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10 U.S.
SPAS
Spa-savvy Celebrated Living readers have once again selected an A-list of spas for the Platinum List. This year, look for new treatments, updated facilities, and a focus on Eastern healing practices at some of your favorite facilities. Then check out the Editors’ Choices for even more sublime spa options. — NICOLE ALPER
 1 CANYON RANCH, TUCSON, ARIZONA
Canyon Ranch continues its reign as the No. 1 oasis for our spa-seeking readership. Even with their new expansion at the Palazzo Tower of the Venetian in Las Vegas, Tucson is still where die-hard Canyon Ranch fans come to indulge. Spread across 150 desert acres in the foothills of Tucson’s Santa Catalina Mountains, the spa features single-story, adobe-style cottages spread throughout grounds overflowing with cactus gardens, pools, and fountains. Great news for those who like to bring the spa experience home with them: In April 2008, the spa launched their new Canyon Ranch Your Transformation skincare line, now sold at Canyon Ranch properties and www.saksfifthavenue.com. (800) 742-9000 or (520) 749-9000, www.canyonranch.com
2 LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT, AUSTIN, TEXAS
Nestled in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Lake Austin Spa Resort strikes that perfect chord between a world-class spa and a friend’s summer escape by the lake. After a multimillion-dollar refurbishment, all 40 guestrooms now sport new aesthetic touches (e.g., handmade afghan throws) and high tech conveniences (such as large flat-panel televisions). But what many people love about Lake Austin Spa Resort is how small and intimate it is. One tip: Try the Texas Starry Night massage. (800) 847-5637 or (512) 372-7300, www.lakeaustin.com
3 SPA AT JW MARRIOTT CAMELBACK INN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Thirty-two is the magic number at the 32,000-square-foot Spa at JW Marriott Camelback Inn, with 32 luxurious treatment rooms to match. Nestled in the foothills of the Mummy Mountains, the spa takes its cue from nature: Floor-to-ceiling windows unveil a panoramic view of the valley. Restore moisture with a Kerstin Florian Saving Face Hydrating Facial before feasting on a bowl of Greer Farms butternut squash chowder at Camelback’s spa restaurant, Sprouts, which has just revamped its menu. (800) 922-2635 or (480) 596-7040, www.camelbackspa.com
 4 SPA GRANDE AT GRAND WAILEA RESORT HOTEL & SPA, MAUI
Though the elegant 50,000-squarefoot Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa has always made the Platinum List, it is now even better. recently completing a redesign, the spa now features a “grand” new entrance. Be sure to test drive one of the new wet tables during a luxurious Haleakala Dream exfoliation, which uses essential oils and spices. (800) 888-6100 or (808) 875-1234, www.grandwailea.com
5 SPA AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI
A deluxe three-level spa located on the 44-acre island oasis of Brickell Key, this chic Miami spa’s clientele ranges from upscale locals to celebrities. Immerse yourself in one of the six newly renovated top-floor treatment suites swathed in silk accents and decorative kimonos. New on the menu: earth in motion, incorporating bamboo stalks and tuning forks. (866) 888-6780 or (305) 913-8332, www.mandarinoriental.com
6 SPA OJAI, OJAI VALLEY INN AND SPA, CALIFORNIA
There’s big news at the California-based spa, famed for its seasonal body scrubs using locally grown ingredients: This year marks its 10-year anniversary. Celebrate a decade of spa success by indulging in their three-night spa package, including a stay in their cozy Shangri-La guestroom, luxurious treatments, and unique art and apothecary classes. (800) 422-6524 or (805) 646-5511, www.ojairesort.com
7 SANCTUARY SPA AT SANCTUARY ON CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN, PARADISE VALLEY, ARIZONA
There’s one place where Paradise and Asia meet: at the Asian-inspired 12,000-square-foot sanctuary spa in Paradise Valley, located on the north slope of Camelback mountain. Wander along the 14-room boutique spa’s reflecting pond and through the Zen meditation Garden. In 2008, the spa unveiled a new menu including a rosemary Citron salt scrub and espresso mud hydrating treatment. (800) 245-2051 or (480) 948-2100, www.sanctuaryaz.com
8 SPA LA COSTA AT LA COSTA RESORT AND SPA, CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA
Set in sunny southern California, spa La Costa is more than a place to get a massage — it’s a place to be social. La Costa’s outdoor courtyard and Agua de la Vida room are spacious enough to enjoy with a group of friends. When it’s time to relax, guests can wander into their private treatment rooms for a new Lava shell Lomi Lomi massage using warmed tiger-clam shells from the Philippines. New to the spa menu: clinical treatments such as the 25-minute eye Lift, which uses micro-currents. (800) 729-4772 or (760) 931-7570, www.lacosta.com
9 THE GREENHOUSE, ARLINGTON, TEXAS
It’s ladies only at this top Texas spa. Try the cutting-edge Gyrotonics (known for fluid circular movements), kickboxing, or boot camp before slipping into a dreamy Cloud 9 massage or a cypress Japanese Hinoki soaking tub. special Weeks combine spa going with lectures from legendary actresses. (817) 640-4000, www.thegreenhousespa.net
10 SPA MONTAGE AT LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA set on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific in south Laguna Beach, the 250-room Craftsman-style montage Laguna Beach offers 30 acres of oceanfront luxury. Want a workout with a view? Lift weights at the 20,000-squarefoot fitness facility overlooking the Pacific. And don’t miss the new signature Lecture series on the “Art of Joy” and the “Art of romance,” offered monthly throughout the year. (949) 715-6000, www.montagelagunabeach.com
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10 INTERNATIONAL
SPAS
 1 WILLOW STREAM THE SPA AT THE FAIRMONT BANFF SPRINGS, CANADA
This
year’s list has a new No. 1, and it just happens to be the one tucked
in the mountain retreat of Banff, in the heart of Canada’s first
national park. Willow Stream Spa at The Fairmont Banff Springs harks
back to the days, some 100 years ago, when hot springs lured
city-dwelling travelers to steaming mineral pools. Only today you can
also indulge in new treatments such as the 60-minute Beyond Botox B.
