The new frontier in hotel spas goes far beyond mind-body balance to include high-intensity sports and aesthetic dermatology.
Hoa Sen Spa at Zannier Bai San Ho
Dak Lak Province, Vietnam - The total-well-being philosophy at the chicly rugged Zannier Bai San Ho turns the concept of a "spa day" into a complete sunrise-to-slumber extravaganza. Hoa Sen Spa (whose name means "lotus flower") is the starting point for a slew of one-, three- and five-day journeys that begin with a personalized bioresonance-therapy assessment based on electromagnetic frequency energy patterns. A full-day program starts with a body scan that informs a robust lineup of wellness activities to follow, including a sunrise meditation beside the rolling surf, a bespoke sound healing, a rejuvenating massage and, perhaps, an herbal bath before a quiet, gentle bedtime ritual for better sleep.
Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe
Valley de Guadalupe, Mexico - Northern Baja's Guadalupe Valley, two hours south of the border, is best known for wine and culinary excursions, not luxury wellness retreats. Or at least it was. Banyan Tree Veya Valle de Guadalupe, which opened nearly two years ago - 30 villas, all blond woods and terra cotta plaster, jutting out from shrub-covered hills - has finally debuted its long-promised spa. Wellness sits at the core of Banyan Tree's new Veya brand, and this sprawling complex deals in treatments with native herbs, temazcal rituals and somatic breathwork sessions, plus a robust fitness program. But don't worry: The region's most luxurious resort won't be all about detoxing. Wine from the on-site grenache vineyard is still very much part of the escape.
Asaya Spa at The Chancery Rosewood
London, England - The Chancery Rosewood has opened in the former U.S. embassy building at Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. This expansive well-being and longevity complex includes not just Rosewood's signature Asaya Spa - for bespoke facials and body treatments - but also an elite, discreet dermatology clinic by Dr. Wassim Taktouk, one of London's most in-demand aesthetic physicians. In addition to the clinic's med-spa injectables, firming agents, microneedling services, CO2 skin resurfacing, IV therapies and more, a comprehensive fitness center rounds out the wellness haven with the latest Technogym Reform Pilates machines and an 80-foot indoor pool. Exfoliate, illuminate, rejuvenate, repeat.
Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Bali, Indonesia - Ghanta temple bells, chain-mail curtains made of ancient coins, Indonesian moss agate etched with sacred geometry, and a gong are just some of the tools and sounds of the Restu Bumi ritual at the completely reimagined Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. The two-hour, whole-body healing session is multisensory to the max, yet far from the only unforgettable sensation on the menu, which includes buccal-lift facials, chakra ceremonies and a four-handed massage paired with sound healing and craniosacral techniques. Fresh feel-good vibes extend to more active pursuits, too, at the riverside resort's new fitness hub. A panoramic jungle-view workout space is now complemented by a Pilates studio, a private gym equipped with myofascial release tools and a dedicated recovery area with an ice bath and an infrared zero-gravity lounger.
Surrenne at The Maybourne Riviera
Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France - Founded in London last year, Surrenne, The Maybourne Group's in-house wellness and longevity club, has expanded to the brand's 65-suite, cliff-top The Maybourne Riviera. It's a multilevel spa and fitness center whose oh-so-chic free-weights room, Lagree Method studio and outdoor yoga terrace offer breathtaking views of the Cote d'Azur and Monte Carlo below. Rather than hiding from the region's ever-present sunlight, the spa's Michelle Wu-designed lounge harnesses it. The result: a space that's less about relaxing and more about recharging - like being plugged into an infinite power source. It's the perfect warm-up for a circuit of electrical-muscle-stimulation sessions and hot-cold contrast plunges. The spa's dimly lit treatment rooms, on the other hand, manifest the very essence of zen: think lymphatic-sculpting rituals, LED-light treatments, leg-compression therapy, Shirodhara and even Thai bodywork. Every massage is customized.
Dior Spa Splendido
Portofino, Italy - Italy's first permanent Dior Spa opened recently on the sprawling estate of Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, which simultaneously emerged from a fabulous makeover by Martin Brudnizki. Perched above the green-blue waters of Portofino Bay and set within its own private gardens (dubbed Le Jardin des Reves Dior), the spa compound epitomizes the worry-free lifestyle of the late Christian Dior's beloved summer residences, blending Ligurian beauty with the Maison's inimitable grace. Shrouded in Toile de Jouy drapery, the spa's indoor and outdoor treatment rooms offer a wide range of programs, including an energy-balancing massage that involves semiprecious stones and a hydra-dermabrasion facial that incorporates LED light and a signature floral peel.
Sisley Spa at Hostellerie de Levernois
Levernois, France - Located on the banks of the Bouzaise river in Burgundy wine country, Hostellerie de Levernois has, for decades, lured well-heeled Parisians for weekend escapes. And while local wines and a Michelin-starred restaurant have long been the famous draws, this 18th-century inn's new owner (a Dijon local) has repositioned this Relais & Chateaux property to appeal not only to gourmands but to wellness seekers, too. On its sprawling, 17-acre park with century-old trees, the hotel recently saw the addition of new pavilion rooms and family-style villas (bringing the total room count to 39), plus an outdoor lap pool and - the piece de resistance - a Sisley Spa designed by French architect Christophe Tollemer. New wellness facilities include a hammam, sauna rooms, an outdoor hot tub, an indoor pool and a cold-plunge tank designed as a steel wine vat. A new high-tech fitness center will come online this year.
Amanyara
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos - At Amanyara, there's no music vibing at the beach - only the restorative sounds of waves and birdsong. Set within an 18,000-acre nature reserve, the entire resort is, intentionally, an extension of the spa and fitness center at its core. The 56-villa resort has undergone extensive renovations in the last few years, a drawn-out refresh that extends to its wellness programs. If you visited in November, you might have practiced yoga with the legendary Jonah Kest or played tennis with Novak Djokovic. And if you're going in December, you can attempt to play pickleball with court master Wes Burrows - obviously, not for the weak-kneed among us, but you get the idea. Amanyara's uniquely tailored mindfulness and movement classes go beyond fitness to embrace a more holistic approach focused on overall wellness. The expert-led programs include racket sports, Pilates and yoga. And, yes, one can still get a blissful massage.