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UNITED STATES
JOYA SPA
PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZONA
Stepping into the Joya Spa at Paradise Valley’s lovely new Intercontinental Montelucia is like taking a trip to Morocco. Whitewashed walls are offset by deep brown accents and brightened by handmade Moroccan tiles. Comfy lounges boast piles of pillows for relaxing. Moroccan-inspired treatments are based around that country’s festivals: Rose (rose petals and herb-infused mud), Cherry (sour cherry wrap and cherry/plum body soufflé), End of Rains (cucumber, mint, and citrus), and Harvest (pumpkin, orange, and quince). Less-edible treatments include such delights as their signature Joyambrosia massage with argan oil, basalt stone massage, or clay wraps to soothe travel-weary bodies. A four-handed rub, two therapists working on you simultaneously, creates such a well-tuned experience you can see why they call it a Symphony Massage. As this area is a major golf destination, there’s a massage (with stretching added) that’s specially designed to ease post-game kinks and prepare you to take a bigger swing. Want a very North African, totally pampering experience? Try the Moroccan Ritual, a black soap cleansing in the hammam followed by alternating steam and cold, whirlpool, and sauna. For total indulgence, rent one of their spa suites for the afternoon. Just steps from your massage table is a curtained bed for après massage relaxation. When you’re ready to face the world again, step from the suite directly onto the spa’s private pool terrace, Camelback Mountain looming large above you. Any doubts while they call the place “Joya”? Services range from $30 manicure/pedicure to $895 for a full day in the Grand Palace suite. Massage/body treatments range from $60 to $155, with most around $115. www.joyaspa.com
—Rich Rubin

THE SPRING RESORT AND SPA
DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
A popular regional destination for its natural mineral spring waters for over 50 years, Desert Hot Springs had never evolved into an internationally recognized spa destination, but that changed seven years ago after Maria Lease left her Hollywood career in television to open The Spring Resort and Spa. While there is no glitzy pretense in this desert town atop an earthquake fault, there are some of the best hot spring mineral waters to be found in the country. With the help of Los Angeles regulars, The Spring Resort and Spa has been garnering the accolades and attention it deserves, while helping to promote Desert Hot Springs as a world-class spa destination. This holistic hotel and day spa are built around three pools, fed by a hot spring aquifer that provides some of the hottest water in the region, at 170 degrees. The crystal clear, pure, mineral-rich water is cooled to 90 degrees for the main pool, and kept around 104 for the other two soaking pools. This water isn’t just for soaking away aches and possibly healing ailments from the outside, it’s also some of the best drinking water in the world. Desert Hot Springs water is so delicious, it’s been voted numerous times “The Best Tasting in the World” by the International Water Tasting Competition. Resort guests enjoy 24-hour access to the spa’s co-ed Finnish sauna, indoor and outdoor showers, and three pools. The day spa was constructed to complement the resort’s mineral waters, with a spa menu that highlights detoxification and cleansing. On the menu, you’ll find a Lymphatic Massage (60 min, $100) and an Antioxidant Salt Scrub (60 min, $120); both pair well with a long soak in the waters, allowing the natural healing and soothing minerals to be more easily absorbed into the body. Also on the menu is a Sinus Facial (30 min, $55), a cleansing treatment with soothing aloe and eucalyptus steam, said to help restore proper breathing. Special health programs include an intensive five- to seven-day Cleansing Fast, said to detoxify the body and ease a litany of common complaints. www.the-spring.com
—Joseph Schmitt

INDIGO ECO/SPA, STEVENSWOOD SPA RESORT
MENDOCINO, CALIFORNIA
The Indigo Eco|Spa at gay-owned and pet-friendly Stevenswood Spa Resort in Mendocino, California, is a coastal retreat best enjoyed with a special someone by your side. The resort’s romantic, coastal, tree-filled setting and luxury amenities with a complete spa and fine-dining restaurant beckon same-sex couples to relax, refresh, rejuvenate, and enjoy the good life. The nearby quaint village of Mendocino, with wine shops, specialty boutiques, independent restaurants, and iconic coastal views is equally welcoming to gay couples. Hiking in the nearby redwood forests, touring the many wineries of Mendocino County, and whale watching offer year-round outdoor activities. Indoor pampering at Indigo Eco|Spa, the area’s only true day spa, is available to all visitors of the region. Staying at this luxury, boutique resort is the best way to take advantage of the easily accessible spa services. Soak in the outdoor hot tub before your massage and relax in front of your private fireplace after your treatments while enjoying a bottle of local sparkling wine. A wide range of treatments in this full-service spa include offerings tailored to the male spa enthusiast. The Gentlemen’s Choice Facial (45min, $85) softens that rugged manly complexion by eliminating dead skin cells and extracting blocked pores, followed by a soothing mask. The Executive Facial (45min, $65) is a little less invasive, better suited for first-time spa goers. Local botanicals such as dandelion and licorice root are used to cleanse, tone, and rehydrate. This treatment also uses a Mendocino County-harvested red earth clay mask to leave your skin refined and refreshed. Their commitment to earth-friendly products and practices that have the least impact on our ecosystem can be found throughout the spa menu. Using natural botanicals, with an emphasis on local products and ingredients, Indigo Eco|Spa seeks to shrink not only your pores, but also your carbon spa footprint. www.stevenswood.com
—Joseph Schmitt

