China Heritage Revival

Restoration of historic hotels and palaces has brought new spas to unique places in China.

Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai

Shanghai's dramatic skyline includes an Art Deco landmark, the Peace Hotel, now restored and managed by Canada's Fairmont Hotel Group. Opened in 1929, the 11-story showplace of shipping baron Sir Victor Sassoon was the city's first high-rise to boast central air conditioning and elevators. Decades of Communist rule and war took a heavy toll, but the Peace Hotel endured.

• Peaceful single and double treatment suites, experience showers
• Purpose built facial skincare suites
• Manicure and pedicure lounge
• Signature holistic mind body experiences
• Traditional and modern massage techniques
• Willow Stream Boutique
• Spa Relaxation Zone with all amenities

www.fairmont.com/peacehotel

Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing

Housed in pavilions where visitors once awaited the Dowager Empress Cixi, the new boutique hotel Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing, has been described as a "serenely romantic vision of a bygone China."

The Aman Spa introduces a tranquil retreat of rejuvenation. Nine self-contained double treatment suites offer relaxation to restore balance and harmony of mind and body. Each spa suite is equipped with two vanities, bathtub, a large shower and steam room, and massage room. Resort guests can work out in a state-of-the-art gym equipped by Italy's Technogym, swim laps in a 25-meter indoor pool, and play squash. Private sessions of Pilates and yoga add to the spa's wellness menu.

Professionally-trained therapists seamlessly blend modern wellness therapies with Imperial Chinese well-being techniques. The traditional Chinese massage uses a blend of acupressure, deep tissue, and stretching to focus on internal organ chi transformation. The traditional Thai massage is a rhythmic, oil-free technique in which a therapist uses a combination of gentle yoga stretches and pressure-point massage to relieve tension and leave muscles deeply relaxed. The gemstone body therapy relieves stiffness and soreness by gliding smooth, warmed gemstones across the body in long, flowing strokes. After the massage, guests may indulge in an aromatic bath. The hydrotherapy menu offers a variety of baths which utilize different ingredients: The Vitality Bath allows guests to unwind; the Renew Bath eases tired muscles; The Revive Bath invigorates the body with juniper berry and grapefruit.

The Aman Spa also offers facials, manicures, pedicures, and body scrubs and wraps that are meant to refresh and renew. The green tea & ginger scrub harnesses the stimulating properties of Chinese ginger, while green tea, an incredible antioxidant, is used to exfoliate and brighten your skin.

More sensory: the evocative nature of roses in the rose & olive scrub. The aroma is said to strengthen the heart spiritually and emotionally. Finely-ground olive pips regenerate the skin while smoothing and refining the body. The citrus wrap is ideal for jet lag. A foot reflexology massage encourages the release and elimination of toxins.

Aman at Summer Palace offers a three-day cultural package that explores the extensive palace gardens as well as nearby markets and museums. Price for two persons starts at $2,385. www.amanresorts.com

Cixi -The Dragon Lady's Legacy

Who was the Empress Dowager who made the Summer Palace into a center for the arts?

Known as Cixi (1835-1908), her legacy is on display at The Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery in Washington, DC. An archive of original images on glass plates made by a photographer at the Summer Palace between 1903 and 1904 can be seen through January 29, 2012 or online at www.asia.si.edu.

From the 1860s until her death, the Empress Dowager Cixi was the dominant political figure of China's Qing dynasty (1644-1911), acting as regent to two successive emperors. During her reign, the Qing court came to be regarded as conservative, corrupt, and incompetent. The situation worsened after the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, when Cixi was accused of encouraging the killing of foreigners and Chinese Christians. Her reputation plummeted in China and worldwide.

In response, the Qing court initiated measures to improve the Empress Dowager's image. Along with inviting foreign visitors to receptions at the palace, these efforts included arranging for a series of photographic portraits of Cixi, some of which were presented as diplomatic gifts. Taken by a young photographer named Xunling (ca. 1880-1943) between 1903 and 1904, the series comprises the only surviving photographs of the Empress Dowager. The Freer|Sackler Archives contains thirty-six of Xunling's original glass-plate negatives, which form the basis of this exhibition.

Though dismissed as emblems of Cixi's vanity and the Qing dynasty's extravagance, the photographs became an enduring symbol of the dying reign and helped form the "dragon lady" persona seen in films throughout the twentieth century. But closer examination of the photographs reveals many of them were crafted as part of a strategic diplomatic and public relations campaign. Analysis of carefully placed symbols found within these images has provided new insight into the Qing court culture, as well as the Empress Dowager's public and private life

HONOLULU ICONS

Amid iconic scenes of Waikiki Beach, the new Trump International Hotel competes with The Edition for younger, affluent travelers in the bustling Honolulu scene. And at the other end of the beach, Westin's historic Moana Surfrider hotel gains new distinction with a Heavenly Spa.

The Spa at Trump overlooks a city park and Waikiki Beach Walk shops and restaurants. Designed and managed by WTS International, a Trump partner in several cities, their first Hawaiian venture features treatments with Ola skincare products sourced from organic farmers in the islands. Notably coconut for skin and hair care, kukui nut oil to protect and rejuvenate the body, and hydrosols from an indigenous plant said to have energetic properties that embody the mana, beauty and mystique of the Hawaiian Islands.

A Japanese soaking tub comes with the couples suite enjoyed by Asian visitors.

