Forbes: Revealed: The 13 Best Spa Treatments And Best New Hotel Spas In The World

Wed 05 May 2021

As travel slowly opens up worldwide and more people are getting vaccinated, the spa industry is looking to create unique luxury experiences to entice guests. New resorts are slowly launching after pandemic delays, and while spas are usually the last thing to open, soon, there will be a lot more creative options for spa lovers like myself. According to Rona Berg, editorial director of Organic Spa Media, the industry is dramatically changing its mindset on offering luxury experiences while remaining safe.

“There are some eagerly anticipated new spa openings in 2021 after many hit the pause button over the last year. Spas are ramping up programs with inherent social distancing like reflexology, treatments outdoors in tents. More people are traveling with extended family and friends, and spas are shifting to accommodate those groups, with wellness programs for the entire family, even children.”

Ojo de Agua Wellness Center at Paradero Todos Santos

“Some spas are introducing Mental Wellness programs, targeted toward helping to ease the mental stress that has accumulated over the past year,” she continues. “Nature Immersions have been increasingly popular, and now, even more so. Escaping outside yourself, through immersion in nature, historical and cultural sites, and visits to exciting cities with rich itineraries can certainly be exhilarating. Testing your physical limits—hiking, biking, diving, surfing, along with other athletic pursuits— makes you feel alive. Others are focusing on Transformative Experiences that lead to traveling inward or programs that help guests Reset themselves.”

And now, the World Spa Awards, created to reward excellence in the spa and wellness sector, has unveiled its nominees for 2021. Nominees cover the entire spa industry ranging from hotel spas, wellness retreats, spa destinations, and detox programs to aromatherapy brands and wellness apps. Winners will be unveiled in a ceremony in October in Dubai.

Last year's winners included two Italian properties; Lake Como’s Mandarin Oriental Spa, Dolomite’s Lefay Resort & Spa, and the Royal Heritage Ritual treatment at Intercontinental Bali.

Among my favorite categories are the often outrageous spa treatments, including many of the nominations for the world's Best Spa Signature Treatments for 2021.

Treatment room at Emirates Palace spa

ABU DHABI

A Day of Gold ($1,150)

Emirates Palace Spa, Mandarin Oriental

Enjoy the spa’s luxurious gold Hammam and indulge in a Signature Palace Massage. Then enjoy a light lunch before your decadent 24-Carat Gold Radiance Facial. The finishing touch to the experience includes a Bastien Pedicure.

CROATIA

Sculptural Young Face Lifting Massage ($110)

Young Face Spa

Utilizing a unique natural version of botox developed by Yakov Gershkovich. The massage is an alternative to surgical invasive lifting procedures. The treatment strengthens and relaxes the basic facial muscles.

The Spa at Address Beach Resort

DUBAI

Royal Saffron ($612.00)

Mandarin Oriental Jumeira Dubai

An extravagant ritual reserved for royalty using blends of 24k gold, saffron, and mogra, the Queen of Jasmines sourced directly from artisan growers and distillers to assist with cellular regeneration, pigmentation, and rejuvenation.

Signature Spa Suite Journeys ($260)

The Spa at Address Downtown

The Signature Spa Suite features Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai's views and offers a massage bath and horizontal shower waterfall massage to accompany the specialized treatments.

ENGLAND

Black Pearl 24k Golden Splendour ($700)

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Following a full-body exfoliation, your body is wrapped in 24-carat gold, massaged with gold body oil, body butter, and given a pectin face mask. The 24-carat gold treatment is used to minimize signs of aging for the face and body.

Spa Uluwatu outdoor cabana

INDONESIA

Royal Heritage Ritual

InterContinental Bali Resort

Recreating the traditional Royal Wedding, this 3-hour experience includes a Bali Ocean Serenity, or Muscle Tension Release Massage, a lulur body scrub, a restoring Refresher Facial, and Foot Massage. Ending in a royal heritage milk bath infused with fresh flowers.

