During my travels around the world, I’ve been fortunate to try out many different spa experiences.

I now believe firmly in the transformative power of a good spa day. It helps the body, mind, and spirit.

These are my favorite spas around the world. * Means the experience was comped, and I was treated as a member of the Media. **Means I paid for the experience myself. There aren’t many photos here because I am usually visiting during the same hours as all other guests, and taking photos can interrupt their experience. Which I would never want to do.

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

*Tented Camp Thailand Golden Triangle – Opt for your included massage in the tent or visit their actual Spa. Both are incredible options and will provide a dynamite experience.

*Safari Lodge Serengeti Tanzania – There are so many reasons to visit this spa, but my top recommendations are the Thai Herbal Massage, the Kopje Sunset Meditation, and the morning Yoga with Sajeesh.

**Hotel Westlake Village – What puts this spa over the top is their outdoor gardens and pool, which you can access after your treatment, even if you’re not a checked-in guest. This makes it a great spa for a day trip or girls’ outing. I also enjoyed this spa with my partner when he surprised me for my birthday.

*Maui at Wailea, Hawaii – A massage in one of their cabanas, looking out at the ocean, down toward the beachfront, is a true must for any spa aficionado. The view is incredible, the smell and sound of the ocean is its own balm, and the privacy, despite being open on one side, is exceptional. My partner still talks about this couple’s massage, which we had for my birthday, as one of his best EVER. And he’s picky!!

*Scottsdale at Troon North – Excellent place to relax and be treated, no matter the occasion, but particularly wonderful after you’ve participated in Cowboy College. They were able to erase every ache and pain I was suffering from as a result of my full day in the saddle and on the ranch. I also enjoyed the salon for hair and makeup, and would recommend those services.

Ritz-Carlton

* and **Spa Botánico at Dorado Beach Reserve – Plan a whole day here if you can. The festivities themselves are as outstanding as the spa treatments are relaxing. The main pool alone is worth hours of visitation. There are also warm and hot pools secluded by trees and tropical plants, outdoor showers, walking paths, tree forts for massages, and more. Spa ingredients, as the name suggests, are from the natural world, and their massage oil is the best-smelling that I have ever had the privilege of experiencing. We bought our own bottle to take home when my partner and I visited together, and we were so upset when we finally finished it at home because to be without that smell is so sad.

Viking Cruises

*The Nordic Spa on their ocean ships – Viking has made wellness a true priority at sea. Their spa facilities are exceptionally full-service. They include a Fitness Center, hair and nail salons with facial and massage treatment rooms, pools, and more. A snow grotto, bucket shower, cold plunge pool, hot tub, as well as wet and dry saunas, ensure you won’t even want to go on land for your shore excursions. Though, of course, you should. Oh, and I forgot to mention their main pool under a retractable dome. There’s also a hot tub and pool off the back of the ship on the Aquavit Terrace®. I usually schedule my appointments for days at sea that exist when sailing the longer distances between countries. But beware! Book early, as everyone else likes to do this too. [Photo courtesy Viking Cruises.]

Austria

*Klosterbräu Hotel & Spa – Make sure to indulge in the Mud Bath and Rain Room. It is exotic in a way I’ve never experienced in another spa.

*Krumers Post Hotel & Spa – The Hot Wax Candle Massage will change your life. Their indoor pools are very relaxing, and their yoga on the roof is one of my top yoga experiences worldwide.

*Hotel Diana – Bath naked in beer, including your own beer tap so you can imbibe during the treatment, and follow it with a slumber on a bed of hay. It might sound ridiculous, but in reality, it is the opposite; my skin felt softer than it had for years, for days afterward. Go with friends. It makes the experience cheeky but better, trust me.

Bali

*The Mulia, Mulia Resort & Villas – This is where I had the best massage I’ve ever had in my life. It was their Four-Handed Double-Therapist Balinese Massage. Follow that with a long visit to their outdoor hot/cold/jacuzzi baths, and you will never want to leave Bali.

Estonia

*IGLUPARK – Traditional guided, or non-guided, sauna and cold plunge right on the harbor in Tallinn. I can’t recommend it more highly. A must when in Estonia.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

*Seraphina Spa at JW Marriott – What I will always remember about this massage is that my oat and sugar scrub was mixed and prepared right in front of me before the experience began. That engendered a level of trust in the therapist that isn’t always a given in a spa. It was also one of the best scrubs I’ve ever had with a massage. My skin was truly taken back to baby-level softness. They claim, “thoughtful, holistic care in a beautifully modern spa setting,” and they are right. In addition to massage, they also offer body treatments, facials, and nail treatments. Photos from the Snapchat early days:

Italy

*St. Regis Florence – The Iridium Suites offer another level of comfort during treatment with, as the name suggests, private suites for one to two people that include a whirlpool standalone bathtub and private dressing + shower area. Products are all Clarin,s and therapists are some of the most skilled and welcoming of any spa I’ve visited.