Complete submersion in warm water while you sit relaxes muscles and tension, and therapist Ryoko Inoue completed the session with long soothing strokes of lomilomi massage. Spa management firm WTS International introduced Kate Sommerville facials, and Trump signature gemstone massages. Directed by Bridgette Devore, the 2,437-square-foot facility has 4 treatment rooms, salon for nail care. Exuding a Zen esthetic that complements the hotel's 37-floor glass tower, this is a fresh take on Waikiki. (www.trumpwaikikihotel.com)

The Edition is a new boutique hotel brand created by Ian Schrager for Marriott. Their first venture's esthetic is more surfer than spa. Drashell Schmidt manages the five-room "Spa at Waikiki" with a mix of business savvy and bodyworker zeal. Staff went through five weeks of wellness training, she told me, to offer clients lifestyle counseling, yoga, and "results oriented" treatments with Amala skincare, Primavera massage oils, and Elemental Herbology. Coming: surfing and bikini boot camps. Located in a renovated wing of the Ilikai Waikiki hotel complex near the marina, the 353-room Waikiki Edition has poolside movie evenings, a trendy Morimoto restaurant, but no sign of Marriott. (www.marriott.com)

HEALING ARTS ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY:
CAVALLO POINT, THE LODGE AT THE GOLDEN GATE

Cavallo Point - The Lodge at the Golden Gate occupies 41 acres of former Army fort on San Francisco Bay

When the National Park Service announced plans to convert a former Army fort on San Francisco Bay as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the opportunity to create an urban retreat attracted numerous bidders. Adding a spa and healing arts center gave Mike Freed's concept the winning edge. Having eco-credentials like Post Ranch Inn at Big Sur, and the Cousteau resort on Fiji, helped win the contract for Freed's company, Passport Resorts, LLC. After an investment of $100 million dollars, Fort Baker came back to life as Cavallo Point, The Lodge at the Golden Gate.

Spanish explorers noted wild horses at Cavallo Point on early maps of California. Located at the base of iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the new resort has panoramic views of San Francisco and the bay; parkland stretching from sea to headlands of Marin and Sausalito; access to downtown by ferry or car in 40 minutes. With 17 historic buildings (including a wooden chapel used for yoga and concerts), Cavallo Point Lodge offers 68 period rooms in officers' quarters, plus new hillside lodges featuring 74 contemporary rooms and suites. It's the first national park lodge to receive LEED certification, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and doesn't need air conditioning.

The new Healing Arts Center & Spa nestles amid pine and eucalyptus trees behind houses built at the turn of the 20th century. Spa Director Jenny Helling developed treatments using natural and organic ingredients in facials, herbal wraps, and salt scrubs. "An authentic healing experience returns to the original meaning of spa," comments Helling, who collaborated with Nick James of Body Bliss to create unscented massage oil, as well as five signature blends." The 11,000-square-foot, two-story building has 11 treatment rooms, outdoor hot tubs, heated co-ed meditation pool in landscaped garden, Tea Bar serving light lunch, herbal teas and health tonics.

The introduction of integrative medicine took Cavallo Point "healing arts" to a new level last summer with the appointment of Bradly P. Jacobs, MD, MPH, to direct workshops and comprehensive health assessments. Tailored to individual needs, the wellness program integrates the spa's multi-disciplinary team drawn from San Francisco's large community of alternative medicine specialists. Centered on five principles for healthy living - stress awareness, finding purpose, active living, connection, healthy eating - the program includes multi-day packages as well as lectures open to all lodge guests. These principles complement primary care, explained Dr. Brad (as he is known to patients). "Cavallo Point offers an ideal combination, immersing participants in a personalized wellness experience." (Wellness packages for three to five days start at $1,240; single day consultation and spa services $450.)

Dr. Brad's impressive credentials include: Founding medical director at the University of California Osher Center for Integrative Medicine in San Francisco; internal medicine specialist; practices acupuncture, yoga, and martial arts. He is a principal author of the evidence-based guide to complementary and alternative medicine published in 2009 by the American College of Physicians. Endorsements include Andrew Weil, MD: "This book is a must-read for healthcare professionals." Order online from acponline.org

Working closely with Dr. Brad, spa director Helling says "Offering our guests this level of comprehensive, customized well-being care was part of our original vision for the lodge and spa." A 20-year veteran of spa management, Helling is a 1991 graduate of the Desert Institute of the Healing Arts, has a Master's Degree in Art Therapy from the University of Arizona. At Canyon Ranch in Tucson, she became a massage therapist while attending school, developed treatment programs, and trained therapists for Canyon Ranch SpaClub in Las Vegas. Her bio includes three years with Decleor, opening Amara Spa at Park Hyatt Dubai, and Plateau at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, plus managing other Hyatt resort spas. Certified in Watsu, Helling holds certificates in NMT, Sports Massage, and Aromatherapy.

Not Your Mother's Massage

Healing massage in the hands of Shaw Cote stretched my body as he worked on energy points, eliminating stress of travel. Beginning while on my back, he reached under shoulders, soothed swollen ankles. My companion's experience was identical. After a 90-minute session, we relaxed at the outdoor soaking pool until lunch arrived.

The spacious Healing Arts Center & Spa has a high-ceiling lounge with glass walls, fireplace, steamrooms, and separate outdoor whirlpools for men and women. Treatment rooms upstairs have windows, woodsy ambience. Fog horns on the bay add a dreamy note.

From the porch of my Fort Baker lodge, I watched giant freighters slip under the Golden Gate bridge, commuter ferries pass Alcatraz. As the flag was lowered on the parade ground, rays of sun turned Frisco golden. Sipping wine on the porch of a former barracks, our view encompassed sparkling lights of skyscrapers and the bridge. The Lodge's Murray Circle restaurant (named for Fort Baker's parade grounds) has an original ceiling of pressed tin tile, meticulously restored. Dinner demonstrated why executive chef Joseph Humphrey gets high marks from local critics for organic, slow cooking.

Cavallo Point's new lease on life lacks only a swimming pool. National Park Service guidelines for historic sites deemed a pool inappropriate to the period when Fort Baker defended San Francisco from sub attacks and invaders.

Product lines featured: Naturopathica in facials and body treatments; Luzern facials; Body Bliss
Signature massage: $145 for 60minutes, $215 for 90 minutes.
Healing Arts specialists: Acupuncture, Nutrition, Shaman, Herbalist, Hypnotherapist, Personal Training, Therapeutic Touch.
Contact: www.cavallopoint.com; direct line to the spa is 415.339.4767.

MANHATTAN's NEW OASIS

Trump SoHo Hotel: Technology, Service, and Hammams

The curtained chaises and marble pool bar atop the new Trump hotel in New York look more Miami South Beach than Manhattan SoHo.

But the same crowd of young sophisticates creates a buzz at New York's hip new oasis.
Calm and cool, the Spa at Trump SoHo exudes an urban vibe: eastern elegance meets contemporary chic.

A marble fountain and crystal chandelier set the mood as your spa attaché guides you through a maze of lounges and therapy rooms. Set on two floors, with over 11,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor spaces, The Spa at Trump Soho is an entirely new experience in the highly competitive New York market.

