The Best Destination Spas in the US & Around the World: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
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Unforgettable food. Cutting-edge design. Immersive experiences. These are some of your top criteria for judging what makes a quality hotel—not to mention a worthy resort, cruise, spa, or island. In tallying up the 575,048 votes cast in our 37th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, we were struck by both your eagerness to embrace the new and your reverence for tried-and-true classics. Your favorite hotel in the five boroughs is the two-year-old Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, but you also can’t stop returning to storied French Polynesian resort The Brando. You’ve jetted through the sprawling Istanbul International Airport, booked intrepid sailings to Antarctica, and fallen in love with historic yet innovative cities like Copenhagen. Read on to start planning your next round of travels—these are the best spas in the US and the rest of the world, as voted by our readers.
View these Readers' Choice Award winners for best spas in the US as a list with scores here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Chris Simpsonhotel30. Sensei Porcupine Creek — Rancho Mirage, California
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Hot List 2023 
Readers' Choice Awards 2023, 2024Toeing the line between self-improvement sabbatical and bona fide vacation, Sensei Porcupine Creek is the ideal getaway for the chronically over-achieving: a place where real R&R is achieved proactively, through science and strategy, and in utter seclusion. Formerly the private estate of tech wizard and Silicon Valley billionaire Larry Ellison, Sensei’s co-founder, this intensely isolated retreat hidden in the foothills of the Santa Rosa mountains (studded with monumental Robert Indiana and Keith Haring sculptures from Ellison’s personal collection, no less) is only the second outpost for Sensei and marks the brand’s debut in the continental United States. (Its first, Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort, opened in 2019.) But it’s also the brand’s first true standalone property, and with a lush, 75-acre golf course, a glamorous lagoon-style pool, and tennis facilities modeled after those at the nearby Indian Wells Tennis Garden—which hosts the annual BNP Paribas Tennis Tournament, in addition to a fleet of world-class wellness professionals, all poised to help you hit your marks—it really does stand alone.
Delphina Hotels & Resortshotel29. Marinedda Hotel Thalasso & Spa — Isola Rossa, Italy
Readers' Choice Awards 2024On the northwest coast of Sardinia, less than a mile from Isola Rossa, a picturesque fishing village on the Gulf of Asinara, you’ll find the Hotel Marinedda Thalasso. The spa, L’Elicriso (the everlasting flower, in English) is an airy 27,000 square foot wellness oasis that specializes in thalassotherapy—from the Greek word thalassa, meaning "sea,” it’s the use of seawater for its therapeutic properties. Mentioned as far back as 480 B.C. in the works of Euripides and Hippocrates, this treatment method was en vogue in ancient times, and is just as effective for washing away the stressors of modern life. The spa offers four heated seawater pools, two saunas, a hammam overlooking the Marinedda Bay, and an extensive variety of thalasso programs, massages, and beauty treatments.
Ken Hayden, Courtesy of Mii Amohotel28. Mii Amo — Sedona, Arizona
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Consider Mii Amo the mothership of all spas. Surrounded by rusty red mountains and rock formations, the renowned and recently revamped terra-cotta-hued sanctuary is the ultimate spa destination for inner transformation and self-care. It's a secluded hideaway set within the Boynton Canyon vortex, known for spiritual and healing energy, and away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Sedona. The vibe is serene, calm, and quiet. There are no rowdy groups here, and with an age requirement of 16, there are no children allowed. The recently redesigned refuge features 23 rooms and suites; a two-story movement and fitness studio; a new signature restaurant and culinary garden; a refreshed outdoor swimming pool and deck; a sunken living room space with built-in sofas; a designated consultation wing; and a juice bar.
