I Travel to Luxury Spas Around the World — Here Are 11 Treatments to Try in This Lifetime
I Travel to Luxury Spas Around the World — Here Are 11 Treatments to Try in This Lifetime
Natalia Trubochnova/iStock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/best-luxury-spa-treatments-in-the-world
Is there anything more relaxing?
No matter the destination, the spa is my sanctuary.
I love the quiet stillness of a spa. I leave my phone (and all of my worries) in the locker room and sink into sublime self-care mode for as long as I can muster. I’ve found that wellness and longevity are shared values across all cultures, and there are so many ways to celebrate slowness in the human body in different corners of the world. Some destinations like Palm Springs even celebrate National Wellness Month (September) with a range of tailored spa offerings at numerous properties to remind you to relax as often as possible.
If you’re inspired to take the time to self-reflect and nurture your body, read on for my current list of must-try spa and wellness experiences around the world that are most definitely worthy of a booking–if you ever find yourself in the area.
PHOTO: STANGLWIRT
1 OF 11
The Wavebalance Massage and The Good Conscious Effect Facial
WHERE: Stanglwirt, Austria
Should you be so lucky to stay at Stanglwirt, the famous family-operated five-star wellness oasis and resort in charming Tyrol, Austria, you absolutely must book as many spa treatments and wellness experiences as your schedule allows. For starters, there is absolutely nowhere else in the world as tranquil and unique as this awe-inspiring wooden biohotel at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range, which has been impressively in operation since 1722. Encompassing over 12,000 square meters, the sprawling organic farm and luxury resort features saunas, steam baths, indoor and outdoor pools, natural swimming lakes, grottoes, and water features, all designed to immerse guests in relaxation and alpine vitality, which makes for the ideal once-in-a-lifetime spa experience you’ve always dreamt about.
I’ve enjoyed countless massages in my time, but the Wavebalance Massage at Stanglwirt is a treatment I still think about as a singular euphoric moment never to be replicated anywhere else. The treatment takes place on a special Wavebalance water lounger, a unique water bed of sorts, designed to mimic the spiral motions of natural waves to align with the human musculoskeletal system. Filled with around 500 liters of water, the lounger creates an enveloping sensation of weightlessness that cradles you like a baby.
Lying down, I immediately felt the water shift in soft, undulating waves beneath me, and I felt the gentle pressure and motion quickly melting away any and all tension from my tired joints and muscles. The massage also incorporated warm oil, so in what felt like seconds, I was ethereally calm and coaxed into a total state of bliss. I’ve never quite described a spa treatment as nurturing before, but if ever there was a time to do that, this was it.
While at the Green Spa, be sure to book The Good Conscious Effect Facial, which is another signature treatment using the in-house line of skincare created by cosmetic expert Michaela Stieber with spa director Maria Hauser. The line emphasizes high-quality, clean ingredients and is vegan, free from parabens, mineral oils, silicones, PEGs, GMOs, and common allergens, and in turn, leaves your skin in far better condition than you ever thought possible.
PHOTO: MIKKEL VANG
2 OF 11
The Intuitive Herbal Ritual
WHERE: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Hawaii
There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in a treatment that’s rich in native ingredients to the area, and that’s exactly what I found with the Intuitive Herbal Ritual treatment at the stunning 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay Bamford Wellness Spa. After a busy few days of exploring the beautiful island of Kaua‘i (also popularly known as the Garden Island), I sank into a quiet sanctuary in the treatment room as the therapist got to work with a soothing 80-minute massage deeply rooted in Hawaiian botanical wisdom and organic luxury.
The full-body massage incorporated Kaua‘i Farmacy’s Comfrey Noni Serum, which is a tonic that’s infused with rich macadamia nut oil, as well as comfrey and noni, two plant remedies known to encourage circulation and detoxification, as well as cell structure health and regeneration. The aromatic blend instantly soothed my senses, and the additional application of real noni leaves on tender areas of my lower and upper back melted away tension I didn’t even know I had.