Partnered with the Trump organization to manage their first Manhattan spa, WTS International brought a 30-member team of therapists and estheticians headed by Leigh Smith, a CIDESCO certified therapist who has opened resort spas around the world. With nine treatment rooms and two wet rooms, salon for hair and nails, the menu of spa services includes several firsts for Manhattan.

The stars of Trump's off-Broadway spa are a pair of hammams - his and hers - the only place in Manhattan where you can experience this Turkish and Middle Eastern bathing tradition. Enhanced by Moroccan décor and Italian tile mosaics, the treatment takes about an hour. Greeted by a specially trained therapist draped in a sarong, I donned disposable shorts, reclined on a heated slab of marble for the body scrub. Turkish treatment ($100) features an oil-based castile soap applied with a traditional Kesa mitt (which you keep as a souvenir). The Moroccan hammam treatment ($160) adds a mud masque and black olive oil soap, Designed to exfoliate the entire body, the total immersion immediately increases detoxification and rejuvenation of the skin. This is followed by cleansing techniques to remove impurities and hydrate the skin, while the dedicated Hammam Attaché douses you with bowls of hot and cold water, tightening and toning the entire body. Suddenly, new energy brought me back to reality.

Manhattan Makeover

Hammam Attache completes cleansing at Trump SoHo Hotel in New York.
Design by DiGuiseppe Architect.

Occupying more than 11,000 square feet over two floors, The Spa at Trump opens onto the 7th floor lounge at Trump SoHo. A peaceful setting to reenergize and rejuvenate, spa therapy rooms have windows and access to garden terrace, indoor and outdoor relaxation lounges, and the seasonal outdoor pool terrace.

Making her Big Apple debut, Kate Somerville introduced patented Dermalucent LED skin rejuvenation. Trained in Somerville techniques, estheticians offer super-hydrating oxygenated dermal boosters as well as a series of non-thermal facials bolstered by intense light from the Dermalucent equipment. Kate took Manhattan by storm with personal appearances in which her reputation as skincare-for- the-stars guru in Hollywood keynoted the burning desire for a radiant glow.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend - a hit tune in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" - but who knew diamonds balance the crown chakra. Used since ancient times, gem infused oils combine with botanical essences in the Shiffa Gemstone Massage, a Trump Signature treatment. Created by a dermatologist in Dubai, they include flakes of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, or sapphires, depending on your intention to revitalize, calm, purify, or get balanced ($275).

Enjoy an exclusive Gehwol manicure with a stimulating bamboo peel, or a pedicure treatment with a warm herbal foot bath in the spa's private nail suite or by the pool. Work out with TechnoGym equipment. Or swim laps. The Spa at Trump has it all. About Trump SoHo^TM New York

Trump SoHo, the group's first condo hotel in Downtown Manhattan, has captured the attention of international travelers and sophisticated New Yorkers alike. Designed by Handel Architects, the 46-story glass tower's interiors are by Rockwell Group, hammams by DiGuiseppe Architect. The spacious guestrooms and suites feature full bathroom with soaking tub, stall shower. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the city's spectacular skyline and the Hudson River.

Trump SoHo offers 391 hotel condominiums for purchase at prices beginning at $1.2 million, or nightly rates from $391. With just 12 units per floor, owners and guests enjoy world-class dining at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana, the Kastel cocktail lounge, and pool-side Bar d'Eau. Trump SoHo is a joint venture among The Sapir Organization, Bayrock Group, L.L.C., and an affiliate of the Trump Organization.

Located in SoHo (named for an area south of Houston Street, not London) amid upscale boutiques and restaurants, the hotel's address is 246 Spring Street, close to the site of the city's principal hotel in the 1860s. A funky alternative to the crush of mid-town Manhattan and artsy TriBeCa, it's a long taxi ride if you're going to the theater or train stations. For information on making a hotel or spa reservation at Trump SoHo: Call (212) 842-5500 or visit www.trumpsohohotel.com; for toll-free reservations, call (877) 828-7080. Find Trump SoHo on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TrumpSoHoNewYork and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TrumpSoHo.

SHERATON SHINES: Starwood Hotels' newly branded Shine for Sheraton spa concept launched at selected hotels in China, Vietnam, the Maldives and the Slovak Republic. Developed exclusively for Sheraton by Starwood's in-house spa team to offer both business and leisure guests an upscale, approachable spa experience, the concept includes five signature treatments: massage, facial, body treatment, manicure/pedicure and a treatment for two. Preferred product partner is Germaine De Capuccini.

"Introducing the Shine spa experience across our portfolio on the heels of our $6 billion revitalisation effort will be an invaluable, welcome, addition to the Sheraton guest experience," explained Sheraton senior vice president Hoyt Harper. "With this global roll-out, we plan to make spa a cornerstone of the Sheraton brand experience, one that guests will truly embrace as part of their lifestyle."

BRITISH BREAKS: The Dorchester Collection unveiled an eco-sensitive spa at its new UK destination, Coworth Park, a hotly anticipated 70 room country house hotel. Located next to Ascot and bordering on Windsor Great Park, the hotel stands in 240 acres of Royal Berkshire parkland, offering a dedicated spa, three restaurants, two polo fields, and an equestrian centre. The eco-luxury Spa at Coworth Park is the world's first hotel spa to offer treatments by Dr. Alkaitis. Renowned for 100% organic, paraben free ingredients, Dr Alkaitis products complement three ranges currently offered to guests at The Dorchester Spa in London - Kerstin Florian products infused with the earth's rich, natural ingredients; Aromatherapy Associates natural aromatherapy oils; and Carol Joy London skin and hair care. Just 45 minutes from Central London, Coworth Park evokes the feeling of staying in a private English country estate. The hotel breaks new ground by combining eco-credentials in both its structure and daily operating procedures. For example, to reduce energy consumption there is a biomass boiler within an underground Energy Centre, fuelled by burning willow which is grown on the estate, a first for a UK hotel. Cooling for the hotel is provided by a ground source water circulation system of underground pipes known as 'slinkys.'
www.dorchestercollection.com

Five new UK spas opened at von Essen hotels, following an extensive multi-million pound investment across the collection to enhance their luxury lifestyle offering. Designed as a traditional bathhouse, The Spa at The Mount in Somerset has a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy pool, thermal suite with sauna and steam room, relaxing foot spas, experience showers, terrace, and retail area. Bespoke treatments with [ comfort zone ] complement a fitness suite with Technogym equipment. Interiors in blues and greens reflect the natural landscape of The Mount and its iconic peacocks.
www.vonessenhotels.com

NEW YORK OASIS: Guerlain Spa may be gone at The Waldorf=Astoria but new Manhattan hotel spas opened last summer, including Trump SoHo, Ink48, and the Chatwal. Despite demise of the Chakra Group which operated Guerlain's outpost, we don't foresee a shortage of massages or facials around town any time soon. (See our experience at Trump SoHo on NEW page.)

