Alice Marshall Public Relations •

May 13th, 2024

It’s not always easy to prioritize wellness in our daily lives. Sometimes, getting away is the best way to get back on track with our wellbeing goals. If you’re planning a health holiday, look no further than these pilgrimage-worthy new spas, amenities, and wellness programs— from a confidence-boosting lunar retreat in Costa Rica to a female-centric “holistic leadership” in Greece and an insomnia-busting stay in a Namibian dark sky preserve. Plus, we round up our favorite urban wellness destinations in Paris, London, Tokyo, and beyond.

New Spas Around the World

The best new spas dig deep into their destinations’ healing traditions. Take the just-opened 30,000-square-foot Spa by Guerlain at Maroma, A Belmond Hotel, where Mayan-inspired healing rituals are front and center. Experiences include a constellation massage aligned with the cosmos; harvesting your own herbs from a traditional Kaánaché; and a unique sonic meditation powered by the buzzing of the sacred Melipona bee, revered by the Mayans for more than 3,000 years. Then in June, Cap Juluca Spa by Guerlain will debut on the white sands of Anguilla’s crescent-shaped Maundays Bay with exclusive new treatments and wellness programming inspired by the indigenous Arawak tribe. Meanwhile, the new spa at Kalesma taps into Mykonos’s mythological side: in ancient times, the island was considered the spiritual center of the Mediterranean due to its proximity to the pilgrimage of Delos. This history is reflected in the new sanctuary-like space, which invites guests to disconnect from the modern world and enjoy pampering treatments by Dr. Barbara Sturm plus a hammam, sauna, and cold plunge in a nod to the ancient Greeks’ love of hydrotherapy.

Summer and Fall Retreats to Book Now

From October 16-20, guests of Nayara Tented Camp will be able to partake in a unique wellness retreat timed to the “Full Hunter’s Moon,” a celestial spectacle characterized by a moon that appears larger and more orange than usual. Historically, these early evening moonrises signaled optimal times for harvesting and hunting, but the hunter’s moon can also illuminate a spiritual path toward growth and enlightenment. During the four-night retreat, guests will harness this radiant lunar energy to cultivate greater self-esteem and awareness.

Rethink traditional male-oriented leadership patterns during a four-day Holistic Leadership program at Greece’s Euphoria Retreat from June 12-16. As part of the program, participants will explore the power of yin (feminine) energy and learn about the role of intuition, cooperation, and compassion in decision making. The deeply personalized program—which is open to guests of all genders—has been designed by Euphoria founder Marina Efraimoglou, whose personal story of transformation informs the property’s globe-spanning healing philosophy.

In the South of France, La Réserve Ramatuelle has unveiled a new program designed to support women at various stages in their lives. Participants of the three- or six-day Women’s Better-Aging Journey will learn how to breathe and move better, how to alleviate stress and build resiliency through good eating habits, and how to relieve injuries and discomforts. Daily activities include invigorating walks along the coast and the pine-forested hills, yoga and Pilates, Nescens facial and body care rituals, and bespoke plant-forward meals at the two-starred Michelin restaurant La Voile.

Almanac Palais Vienna has launched new monthly Art Therapy Workshops in partnership with certified holistic art therapist and Create Art Therapy founder Petra Krassnitzer. The four-hour sessions promote the flow of energy in the body and stimulate sensory perceptions through a mixture of meditation and various creative exercises, such as kneading clay, painting on a canvas, or writing. These acts of self-expression aim to silence the inner voice and allow access to their emotional self – relieving stress and pent-up frustration and healing repressed past experiences. Upcoming sessions are available on September 29, October 27, November 17, and December 11, 2024 for up to 15 participants.

Treatments with a Sense of Place

New moon abundance ritual at Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons — As part of the New Moon Sound Ritual, guests will enjoy a seasonal meal around a communal table, followed by a Sacred Sound Journey featuring Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, and crystal singing bowls. Available June 8, July 6, August 4.

Byzantine hammam at Euphoria Retreat Greece — During this hot and steamy hammam experience, guests are massaged, oiled, and scrubbed down using crushed local olives, which are renowned for their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Ocean-plant-powered facial at Dromoland Castle — The newly opened Castle Spa features a range of treatments exclusive to the hotel, including the SEABODY Beauty and Wellness Spa Experience, which leverages the power of marine-based nutraceuticals harvested from Ireland’s Atlantic Coastline to optimize the skin’s health and vitality. Try the Seabody Touch Facial, which uses marine bio actives and Gua Sha facial massage techniques to boost circulation and support the lymphatic system.

Almescar Oil Massage at UXUA in Brazil —  Pure Almescar oil, or breu branco, is revered by Brazil’s Indigenous Pataxó people for its restorative qualities, musky scent, and its ability to ward off insects and bad spirits. At UXUA, the oil is used during tension-melting massages, brightening facials, and in homemade soaps.

Other treatments with a sense of place: Facials and massages at NOŪS Santorini incorporate Greek yogurt to strengthen the immune system. In Morocco’s Royal Mansour Marrakech, the bespoke hammam experience uses antioxidant-rich saffron from the nearby mountain village of Taliouine, on the edge of the Argan forest. At Nayara Resorts in Costa Rica, all scrubs and wraps for massages are made from organic coffee from a local farm. There is also a chocolate massage featuring local cacao beans.