SENSE, ROSEWOOD SAND HILL
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA
Entering a fine spa, like Sense, I like to feel the outside world fade away allowing me to temporarily forget about it all together. Burnished woods, coal-grey slate floors, cushioned rattan, a splash of water of the wall fountain, and their signature scent greet the senses. An intriguing piece of work by artist Benicia Gantner behind the reception counter engrosses my attention; it turns out there are many more by her throughout the spa and resort. The spa facilities seem labyrinthine, a pleasant puzzle to piece together by wandering at your leisure. The fitness center, looking out on a garden, offers cardio machines and Technogym equipment, as well as an intimate studio for yoga classes. Separate men’s and women’s locker rooms feature a wet lounge with a dry sauna, steam room, and outdoor whirlpool. At the core of the spa is the co-ed relaxation lounge open to a courtyard with a fountain, where I sip tea and nibble on the dried fruit and nuts. For more substantial snacking or light meals, there’s an in-spa café. I was led away by Lisa to one of 13 therapy rooms for my Forest Sanctuary indulgence ($195), one of Rosewood’s signature Body Sense treatments. Following a gentle exfoliation with Bentonite clay, corn meal, and scented oils, I was enveloped in a body wrap while Lisa massaged my face and scalp. Not just a quick fingers-run-through-the-hair kind of scalp massage, but she really got the blood circulating. The warm rinse under the Vichy shower was delightful, and even more lovely was the massage, which employed the use of heated basalt stones rubbed over the muscles; the heat deeply penetrating into the tissues. www.rosewoodsandhill.com
—Bill Strubbe

EAST CANYON RESORT AND SPA
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
In his former career, Richard Weiss traveled the country living out of hotel rooms much of the year. With a lifetime’s worth of frequent flier miles and hotel points under his belt, he felt it time to make a dramatic lifestyle shift. Now he’s the one doling out the rewards. In opening East Canyon Resort and Spa, Richard’s intentions were to create a luxury hotel and dedicated spa where gays and lesbians (and their heterosexual friends) could enjoy all the trappings of a more mainstream property, while partaking in all the comfort and ease of a gay-owned resort. As a devoted visitor to the desert oasis of Palm Springs, choosing the location for his new career was something of a no-brainer. There are numerous advantages to staying at this upscale gay property, including complimentary weekend cocktails, close proximity to gay nightlife and cultural attractions, majestic views from the courtyard pool, and personable service. Spa junkies will love having professional treatments practically right outside their hotel room door. The Regenerate treatment (5 hours, $395), from the spa’s prix fixe menu, highlights many of the services offered at this fully-stocked, boutique spa that caters mostly to men. After an aromatic steam with essential oils, your therapist delivers a 60-minute massage, custom tailored to your needs. Along with a reflexology service, you are treated to a detoxifying full-body aloe vera mask, and an intensive facial. After five hours of spa-induced nirvana, you’ll be happy to not have far to travel back to your suite, unless you find yourself sipping a margarita with other guests by the pool or sliding into the outdoor hot tub. The guest loyalty program offered at East Canyon Resort and Spa earns you one point for every dollar you spend on lodging and at the spa. You can even earn points for referring new guests (travel writers excluded). www.eastcanyonps.com
—Joseph Schmitt

SPA TERRA, THE RIVIERA RESORT AND SPA
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Glitz and glamour are back in the longstanding Hollywood playground of Palm Springs, California. God…how we missed them. Since its heyday in the 1950s, celebrities and global sophisticates have flocked to this small resort town to bask in its endless sun and frolic in its many pools. Some came for rest and relaxation, while others came looking for trouble. For a time, one desert resort epitomized all that was possible in Palm Springs, on a grand scale. The Riviera Resort originally opened fifty years ago and became an instant classic with frequent guests such as Elizabeth Taylor, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra. Since reopening last year, following a multi-million dollar restoration, the iconic 406-room Riviera Resort and Spa has reinterpreted glamour for a new era, and a new audience. As you walk past the sprawling pool, surrounded by sandy dunes with fire pits and sheltered cabanas, it’s hard not feel the spirit of good times from simpler days. While wistfulness is well founded, the Riviera of today has something the original did not. Spa Terra sits across the main pool from the hotel’s dramatic lobby and its fine dining restaurant. The 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness facility exudes an Asian theme alongside mid-century design elements. A rich, curved, dark chocolate hallway lures spa goers to the sound of rushing water. With separate locker rooms for changing and sauna, the co-ed relaxation room, called the Buddha Lounge, is one of the most enticing rooms I have seen in a spa. Along with a Jacuzzi, here you’ll also hear the water pounding into the Watsu pool, a saltwater treatment pool kept at 98.4 degrees. Another special place in the spa is the Zen Room (30 min, $50), a large private steam room and shower for small groups up to eight. Guests may choose light spa fare and champagne as they relax to soft music and take in the good life. Treatments on the spa menu all reflect an Asian theme, with signature global rituals starting at $200 for 80 minutes. These rituals are all done in beautiful treatment rooms with mosaic walls and private tubs and showers. Non-hotel guests are invited to use the spa and fitness facilities for a $25 fee. www.psriviera.com
—Joseph Schmitt