VEGAS ON A ROLL: Redefining Las Vegas, CityCenter opened with three spas in three different hotels, Aria, Vdara, and Mandarin Oriental. All owned and operated by MGM Mirage group. Now comes the Cosmopolitan with two 50-story towers wedged between CityCenter and Bellagio on the Strip. The Cosmopolitan Sahra Spa offers 44,000-square-feet of luxury, including vast hammam, three pools, salon, and fitness center. Each of the property's 2,995 rooms has sliding glass doors that open onto a large patio, a feature not commonly found in Las Vegas. Independently owned and operated, The Cosmopolitan is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection (a first in Vegas) with links to Ritz-Carlton and other Marriott brands.
www.thecosmopolitan.com

CANADIAN CRYSTALS: Bedazzled retreat. Wine country wellness spa.

The new Sparkling Hill Resort in British Columbia's Okanagan valley combines 152 crystal-appointed rooms, spectacular views, stellar menus, and a dedicated crew of physicians, physiotherapists and spa practitioners. Wellness programs come with reflexology, aromatherapy, soothing Fango mud wraps, and therapeutic massages; eye-catching Swarovski crystal creations, including a custom-designed Kohler tub for two in each guest room, complete with a "starry sky" overhead. In all, 40,000 square feet of space is dedicated to mind and body stimulation: a trio of therapeutic pools, steamrooms and saunas, plus cryotherapy. Cryo what? This involves three successive bone-chilling saunas set at -15°C, -60°C, and -110, said to energize the nervous and circulatory systems, triggering sustained warmth throughout the body. CEO Hans-Peter Mayer partnered with fellow Austrian Gernot Langes-Swarovski (patriarch of the crystal empire) to fund the $122-million project.
www.sparklinghill.com

MEXICAN LEGACY: Celebrating colonial legacy and contemporary art, boutique Hotel Matilda opened in San Miguel de Allende featuring Spa Matilda wellness treatments integrated with personal care experiences customized with indigenous and global products. Set in an intimate, tranquil garden, the 4,700-ft. spa has four treatment rooms, including a couple's room; a spa suite with a steam shower and soaking tub; two patios; indoor/outdoor relaxation lounge; infinity-edge swimming pool; and a fitness facility. The spa was developed by Under a Tree Consulting, Tucson.

Hotel Matilda Infinity Pool

San Miguel de Allende, located in the central highlands of Mexico about 170 miles from Mexico City, is renowned for its 500-year-old architecture, art schools and striking landscapes. Named for a portrait of Matilda by Diego Rivera, Hotel Matilda takes this legacy a step further by exhibiting the works of contemporary artists.
www.hotelmatilda.com

On the Riviera Maya south of Cancun, Diana Mestre and Associates designed a spectacular spa building at the all-suite Grand Velas Resort. Bringing the steaming jungle indoors, the spa has soaking pools and relaxation lounges amid tropical foliage in an air-conditioned atrium. With glass elevators linking 40 treatment rooms (separate wings for men and women), treatments explore a range of healing traditions. Complementing your spa treatments are products by Natura Bisse, Decleor, Sundari, and Italian-made [comfort zone]. Plus indigenous regional products sourced by the spa's seasoned professional therapists under direction of Maria Elena Zayas S. According to Managing Director Fernando Garcia Rossette, the free-standing spa was a $10 million investment that created dozens of jobs and employs up to 50 seasonal staffers. The result is the largest and most comprehensive spa on the Riviera Maya.
www.grandvelas.com

TOSKANAWORLD WELLNESS: In a wooded valley near Frankfurt, Germany's newest bathhouse adjoins a 200-year-old saltwater structure at Toskana Therme in Bad Orb. Linked to a renovated hotel (Kurhotel an der Therme) by glass walkway, the graceful day spa offers massage and facials as well as concerts and meditation in a Liquid Sound® dome that transforms bathing into a sensory experience.

Adding a wellness center brought complementary medicine and chiropractors to the project developed by the Toskanaworld Group. Plus a sauna complex (clothing optional) where you can read and sweat in a "Lektarium," join guided sessions with a saunameister or sweat lodge shaman. Designed and managed by the team responsible for the original Toskanaworld near Weimar in eastern Germany (Thuringia), the new spa complex includes outdoor and indoor thermal pools, bio-restaurant, conference center, and concert hall. Reviving traditions, Bad Orb is again home to a vibrant community of natural healers.
www.toskanaworld.net

BIBLICAL BATHS: Evason Ma'In Hot Springs hotel & Six Senses Spa brought the biblical site of King Herod's baths into the 21st century. Located 30 km from Madaba, an ancient religious center famed for mosaic stonework, and a scenic 60-minute drive from Amman, capital of Jordan, the new resort is at the base of thermal waterfalls. Lying 264 meters below sea level, the hotel has 92 rooms and two Royal Suites.
www.sixsenses.com/Evason-Ma-In

REINVENTING LAS VEGAS

CityCenter Spa Trifecta Raises Hotel Competition

SpaGoer Bernard Burt explores Vegas' new destination.

"Bigger is Better" used to be the mantra of Las Vegas developers. But there's never been anything like CityCenter on the famed Strip. A futuristic metropolis, the 67-acre enclave includes three new hotels featuring three spas that raise the bar on Vegas lifestyle.

From the moment you enter this gallery of glass towers, CityCenter is a world apart. Upscale restaurants bearing names of celebrity chefs, boutiques stocked by some of the world's leading luxury retailers, and a jaw-dropping theater for Cirque du Soliel's celebration of Elvis Presley, dazzle and delight. There are more art galleries than Vegas has seen since Bellagio opened next door. A patisserie unlike anything in Paris. But just one casino.

