitor isn’t at the top by now, you may well need that monk blessing by the sea after all. As with everything at Song Saa Private Island, ask and you will receive. Amen.
songsaa.comLefay Resort & Spa, Italy
La dolce vita isn’t just an Italian phase at Lefray Resort, an eponymous spa set high above the glittering waters of Italy’s Lake Garda, it’s a way of life. Step out of your luxury suite (featuring walnut wood, calming creams and Italian marble) onto the balcony and take it all in.
Treatments here are results-driven but in a relatively unassuming way (you won’t have to cope with shouty personal trainers); the food is so good you’ll find yourself losing weight naturally; the staff so enthusiastic and helpful you’ll want to get gold stars.
Swim long, leisurely laps in the sleek infinity pool with its mountain views, float in the indoor saltwater lake, or warm up in one of five saunas where red throne chairs, coloured lights and a tree trunk add a touch of quirk.
The ethically minded will love the Organics Restaurant, with its ethically sourced menu, while the main eatery has floor-to-ceiling windows for superb mountain views. Come winter, you can eat by a roaring fire while the snow falls outside. Snuggle down in the bar afterwards and raise a toast to the good life.
lefayresorts.comTreatments here are results-driven but in a relatively unassuming way; the food is so good you’ll find yourself losing weight naturally
The Body Holiday, St Lucia
‘Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind,’ promises the website for the Body Holiday, a multi-award-winning, all-inclusive destination spa and hotel in St Lucia, with an almighty roll-call of celebrity guests – and fans.
Here master yogis, seasoned Gridiron veterans, lithe ballroom dancers and chiselled Olympians will get you into shape during a holiday in paradise.
Get up at the crack of dawn for a mind-stretching yoga session or stay put and order breakfast in bed; head to a fitness class or lounge by the pool all day; order a low-cal salad or tuck into afternoon tea with cake and petit-fours – the choice is yours.
Accommodation takes the shape of 155 rooms set around a central square in a colonial-style, coral-hued building – some have sea views, others overlook the gardens; each has in-room iPads, REN bathroom products and spacious balconies.
The wellness centre is perched high on a hill (a workout in itself) with views out to sea. Come here for massages, facials using marine-based products by Thalgo and new hair-dos. There’s an infra-red sauna, Ayurvedic centre, on-site osteopath and personal trainer here, too.
So, whether you do a little or a lot, your mind will love you for it.
thebodyholiday.com
Accommodation is Japanese in style (and Zen in vibe). Kimonos, sandals, water bottles and sunscreen are all provided should you require.
Golden Door, America
Back in its 1960s heyday, California’s Golden Door resort attracted the likes of Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa Gabor, who came here for comfort, privacy and a large slice of pampering.
Now, the legendary destination spa is basking in the sun once again with its 80 rejuvenating classes, 30 miles of hiking trails, 60 acres of gardens, farm-to-table meals, daily massages and own brand of beauty products.
Just take a brief glance at its website and you’ll see testimonials from a selection of Hollywood A-listers who praise the spa for providing them with a relaxing journey of self-discovery.
Facilities include a 2,000 sq ft gym, including tennis courts and a hilltop retreat for private fitness sessions; a bathhouse offering a range of pools and treatments; a restaurant serving organic, locally sourced food; and three outdoor pools for lounging.
Accommodation is Japanese in style (and Zen in vibe) with simple, elegant furnishings and bamboo sliding doors opening out onto oriental-style gardens. Unlike other destination spas, accommodation at Golden Door is single occupancy, making it perfect for solo travellers. Kimonos, sandals, water bottles and sunscreen are all provided should you require.
With everything taken care of, all guests need to do is turn up, open those famous golden doors and relax. Silence, as they say, is golden.
goldendoor.com