AUBERGE DU SOLEIL
RUTHERFORD, CALIFORNIA
As we drove through the gates of Auberge du Soleil and arrived at our spectacular two-room suite with fireplace, giant Jacuzzi bathtub, and balcony overlooking Napa Valley we knew we were going to have a hell of a good time. Designer Suzanne Tucker recently transformed the four-tier swimming pool area into an extended outdoor living room with sweeping views. I loved that the pool didn’t reek of chlorine, thanks to the ozone- and salt-based filtration system. While we were happily ensconced on our daybed for two under a gauze canopy, the dutiful attendants periodically plied us with Italian ices, sorbets, and chilled towels. I worked out in the nicely equipped gym, and before my spa treatment I strolled through the sculpture garden set amidst an olive grove and spent 30 minutes doing yoga in the elegant, Japanese-inspired La Pagode suspended over a stream. In addition to the seven treatment rooms (three designed for couples), if you have some extra money to burn there’s the spacious Melisse Suite (4-hour package, $3,500) featuring side-by-side massage tables, fireplace, private yard, and soaking tub for au natural sunbathing while sipping sparkling wines. The spa’s treatments: massage, exfoliation, wraps, facials, etc. fall into four treatment categories: The Valley: employing local mud and minerals; The Grove: based on olive oil; The Garden: employing freshly harvested botanicals; and The Vineyard: harnessing the potent anti-oxidants in grape seed. I chose to do the Rhythmic Water Massage (60 min, $190). It’s the same as Watsu sans the trademarked name and takes place in the 96-degree, spring-fed, circular infinity pool with therapist Evan Massaro. I didn’t want the blissful hour of gentle stretching, massage, and aquatic dance to end. Back on terra firma, the stellar cuisine at the Michelin-rated restaurant is not to be missed. www.aubergedusoleil.com
—Bill Strubbe

THE BARBER LOUNGE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
The Barber Lounge in San Francisco is a feast for the eyes, and a buffet for the body. Located in a non-descript loft on Folsom Street, the spacious layout with a blend of retro and modern furnishings and plentiful natural light makes you feel like you’re entering someone’s ultra-hip home, rather than a full-service salon. Greg Griffin, out owner of The Barber Lounge, says his “diversified staff allows a more diverse range of clients to feel at home in this space.” Included in this multi-cultural staff you’ll find an old school Italian barber, a Pacific Islander drag queen metal band drummer, a gay Latino hairdresser, a Brazilian bikini waxer, a couple of lesbians, a Fijian shaver, a Puerto Rican barber, and a hetero male Vietnamese “nail ninja.” Oh yes, there is also Louie, an adorable French Bulldog who keeps an eye on things as he paces the hardwood floors in between naps. Old school barber services such as a mustache and beard trim ($15) and a Hot Towel Shave ($35) are available in a masculine alcove with traditional barber chairs. Nail care is provided in the back area of the loft, under Louie’s watchful eye. Body treatments, facials, and spray tans are done in private rooms. The center of attention here is the large salon area, where you’re apt to see every possible hair service being done at any one time. Throughout the loft, walls are lined with works by local artists, as the full-service lounge sometimes doubles as an art party gallery. Whatever your beauty needs, The Barber Lounge likely offers what you’re looking for. This is not a day spa setting, however, so what you won’t find are showers or steam and sauna facilities, a slight drawback for massages, but this is the one place in town where a Leather Daddy can proudly walk in for an Express Mani/Pedi (60 min, $50) and a Head and Face Shave ($65) without being judged. www.barberlounge.com
—Joseph Schmitt