Courtesy The Original FX Mayrhotel27. The Original FX Mayr — Maria Wörth, Austria
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023On the aquamarine water of Lake Wörthersee in southern Austria, the Original FX Mayr is a destination for resetting your health. Their legendary “cure” combines medical and therapeutic treatments, plus intermittent fasting, to cleanse the body and mind. A supremely comfortable setting helps guests navigate a one- or two-week cure program. Rooms are cozy and coastal grandmother chic, with earthy colors like taupe and terra cotta, and peaceful lake views. Between the main building and beach house, you’ll find Finnish saunas, sanariums, steam rooms, and an indoor pool. In addition to medical examinations and diagnostic tests, all guests receive classic massages, lymphatic drainage, abdominal massages, and hayflower detox wraps. Meals feature bright seasonal ingredients (with zero raw vegetables, sugar, alcohol, or gluten).
Courtesy Aro Hāhotel26. Aro Hā Wellness Retreat — Glenorchy, New Zealand
$$ | Hot List 2015 Readers' Choice Awards 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024Overlooking the otherworldly expanse of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Aro Hā is an intimate 20-room lodge offering holistic practices (such as yoga and meditation) meant to invigorate the body and recalibrate the spirit. The self-sustainable property’s biggest draw is its epic setting between colossal sapphire lakes and snowcapped peaks—all of which the minimalist-chic cabins seamlessly blend into. Mindfulness is a core mantra here, and, with a setting like this, you'll get plenty of practice at it.
Inns of Aurorahotel25. The Inns of Aurora — New York
Readers' Choice Awards 2024About 45 minutes north of Ithaca and an hour southwest of Syracuse, The Aurora Inn is a five-inn lakeside property of meticulously restored buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. Guest rooms are decorated with furniture and art from founder Pleasant Rowland’s personal collection, and each inn has a distinct feel. Initially constructed in 1833, The Aurora was the first of the inns to be restored in 2003, and was the property of Edwin Barber Morgan, co-founder of the New York Times and American Express. Four more properties were restored to their former glory over the years, the last of which was the 1909 home of Morgan’s grandson Robert Zabriskie, the work of which was finished in 2019.
David R. Gluns/Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreathotel24. Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat — British Columbia, Canada
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024You might be on vacation—but there’s no reason you can’t throw some self-improvement in the mix, too. At Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat’s British Columbia outpost, you won’t lament the week-long cheat day vacation that could’ve been. Instead, you and about 15 other hyper-stressed vacationers will embrace the granola life for a little while, with day-long hikes led by one of the eager local guides, and sunrise yoga classes led by certified professionals. Throw better sleep and possible weight loss in—au revoir, bedtime snacking—and we’ve just signed our week away. Everything here is targeted toward achieving optimal health and wellness, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be shoving kale down your throat, or scraping bark off the nearest tree to kill the hunger pangs. Quite the contrary: food is locally sourced (of course), and menus are shaped by the on-site nutritionist, who works in cahoots with the experienced head chef, who’s fluent in clean, fresh spa cuisine. A word of caution for coffee chuggers, though: beans are out, and leaves—for tea, that is—are in. Daily laundry service after a day spent hiking, stretching, and sprinting is a welcome bonus.
Courtesy Six Senses Kaplankaya/Joan Guillamat Castellshotel23. Six Senses Kaplankaya — Bodrum, Turkey
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024When you arrive at this Turkish outpost of the respected wellness brand, you’re greeted with a ritual: You’ll be handed an evil eye bracelet—part of a tradition tracing back 5,000 years—and asked to close your eyes and set an intention for your stay. Think of it as a reset button. Now you’re on this place’s slowed-down wavelength. Across the bay from party-central Bodrum, this stretch of the Aegean coastline is all about reconnecting with nature, on hillsides dotted with cypresses and wild olives. When you’re not kayaking in the turquoise waters or strolling along the rocky coast, the aromas of that landscape make their way into the nearly 108,000-square-foot spa where, for instance, your hammam experience might include a sea salt and olive oil scrub. As part of your stay, you’ll also have access to a Finnish sauna, a crystal steam room, hydrotherapy pools, a salt grotto, and even an icy igloo, meant to stimulate circulation and oxygen intake. Equally stimulating? A visit to nearby Ephesus to walk among its Classical Greek ruins.