Hotels at the core of CityCenter contrast style and service. The largest is ARIA Resort & Casino, a 67-story tower with 4,004 guest rooms. The smallest, 392-room Mandarin Oriental, brings international flair to a 47-story tower that includes 225 residences. For long-stay and condo ownership, the luxe Vdara Hotel adds 1,495 suites to the mix. All three hotels are owned by the developer of CityCenter, a partnership of MGM MIRAGE and investor Dubai World with Istithmar Hotels and Kerzner International.

Each hotel sports a spa that caters to individual experiences. While all three spas are owned by CityCenter, there is a sense of friendly rivalry. Branding drives design, facilities vary widely. Helmed by experienced Vegas hands, each offers distinctive experiences and state-of-the-art retreats.

THE SPA AT ARIA adjoins gardens and swimming pools suspended in the sky. With 62 treatment rooms, full-service salon, glass-walled fitness center featuring LifeFitness equipment, and poolside spa cabanas, this peaceful haven is the place to relax and restore balance. Set on two levels, separate facilities for men and women include the usual amenities, plus "Ganbanyoku" heated-stone beds, "Shio" salt vapor rooms. On a co-ed balcony above the gardens, spa guests have exclusive use of a heated lap pool. Poolside therapies include cold stone massage (50 min, $175). Great for groups: spa suite packages (three-hour minimum) start at $420 per person plus $25 per hour. Movement studio classes are scheduled ($35-$45), or just use fitness facilities for $30. Director of Spa and Salon Michelle Wilkos developed private label products for treatments, huge retail boutique with logo sportswear.
Contact: 877.312.2742 or 702.590.9600.

THE SPA AT MANADARIN ORIENTAL, LAS VEGAS introduced sunrise yoga with Swami Ramananda, Professor emeritus of Indian Philosophy, Yoga, and Feng Shui at the University of Nevada. In a sprung-floor studio overlooking the Strip, we saw the sun rise while doing salutations and stretches. Born in California, the swami's journey from Esalen to Madras is documented in his book "From India With Love." My spa experience was more mundane, due to the arrangement of facilities on two floors, and an outdoor swimming pool closed due to cold, wet weather. Designed with the same sense of style that pervades all Mandarin Oriental spas, the journey begins at the hotel's 23rd floor Sky Lobby, then a private elevator to spa reception where tea is served in a lounge redolent of 1930s Shanghai. Escorted upstairs to a gorgeous Dragon Spa Suite, I glimpsed 17 treatment rooms (seven couples' suites), Chinese Foot Spa, co-ed vitality pool for soaks with a view of the city, fitness room with Technogym equipment. Relaxation comes with hammam, laconium, mens' sauna, ladies' rhassoul, steam rooms, and experience showers. Jennifer Lynn, Director of Spa, says aestheticians are trained by specialists from Hong Kong and ESPA from Britain. While personal touches (clothing for exercise, selection of massage oils, single-chair hair salon) are traditional, what sets Mandarin Oriental Spa apart is Time Rituals with signature line of oils, shower gel, lotions, and candles, a first for Las Vegas (Two Hours, $350; 4 Hours, $800).
Contact: 888.881.9576 or 702.590.8888.

VDARA HEALTH & BEAUTY, an enclave of organic rejuvenation, teams Red Flower rituals, Naturopathica holistic body treatments, Peter Thomas Roth skin care. Naturopathica specialty massages include French Lavender Soother (60 minutes, $140). Go alfresco at the hotel's Sky Pool; six Spa Cabanas feature rituals from Thailand by Akhassa, a line infused with lemongrass, kaffir lime, and exotic flowers (60 minute massage, $175; 120 minute body treatment $350). Finishing touches in the salon by Aveda, Kerastase, and Sparitiual, plus champagne bar, Director of Spa & Salon Elizabeth Lesser introduced ZO Skin Health, a new line by Dr. Zein Obagi, and hair treatments with MoroccanOil, a trademarked line made with vitamin-rich oil of argan tree fruit grown in Morocco. The hotel is both smoke-free and certified LEED Gold.
Contact: 866.391.7111 or 702.590.2030.

DEFINING DIFFERENCES

Planned pre-recession, the 67-acre, $8.5 billion CityCenter can be overwhelming, an excess or success, glut on the depressed market or breaking the mould. Crowds encountered during my January visit clearly enjoyed the soaring spaces, traffic-free access, and over-the-top design.

The concept by MGM MIRAGE envisioned a new kind of Las Vegas, designed by some of the world's top architects to draw energy from an environment rich in action, smoke-free (mostly), without touristy shops. Fountains, art and sculpture add color and light to public spaces. Technology by Control4 Suite Systems enhances guest rooms; sensors open drapes to spectacular views of mountains, turn on TV and lights with a choreographed flourish said to conserve energy. Automated controls aside, my room at ARIA had lots of creature comfort, including bath and shower separated by glass walls.

Tucked away on Las Vegas Boulevard, the Mandarin Oriental was the only hotel with doormen who handed out umbrellas during a winter storm, called the hotel car to take us back to Aria. Whisked to the 23rd floor reception lobby and tea lounge, you discover the difference a boutique hotel offers. Go for high tea or dim sum, libations at the bar, stay for lunch in a charming Asian café or dinner at the pricey French restaurant as the lights of Vegas put on a mesmerizing show.

The Spa at Mandarin Oriental reflects traditions of Hong Kong, Miami, and New York sister hotels. Developed by Andrew Gibson, the company's debut in the desert resort brings together East and West. Under spa director Jennifer Lynn, designers included a yoga studio and soaking pool. A spa industry professional with 15 years' experience in many facets of spa design and operations, self-proclaimed desert flower, Lynn is right at home in the glittering backdrop of her native Las Vegas. She began her career in spa design under the tutelage of casino mogul Stephen Wynn, operated many spas at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip including Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace.

Michelle Wilkos, another desert spa diva, faced the monumental task of working with superstar architect Cesar Pelli on Vegas' largest spa complex at the ARIA. Coming from Bellagio, she had the advantage of knowing the local market and resources. With spacious lounges, unique saunas, glass-walled fitness center overlooking the pool patio, Michelle topped the experience by adding a private terrace for spagoers, complete with lap pool.