TRU DAY SPA
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
Tru Day Spa is designed for a modern spa enthusiast who is looking for big-city pampering and effective results-oriented treatments. Tru’s interiors instantly calm the hectic local and tired traveler with soft hues, cool lighting, and curved walls. Treatment rooms further maximize the physiological calming effect by incorporating aromatherapy and colored light therapy, customized to your treatment and desire. Their focused approach can be seen on the spa menu, with an emphasis on extractions in their facials and basic massage times starting at 75 minutes. The TruTherapy75 massage allows therapists time to consult with clients on problem areas to deliver noticeable results, along with a full-body muscle makeover. Costing $140, this personally tailored treatment is priced around what you’d expect to pay for 60 minutes at other urban spas. Shea butter is used instead of oils in all massages for its soothing effect and moisturizing ability with vitamins and essential fatty acids. Tru also offers some of the most interesting treatments in San Francisco with its Tropical Rainforest Room. This wet room is a jungle oasis that can be enjoyed alone, or with a partner. In keeping with the effectiveness of a body wrap without the discomfort of being tightly bound, the Jungle Love experience (70 min, $160) affords the client all the benefits of a body scrub and body mask while enjoying soothing jungle music in a warm jungle mist, without any constricting towels. After the mist, a tropical rain comes from above to wash away your mask, and you move into the invigorating waterfall for a final rinse. A couple’s treatment in this tropical sanctuary is the Pair’s Polish (70 min, $200 per couple) where romantic duos rub each other down with a sugar-based exfoliant of strawberry, almond, and honey. Following a tropical rinse, couples then massage on a strawberry, cream, and honey masque, after which a hot jungle mist envelops, followed by a warm tropical rain. This sensuous experience is finished with a visit to the private waterfall. www.truspa.com
—Joseph Schmitt

CAVALLO POINT HEALING ARTS CENTER & SPA
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA
Nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge on a former army base turned national park, is a new spa whose spectacular setting alone can tackle your stress. The 11,000-square-foot Cavallo Point Healing Arts Center & Spa features 11 treatment rooms, a heated outdoor meditation pool, and a cavernous waiting room with a fireplace and floor to ceiling windows facing the bay. The spa lobby features a small tea and juice bar (try the goji lime drink), and the dressing rooms have eucalyptus steam rooms as well as separate men’s and women’s outdoor patios with Jacuzzis for your pre-massage soak. Signature treatments include Swedish, aromatherapy, and Thai massage ($140–$210), as well as mud and herbal wraps ($140–$220), and several facials ($145–$225). After an intensely relaxing “organic massage” that focused on massaging each muscle after stretching it out, I blissed out on the lounge chairs by the outdoor fire pits, surrounded by cypress trees. You can spa for the day, or escape for a weekend by checking into the newly restored historic buildings of the lodge, the original officers’ quarters surrounding the massive front lawn. All are spacious and homey with a fireplace in both bedroom and living room, over-stuffed king-size beds, and verandas facing the bay. The property is also dog-friendly (for an extra $50/night), which meant my Golden Retriever got his own mattress by the fireplace and a welcome bag of treats. For extended stays, the spa features programs in smoking cessation, stress reduction, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, and “shamanic journeys.” When you’re done with the spa, try a class at the lodge’s impressive on-site cooking school, run by former Chez Panisse chef Kelsie Kerr. www.cavallopoint.com
—Paul Horne

GARDEN SPA AT MACARTHUR PLACE
SONOMA, CALIFORNIA
Only 45 minutes outside of San Francisco in the heart of California wine country is the Garden Spa at the historic Macarthur Place. Originally a 300-acre working ranch, this 19th-century estate has been transformed into a stunning six-acre escape. The inn brings the wine country to every visitor, starting with their signature line of grape seed hair and skin products in every room. The manicured gardens overflowing with jasmine and lavender made even the walk to the poolside spa into a kind of treatment. Choose from over 40 face and body treatments centered around flowers and herbs from the inn’s own gardens. Signature treatments (100 min, $225) include Sonoma Wine Therapy (chardonnay sugar scrub, bath, and essential oil massage) and Adam for Men (eucalyptus body scrub, peppermint bath, and rosemary massage). I got great results with the Alpha Beta Professional Face Peel using the MD Skincare line ($118). Rooms and suites at the inn feature fireplaces, plasma screens, and king-size beds, or you can book a Garden Spa Suite to enjoy your own private patio with outdoor rain shower, waterfall, and a teak wine soaking tub. Continental breakfast buffet, nightly wine and cheese reception, DVD movies, and Wi-Fi are all offered free to guests. Best of all, Macarthur Place is only four blocks from the charming and historic Sonoma Plaza, with so many shops, restaurants, and wine tastings that you could easily fill a weekend without ever touching a car. After a day of food and wine on the Napa Wine Train (www.winetrain.com), slip into your oversize Jacuzzi tub with one of the inn’s own grape seed “bath soaking tea” bags for the total Sonoma experience. www.macarthurplace.com
—Paul Horne