Kamins Facial Treatment, a sophisticated anti-aging treatment that
helps to refine and lift — without surgery. Want up-to-date spa news?
Visit the spa’s quarterly online Rest magazine at www.willowstream.com. (800) 404-1772 or (403) 762-2211, www.fairmont.com/banffsprings
2 SPA AT LAS VENTANAS AL PARAÍSO, A ROSEWOOD RESORT, LOS CABOS, MEXICO
Some
of the best things happen at twilight. At Las Ventanas al Paraíso, one
of the world’s premier spas, located in Los Cabos, Mexico, you can
capture positive energy with their new Holistic Twilight Ceremony. No
more than six guests gather in the Solarium, illuminated by candles,
while crystal bowls sound out harmonic tones during an energy-cleansing
ritual. The finale: your choice of a 90-minute treatment, such as an
Herbal Healers massage. (888) 767-3966 or 011-52-624-144-2800, www.rosewoodhotels.com
3 ORIENTAL SPA AT ORIENTAL BANGKOK, BANGKOK, THAILAND
Across
the river from the hotel, the Oriental Spa, nestled in a traditional
Thai-style house of carved golden teak, houses all the pampering
necessities: scrub tables, vitality whirlpools, herbal steam baths, and
14 treatment suites. Just over a year ago the spa added the new
Ayurvedic Penthouse, where Yogic Lifestyle trainer Neelam Khatri offers
an extensive range of yoga sessions, and an Ayurvedic doctor, direct
from India, is on hand to give consultations. 011-66-2659-9000, www.mandarinoriental.com
4 BANYAN TREE SPA PHUKET, THAILAND
One
of Asia’s largest spas, the Banyan Tree, on the northwestern coast of
Phuket island, is filled with dancing Thai maidens — in the form of
stone sculptures, that is. Each of the 25 spa pavilions is a
re-creation of a royal Thai salass. Now offered: the Spa Ryokan package
combining a Rainmist experience, healthy gourmet spa cuisine, and yoga
in the Royal Spa Villa. (866) 822-6926 or 011-66-7632-4374, www.banyantreespa.com
5 SPA AT BRENNER’S PARK-HOTEL & SPA, BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY
Medi-spa
meets Roman- and Asian-style luxury at this German oasis overlooking
famed Lichtentaler Allee. Romanesque wet areas give way to the
Asian-influenced Kanebo Spa and Spa Suite. New to the spa: a
state-of-the-art Futuresse Beauty Suite, including a designer treatment
room and bath suite, and a SkinCeuticals Cabin for high-end medical
facials. 011-49-7221-9000, www.brenners.com
 6 MANDARA SPA AT THE MARRIOTT RESORT & ARUBA OCEAN CLUB, PALM BEACH, ARUBA
With
12 indoor treatment rooms, not to mention the cabanas along the white
powdery sand of Aruba’s Palm Beach, the Balinese-style Mandara Spa is
the largest spa on the island. The quiet zone lounge has a cool new
feel, and a Caribbean flair has been added to several services.
011-29-7520-6750, www.mandaraspa.com
7 SPA AT FOUR SEASONS RESORT BALI AT JIMBARAN BAY, BALI, INDONESIA
At
the Four Seasons Spa at Jimbaran Bay, don’t miss chanting in the newly
converted foreshore bale, now a meditation and yoga bale with stunning
views of the water below. Looking for a unique treatment? The new
Elemental Healing combines crystal based on your birth sign together
with a full-body massage. Also new: Two massage rooms were transformed
into an elegant Royal Spa Suite. (800) 332-3442 or 011-62-361-701010, www.fourseasons.com/jimbaranbay
8 CLINIQUE LA PRAIRIE, CLARENS-MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND
Ideally
placed on the shores of Lake Geneva in Montreux, opposite the Alps,
Clinique La Prairie draws clients from as far away as Russia, China,
and the U.S.A. (in fact, guests from more than 86 countries visited the
spa last year). “More and more clients are saving money to spend one
week at CLP,” says press director Yael Bruigom. “They invest their
money in health instead of buying a new watch or car.”