Attending a performance by Cirque du Soliel highlights any Vegas visit. The theater at ARIA almost overwhelms "Viva ELVIS," but rock-and-roll production numbers and amazing acrobats make this 90-minute nostalgia-trip a must-see.

Steps from the theater, three restaurants exude star quality in both décor and menu: Jean-George Steakhouse, Michael Mina's American Fish, and Sirio Restorante bring showmanship and professional service to memorable dining. Especially when chef Mina's minions offer seafood from ocean water tanks, poached, baked, or broiled in a one-of-a-kind kitchen. On the ARIA casino floor are more culinary treats: Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, and American. Charmingly informal, Jean Philippe Patisserie offers croissants, coffee, and gelato.

With so many attractions, we left CityCenter only to see Rita Rudner's funny take on life at Harrah's. Suddenly, it was the old Strip hustle and bustle. What a difference!

CityCenter, an unprecedented urban metropolis on the Las Vegas Strip with Gold and Silver LEED® certifications, is a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. For a virtual tour, including future additions, go to www.citycenter.com

CRUISE SHIPS REDEFINE SPAS

Carnival Corporation & plc, the largest cruise vacation group in the world, added its largest ship - CARNIVAL DREAM, capacity 3,652 passengers - topping a fleet of 88 ships, totaling more than 167,000 lower berths. And 18 new ships are scheduled to join Carnival brands by 2012.

Brands in the Carnival portfolio include Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

EPIC EXPERIENCES ABOARD NORWEGIAN LINER

Eagerly anticipated, the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) plans to debut its next generation of ships this summer, NORWEGIAN EPIC. Scheduled to cruise the Caribbean weekly from Miami, The Norwegian Epic has a groovy look that pushes the envelope of cruise ship design. Spas will be larger, offering more social space as well as nail buff bars, tooth whitening, and BOTOX® Cosmetic. "We have thrown away the rule book," said NCL president and CEO, Colin Veitch. Gone are regimented designs of cabins. Bathroom functions will be split into separate areas, with sinks in the main part of cabins, curvy walls simulate waves. For the ultimate spa escape, deluxe Spa Suites have key-card access to the Spa Thermal Suite. And you can upgrade to The Villas on two exclusive decks, accessible only by private elevator, with private pool in a secluded courtyard.

Social space is a bonus on the big ships, with private lounges and pools inside the spa complex. NCL Freestyle Cruising adds open seating in main dining rooms, plus specialty restaurants with cover charge, and beach barbecue on a private island. Look for more space for fitness, less emphasis on hair salons. As far as new trends in spa amenities and services, passengers can experience cosmetic treatments at the Steiner Medi-Spa Wellness Center. The concept includes results-driven treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic, Restylane® and Perlane®, which are administered by the licensed "Medi-Spa Physician" onboard, in the relaxed setting of the spa. Other services at the seagoing medi-spa include acupuncture, microdermabrasion, and GoSMILE Tooth Whitening.

In the vanguard of the next generation of spas at sea, Steiner unveiled the Mandara Yin & Yang Spa aboard the NCL NORWEGIAN GEM last summer in a series of cruises from New York. The concept by SMC, a design studio in London, was influenced by NCL Board member Tan Sri Lim, Chairman, President and Chief Executive of Asia-based Star Cruises, to add a popular part of Oriental culture. Only at sea, the sauna seems to float.

Visual surprises come with seaviews, as some areas of the spa extend beyond the ship's hull, creating the feeling of workouts above the waves. Separate thermal suites for men and women provide saunas and showers, Jacuzzi, and hydrotherapy tubs. The 18 treatment rooms include a hammam scrub, dry float with SoftPack, rasul mud chamber, couples suite with whirlpool, and a tooth whitening room. The retail shop cross-markets products used in treatments: Elemis Skin Lab, Ionithermie, Steiner Hair Care, and GoSmile. The gym offers Precor equipment with personal video, Gavity, spin bikes, FitBalls, and an aerobics studio.

Located high above the ship's prow, Norwegian Gem's spa blends contemporary minimalist style with Asian accents. This was achieved by using finishes of rich cherry, black ash furnishings, cream and muted green wall coverings. Designer Alan Stewart kept the various spaces deliberately simple to accentuate the internal space of each room, contrasting yin and yang with lighting and fabric rather than furniture. "It creates a sense of drama, giving an overall ambiance to each interior," Stewart explains.

Cruising with kids and grandparents is increasingly popular. Aboard the Gem, activities include workshops with a Lego master, and exclusive treatments for teens at Yin & Yang. For a fee, you can use the bowling alley, indoor tennis courts; Water slide and climbing wall are free. Accommodations for families include villas around a swimming pool and private sundeck. Our stateroom had a curtained sitting area that doubled as bedroom, tight but comfortable.. Sharing the experience with a teenager added a new dimension. Taking her first cruise in stride after a rocky start, Luanna Pollock commented on each day, from food to fun ashore. She signed up for her first facial, napped in the thermal suite, swam with dolphin at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau and had a massage at its glam Mandara Spa, tried Japanese teppanyaki and French bistro dinners. Bottom line: "Amazing." (www.ncl.com)

CELEBRITY CRUISES CUSTOMIZES AQUA CLASS

Celebrity Cruises launched AquaClass aboard the line's newest and most innovative ship, CELEBRITY SOLSTICE. Featuring an entirely new category of veranda staterooms, the trademarked AquaClass will be a holistic journey at sea for spagoers. Unlimited extras like bottled water, juices, and tea are in the minibar. A special dining room featuring spa cuisine, Blu, caters to AquaClass cruisers. The AquaClass Spa by Elemis is an integral part of the experience, affording advance reservations for passengers booked in AquaClass. A sister ship, the 2,850-passenger CELEBRITY EQUINOX, debuted last spring in the Caribbean. (www.celebritycruises.com).

ROYAL CARIBBEAN BETS BIGGER IS BETTER

The largest cruise ship ever built, Royal Caribbean's OASIS OF THE SEAS resembles a floating resort. With a capacity of 5,400 passengers, the ship cost more than $1.5 billion. Innovative features include a massive "Central Park" atrium with live trees and outdoor restaurant seating. Its 16 decks include cabins overlooking the atrium or sea.