Nighttime Wellness

Catch some Zzzs with these creative sleep programs and slumber-ready stays:

Located deep in the Namib, the world’s oldest living desert, andBeyond Sossusvlei borders Africa’s only International Dark Sky Reserve. With the nearest town 140 kilometers away from the lodge, there’s no light or noise pollution, setting the stage for dreamy nights in the property’s airy suites, all of which feature retractable skylights for in-bed stargazing.
Gili Lankanfushi’s “Mindful Dream” experience promotes a better night’s sleep through Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breathing technique), sound healing, aromatherapy, massage, and Good Night amenities like an eye mask, earplugs, hot water bottle, and scented pillows specifically for jet lag recovery.
The spa at Meadowood in Napa Valley offers sound therapy via a zero-gravity Therabody Lounger. The technology induces deep relaxation through full-body sound and vibrational waves,  bringing guests to a meditative state for a better night’s sleep.
Shou Sugi Ban House offers Vibroacoustic Sound Therapy, a research-backed treatment that transmits low-range frequencies (between 30 and 120 hertz/ pulses per second) via a massage-style treatment table. This healthy vibration results in a beneficial cellular-level response that has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, insomnia, acute pain and discomfort from physical injuries.

City Hotels with Wellness in Mind

La Réserve Genève

Despite its central location just three miles from downtown Geneva, La Réserve Genève feels worlds away from the hustle thanks to its prime address within a 10-acre park on the lake’s right bank, with views to the Jura mountains. The hotel’s privileged, nest-like location and 20,000-square-foot Nescens Spa (the city’s largest) makes it a popular wellness destination among travelers and medical practitioners alike.

Wellness Facilities: 17 treatment rooms, plus a solarium, a fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, two tennis courts, an indoor and outdoor pool.

Wow Factor: Nescens was developed by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine. Guests who participate in the signature Better Aging Programs receive a thorough medical evaluation on their first day. With the help of a team of professionals, guests gain a better understanding of their genetic, medical, dietary and psychological profile, which informs a personalized 4- or 7-day itinerary.

Good to Know: Guests can receive personal training specific to sport, like aqua-biking, swimming, Pilates, cardio dance, yoga, tennis and running. There is also a comprehensive list of group fitness classes offered daily.

La Réserve Paris

A Parisian sojourn isn’t always conducive to wellness (croissants, anyone?). But at La Réserve Paris, guests can easily keep up with their wellness routines at the Belle Époque-inspired spa and wellness facilities. The area is open 24/7, making it easy to squeeze in a couple laps at the pool before carrying on your day. It can also be bought out for the ultimate in privacy and relaxation.

Wellness Facilities: A 52-foot indoor pool, hammam, and a small fitness center

Wow Factor: The anti-aging treatments using Nescens products, which were developed at Switzerland’s Clinique de Genolier by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine

Good to know: The hotel offers wellness experiences such as aqua yoga, shiatsu massages and private fitness training. And in-room amenities include hand weights and Pilates stretch bands.

Royal Mansour Casablanca

Casablanca’s first luxury hotel has been reborn as the Royal Mansour Casablanca, the second property in the Royal Mansour Collection. Located in the heart of the city near the Old Medina and Art Deco district, the 149-room hotel features the largest suites in town plus private butler service, five restaurants and bars, insider experiences ranging from street art tours to a high-soaring flight above the cityscape and the city’s largest spa.

Wellness Facilities: The two-story, 25,000-foot wellness oasis includes treatment rooms, a fitness area, hammam, hair salon and a swimming pool set under an immense glass roof. Up on the 20th floor, there is also a Barber salon devoted to male beauty, with hair services conceived by hairdresser-barber Sarah Hamizi of La Barbière de Paris salons, the first female barber in Paris.

Wow Factor: Similar to its sister property in Marrakech, the spa will offer a traditional Moroccan hammam, which is sculpted from white marble and comprises three rooms differing in temperature and function. The hammam experience can be complemented with a variety of traditional therapies such as body wraps made with natural clay from the Atlas Mountains, saffron from the Taliouine region, or rose water from Kalaat M’Gouna. High-performance treatments range from HydraFacials and non-invasive cold plasma resurfacing to Indiba body contouring.

Good to know: The spa is the city’s largest and most comprehensive wellbeing sanctuary, combining traditional healing therapies, pampering body care remedies, and cutting-edge treatments. The spa carries five distinctive product lines, including the anti-aging-focused Bellefontaine Switzerland; the Ayurvedic-powered Subtle Energies; the pioneering marocMaroc brand, inspired by the beauty traditions of Moroccan women; the French haircare brand Leonor Greyl; and the plant-powered Proverb, which uses natural products and specialized massage techniques and body stretching to boost performance.

The Beaumont, London

In Mayfair, a neighborhood known for grand hotels, The Beaumont stands out with its intimate size (just 102 rooms and suites) and first-name service. It’s an insider’s kind of place — and the beautiful Art Deco spa (dubbed by Harper’s Bazaar as “the best London spa for unwinding in style”) is no exception.

Wellness Facilities: The spa features just two treatment rooms, but a ton of indulgent extras like a cold plunge pool, a hammam with dry heat, and steam and therapy rooms. Treatments include massages, body scrubs and wraps, and facials using Oskia London and Sultane de Saba products.

Good to Know: The hotel’s commitment to sustainable food sourcing and green cuisine: innovative vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menus are served (including a revamped traditional afternoon tea), and bee hives on the hotel roof produce enough honey to serve at breakfast all year.

The Marylebone, London

A down-to-earth classic in one of London’s most fashionable neighborhoods, The Marylebone proves that you can have style and substance. While the rooms have spa-like comforts such as marble-clad bathrooms with underfloor heating, you’ll want to hit the on-site wellness club to really reap the benefits of a stay.

Wellness Facilities: Guests enjoy complimentary access to on-site Third Space, one of London’s premium members-only health clubs, with the latest equipment, expert fitness professionals and trainers, plus saunas and a steam room.

Wow Factor: The on-site 60-foot swimming pool is a rarity for a hotel in central London.

Good to Know: The long list of complimentary classes for all levels and interests include Pilates, yoga, cycling, dance and strength/conditioning. It’s the perfect spot to try something new.

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