JD Marston/Courtesy Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuaryhotel22. Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa — Koh Samui, Thailand
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Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024A group of American hippies turned–real estate entrepreneurs opened this 76-room resort on the palm-covered slopes of Koh Samui. American architect Robert Powell sneaks references to Nepali pagodas into teak-clad buildings and bungalows set between the soaring trees, and strategic design maximizes tropical sea views from every angle. Those who can spare a week or more should sample off the menu of medicinal options at the Wellness Center, where flower remedies to full annual check-ups are available, while travelers on a tighter time schedule might prefer diving straight onto the massage table. The resort takes some simple steps to innovate, like eliminating fixed check in or out times, promising instead to welcome guests whenever they turn up. There's a full roster of aerobic and meditative exercises on offer, but peace seekers don't need to break a sweat as they spend time with the rich diversity of butterflies fluttering among the gargantuan pink lotus blossoms.
Kimpton Grand Roatán Resort & Spahotel21. Kao Kamasa Spa — Roatán, Honduras
Readers' Choice Awards 2024This resort spa reopened in mid-2022 as a Kimpton replete with living green walls, a reverse osmosis water generation plant, and a new spa that makes the island of Roatán a wellness-seeker's haven: Honoring ancient Indigenous treatments like Pesh obsidian palm and stone rituals (which also utilize sea salt and algae), the Kao Kamasa spa brings Honduran history and culture into the serene, semi-outdoor treatment rooms. Full menus offer an array of treatments ranging from facials and massages to chakra-focused rituals, stone ceremonies for varying energy focuses, and body wraps that take exfoliation and skin rejuvenation to another level.
James Baigrie/Courtesy Miraval Austin Wellness Resort & Spahotel20. Miraval Austin Resort & Spa — Texas
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Miraval is immediately understated and elegant; its arrival center is an airy space overlooking one of the property's two pools. Hyatt opened this property in 2019, which was previously occupied by one wellness resort or another since 2005. This is the first Miraval portfolio-wide. Hyatt transformed the resort with six new buildings, including additional guest houses; all 117 rooms have also been overhauled, and there is a new pool as well as tons of new activities and programs. Come for self-reflection and self-care. Miraval is an immersive wellness experience through and through. This isn't exactly a jumping-off point for exploring Austin—you get here and stay here—but if you wanted to take a day out of your urban adventures, this would be the place to do it.
Rupert Peace/One&Only Aesthesishotel19. One&Only Aesthesis — Glyfada, Greece
$$$ | Hot List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2024In its 1960s heyday, Asteria Beach was a playground for socialites and starlets; many black-and-white Greek movies were shot in the modernist cabanas and open-air restaurants. Now this peninsula on the Athens Riviera pulls an equally glamorous crowd to the One&Only’s long-awaited Greek debut—a resort so rigorously art-directed that it sometimes feels like a movie set. Following the low-density blueprint of the original structures, bungalows and villas built from local stone and pale timber are scattered between exuberant gardens and the shoreline. Self-indulgence is gently encouraged by the therapists at the Guerlain spa; euphoria-inducing facials and wellness rituals focus on deep relaxation and inner glow, which pretty much sums up a stay at this smoothly operated urban resort.
Photo by Alex Teuscherhotel18. Chenot Palace Weggis — Switzerland
Readers' Choice Awards 2021, 2024Chenot Palace is located in Weggis, a sleepy town at the foot of the Alps where you’ll find a few Swiss-chalet-style lodges and even fewer restaurants. Guests embarking on a detox program (a meager 850-calorie daily diet) will encounter little temptation. From Middle-Eastern royalty to affluent British couples on a health kick to certain beloved Swiss pro tennis players, Chenot guests run the gamut. Plush white robes, the typical attire from breakfast to dinner, are the great equalizer.