When it ended, I felt like I had been coaxed back into myself, truly renewed and relaxed. It was the perfect way to ease into the long flight back home, knowing that the mineral-rich botanicals were working their magic long after I left the treatment room.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF YAAMAVA’ RESORT & CASINO
3 OF 11
The Gharieni Augmented Massage and Valmont Waterfall Facial
WHERE: Yaamava Resort and Casino, California
If you’ve driven past the Yaamava Resort and Spa in Highland, California, without stopping, this is your sign to pull over and book a dreamy treatment or two at its impressive Serrano Spa. The glittering oasis in the desert serves up wellness in a thoughtful and generous way — with impressive relaxation areas and ample amenities to rejuvenate the body in a serene environment miles and miles away from the city.
Not to be missed is the Gharieni Augmented Massage, which features an out-of-this-world table that’s not just a massage bed, but an immersive instrument of audible relaxation resplendent with live musical patterns. The Serrano Spa is the first and only spa in the United States to offer the Gharieni Augmented Massage, which proved to be a truly mesmerizing treatment. My therapist used her hands and body to compose music — a symphony of sounds including wind, birdsong, and ocean waves — from the speakers hidden within the bed. With each distinct movement, the table responded to each stroke and glide, which put my mind at ease, which is half the battle when it comes to enjoying any massage, if you ask me.
Next, I also indulged in the Valmont Waterfall Facial, which highlights the Swiss brand’s hallmark cellular science with a cascade of refined transformation: cleansers echoing alpine spring water; masks infused with collagen-rich marine extracts flowing over the skin like liquid silk. Each luxurious layer was masterfully applied with Valmont’s signature “butterfly” massage, which felt featherlight and deliberate, but also transformative.
When it was all said and done, my skin was soaked in each phase and emerged hydrated, lifted, brightened, and renewed.
PHOTO: SPA BY JW
4 OF 11
The Organic Honey Detox
WHERE: JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, Canada
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect when I booked the Organic Honey Detox treatment at Spa by JW at The JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, but I knew I couldn’t skip it when quite literally everyone I spoke to raved about its uniqueness. Now that I’ve experienced it, I can’t wait to come back repeatedly for the same satisfyingly goopy goodness. The modern minimalistic spa boasts extraordinary city views at all angles of the relaxation room, but inside the treatment room, you’ll be transported to another world just as soon as you’re smothered in raw honey that’s harvested from the garden honeybees on the property. Through a very unique application process, the healing honey detoxes, exfoliates, hydrates, and balances the skin from your head to your toes, and you’ll emerge feeling like a rejuvenated queen bee yourself.
PHOTO: WIRESTOCK/ISTOCK
5 OF 11
The Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience
WHERE: The Laurea Spa at Savoy Signature, Portugal
As soon as I stepped into Laurea Spa—the largest spa in Portugal—I immediately knew this experience would be one for the books. The sprawling space is designed to replicate the soothing sense of a forest’s embrace and is inspired by Madeira’s lush Laurissilva Forest. There are vivid greens, beautiful florals, botanical scents, and cascading water features that echo the island’s waterfalls and streams. In short, it’s a picturesque and whimsical setting that still lives rent-free in my mind.
The hydrotherapy offerings are some of the best I’ve encountered; a mix of sensorial showers, ice fountains, a halotherapy room, a Himalayan salt grotto, and an indoor heated pool, to name a few. As for The Ultimate Aromatherapy Experience treatment, you’ll find yourself deeply relaxed since the massage ritual was inspired by a fusion of eastern and western techniques that engage the body, mind, and spirit with the added therapeutic benefits of natural plant and flower oils.
Madeira is easily one of the most magical destinations in the world, and The Laurea Spa in Funchal is not to be missed.
PHOTO: RAUL RODRIGUEZ/ISTOCK
6 OF 11
The Bahamian Influence Massage
WHERE: SLS Baha Mar, Bahamas
If you need a little refuge from the Bahamian sun, book a spa treatment at The ESPA at Baha Mar and thank me later. The stunning spa has 22 private rooms and plenty of dazzling retail offerings in the gift shop, and serves as a tranquil sanctuary in paradise with its aromatic scent of native herbs. I was told that the Bahamian Influence treatment is a celebration of the island’s rich botanical heritage, so naturally, I had to book it.