Spa at Quellenhof Luxury Resort

Onda Spa at Quellenhof Luxury Resort Quellenhof Luxury Resort

ITALY

Yin Transformation Ritual ($170)

Quellenhof Luxury Resort

A custom-built water-filled massage couch with anti-gravity is used for this specialized wavebalance® massage, performed with warm oil.

MALDIVES

Caviar Journey ($750)

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

This 3-hour ritual draws on the anti-aging properties of caviar extract to revitalize the skin. The treatment starts with an exfoliation, followed by a magnesium massage, and concludes with a lavender bath with champagne and caviar.

Waldorf Astoria Spa Ithaafushi, Maldives

Starlight Ocean Massage ($280)

Waldorf Astoria Spa Ithaafushi

The perfect escape from civilization under the Maldivian stars, the resort's exclusive outdoor Spa Pavilion offers up a 90-minute rhythmic massage and luxurious collagen eye mask.

VILA VITA Spa by Sisley Paris

PORTUGAL

Golden Quartz Treatment ($200)

VILA VITA Parc Resort & Spa

This hot sand therapy treatment on Gharieni’s MLX Quartz bed is combined with the sound of singing bowls. The treatment includes various massage techniques alternated with small heated crystal bags to take guests to a deeper level of relaxation while the warm quartz cradles the body.

Indoor pool at The Gleneagles Hotel Spa

SCOTLAND

The Source at the Spa by ESPA ($300)

The Gleneagles Hotel

This signature service includes a foot ritual using local honey, Body exfoliation, Full body and facial massage using warm herbal infusions containing Scottish Lavender, and finishing with a Scalp Massage.

Saxon Spa in Johannesberg

SOUTH AFRICA

Sound Therapy

Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa

The Saxon Spa’s unique Signature Sound Therapy includes sound vibrations of gongs, cymbals, Tibetan singing bowls, and bells to balance and restore the body’s natural energy. Performed on a heated water bed, this treatment is combined to enhance the rebalancing of your energy flow.

Essque Zalu

MAASAI RITUAL SIGNATURE at Essque Zalu in Zanzibar Essque Zalu

TANZANIA

The Maasai Ritual ($350)

Essque Zalu Zanzibar

This traditional Maasai experience includes a 2-hour ceremony with foot ritual massage, Singo body scrub, and African facial, all taking place in traditional outdoor tents.

Anantara Chiang Mai pool

THAILAND

Lanna Ritual

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort

This 90-minute treatment begins with an herbal foot bath, followed by a full-body massage with stretching and gold plates on the chakra points to enhance energy flow and ending with a pressure point facial.

Banyan Tree spa krabi

After the extensive pandemic delays, many new resorts have launched, and here are the nominations for the 21 World’s Best New Hotel & Resort Spas for 2021:

AUSTRALIA

Ruby Spa at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa

DUBAI

The Spa at Address Beach Resort

Sofitel Spa with L’Occitane at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk

FRANCE

Valmont Spa at Chateau de La Messardiere

Yonaguni Spa at Le Parc Hotel

ITALY

The Spa at Palazzo Doglio

JAPAN

Spa Chasi La Sothys at Higashiyami Niseko Village, Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Nikko

The Spa at HARNN at Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora

Spa by JW Marriot Hotel Nara

The Spa at Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto

MALAYSIA

Chenot Spa at One&Only Desaru Coast

MEXICO

Ojo de Agua Spa at Paradero Toros Santos

NEW ZEALAND

The Spa at Park Hyatt Auckland

OMAN

Spa Alila at Alila Hinu Bay

SEYCHELLES

Eden Holistic Spa at L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa

SPAIN

Unico Spa at Finca Serena Mallorca

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Ritz Madrid

SRI LANKA

Jungle Spa at Haritha Villas & Spa

ST. BARTHS

Spa Diane Barriere’s at Hotel Barriere Le Carl Gustaf

THAILAND

Banyan Tree Spa / Krabi