CANYON RANCH SPA
MIAMI, FLORIDA
I admit it. I am a bit jaded. Living in “America’s Riviera” for 25 years means that I have been exposed to a myriad of choices for 24/7 fun, sun, pampering, and culinary delights. So, my experience at Canyon Ranch Spa had a great deal to live up to in order to impress me—and impress me, it did. Unlike many of the opulent spas and resorts along the sea, the ambience at Canyon Ranch Spa is truly designed to facilitate relaxation, serenity, and wellness, using subtle earth tones and natural materials, with views of the ocean from nearly every vantage point. The 70,000-square-foot facility offers more than 200 services and classes from which to choose. My day began with a semiprivate stretching class led by Jessica in an open-air space overlooking the ocean. With only eight people in the class, there was a lot of individual attention, and most of all, no pressure. Somehow, exercising while looking at blue sky and water made it so much easier. Next on the agenda was my acupuncture treatment with Jim Rohr, a Chinese medicine practitioner who also offers sessions on Chinese herbs, Acutonics (vibrational sound healing), and Qi Gong. In only one session my sinus headache disappeared. While lying on a heated table covered with amethyst crystals, I was treated to what I thought was music from a CD, yet it was Jim playing soothing sounds on singing bowls. Later, accompanied by nutritionist Raina Ericson, I enjoyed lunch at Canyon Ranch Grill, one of several indoor/outdoor dining areas. Although the menu also includes more hearty fare such as bison burgers and sandwiches, Raina suggested the seared salmon salad with green pea vinaigrette, just 270 calories, preceded by asparagus soup. I was pleasantly surprised at the portion size as well as the fact that such a low-fat, low-calorie meal could be so delicious. I was now ready for Aquavana, the first complete European thermal suite of its kind in the US. Based on the holistic concept that contrasting hot and cold temperatures help oxygenate tissues and drain toxins from the body, it was not only invigorating, but it also was fun. I absolutely loved Aquavana’s Caribbean Monsoon Experiential Rain Shower complete with flashing lights, warm water, and sounds of thunder. Alas, my day of indulgence was coming to an end, but not before my highly anticipated Abhyanga Massage. It is so evident that the staff at Canyon Ranch love what they do, and Simone was no exception. She applied warm oil, almost ritualistically, and unlike deep-tissue massage, it was a gentle, yet firm massage that had me floating out the door. ($700 for this day’s selections) www.canyonranch.com
—Sharon Kersten

THE SPA AT ICON BRICKELL
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Sage, rosemary, and thyme…but no parsley. These are three of the seven herbal oils applied in the signature Raindrop Massage ($235) at the stunning Philippe Starck-designed Spa at Icon Brickell. This opulent, 28,000-square-foot, white and gray marble sanctuary is the centerpiece of the Icon development in Miami’s up-and-coming Brickell neighborhood, incorporating 1,700 condos and the Viceroy Hotel. A massive aquatherapy lounge offers oversize couches and comfy chairs by a roaring mirrored fireplace—the perfect place to relax by the various hot and cold tubs while enjoying the tranquil view of Biscayne Bay. I showered, slipped into my robe, and was led to the oval-shaped treatment room complete with billowing white curtains. After ensuring the music, temperature, and lighting were exactly to my liking, the suave and sexy-voiced Jacob knelt and wafted each of the scented oils under my nose before gently speckling my back with droplets and massaging them in. A full back, neck, and head massage culminated in an amazing foot rub complete with hot, damp towels wrapped around each foot, like a luxurious Ugg boot. The fragrant herbs had revived my senses while the intense massage had relieved my tension—just what I needed. For those who need to look fabulous for a night out, try the 90-minute Iconic Facial ($275). This intensive age-defense treatment is designed to boost the rejuvenation of cellular metabolism with a dual exfoliation process. The RNA, DNA, and collagen treatment promises to provide long-lasting action to restore skin firmness, suppleness, and resilience. Along with the spa pools and lounge, a trip to the Spa at Icon offers full access to the gym, spinning room, sauna, steam, and sumptuous locker rooms—a true all-day indulgence, Miami-style. www.viceroymiami.com
—David M. Orchard

THE SPA AT THE SETAI
MIAMI, FLORIDA
Did you ever experience a moment that you wanted to live over and over? It feels too special to be real. Thinking about it fills you with joy and gratitude. When you step inside your airy treatment suite at the Spa at the Setai, be prepared for that moment. It’s nirvana for all the senses in this teak Balinese sanctuary—a heaven of light, warmth, and beauty. There are so many superb details: sky-high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, and soft scents of lotus, lemon grass, and other specially blended essential oils. The four suites are artfully located on the second floor so you’re overlooking the sparkling sea and lush, brilliantly landscaped pool. Designed for singles or couples, each lair has a steam shower, bathroom, and enormous granite tub. There are also other extraordinary touches such as ceramic bowls from 16th- and 17th-century China, soft adjustable massage beds, and soulful caring therapists who seem to have healing hands. After indulging in the Ancient Balinese Massage, which incorporates stretching, (60 min, $180), you may never want to leave. Combine that with the Himalayan Crystal Body Polish where 100% pure Himalayan cedar wood, Rose Otto essential oils, and salts mined from Himalayan foothills are slathered onto the skin, (60 min, $175). The rest of the hotel is also a masterpiece merging Asian aesthetics with art deco (a nod to its South Beach setting). The antique bricks in the lobby were imported from Shanghai, and don’t miss the very long bar with a handpicked mother of pearl top. If that’s not enough, the lobby spills into an al fresco courtyard with soaring columns, statues, pergolas, and ponds. www.setai.com
—Jeryl Brunner