The journey began with a cleansing body scrub, an invigorating yet gentle exfoliation that prepared my skin for the subsequent layers of treatment. A warm Bahamian bush herbal poultice was then applied, followed by a full-body massage, where skilled hands worked in harmony with the poultice, releasing tension and rejuvenating my muscles after the long cross-country flight to get there.
A light facial massage concluded the experience, leaving my skin refreshed and my mind at ease. There’s no better way to settle into the start of your sunny vacation than a relaxing moment at the gorgeous SLS Baha Mar.
PHOTO: FELIX MIZIOZNIKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK
7 OF 11
The Anti-Aging Retreat
WHERE: The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort, Florida
When I turned a milestone age, I booked a week-long retreat at The Carillon Miami Wellness Resort and truly transformed into the best version of myself shortly thereafter.
As South Florida’s only fully dedicated wellness resort, The Carillon offers an elevated oasis of tranquility and relaxation just steps away from the ocean. Perfectly situated in North Beach, the property boasts state-of-the-art spa treatments, innovative touchless technology (including electric cryotherapy, halotherapy, prism light pods, and more), two sparkling pools, heart-pumping fitness classes (I loved Aqua Cycle) around the clock, and an expansive gym and rock climbing wall to boot.
On the spiritual side, there’s also energy healing, sound baths on the beach, guided meditation, traditional Chinese medicine, and one of the country’s most impressive hydrotherapy circuits all under one roof. Highlights of the anti-aging retreat include comprehensive bloodwork at The Biostation so you can get a comprehensive look at any and all ailments, plus IVs and supplements to address specific concerns. Perhaps most impressively, The Biostation co-founder and COO, Keith Foulis, took the time to thoroughly explain each and every biomarker tested in the Total Wellness Evaluation long after I had checked out and answered all of my personal health questions.
If you’re looking for an all-around health and wellness sanctuary that holds up on its promises, The Carillon has you covered.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA
8 OF 11
The Akbal Series
WHERE: Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico
If you’re looking for a spiritual wellness awakening unlike anything else, check out the Akbal Series at Rosewood Mayakoba’s acclaimed Sense Spa. Here, guests can immerse themselves in nighttime rituals with the new moonlit spa program available nightly from 8 p.m. to midnight through the end of 2025. Named for the Mayan word for “night,” Akbal offers personalized, nature-immersive treatments inspired by Mayan traditions.
Guests can experience moonlit breathwork, yin and restorative yoga paired with quartz sound bowls, aligned with sunset or moonrise, vibrational massages, cacao ceremonies, a silent soak, and even a full moon celebration bar, to name a few.
Treatments are available à la carte or fully customized by the spa concierge, ensuring a tailored experience.
PHOTO: KOSTIS AGGELOPPOULOS
9 OF 11
The Spa
WHERE: Cali Mykonos, Greece
Mykonos is often known for its brazen nightlife scene, but over at Cali Mykonos, the vibes are anything but. The wellness-focused resort located in the tranquil Kalafati area offers a serene sanctuary that seamlessly blends ancient Greek wellness traditions with modern therapeutic practices and a modern, clean aesthetic throughout the property. There’s an outdoor gym complete with reformer pilates machines, the largest infinity pool on the island, and a subterranean spa that provides a peaceful retreat if you need a break from sunbathing at the Missoni Beach Club.
I kept it simple with 15 minutes of much-needed red light therapy, followed by time well spent in the pristine sauna area, before indulging in a classic 45-minute massage that impressively knocked me out into a deep sleep on the treatment table in no time. The spa uses a number of body products from Ariadne, an Athens-based bodycare brand rooted in ancient Greek rituals.