Spa management aboard Oasis by Steiner continues a long partnership with Royal Caribbean International. Paula Hodgson, Steiner VP for development, shared first impressions: "What I can say is that she is really pretty amazing. As we visit so many ships and new ships and they are all wonderful and normally have a couple of new things, OASIS' hull design itself is just so innovative. Everything they have on board their Freedom Class liners has been doubled: 2 rock climbing walls, 2 surf riders etc. The concept of seven themed "neighborhoods" is very nice, and I think one of the surprises is that you are on this huge magnificent ship and really need a pair of roller skates to get around. But the different venues are not all oversized, and there are many more intimate areas - specialty restaurants as well as casual restaurants like Johnny Rockets, Pizza, Sea Shack - and other entertainment areas. Of course Studio B for the ice show, and headliner shows in the theater, and main restaurants are large; guests will go in different directions to different places & spaces."

Creating the concept for The Vitality at Sea, Steiner integrated spa and fitness center, working closely with John Picken at the time Royal planning was taking place. Faced with space limits, Hodgson says "we had started to build momentum with some new initiatives and had some new ones on the horizon that we managed to get incorporated into the design. You can't get a better platform to launch and promote them than on a new ship like Oasis with so much media attention and focus. Seeing the space on paper even on Royal's very detailed web site is one thing; once on board with everything coming to fruition is great. There is a dedicated SMILE SPA with two private pods for GoSmile teeth whitening ($199 plus 18% gratuity). The Elemis Spa bar and retail area has 2 facial pods; salon with state of the art pedicure banquettes and 2 nail bars plus styling area. We did have to incorporate the two barber stations into the salon but there were 2 stations set apart from the other 4 that helped give some definition from the rest of the space.

The fitness area was a challenge and changed location 3 or 4 times before finally ending up connected to the spa. After a lot of creativity, this is a dynamic space, utilizing an area on Deck 6 that is unlike what our guests are accustomed to finding on the higher decks. We launched a new Activio cycle program which is dynamite, and had the instructor's bike positioned on a raised platform. There is a huge selection of LifeFitness equipment plus some new Virtual reality bikes, full Kinesis wall system, new class offerings with accessories like Gravity machines."

The spa zone includes changing rooms, relaxation lounge, thermal suite a little on the small side for the ship, rasul mud lounge, mixture of couples suites, dry and wet single rooms, plus a medi spa area with 5 treatment rooms. There is also a dedicated "YSPA" TEEN SPA/YOUTH SPA with 3 spacious treatment rooms and their own waiting/relaxation area. The Zen décor adds bamboo and gardens in various spa areas, contemporary but not overly Asian. There is also an Enrichment Lounge along the Avenue for wellness seminars.

The ship's progress, standard of finishes, and just organization and cleanliness were impressive. "Of course Royal has an experienced team," says Hodgson, "that keeps going out to do these massive ships." Sailing weekly from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades) in Florida, Oasis of the Seas will be joined by an identical twin, ALLURE OF THE SEAS, next season. (www.oasisoftheseas.com)

CARNIVAL FLEET EXPANDS

Aboard the new CARNIVAL DREAM, Steiner operates the 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa, which has earned accolades for its creative design and amenities. The 3,646-passenger ship includes a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long corkscrew water slide, a stunning indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza, and a wide range of staterooms including deluxe ocean views with two-bathrooms, some of which have five beds and hold particular appeal for families. The Lanai, an outdoor promenade, features cantilevered whirlpools that extend over the ship's sides. Sailing year-round from Port Canaveral, cruises can be combined with visits to Walt Disney World, NASA Space Center. (www.carnival.com)

QE2 RETURNS AS HOTEL IN SOUTH AFRICA

Despite financial problems of parent company Dubai World, resort and hotel developer Nakheel, owner of the QE2, has confirmed the cruise liner will be moved to Cape Town in South Africa to become a hotel in time for the Fifa 2010 World Cup.

Nakheel, which owns shares in the South African port as well as P&O Cruises, said the ship would be docked at Cape Town for 18 months. "It has been our intention for some time to provide a short term opportunity to enjoy QE2 as a stationary hotel in her current condition before refurbishment begins, said a Nakheel spokesperson.

The Cunard ship was bought by Dubai World for $100m in 2007. Nakheel, one of the main divisions in the government-owned conglomerate, has been severely hit by the Dubai property crash. It is currently embarking on radical cost-cutting, slashing staff, cancelling projects, and scaling back existing projects as it battles for survival.

Nakheel had big plans for QE2, "ushering in the next exciting chapter of her rich and dignified life," that include building a 6,000 sq yd spa complex. A permanent dock in Dubai at The Palm Jumeirah resort was the original plan. Other structural change replaces the ship's funnel with a glass structure to house penthouse suites.

The ship is now expected to be moved to South Africa under its own power, but the sale contract with Cunard prohibits carrying passengers as a cruise ship. The QE2 will be at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront in Cape Town, where there is a shortage of hotel rooms. Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront faces Cape Town's harbor, one of the city's most visited tourist sites, with a string of hotels, restaurants, shops and a marina.

Cunard's Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to be reborn in 2010 with the launch of a newly built ship. Classic ocean liner amenities and services will be featured. Marketing the line's royal 165 years of maritime heritage, a distinguished guest list that has included luminaries such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Nelson Mandela, and Elton John, the Cunard fleet currently consists of the lavish Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria.. Elegant features aboard QM2 include a planetarium, shops stocked with high end attire from Hermes and Harrods, and a Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The world class dining options include formal afternoon tea served by white-gloved waiters, a glamorous evening dinner in the traditional Britannia restaurant with optional Canyon Ranch spa menu, or upscale Mediterranean fare in the Todd English Restaurant. Cunard is famous for its regularly scheduled transatlantic crossings between Europe and New York, as well as ports of call on four continents. Travelers bestowed the top distinction in the Zagat Survey's categories for best service, facilities, cabins, and dining.

www.cunard.com

Singapore

Auriga Spa @
CAPELLA SINGAPORE RESORT

Sentosa Island

Nestled within the futuristic curve of Sentosa Island’s newest resort hotel, the first Auriga Spa in Asia links past and present. Themed to lunar cycles, treatments with indigenous natural products of Malay healers are experienced in an environment of high-tech comfort. European therapies are here too, but this is a unique window on the East.