29 SPA, MANSION ON PEACHTREE HOTEL AND RESIDENCE
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
“Hotlanta” has been the sobriquet for Atlanta for some two decades, a moniker crafted by the travel industry to create buzz. One Buckhead business hardly needs a boost from the local Convention and Visitors Bureau—29 Spa is the go-to luxe destination for day-spa enthusiasts. The carefully crafted and extremely popular spa is the dream canvas for Lydia Mondavi (yes, of the wine clan, and a consultant in the spa industry for over 15 years…and a fifth generation Atlantan). She has incorporated her signature Grape Seed Age Protecting Formula in all her brand products, the exclusive line of the spa. Fourteen treatment rooms are housed in the 15,000-plus square-foot facility (the relaxation room features cosseting loungers). As might be expected, there are countless treatments with wine-related names, like Sommelier’s Silk, Crush it Up, and Stomping Grapes. Among the most popular treatments is First Crush (50 or 80 min, $115 or $135), which uses hand-harvested, custom-crushed grape seeds from international vineyards, and ends with a “mini facial” for the lips. The Perfect Pairing massage (50 or 80 min, $270 or $330) is performed by two therapists who combine elements of Shiatsu, Thai, Swedish, deep tissue, pressure-point, and synchronized techniques…and for good measure, they pour healing oils along the body’s meridians. The Time in a Bottle facial brightens and whitens the skin (50 and 80 min, $125 and $145), while the Savor the Wine body treatment provides a hydrating rose-and-Cabernet cocoon for the body (50 and 80 min, $130 and $180). The sweet spot fillip to a treatment: a cozy, toasty robe, plucked from a warming drawer. One other plus: if you’re starving when you leave, a stone’s throw away on the hotel’s grounds is an outpost of chef Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak restaurant. www.mansiononpeachtree.com
—Ruth J. Katz

AQUASPA
HONOLULU, HAWAII
Behind a regular guestroom door at the Aqua Palms & Spa is a clean, tranquil treatment space with no frills, bells, or whistles, but really excellent massages for a bargain price. In fact, it’s one of the best massages I’ve ever had (ask for Winnie). The economic downturn has slammed Hawaiian tourism, with roughly one-third of all hotel rooms unoccupied. However, there hasn’t been much slack in business at AquaSPA. The Swedish massage, based on long, gliding movements, has been reduced from $95 to $69. So has the reflexology massage, which opens energy pathways through kneading pressure points. Start your trip with a 30-minute, $65 jet lag special, which concentrates on the lower back and legs or neck and shoulders—wherever you’re achy from the long flight. It’s the only massage that doesn’t include a preliminary footbath, which is an instantly relaxing treat for your arches that uses water scented with soothing peppermint oil and strewn with stimulating beach pebbles. To further enhance business, AquaSPA is offering a hotel package that includes your choice of two 50-minute massage therapies with a three-night minimum stay (good through December 25). www.aquaresorts.com
—Julie Besonen

WAIKIKI PLANTATION SPA
HONOLULU, HAWAII
Here’s a spa that’s not afraid to make some noise. Honolulu’s only penthouse spa regularly hosts parties with a light menu of snacks and mimosas. Set on the 17th floor of the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, the 1,000-square-foot sundeck overlooks sailboats bobbing in the blue water and sun-kissed bodies on the sand. At sunrise, yoga or Pilates classes are held on the deck near the Zen rock garden. Treatments are done indoors, such as the lomi pohaku, a fusion of rhythmic lomi plus a massage with heated lava stones, which is dreamy for sore, swollen muscles (80 min, $175). Plant-based lotions, oils, and body scrubs are deliciously flavored with chocolate and orange, mango and marigold, Hawaiian sea salt (for exfoliation), green tea, white ginger, and passionfruit. The two-story spa is a handsome, wood-detailed environment accented with bamboo, stone, and lots of greenery. Ask for the treatment room with the ocean view. After you’re done, kick back in a lounge chair on the deck for as long as you desire. www.waikikiplantationspa.com
—Julie Besonen