Ha Phong/TIA Wellness Resorthotel17. TIA Wellness Resort — Da Nang, Vietnam
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2024On a beachfront centered between Da Nang and Hoi An, the TIA Wellness Resort is a retreat that combines inspiring wellness with lavishing its guests with the luxury of a premium Vietnamese resort. All visits start with a welcome tea ceremony, and from there TIA guides its guests through a progressive approach that gradually increases the regimen of therapies and treatments targeted at an elected focus area (the resort has a three-night minimum). The Wellness Inclusive, Retreat Inclusive, and Private Retreats all educate guests on how to “upgrade” their diets for what is best suited for them, breathe in order to regulate the body, and move as a method of stress management. While guests undergo their chosen wellness journey, they stay in chic pool villas that continue the resort’s overall black and white color scheme with plenty of privacy provided by tastefully planted bamboo. Living spaces are regularly stocked with detox snacks, and surprise gifts—such as paper lanterns to float across the pool—wait for guests each night on the bed.
hotel16. Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa — Chippenham, England
$$ | Gold List 2019, 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024England isn’t short of vast, sumptuous country estates and perfectly fetching manor houses. But Lucknam Park peeps over the rest from lofty heights. This Grade II-listed pile—creamy stone dressed with creepers tangling down its tower like Rapunzel’s hair, best glimpsed from the melodramatic beech-lined driveway—has been around since the late 17th century, and operated as a hotel under its current ownership since the end of the 1990s. Staying here is a deeply reassuring reminder that, sometimes, the classics endure for a reason. Plump four-poster beds are covered in rich floral fabrics or set against wallpaper patterned like humbugs. Original sash windows welcome in West Country sunshine that glints off chandeliers; in the cozy bar, martinis are whipped up cheerfully by informal but expert staff; and the bikes and golf carts lined up at the entrance can whizz you around the estate at the drop of a hat. These are just some of the smart touches that elevate Lucknam Park from reliably traditional to top-of-its-game. Many come here—and repeatedly—for the restaurant (executive chef Hywel Jones’s team have worked to keep the kitchen’s Michelin star for 17 years and counting). But then there’s the 111Skin facials, the gloriously steamy indoor-outdoor pools, the horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, and archery. Whatever their poison, guests all appear at breakfast with the unfakeable air of those who are truly rested.
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Kohler Co.hotel15. The American Club — Kohler, Wisconsin
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The American Club comprises a number of buildings sprinkled throughout the eastern Wisconsin town that the Kohler family—yes, of Kohler plumbing fame—built in the early 1900s. While the original American Club building is a highlight, book a stay in the Carriage House just a few steps away, which gives guests unlimited access to the Waters spa and other amenities. The Kohler Waters Spa explains why Kohler got into hospitality in the first place. The three-level experience, stretching across the ground level, basement, and rooftop of the Carriage House, is designed to showcase Kohler’s best showerheads, bath tubs, and more. (The signature treatments emphasize water as well—like the hydrotherapy “massage,” in which guests receive a minty scrub while lying on a massage table, as warm water from a number of showerheads rain down from above.) A shuttle ride away are the Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run golf courses and River Wildlife, a 500-acre outdoor recreation area with walking trails, canoeing, fishing, and a quintessential hunting lodge.
Courtesy Shou Sugi Ban Househotel14. Shou Sugi Ban House — Water Mill, New York
$$$ | Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024The first wellness retreat in the Hamptons has a kick-off-the-espadrilles-and-down-a-tumeric-juice carefreeness, because its philosophy is thrillingly simple: Focus on the basics of self-care by tapping into what cofounder Amy Cherry-Abitbol likes to call intuitive wellness. It’s just what high-strung visitors to the area need. The point of Shou Sugi Ban House isn’t to break anyone down, military- or medical-style, but rather to create a space—in sun-flooded barns and blond-wood studios with deep-soaking Japanese tubs—that is a recipe for happiness. There’s gentle morning yoga and strolls on the beach, though if lounging by the pool feels like the right speed, that’s fine too. The point is to indulge in all the things that are good for us (including that third slice of Danish seeded bread with plum preserves at breakfast), so that we can learn to live the way we all want to—and feel better for it.
