10 sunny spots for escaping the chill of winter
Jamaica
In the turquoise waters surrounding Sandals Negril Beach Resort & Spa, you can swim, windsurf, water ski, scuba dive, or snorkel “and then retreat to the spa, where selections include a Caribbean Sea Wrap, Margarita Scrub, a Water Lily Wrap, and Tropical Nail Bar. Choose from river suites, luxury lofts, and deluxe beachfront rooms that open onto the half-mile crescent of white sand beach. Besides the resort’s fitness pavilion and dedicated scuba pool, you can sign up for rum tours, kayaking, jungle canopy excursions, trips to orchid farms, horseback riding, day rafting adventures on the Black River, and shopping trips to Kingston. Plan a visit to nearby Dunn’s River Falls, where you can climb 600 feet up limestone steps, while waterfalls swirl around your feet. For more information call (800) 726-3257 or visit www.sandals.com
Stretched along a deep, sandy crescent of sparkling seashore in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Half Moon Resort reflects the very best of Jamaica’s relaxed island vibe. The resort’s restaurants specialize in Jamaican-style seafood and international cuisine. The newly opened Fern Tree Spa is a 68,000-square-foot sanctuary-within-a-sanctuary, complete with beachfront spa suites, yoga pavilions, and hydrotherapy pools. Special touches include an onsite Spa Elder, who supervises the use of indigenous herbs and botanicals used in healing treatments, and also assists in the creation of traditional therapies for the spa menu. For more information call (866) 648-6951 or visit www.halfmoon.com
Hawaii
At the Ihilani Resort & Spa on Oahu’s peaceful western shore, you’ll fall asleep to the sound of palm trees waving in the tropical breeze outside your window. Spa specialties include seawater and color massage therapy, and wraps with Hawaiian Ti leaves, honey, pineapple, and tamarind. There’s also a Scrub Bar, featuring full body scrubs and masks using ginger, honey, papaya, and other natural Hawaiian botanicals. Enjoy fine dining at the award-winning Azul Restaurant, Hawaiian fare at Naupaka Terrace, and traditional Japanese dishes at Ushio-Tei. Spa cuisine is offered in all dining rooms. Burn off any extra calories with tennis, golf, sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, or participate in the resort’s Reef and Ray Adventure, which allows guests to get up close with some of the area’s stunning sea life. For more information call (808) 679-0079 or visit www.ihilani.com
Become your own volcano goddess at the Mauna Lani Resort at Kalahuipua’a on the Big Island, home to Hawaii’s legendary deity, Pele. Recognized for historic preservation initiatives and land stewardship, the resort offers 27 acres of historic parkland, with extensive walking trails to ancient shelter caves and petroglyphs. The spa’s offerings include modern treatments with ancient island ingredients. Try the Lava Sauna, an open-air sauna built from Ëœili’ili stones, where you can relax against the warm stones while covered with detoxifying black clay. A wide range of accommodations includes guest rooms, villas, and lavish 4,000-square-foot bungalows that come with luxury perks such as private pools and 24-hour butler service. The property has five dining options, including its signature restaurant, CanoeHouse, which consistently wins accolades for its Pacific Rim cuisine. For more information call (800) 367-2323 or visit www.maunalani.com
Mexico
The Riviera Maya on Mexico’s eastern coast is the setting for tranquil Ceiba Del Mar Beach & Spa Resort in Puerto Morelos. Swim, sail, dive, play tennis, cycle, kayak in the ocean, take a Pilates or yoga class, and then head to the spa for some well-earned pampering. Treatments feature aromatic herbs and Mayan therapies, such as the Balsamic Mayan Massage. Opt for a Temazcal, an indigenous ancestral purification ritual said to renew body, mind, and spirit. It takes place at sunset on the beach inside a terra-cotta sweat lodge heated with volcanic stones. Follow up the next morning with a meditation session atop the palapa platform in the mangrove forest, accompanied by the songs of tropical birds. Lodging ranges from deluxe rooms to suites and penthouses. For more information call (877) 545-6221 or visit www.ceibadelmar.com
South of the California border lies the legendary Rancho La Puerta fitness resort and destination spa. Spread over 3,000 acres and boasting its own organic farm, the property offers comprehensive wellness programs built around healthy eating and a huge selection of fitness activities “from hiking, dance, and yoga, to volleyball and water sports. Lifestyle learning opportunities include cooking classes, arts, and lectures from visiting authors and experts. An herbal wrap, hydrotherapy, scrubs, facials, salon services, and therapeutic massage can be found in the spa. Most of the comfortable, colorfully decorated rooms have fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, and all rooms feature reverse-osmosis-filtered drinking water. For more information call (800) 443-7565 or visit www.rancholapuerta.com
Indonesia
Deep within the lush Ayung River valley, the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is an exotic getaway consisting of 18 suites and 42 villas, each featuring Indonesian furnishings and local, handmade fabrics. The main restaurant, Ayung Terrace, rests on a high crest above the river gorge, with a menu offering contemporary Asian cuisine and Indonesian specialties. Nature walks and water-themed activities can be arranged, along with hiking, elephant trekking, kayaking, and river rafting. Treatments in the peaceful spa highlight area clays, mountain botanicals, and Indonesian spices. There’s a full range of Ayurvedic therapies, along with novelties such as the Lavender Eucalyptus Food Soak, body polishes with black rice and hibiscus, and the Lulur Sayan Beauty Ritual. For more information call (800) 819-5053 or visit www.fourseasons.com/sayan
Located along the shore of Bali’s Petanu River, Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is surrounded by tropical forest, with villa accommodations that open onto private gardens. You can explore the surrounding area on foot or bicycle, or choose from golf, tennis, yoga, cooking classes, and cultural excursions to nearby Balinese villages, ancient temples, and historical sites. A selection of onsite restaurants includes local favorites, international cuisine, and spa menu choices. Specialties in the Riverside Spa include Balinese massage, natural facials, organic body scrubs, flower baths, and treatments with indigenous aromatic herbs and oils. For more information call +62 361 977888 or visit www.mayaubud.com
Tahiti
A tropical Polynesian haven surrounded by the sea, Pearl Resort’s Le Taha’a Private Island & Spa is located west of Tahiti in the Society Islands Archipelago, on a private island five minutes from the main island of Taha’a. Guest rooms are a collection of bungalow suites built over the water, plus beachside villas featuring private pools, patios, and tropical gardens. Arrange a visit to one of the island’s many archaeological sites, or schedule a helicopter tour, jeep safari, sunset cruise, shark feeding expedition, or seasonal whale watching. Guests can also enjoy windsurfing, snorkeling, ocean kayaking, or outrigger canoeing. Dining showcases Polynesian fare and international cuisine. At Manea Spa, locally harvested vanilla is used in body treatments, facials, and massage therapies “along with coconut oil, native tiare flowers, and local fruits. For more information call +689 50 84 52 or visit www.letahaa.com
On Tahiti’s island of Moorea, the Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa offers over-water bungalows with glass windows built into the floor for in-room viewing of the island’s abundant sea life. Besides the 54 bungalows, there are 52 garden and beach bungalows, all with thatched roofs and private patios. At Mandara Spa (or in the privacy of your own room), sample a traditional island healing treatment with native coconut milk, ginger, vanilla, and other botanicals. Sign up for a guided jeep tour through Opunohu Valley, or explore on foot, by bicycle, or from horseback. Don’t miss an excursion aboard the Aquascope, a submarine tour that brings you face to face with dolphins, sharks, sting rays, and manta rays. For more information call (800) 782-9488 or visit www.sheratonmoorea.com
November/December 2007
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