Cascading outdoor pools, lush gardens, indoor soaking pool and fountain of shaved ice set the yin/yang contrast: relaxing/energizing, hot/cold. Greeted with mangosteen juice and tea, you enter a water circuit of pools and revitalizing showers. Reiki, shiatsu, and Thai massage are complemented by scrubs and wraps incorporating regional fruits and herbs. Sports massage for golfers and tennis players is another option

Must Try: Auriga New Moon Ritual stimulates and awakens the senses during the lunar new moon phase. Included: foot massage with juniper, rosemary, and fennel oils, wrap with seaweed, eucalyptus salt scrub, energizing massage with rosemary and eucalyptus oil. ($280 SGD, about $192 USD, 2 hrs) Other lunar cycle packages cost $480 SGD, $380 USD. Treatments range from 60-minute facial ($129 SGD, about $89 US) to 60 minute Senja Suny massage ($140 SGD, about $96 USD).

Atop a hill facing the city skyline, the island resort offers glass-walled suites or villas with huge baths. Guests can exercise with state-of-the-art TechnoGym® equipment, swim in harbor-view pools. And a British-era club now houses a sleek Chinese restaurant helmed by celebrity chef. Minutes from Orchard Road, it’s Singapore with a new twist.

www.capellasingapore.com
Email: info@auriga-spa.com

Switzerland

THE DOLDER RESORT

Zurich

Overlooking a city of bankers and culture, the venerable Dolder Grand Hotel emerged from a four-year makeover in 2009 with a spa inspired by Alpine beauty. The sweeping curve of a new wing complements the original hotel’s 19th century elegance. Designed by famed architect Norman Foster (also responsible for Capella Singapore), the new Dolder Resort includes an indoor sports complex, tennis courts, golf course, and walking trails.

The Dolder Spa transports you to the Alps. The Aqua Zone links indoor and outdoor whirlpools, steam baths, dramatic black-tiled swimming pool. Roll in real snow at Snowparadise, a yin/yang energy boost prior to spa therapy in rock-walled rooms that resemble mountain grottos. Pure pleasure, treatments range from La Prairie caviar facial, Swedish skincare by Kerstin Florian, Kenzoki oriental moisturizing facial, to Kerastase hairstyling.

Must Try: three-hour rejuvenation package incldes massage, facial, manicure/pedicure, and champagne (450 Swiss francs). For total privacy, book a spa suite with butler service, your own mudbath or steambath and whirlpool warmed by fireplace.

Exclusive among Swiss spas, the Dolder introduced Medical Wellness Programs staffed by doctors in association with Aesthetics Link, a consultation service on health issues, plastic surgery, and treatments such as Botox.

Enjoy lunch on the terrace: Crisp air, panoramic views of the Alps, medieval city center, and Lake Zurich add a sense of serenity. Truly a Swiss high.

www.thedoldergrand.com
Email: Spa@thedoldergrand.com

Vietnam

THE NAM HAI

Hoi An

Shimmering on China Beach, the spa lagoon at The Nam Hai harbors an intoxicating blend of East and West. Inspired by Vietnam’s ancient architecture, six villas seem to float toward the sea.

Seductive splendor matches rituals from Bali, India, Tibet, and Vietnam. Start with a footwash, traditional welcome for travelers, refreshing and healing. In the privacy of your villa, select botanical ingredients for Sundari facial, Arabian rhassoul scrub, or Ayurvedic abhyanga massage. Bodywork includes products by Traditions D’Orient, romantic baths for two, complete with Champagne and canapés. Oriental rituals take two hours, priced from U$190; other treatments start at $90.

Must Try: The Nam Hai Jade Massage synchronized by two therapists working pressure points with jade-infused oil to dissolve muscle tension with a variety of soothing strokes. ($160 – 60 mins)

The resort has no hotel. Spacious beach villas come with high-end amenities, double shower, posh lounge, and garden with open-air shower. Three swimming pools adjoin the grill and candle-lit restaurant; menu features local seafood, American steak, plus a fresh take on Vietnamese cuisine. Opened in 2008, managed by GHM with the same style as The Setai on Miami’s South Beach, The Nam Hai takes luxury to a new level, honoring the culture of Vietnam.

www.ghmhotels.com Email: spa@thenamhai.com

Thailand

SIX SENSES DESTINATION SPA

Phuket

Escape to a private isle in the Andaman Sea, minutes from Phuket by speedboat. Secluded at Asia’s most lavish destination spa, discover a new world of wellness.

Lifestyle coaches welcome you to spa gardens devoted to traditions of Siam, China, Indonesia, and India. Thai therapists pick herbs for Pra Kob compress made of tumeric, lemongrass, and bergamot, kneading sore muscles with soothing strokes as you relax in open-air pavilion or air-conditioned sala.. Ayurveda treatments are housed in India-style cottage. Tea is served in a Chinese bamboo grove at the heart of this unique spa village.

Must Try: Pra-Trim Siam stimulates lymphatic system with body brush, wash, Jasmine balm, energizing traditional Thai massage (8,900 Thai Baht - 2hrs 20mins).

Live close to nature in a thatch-roof villa, with garden pool and bath, butler service, AC but no TV. Join group exercise and yoga at hilltop fitness center; relax at enormous swimming pool; meditate in tropical labyrinth. Dining options include organic salad at sand-floor restaurant with bio-dynamic wines, pizza oven, grilled lobster; raw food lunch on beach. Drinks include fresh fruit juice, coconut water, coffee, Evian, and Champagne.

There are free bicycles, CD library and computers if you insist.

Not a typical Six Senses resort (Soneva Fushi, Zighy Bay), the destination spa program integrates wellness and lifestyle. Created by Ana Maria Taveres, veteran of Chiva Som, and an international team of wellness specialists, this is a healthy lifestyle village where you can consult Reiki master Nikorn Banjerdiert, psychotherapist Albert Schmaedick, or a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacist. With an amazing 44 treatment rooms, the range of well-being therapy is exceptional.

Seasonal specials add value. Three-night package 47,000 Thai Baht single, 94,000 double occupancy, plus taxes, service charge.

www.sixsenses.com
Email: reservations-naka@sixsenses.com