Courtesy The Lodge at Woodlochhotel13. The Lodge at Woodloch — Hawley, Penn.
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Ninety miles from New York City, this lodge in northeast Pennsylvania may just be the perfect weekend getaway for stressed-out city dwellers who need an escape. The quiet and serene resort has more than 500 wooded acres and a private lake, and spaces that force you to exhale: Guests enter under a porte-cochère into the plant-filled Garden Hall, which has a 14-foot glass cupola and a balcony looking onto the lake. And, all rooms have private verandas and oversize marble bathrooms. There are plenty of ways to keep busy, too. Excursions include fly-fishing and trail biking trips, or you can stay on-site for a soothing river stone massage at the spa.
Sammy T. Dyess/Silversands Beach Househotel12. Silversands Beach House — Grenada
$$$ | Hot List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2024Grenada is just 21 miles long, but it packs a punch: Here you will find lush rainforests, nature reserves, spice plantations, the charming town of St. George’s, and beaches so perfect that they look photoshopped. For those seeking a serene island escape, the 28-room Silversands Beach House is the place. Time seems to stop here, a feeling that begins the moment you drive up the entrance and the turquoise waters of Portici Beach come into view. The rooms and suites are so lovely—private terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea, calming shades of cream and light wood—that you may never want to leave; but the dreamy infinity pool and sandy beach just a few steps away make a great case for venturing out. The food at the upscale Mediterranean-inspired Azzurro restaurant is another highlight: Pasta is made in-house, seafood is locally sourced, and the roasted vegetable pizza (plus addictive sorrel cocktails) is the perfect finale to a day spent on the water. There’s also plenty to experience nearby, and the staff will gladly guide you through activities, whether it’s touring the beautiful island or a rum tasting. The vibes are unhurried, gracious, and sweet, and you’ll feel yourself slipping into island time along with everyone else.
Courtesy Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resorthotel11. Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort — Hawaii
$$$ | Gold List 2021 Hot List 2020 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Hawaiian hotels may differ in size and price, but most have a pretty predictable common denominator, the beach. Which is why the opening of this hotel is such a major shakeup. For starters, it’s 1,800 feet above sea level and a 20-minute drive to the nearest sandy stretch. Then there’s the fact that it’s on Lanai, the smallest and least-visited of Hawaii’s inhabited islands. And it’s an adults-only wellness retreat, meaning the usual lounging in the sun while alternating between shave ice and spam musubi snacks doesn’t make it onto the daily schedule. All to say, Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort is about as niche as it gets. It’s also quite possibly the loveliest spot to give mind-body wellness a real shot.
Courtesy COMO Shambhala Estatehotel10. COMO Shambhala Estate — Bali
$$$ | Gold List 2018 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Christina Ong is much loved for introducing COMO’s flagship brand on 23 acres in Bali—and when she did, she launched her own sophisticated interpretation of wellness. Hindu water blessings and chakra healers are just as accessible here as spells in a sauna, steam room, or infinity pool. Eyebrow-arching views greet you as you arrive at the estate, a jungle-hugged designer health retreat perched on staggered hilltops above the Ayung River. For two decades, it has reigned as a five-star refuge for luxury travelers seeking to say farewell to stress and hello to spiritual development. East meets West at each of the five residences, which house a total 30 suites, each with its own pool. Stand-alone villas have private pools, and one-bedroom Retreat Villas have their own treatment rooms.