Jamaica

*Half Moon Resort – Two spa cabanas sit perched over the ocean, not far from the main spa facility, which is 68,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space. The cabanas were the most evocative and relaxing place I have ever had the privilege of experiencing a massage, and I highly recommend choosing to have a treatment there, alone or with a partner. Additionally, a pilates session with Kim in the yoga pavilion is not to be missed. My post with photos.

Las Vegas

*ESPA at Vdara – ESPA shouldn’t need any introduction if you are familiar with this brand’s spas elsewhere. It’s a haven away from the insanity of the strip and the gambling, located in Vdara, which is smoke-free and does not have a casino. My male massage therapist at this spa was one of the best I’ve ever had anywhere.

*The Spa at Aria – This is one of the larger spas I’ve been to anywhere in the world, fitting for Las Vegas. And while that means at times it doesn’t feel very intimate, it is very full-featured. Of particular note: the outdoor infinity pool, the Ganbanyoku Heated Stone Beds, and the Shio Salt Room. Also, look into booking the Fitness Art Tour, which gives you access to the Spa all day after a workout around the property, taking in Aria’s enormous art collection.

Los Angeles

**TheNOW – Multiple locations of this small chain are available around LA, and we visit regularly. The decor will immediately put you at ease, and the therapists are some of the best in the business. I highly recommend their CBD add-on, if it’s available. It’s like the world’s best muscle melt balm in CBD form. It takes a massage to the next level.

Manchester, UK

*King Street Townhouse – The hot tub and spa area of this apartment-style accommodation in Manchester is worth the price of admission and then some. I’d stay here when visiting the city just for the perk of this space, which I was allowed to visit for a few hours as a member of the media. The background and views from the pool and rest area with very comfortable bed-style chairs are as photogenic as the pool is relaxing. I.E. VERY! However, there also is a full service spa with massage services and a gym. I’ll be going back to take advantage of that as soon as I can.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

*IvySpa Club – This spa inside Hotel Ivy (part of Marriott’s ‘The Luxury Collection’) needs a little work in terms of decor and atmosphere [as of my last visit] but the treatments themselves, and the therapists who provide them, are beyond reproach. They also feature a relaxing co-ed pool and steam rooms. If you’re local, you can also pay to be a member, which gives you discounts on services.

New York City

**AIRE Ancient Baths – This underground spa in TriBeCa features a system of pools in the Roman style, a Hamam, and massage therapy rooms. Two-hour blocks of time, in addition to your massage appointment, allow you to fully experience the bath system. It features saltwater pools and is lit only by candlelight. I’ve never left feeling anything less than completely transformed. The property was featured in the John Wick franchise. AIRE has 7 other locations around the world. [Photo at the end of this page.]

**Mario Badescu – You may be familiar with their products sold in stores around the world. Their drying lotion is a must-have if you’re an adult who still deals with occasional breakouts. But it’s their spa & salon in NYC that I loved going to on special occasions when I lived in the city. On my birthday one year, my partner treated me to the best facial I have ever had.

Palm Beach, Florida

*The Spa at The Breakers – This indoor/outdoor spa is open to hotel guests and club members. I had one of the best manicures I’ve ever had at any spa here, and the service was truly outstanding.

Scottsdale, Arizona

*Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain – Very good massage therapists and a nice indoor jacuzzi to use afterward, as well as an outdoor area with a water feature and lounge chairs.. Their treatments are mostly in the Asian spa style.

*Hotel Valley Ho – I was incredibly impressed with my massage therapist. She cared about my whole body and took a very holistic approach, making recommendations for ways I could better my health long after I left her treatment room that were truly tailor-fit to my body’s needs.

*Downtown Scottsdale, We Do Men “A Male Concept Spa” – My friend, owner, and Boss Lady, Stacey Grondahl,  caters to male clientele first and foremost, but services women by referral.  This is a spa unlike any other I have encountered anywhere else in the world, and if I lived closer, I would regularly treat Dante to appointments here. Stacey is not only an incredible person, but she is also doing incredible things for the health and well-being of men and women. She also features a gift shop with only the best personal care products.

All photos are my own unless otherwise noted. And there are minimal photos because I find the process of taking photos during a spa visit to be very intrusive to other guests. However, I am happy to work with spas to visit and take photos when customers are not present. Contact me to discuss!

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