10 OF 11
The Spa
WHERE: Calilo, Papas Beach, Ios, Greece
Quite possibly the most unique hotel I’ve ever laid eyes on, Calilo on Ios Island has a remarkable spa that’s equally unforgettable as it is artistic. The whimsical oasis is situated in a new three-story spa and fitness center that overlooks Papas Beach and encourages guests to look inward and tap into their emotional well-being while simultaneously caring for the face and body, too. The simply striking indoor/outdoor treatment rooms are what Instagram dreams are made of (think: water walkways, heart-shaped holograms on the ceiling and walls, a massive tree, and more), and the relaxing treatment (I enjoyed a full-body scrub and massage using locally-sourced olive oil) left me hydrated, happy, and totally zen for the rest of the day.
The resort also offers guests a variety of wellness experiences, including fitness classes like sunrise yoga directly on the stunning Papas Beach, a state-of-the-art gym, and a full spa menu. The new center has a design inspired by nature itself as the owners believe this is the key to true happiness.
PHOTO: FLAVIA LANINI
11 OF 11
The Lymphatic Drainage Massage Effect
WHERE: Flavia Lanini Los Angeles, California
When it comes to lymphatic drainage massages, nobody does it better than Flavia Lanini in Los Angeles.
Beloved by celebrities including Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Sabrina Carpenter, Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Aniston, Paris Hilton, and many more, the signature Massage Effect treatment is the most sought-after of its kind and is globally recognized for its transformative results that blend a mix of modern, functional, and innovative aesthetic techniques with secrets that only Flavia, a Brazilian massage-trained expert, knows.
The moment Flavia lays her hands on you, you’re in for a full-body treat. Her method includes soft, rhythmic movements that more than move lymph; it also detoxifies, releases, and relaxes every fiber of the body and, in turn, gives a visibly contoured appearance. You may even have a lighter, lifted mood and enhanced sleep as an added bonus. If money were no object, I’d book one of these every week.
How scarcity and structural demand are creating a once-in-a-cycle opportunity for luxury hotels
https://hotelsmag.com/news/how-scarcity-and-structural-demand-are-creating-a-once-in-a-cycle-opportunity-for-luxury-hotels/
Story contributed by Kevin Davis, Americas CEO, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.
The luxury hotel transaction market had been building momentum for years. Then Q1 2026 hit, and it exploded—several trades crossed $1 million per key. RevPAR in the ultra-luxury segment reached $872 through April, hitting 148% of pre-pandemic levels, while the broader U.S. market posted 120% recovery, according to JLL’s latest U.S. Luxury Hotel Investment Market Update. Add stabilizing interest rates and renewed private equity interest, and investors are suddenly rethinking their capital deployment timelines. The window for acquiring institutional-grade luxury assets is opening. It won’t stay that way for long.
What’s driving the urgency isn’t just strong performance; it’s the irreplaceable nature of these assets. Prime real estate is rare enough: waterfront positioning, mountain access, urban park frontage. Consider The Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort: It represents both scarcity and a fully realized luxury experience—both of which combined to command $765 million earlier this year when it was sold by Host Hotels & Resorts. Then there is The Four Seasons Jackson Hole, which goes beyond mountain access: It’s a luxury asset with both a location and brand execution that is nearly impossible to replicate. (Host also sold the hotel earlier this year.) In New York, The Ritz-Carlton Central Park traded for $320 million in the first quarter, an irreplaceable address in an inimitable city.
These aren’t just scarce assets: They’re singular, and that distinction is reshaping how capital approaches luxury hotel investment.
On a High
The broader economy’s K-shaped recovery has created a tale of two hospitality markets. While economy hotels declined 2.1% year-to-date through March and midscale properties struggle with margin compression, luxury assets are posting 7.3% RevPAR growth. Ultra-luxury properties are doing even better, widening the performance gap with each passing quarter. This divergence reflects something fundamental: Wealthy consumers continue spending on experiences and travel regardless of economic uncertainty, while middle-income travelers are pulling back. The data validates what operators have observed for months: luxury hotel demand is structurally advantaged.