The Retreat, Costa Ricahotel9. The Retreat, Costa Rica — Atenas, Costa Rica
About 45 minutes west of San Jose airport, along a series of steep windy roads, The Retreat sits in a rainforest atop a 50-acre quartz mountain said to have healing energies. Nature surrounds you at every point of the stay, whether you’re in a treatment room, falling asleep in bed, or dining. It’s popular with solo travelers who, beyond looking for a respite from regular life, are there at a transitional point in their life and hoping to kickstart a transformation. Chef, author, and health and wellness life coach Diana Stobo opened the property in 2016, creating a place for guests to focus on nature, nutrition, and wellness in the midst of Costa Rica’s stunning rainforest, with nature as the greatest healer. In the covered outdoor dining room, there is no menu: waiters simply tell you what colorful dish is soon to be presented. Peacocks roam the property, and yoga, meditation, and sound bath classes are on offer in the wellness room. And from nearly every vantage point, gorgeous mountain views abound.
Mark Adams Pictureshotel8. The Ranch Malibu — California
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024Tough love is the order of the day at this health retreat. The core program is seven days of rigor, and nothing is optional: not the 5:30 a.m. wake-up knocks (they will persist until you answer), not the 6 a.m. yoga or stretching sessions, not the hours of morning hiking, nor the afternoons spent in the gym or the near-vegan eating plan. If you wonder why people pay for this, you aren’t alone. But if you’re among the people who get it, then it’s the sort of yearly wellness tune-up that you'll look forward to. The Ranch tends to attract type-A personalities, so there can be competition on the hiking trail, but the guides are supportive and encouraging for guests of all levels. And the payoff is better muscle tone, glowing skin, and a well-earned sense of accomplishment. It helps that the lodgings are sublimely comfortable, there are daily massages, and the food—pared down as it may be—is made from the best organic ingredients and beautifully presented.
Joali Beinghotel7. JOALI Being — Maldives
$$$ | Hot List 2022 Readers' Choice Awards 2022, 2023, 2024The bone-white beaches and crystal-clear lagoons are the ultimate soothing backdrop for self-improvement, and, thankfully, wellness resort Joali Being delivers its sophisticated philosophy with a pampering attitude and no-news, no-shoes barefoot aesthetic. Shaggy thatched roofs ripple like the ocean waves beyond, oversized hand-carved doors resemble tree bark, walls are textured like wind-riffled sand, and the Tiffany color palette of the 68 villas, each with its own pool, brings the lagoon right into your light-filled sanctuary. The world-class spa is sprinkled with glass-fronted saunas, steam rooms, ice fountains, and hydrotherapy pools. Each villa comes with a butler called a jadugar, which means “magician” in the local language—and, happily, they live up to the hype: eager, efficient, and engaged.
Courtesy COMO Uma Punakhahotel6. COMO Uma Punakha — Bhutan
$$ | Gold List 2024 Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2024The Como brand blends beautifully into this emerging, ecologically fragile Himalayan nation, with its overriding focus on wellness, sustainability, community, and sense of place. The region of Punakha enjoys Bhutan’s balmiest climate, and it is to its Dzong fortress-monastery that the entire monk body migrates to escape the fierce chill of winter. The footprint of this rural hideaway is gentle: only 11 rooms. The low-slung structure, built like a local fortress, perches high on a river bluff, with double doors opening into a leafy courtyard. Each bedroom serves as its own mini retreat with yoga mats, local herbal teas, and bath soaks. There are heart-stopping, floor-to-ceiling views high over Bhutan’s main river: the sedate, meandering Mo Chhu, flowing below terraced rice paddies and forests of pine.
Courtesy of Palmaïa – The House of Aïahotel5. Palmaïa – The House of AïA — Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2022, 2024Book a family suite (many of which have bunk beds and kid-friendly decor and can sleep up to four people) at this eco-friendly, wellness-focused beachfront paradise in Playa del Carmen, and get comfortable. With swim-out terraces, a private beach with crystal-clear waters, a dedicated kids’ pool with its own slide and waterfall, plus a children’s activity program with a full calendar of educational events, Palmaïa is a resort where the entire family can get pampered. Plant-based menus shine at all four restaurants and the 24-hour room service, with items like dense vegan chocolate cake and strawberry chia-seed pudding. For those looking to tap into a deeper spiritual awakening, the in-house personal growth guide offers a program of guided rituals.