ROYAL HAWAIIAN ABHASA WAIKIKI SPA
HONOLULU, HAWAII
The Pink Palace of the Pacific, the pet name of the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, recently underwent a major facelift. So did its abhasa Spa (abhasa means “illusion” in Sanskrit), the only spa on Oahu with treatments in an outdoor garden. In Hawaii, isn’t it all about being outdoors? Lush with coconut palms, hibiscus, and plumeria, the hotel’s courtyard is a quiet sanctuary except for all the birds tweeting away. Indoors are stylish lounges, a steam room, and a retail shop selling organic moisturizers, cleansers, and serums laced with local kukui nut, coconut, pineapple, and mango. Specially designed, therapeutic facials for gentlemen refine pores and address razor burn (50 min, $125). Of the five treatment rooms, one is a high-tech wet room where you’ll be slathered with warm, purifying mud, wrapped in foil, lowered into an envelopment bed, and left to float under heat lamps (50 min, $130). This signature cocoon body wrap detoxifies and nourishes skin and is even said to help with slimming and toning. Outdoors are five cabanas where the Hawaiian-inspired, rhythmic lomi lomi massages are administered, infused with Japanese shiatsu (50 min, $140). The tropical fruit products leave you smelling like the Islands, good enough to eat. www.abhasa.com
—Julie Besonen

THE PENINSULA SPA BY ESPA
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
When staying at one of the best hotels in the world, you’d naturally hope to find one of the best spas. The Peninsula Spa by ESPA in Chicago delivers almost sheer perfection. The wellness center’s spacious locker room is shared by a select number of fitness facility members, where one of the major draws is a half Olympic-sized swimming pool at the top of the hotel, adjacent the spa. Following a short swim, I changed into my robe and made my way to the spa’s relaxation area, that I didn’t find very relaxing. In fact, it resembled more a post-op surgical recovery room in a very posh cosmetic surgeon’s office. The obligatory tea service was a nice touch, but difficult to negotiate while lounging in a robe with someone directly across from me. Fortunately, I wasn’t here to simply lounge around in a revealing robe all day. What brought me to the top floor of the Peninsula Hotel was a signature treatment called the Uplifting Mint Experience (120 min, $325). From the moment my therapist collected me, I could tell I was in good hands. It can be hard to describe the intuitive reaction I sometimes get with a spa practitioner, but an understated confidence that is sometimes exhibited makes me melt before I even hit the table. She started off with a ceremonial foot ritual, using fresh mint. These cleansing foot rituals are done before most treatments here and are a signature of the Peninsula brand. A skin softening mint and apricot kernel body scrub prepared my body for the massage to come. Following a rinse in my private shower, I received a stress-reducing massage with a refreshing mint-infused oil, said to have many therapeutic effects, including alleviating headaches. My favorite part of a massage is always scalp and facial work, and the two most memorable aspects of this experience were the cleansing foot ritual and the exquisite cranial massage that eliminated any vestiges of tension. www.peninsula.com
—Joseph Schmitt

THE SPA BY ASHA, THE JAMES
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
The James, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and included in both Travel + Leisure’s “It List” and Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List,” has built a reputation by satisfying a sophisticated clientele. High-tech amenities, original art exhibitions, and warm hospitality, just a few steps away from the Magnificent Mile, are among the reasons people come back to this memorable Windy City favorite. The Spa by Asha continues the hotel’s theme of subdued, small-scale elegance, with treatments including a Triple Moisture Massage designed to rehydrate tired skin (90 min, $185), a Neti Massage to relieve sinus pressure (60 min, $75), and a Hydrating Belly Treatment for pregnant women (90 min, $185). Each spa service includes an aromatherapy footbath, and anyone who arrives early may relax using an herb-scented neck pillow. The spa has just three treatment rooms, but part of the pleasure of the James is that treatments can be easily enjoyed in your own room. The on-site relaxation experts have come up with an effective program for this; in-room treatments begin with a shower ritual that includes mango-and-lime body cleanser, followed by a blend of sugar cane and jojoba oil. The guestroom itself is transformed into a de facto personal spa, with dim lighting and fragrant candlelight. You just might forget you’re in a hotel room. www.jameshotels.com
—Mark Chesnut

THE SPA AT ENCORE
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Las Vegas has always been a town of extremes, and Wynn’s over-the-top Encore hotel is no exception. The hotel’s “pride concierge” makes it even easier for gay and lesbian travelers to make the most of all the hotel has to offer, including planning a visit to the magnificent spa, which has 37 treatment rooms, 14 garden suites, and four large couples suites. The 61,000-square-foot facility also has a gym and a bar that concocts tempting organic juices and smoothies. Contemporary, Asian-inspired chic décor enhances the many experiences that await here. Choose the lavender stone ritual (75 min, $250), designed to comfort weary bodies using the restorative powers of lavender, followed by a mild body scrub of sea salts and lavender grains. The sandalwood stone ritual (75 min, $250), designed for men, fosters relaxation through the use of dark, round basalt stones that trace the body’s muscles, with a warm cup of African red tea to wrap up the treatment. Perhaps the most appropriate treatment for the destination is the good luck ritual (80 min, $250), based upon the five elements of Feng Shui to produce health, wealth, prosperity, happiness, and harmony. Thai herbal massage pillows, a peppermint foot treatment, and a wild lime botanical scalp treatment are among the techniques to release the positive forces within you. Afterwards, you just might want to try out the effectiveness of the good luck ritual, in the casino. www.encorelasvegas.com
—Mark Chesnut

