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twenty-four
Costa Rican Clarity
A winding road from Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose, brings you endlessly upward to the Pura Vida spa, a mind/body retreat center perched on a mountaintop. Choose from luxe suites to A-frames to tentalows, scattered throughout tropical gardens bursting with vibrant, exotic flowers, butterflies, and birds. Five yoga halls, some with breathtaking views or indoor jungles, make it difficult to focus inward, but talented instructors guide the way. Fresh, healthful, buffet-style meals nourish you for eco-tours, including white-water rafting, a zip-line canopy adventure, or a cloud forest hike to the crater of the semi-active Poas volcano. Afterward, recover in healing hands at the Wellness Center. (888) 767-7375, www.puravida.com
—B.H.
twenty-five
Mediterranean Musings
With last year’s unveiling of their signature Alvadora Spa Suites, guests of the Mediterranean-inspired Royal Palms Resort & Spa are ensured of an experience that lives up to their fairy-tale dreams. Each suite overlooking the lush gardens and reflecting pool, features a Kusatsu soaking tub, steam shower, and fitness equipment. Treatments at the Alvadora Spa are inspired by the Mediterranean garden, including orange blossoms, olive leaves, and lavender. Enjoy dinner at the award-winning T Cook’s and then head back to your room for your evening turndown ritual. But don’t be looking for a mint on your pillow; as a guest of the Alvadora Spa Suites, each evening will end with a mini-massage. And you thought your dreams couldn’t get any sweeter... (800) 672-6011, www.royalpalmshotel.com
—M.B.W.
twenty-six
Rustic Splendor
Looks can be deceiving, and never more so than when you first glimpse the ghost-town-turned-spa of Dunton Hot Springs located in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. While the exteriors of the rustic log cabins remain primitive in appearance, the interiors are lavishly decorated and feature such amenities as radiant heat floors and one cabin even has its own hot springs plunge pool. Soaking takes place either in the refurbished bath house or under the stars with the 14,000-foot-peaks looming in the distance. In between such outdoor activities as heli-skiing or hiking, the spa beckons, as does Executive Chef Mario Toby’s five-star cuisine. (970) 882-4800, www.duntonhotsprings.com
—M.B.W.
twenty-seven
Jamaican Glory
The historic colonial property of Half Moon rests on one of the most pristine stretches of sand in Jamaica. The property, having undergone a series of restorations, recently unveiled their new Fern Tree Spa. Book your stay in one of the new signature Spa Suites, nestled on your own private stretch of sand. You don’t even have to leave your room to reap the benefits of the spa; your suite comes replete with a spa treatment and yoga area. Be sure to consult your Spa Elder for recommended treatments, which feature such indigenous ingredients as coffee, coconut, and even Jamaican rum. And at the end of your day of pampering, snorkeling, and relaxing, settle into your private chromatherapy bubble massage tub, with views of the azure waters. (866) 648-6951, www.halfmoon.com
—M.B.W.
twenty-eight
Southern Comfort
If you’re looking for a true Southern getaway, replete with charm, and your own private oasis, look no further than the Inn at Palmetto Bluff. Just a short drive from both Hilton Head Island and Savannah, the Inn at Palmetto Bluff feels more like a large family estate than a luxury hotel. Although one of the highlights of the property is the Jack Nicklaus golf course, be sure to spend some time unwinding at the spa. Nestled amongst moss-covered oaks and offering views of the verdant landscape, you’ll certainly find your Southern Comfort in such unique therapies as the High Cotton Body Dust massage. (866) 706-6565, www.palmettobluffresort.com
—M.B.W.
twenty-nine
Mellow Out
Skana is an Oneida word meaning “inner peace and harmony,” and that’s what you’ll find at Skana, the Spa at Turning Stone. Located in New York’s Mohawk Valley, Skana is owned by the Oneida Indian Nation, and spa treatments combine many Native American healing traditions and herbs. The 33,000-square-foot spa offers a signature treatment, the Sage and White Pine Hot Towel massage, a vigorous massage complete with steaming hot towels infused in sage and white pine oil. Skana has one of the only authentic American Indian Sweat Lodges in the country. There are plenty of places to relax and gaze at the rolling farmland, including from the wrap-around terrace and private outdoor Jacuzzi in your suite. (800)771-7711, www.turningstone.com
—M.G.
thirty
Coastal Drama
Even if the Big Sur setting wasn’t so spectacular, the quixotic architecture so pleasing, and the award-winning cuisine so exquisite, the Post Ranch Inn, which traces its history to 19th century explorer William Brainard Post, would still merit its stellar reputation. That’s because it melds serious luxury with the best of the California hippie tradition. The 30 unique guest rooms take the form of treehouses, ocean cottages, and airies on the cliff, and the spa is staffed with intuitive and dedicated bodyworkers. Sample the Wildflower Facial and Stone Therapy with Big Sur Jade, or book a “Soul Retrieval” session with the inn’s resident Shaman. Regardless, you’ll be wowed by the breathtaking scenery. Arrive at sunset, and you’ll feel brand new long before dawn. (800) 527-2200, www.postranchinn.com
—K.S.
Jan/Feb 2008