Performance alone doesn’t explain the transaction frenzy. Location does. Only 76 luxury transactions above $1 million per key have occurred since 2010. Just 19 crossed $2 million per key. These numbers aren’t low because sellers are holding; they’re low because there simply aren’t many assets that qualify. Construction costs have made new luxury development economically impossible in most gateway markets and premium resort locations. Land with the right combination of location, infrastructure access, zoning and environmental clearances doesn’t exist at scale. What does exist is already built and largely held by long-term owners with no pressure to sell.
This scarcity is bringing every type of capital to the table. Private equity firms increased their share of overall luxury transactions to 70% of Q1 volume, up from 43% in 2025. REITs, which had pulled back when interest rate rose between 2023-2024, are actively underwriting deals again. Cross-border buyers accounted for 40% of luxury transactions above $1 million per key since 2015, with sovereign wealth funds particularly active in pursuing trophy properties as long-term portfolio anchors. High-net-worth individuals and family offices, traditionally patient capital, are moving with unusual urgency when the right asset surfaces. The buyer pool has diversified across domestic institutional investors, private equity, REITs, developers, and international capital, creating competition the market hasn’t seen since before the pandemic.
Structural fundamentals support continued momentum. Global wealth creation is expanding at 9.6% annually while global ultra-luxury supply is growing at just 2.3%. The U.S. has 23,831 millionaires—more than the next six countries combined—yet faces effectively zero new luxury hotel supply in major markets.
The $88 billion in hotel loans maturing across the broader market through 2027 will also force additional transactions, particularly from owners facing refinancing pressure alongside deferred capital expenditure requirements. This market-wide maturity wave will create ripple effects throughout the hospitality sector. But well-located luxury properties will find immediate buyers in this capital-rich environment. The challenge isn’t finding financing or identifying demand: It’s finding assets worth owning.
Investors targeting luxury hotel acquisitions, but have yet to evaluate live opportunities, are already behind. Asset scarcity will only intensify. The next luxury hotel trading cycle has begun, and the best assets—the ones in locations that can’t be replicated—will be claimed by those who act now.
The window is open. It won’t remain that way.
Pyramid Global Hospitality to manage Florida’s South Seas resort
https://hotelsmag.com/news/pyramid-global-hospitality-to-manage-floridas-south-seas-resort/
Pyramid Global Hospitality has been selected to assume management of South Seas, an island resort on Captiva, Fla.
The management agreement was awarded by South Seas’ ownership group, comprising Wheelock Street Capital, the Timbers Company, and the Ronto Group. Pyramid will oversee the resort’s full operational scope, including nine food and beverage venues, waterfront golf, two marinas, water sports, weddings and group events, the Captiva Landing waterpark, retail, a condo-hotel rental program, and Club Captiva.
“South Seas is an iconic destination with a legacy of welcoming generations of guests to one of Florida’s most treasured island settings,” said Warren Fields, chief executive officer of Pyramid Global Hospitality. “We’re thrilled to partner with Wheelock, Timbers, The Ronto Group, and the resort’s on-property team as we look to the future of this incredibly special place. We are confident that we bring the experience and care required to steward a property of this scale while preserving the character and sense of place that define South Seas.”
Pool view of Club Captiva at South Seas.
Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, South Seas spans 330 acres and 2.5 miles of beachfront, with more than half designated as a wildlife preserve and estuary. The resort has operated for more than 75 years and offers golf, fishing, boating, yachting, and access to surrounding barrier islands.
“We are pleased to partner with Pyramid Global Hospitality as they bring operational excellence and a people-first culture to properties under their care,” said Greg Spencer, president of South Seas. “It has always been our goal to transition day-to-day operations to a top-tier management group. Doing so allows our ownership group to focus on transforming South Seas into the No. 1 family resort in the United States.”
Since 2022, the property has undergone redevelopment, including new villa-style accommodations, luxury residences, updated dining, restored marina facilities, revitalized retail, and the launch of Captiva Landing—a waterpark featuring slides, a pool, a lazy river, casual dining, and family programming.
Pyramid Global Hospitality operates more than 20 properties across Florida, including Naples Grande Beach Resort, Saddlebrook Resort, Sunseeker Resort Florida Gulf Coast, and Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa.
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