011-41-21-989-33-11, www.laprairie.ch
9 SENSE SPA AT LITTLE DIX BAY, VIRGIN GORDA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
In
April, the spa that sits on a cliff overlooking the British Virgin
Islands got a new name: Sense Spa at Little Dix Bay. What does this
change mean? Look forward to a local welcome beverage of indigenous
“Bush Tea” when you arrive and opening rituals at the start of each
treatment, including the deliciously nourishing Virgin Gorda Goat Milk
& Honey Wrap. (888) 767-3966 or (284) 495- 5555, www.littledixbay.com
10 THE PENINSULA SPA BY ESPA, HONG KONG
The
year 2008 marks the Peninsula Hong Kong’s 80-year anniversary. At the
spa, snuggle up in the relaxation room, with striking views of Victoria
Harbour, before a treatment . And don’t miss the ongoing programs
including Afternoon Tea Dances, or a flight in The Peninsula’s own
helicopter followed by a champagne lunch on a luxury yacht. (866)
382-8388 or (852) 2920 2888, www.peninsula.com
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6 EDITORS' CHOICE
SPAS
Celebrated Living editors also recognize these outstanding spas.
U.S.
MIRAVAL, CATALINA, ARIZONA
Long
considered the Rolls-Royce of U.S. destination spas, the 400-acre
Miraval earns its rank by combining the unique force of its native
Sonoran Desert landscape with the amenities of a luxury hotel, throwing
in life-altering experiences to boot. Enticing guests to focus on
health and inner change, without being prescriptive, Miraval has lured
the who’s who of mindful celebs: Janet Jackson, Christie Brinkley,
Whitney Houston, and Oprah, to name a few. A new outdoor treatment
garden is the location of Spirit Flight, a transformational alchemy
session that blends a full-body therapeutic massage with acupuncture,
spiritual Shamanism and drumming, spinal alignment, and cranio-sacral
therapy. Also new: 16 villas to be completed by the end of 2008. (800)
232-3969 or (520) 825-4000, www.miravalresort.com
AUBERGE SPA, RUTHERFORD, CALIFORNIA
The
biggest news to hit the sun-drenched Spa du Soleil at the Auberge is
that it is now known simply as Auberge Spa . With treatments featuring
ingredients indigenous to local vineyards, valleys, and gardens, the
spa now boasts a new addition: a tucked-in-the-wilderness yoga studio,
La Pagode, where you can enjoy everything from yoga to Reiki, Thai
massage, or even Pilates under a canopy of oak trees (hint: be sure to
slide open the translucent doors overlooking the resort’s hillside
vineyard). (800) 348-5406, www.aubergedusoleil.com
ALVADORA SPA AT ROYAL PALMS, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Drenched
in flowering bougainvillea and a distinctly Mediterranean ambience,
this Mobil-four-star, open-air spa features 10 treatment areas with
private gardens. Secure the couples’ signature Acqua Dolce Villa, with
heated stone tables under overhead showers, for a side-by-side Orange
Blossom Body Buff, or slip into the private Watsu pool where a grotto
waterfall shower cascades down within your private garden terrace.
(800) 672-6011 or (602) 840-3610, www.royalpalmshotel.com
 INTERNATIONAL
THE SPA AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL HYDE PARK, LONDON
Loyal,
spa-savvy London residents, A-list international guests, and celebs,
including Beyoncé Knowles, flock to this Knightsbridge haven tucked in
the heart of the hotel. Jet-black stone slabs of black Zimbabwean
granite and bespoke black American walnut furniture create a sensual
feel. Big news: The residences at Mandarin Oriental, London, located
next door, are in the works and slated to be finished in 2010. (866)
526-6567 or 011-44-20- 7235-2000, www.mandarinoriental.com/london
ANCIENT CEDARS SPA AT THE WICKANINNISH INN & POINTE RESTAURANT, TOFINO, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
Rustic
elegance meets pristine nature at the Ancient Cedars Spa, located at
The Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, on Vancouver Island. Interior and
exterior merge thanks to earthy and rainforest-inspired colors,
textures, and smells. Want some seclusion with a view? The Cedar
Sanctuary, its front wall made entirely of glass, is perfect for
side-by-side couples’ treatments. French doors lead to a small, private
deck where you can enjoy a pre-treatment foot soak. (250) 725-3113, www.wickinn.com
KINAN SPA AT MAROMA, RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO
Nothing
could sound more welcoming than a spa whose Mayan name, Kinan, means
“healing energy of the sun.” At the 7,000-square-foot spa, handcrafted
by a three-generation family of stonemasons, the design is based on the
three main principles of Maya Sacred Geometry: astrological alignment,
ratios, and energy channels. Four new treatment rooms capture the
essence of the four elements: water, earth, fire, and wind. (866)
454-9351 or 011-52-998-872-8200, www.maromahotel.com
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