Courtesy Winvian Farmhotel4. Winvian Farm — Litchfield Hill, Connecticut
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024In the heart of Yankee Connecticut, Winvian Farm is a perfect retreat for the jaded captain of industry wanting to reconnect with their playful inner child. The owners of Vermont’s Pitcher Inn commissioned 15 New England architects to build 18 cottages and 1 suite on a 113-acre estate. Each of the ultra-comfortable and unique cottages is based on a different concept (Library, Treehouse, Helicopter). The best is Beaver Lodge, which gracefully resolves the oxymoronic luxurious trapper’s cabin with hardwoods, an authentic polished beaver’s den preserved in the ceiling, two fireplaces, and a bathroom floor of water-smoothed river stones. In Camping, stars illuminate the ceiling, and marshmallows are set out for roasting in the fireplace. Two of Winvian’s strong points are the standout cuisine of chef Chris Eddy, who has worked with Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse, and the well-stocked wine cellar. Guests, and locals in need of some R&R, are welcome to the spa.
Courtesy Lake Austin Spa Resorthotel3. Lake Austin Spa Resort — Austin, Texas
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Set on a picturesque hillside of its namesake lake, this all-inclusive destination spa attracts relaxation seekers from all over—you'll see them, buffed and polished from their treatments and eager for more, strolling the grounds all day in their robes. Beds are extremely soft, and the lavender-scented products in the bathrooms are from the resort's own line; in fact, they're the same ones used in your spa treatments. Speaking of, all the spa's products are grown on the grounds (wildflower and organic honey are used in the facial scrubs) and some treatments take place in semi-open settings. Luxury Lakeview rooms have a cottage feel with a covered back patio that looks out onto the water. Walls in some of the rooms are painted a soft blue or yellow and headboards are updated in soft neutral toned leather, while artwork and pillows mimic nature with wildflowers and wildlife.
Courtesy Ikbal Thermal Hotel & SPAhotel2. Ikbal Thermal Hotel & SPA — Afyon, Turkey
$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024As part of a hotel located in an open-air shopping center in the mountainous countryside of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, guests at this thermal spa can count on 286 spacious rooms with the latest technology (no digital detox here), meals served three times a day, and a spa that comes with a Turkish bath and an indoor pool exclusively for women. For a more active experience, head to the fitness center or squash courts. Those looking to unwind will find a spa menu that includes reflexology massages, milk baths, seaweed wraps, and an array of hair and nail treatments.
BodyHolidayhotel1. BodyHoliday — Cap Estate, St. Lucia
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024Since it first opened in 1988, this beachfront all-inclusive has become renowned for its unique approach to health, fitness, and wellbeing. It's set on a private cove on the northwest of St. Lucia near Pigeon Island National Landmark, and guests can expect custom-tailored itineraries prior to their arrival, more than 40 included activities per day, and an inclusive 50-minute spa treatment each day (apart from arrival and departure days). The lobby has a deep-blue palette enhanced by driftwood and mahogany. The wellness center, decorated in Jerusalem stone and mosaics, offers Pilates and Reiki and has a heated marble massage table. All five restaurants use local produce, often from the hotel's garden. Many of the rooms have been renovated over the last few years with standout elements like “noise-canceling walls” and built-in Bluetooth systems—and we really do like the fact that BodyHoliday has dedicated solo traveler rooms. Chill out in the two-tiered infinity pool, which is lined by loungers and underwater raised stone perches for when you feel like enjoying an in-water cocktail. Set above the main resort, the 33-room Mediterranean-style Wellness Centre is the hub of all that is wholesome. Whether you'd like to vacation at your own pace or go home with a full mind-body tune-up, the wealth of included facilities, activities, and culinary options here make it ideal for all goals.
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