THE PENINSULA SPA BY ESPA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
If God is in the details, The Peninsula Spa by ESPA is a very, very spiritual place. Newly debuted in January 2009, this oasis in Manhattan has exquisite touches throughout. The separate men’s and women’s relaxation rooms are masterpieces not to be missed. Get ready to do serious time in your adjustable remote-controlled bed in your screened-in private station.Who can resist a cozy down comforter, Frette linens, and a personal sound system (with state of the art headphones)? Switch on your individual reading light, sip coconut milk, and nibble organic dried fruit and almonds. For more bells and whistles, there are the changing rooms. Both the men’s and women’s contain a thermal suite so you’re exposed to varying hot and cold experiences. You’ll find a sauna, a multi-jet shower with three different levels of water pressure, an aromatherapy Finnish steam room, and a fetching ice fountain presented before a 24 karat gold Bisazza mosaic backdrop. If that’s not enough, visit the Asian tea lounge where you’re treated to herbal teas to help transition you to your most Zen state. Also unforgettable is the 22nd floor glass-enclosed pool with panoramic views of Manhattan (available to guests who book two-hour services). All this prepares you for the magical treatments which incorporate Ayurvedic, European, and Asian therapies (like the Yang Soother, which involves a wrap, exfoliation, stone massage, and more. 120 min, $465). www.peninsula.com
—Jeryl Brunner

WALDORF ASTORIA SPA BY GUERLAIN
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Through the stately dark woods and forest greens of the iconic Waldorf Astoria lobby, into the dark elevators, a push of the 19th floor button, and you could almost be blinded when you walk out into the cloud white lobby space of the Guerlain Spa. The entire spa is shades of white and ecru, some shiny, some matte, all giving the impression that you have stepped into an artist’s blank canvas. Appropriate since the spa experience at Guerlain is entirely catered to the individual. When you check in, they’ll ask a few questions about your day, your mood, what you hope to get from your time in the spa, and then make recommendations of signature Guerlain scents that will be used to lightly infuse your treatment suite and footbath water. Then it’s off to your private spa suite, larger than most New York hotel rooms, with private bathroom, oversize shower, and ultra-plush treatment table. The neutral shades of white and cream continue here with the tiniest punch coming from a potted orchid. A closet for your things and a quick slip into a robe, and you’re ready. I’m sitting on one of several white couches, the therapist slides open a panel beneath my slippered feet and pushes a button to hydraulically lower the entire couch so my feet dangle in a tub of hot water beneath the floor. After a soothing scrub and foot massage it is time to go back to my treatment suite for my hour-long combination massage—the first half of the two-hour ($510) Waldorf Imperiale. The Guerlain massage table has the first comfortable face cradle I’ve ever found, and the expert massage with a light cream does wonders for my knotted back. It is a brilliant touch that I don’t need to go anywhere else, and my facialist arrives promptly with water and tea. The table/bed is re-made with fresh sheets and a fluffy comforter, and then an intricate dance of Guerlain super hydrating products, including the top-of-the-line Orchidée line, works to whisk away my weariness. The certainty and confidence of the therapists and user-friendliness of having my own room allows me to truly surrender to the experience. Cocooned and spoiled, my only complaint is having to leave. www.waldorfnewyork.com
—Andrew Mersmann

WELLNESS MEN’S DAY SPA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Located off of Fifth Avenue on 22nd Street in Manhattan, Wellness Men’s Day Spa offers an assortment of body treatments and massages for the man on the go. Start your day with the Body Ceremony (90 min, $145), which includes a 30-minute full body scrub and a 60-minute massage—you’ll leave relaxed and invigorated for whatever life has to offer. If you are in need of a little pampering try the Signature treatment (90 min, $115). This pedicure with callous treatment will have your feet feeling soft and subtle, while the 60-minute massage of your choice (Swedish, Deep Tissue, Thai, Hot Stone, or Shiatsu) is sure to give you a whole new outlook on life. The first time I visited here was for their VIP New York treatment (90 min, $225). This included a facial mask, body exfoliation, Jacuzzi, steam shower, massage, and a light lunch with wine. Needless to say, I didn’t want to leave. For a truly indulgent experience, try their Signature Massage With 4 Hands (60 min, $220 or 90 min, $310). If you’re traveling on a budget, make a note that all massage therapies from 7 P.M.–midnight (Tues–Sat) are 30% off the regular price. www.wellnessmensdayspa.com
—Robert Adams

[Updated: October, 2009]

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