Longevity. Spirituality. Healthy ageing. Mindfulness. In a world where the lines between physical, mental and spiritual health are increasingly blurred, hotels with spa have become one-stop-shops for addressing all our wellness needs. From the tranquil shores of the Seychelles to the majestic peaks of Oman, our shortlist of spa havens offers a sanctuary where you can unwind, rejuvenate and reconnect with yourself.
Jump to:
- Jungle wellness in the Seychelles
- High-altitude aromatherapy in Oman
- Popular Spas in Italy: following in the footsteps of the emperors in Rome
- Historic Wellness Retreats in Budapest: Mud, Minerals, and Thermal Springs
- Top wellness retreats in Thailand: Relaxation at Hua Hin and Phuket
- Couples’ day spa in Hunter Valley, Australia
- FAQs
Jungle wellness in the Seychelles
Step on the tarmac, and the exquisite beauty of Mahé envelops you in comforting serenity like a weighted blanket. Local resorts take the striking beauty of the Seychelles and, with a few architectural flourishes, turn it into something straight out of a Bounty commercial.
Instead of a prosaic enclosed treatment suite, you are
lulled into tranquillity in an open-sided pavilion framed by nature. The dreaded piped music gives way to the sounds of the actual tropical forest, and above you, the gently rustling palm fronds send dappled sunlight your way, replacing artificial ambient light.
At Anantara Maia Seychelles Villas, everything from muscle-melting massages to Vichy shower therapy and bathing rituals is conducted in just such open-sided pavilions, giving a new meaning to the concept of healing in nature.
Choose from magnesium-rich infusions for quality sleep and deep-hued relaxing soaks with warming spices and purifying mud. Couples can try the romantic bubble bath, inhaling the sensual blend of ylang-ylang, sandalwood and bergamot—available for in-villa enjoyment as well.
High-altitude aromatherapy in Oman
On the Arabian Peninsula, hotels with spa skillfully deploy traditional wellness therapies that draw from Oman’s natural resources. The kingdom is renowned for its aromatics, such as frankincense, popular in both traditional medicine and aromatherapy, and premium rose oil extracted from the delicate Damask blossoms grown on Jebel Akhdar Mountain.
Many Omani hotels offer a traditional hammam experience, combining hydrotherapy and thermal therapy with an invigorating scrub, leaving your skin baby soft. While no longer serving the purpose of public baths, hammams still retain popularity in the Middle East, making them a great way to experience local culture.
For a luxury hammam experience, try the spa at Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort. The highest spa retreat in Oman welcomes you with a swirling cloud of bakhour – smouldering wood chips soaked in essential oils – a scenic path leading you into a lavishly decorated, steam-cloaked room with a heated marble slab in place of a massage table.
In addition to the physical benefits offered by steaming – detoxification, improved circulation, respiratory health and better skin – it is also deeply grounding, turning your attention to what is happening to you in that moment.
Popular Spas in Italy: following in the footsteps of the emperors in Rome
Europe is another hotspot for classic hydrotherapy rituals. The legendary Thermae Diocletiani, or Baths of Diocletian, were ancient Rome’s largest public bath complex, complete with an outdoor swimming pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a mosaic of Medusa and mystery rooms. They were intended to be the greatest baths ever built and no expense was spared.
Although only a small part of the magnificent complex is open to the public today, and bathing there is not permitted, you can unwind with modern therapies inspired by the storied Roman thermae at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel. The hotel is built on the foundations of the Baths of Diocletian, and its rooftop spa draws on a history of Roman hydro-wellness.
You will feel like the emperor Diocletian himself with Anantara Spa’s hero Terme di Diocleziano ritual where you are first scrubbed with sea salt mixed with olive oil, honey and herbs, then wrapped in salt-pan mud to detoxify and left alone in the steam room to prepare the skin for the healing properties of a full-body massage with St. John’s wort oil.
Historic Wellness Retreats in Budapest: Mud, Minerals, and Thermal Springs
As our search for the best hotels with spa continues, we visit Budapest, another European capital renowned for its long history of thermal wellness. For your introduction to the medicinal properties of local mineral-rich waters, start with the famous Miskolctapolca Cave Bath. This marvel of gin-blue thermal pools two hours outside of Budapest is Europe's only thermal cave.
Conveniently, both the caves and Lake Hévíz, a natural wonder and the world's largest biologically active thermal lake, are open for bathing year-round. In the summer, you can combine bathing with canoeing, caving and hiking in the picturesque forest around the lake.
In winter, the lake's temperature remains a warm 24°C, creating a surreal scene with curling wisps of steam that are both cosy and deeply relaxing.
Lake Hévíz is also the source of cosmetic-grade mud that is used in Hungarian Hévíz Mud Therapy at Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel – a thorough exfoliation of the back, followed by the application of warm thermal mud to ease muscle tension and a stress-relieving back massage. Your office syndrome-weary body will thank you!
Top wellness retreats in Thailand: Relaxation at Hua Hin and Phuket
As wonderful as they feel, sometimes we need more than a hot stone massage or a facial. Enter multi-day wellness retreats that combine luxurious hotel stays with roadmaps to better health. With accommodation, wellness meals and epigenetic testing included, you can bring your family for support or embark on the journey alone, surrounded by like-minded individuals.
Perfect for those seeking support as they enter a new phase of life, the “whole of life” approach of Layan Life in Phuket aims to unlock vitality at any age. Whether you are concerned with metabolic health, sleep disturbances, reduced mobility or visible signs of ageing, the center’s clinicians will guide you through a process that begins with an in-depth assessment and continues for as long as support is needed.
If all that’s standing between you and a healthier lifestyle is motivation, the wellness à la carte concept offered by Avani Well in Hua Hin is designed to help you kick-start healthy habits through weekend resets, serene staycations and fully customisable week-long programmes.
Couples’ day spa in Hunter Valley, Australia
Another retreat focusing on immersive wellness experiences for mind, body and spirit is Elysia Wellness Retreat, nestled in the Hunter Valley, Australia. Elysia offers a selection of wellness activities and day spa treatments including indoor yoga, remedial massage and skin health consultation. Head to meditation hill where you might see a kangaroo or two at dusk.
Emerge better equipped to navigate life’s challenges with our selection of inspiring hotels with spa. Reap the benefits of contrast therapy, surrender to top-to-toe massage indulgence and escape from the world for a week of wellness with Minor Hotels’ Spa & Wellness experiences.
