SPA SEARCH
ASIA
THE MANDARIN
SPA
HONG KONG, CHINA
Having undergone a massive $150 million,
nine-month-long renovation, Hong Kong’s renowned
Mandarin Oriental re-opened its doors in September 2008,
as did its luxurious Mandarin Spa center. Occupying
three floors, the spa incorporates diverse facilities
including a swimming pool, treatment rooms, modern fitness
studio, salon, and a 1930s Shanghai-styled barbershop.
The latter, decked out in dark woods and Chinese screen-printed
glass, is extremely popular with locals for its famed
Shanghainese Pedicure, in which razor blades, wielded
by the dexterous Mr. So, artfully prune your feet. The
pedicure’s waiting list is quite long, so make
reservations months in advance if possible. Incorporating
Ayurvedic and Chinese philosophies, the Mandarin Spa’s
body treatments/packages include the two-hour Oriental
Harmony ($365), in which two therapists (and their four
hands) scrub and massage you from head to toe, sometimes
at the same time, while the 105-minute Muscle Warmer
($230) eliminates stiffness, fatigue, and stimulates
blood flow with plenty of aromatic essential oils. I
opted for the signature Time Ritual, available in two
or three-hour increments ($243 and $365, respectively).
The Time Ritual’s hook is that you can combine
treatments and specific styles, from massage to facial
to aqua therapies, and designate how much time is spent
on each. I opted for a facial and Swedish-style massage.
Following a footbath, dimming of the lights, and chime
of a Tibetan Tingsha Bell, my gentle-voiced therapist
explained each step, asking questions when necessary
about my comfort and preferences. While laying on my
stomach for the massage, through the headrest I noticed
a pan of flower petal-laden water resting on the floor.
Once or twice, a warm rush of aromatherapy scent was
placed underneath as well. During the facial, my eyes
covered with moist cotton, my therapist examined my
skin under a bight dermatologist’s light and offered
her analysis and recommendations. Throughout, aromatherapy
played a big part. By the ritual’s second ring
of the Tingsha Bell, signifying its closure, I exited
soft, supple, and scented with essential oils. http://www.mandarinoriental.com
—Lawrence Ferber
SIX SENSES
SPA
MACAU, CHINA
The 35-story, $1.2 billion dollar MGM
Grand in Macau is home to a gorgeously modern, 2,720
square meters spa that complements the property’s
luxe, grandeur, and stunning design. A dozen treatment
areas offer sensory experiences, and numerous signature
packages incorporate body wraps, massages, and facials,
including the 140-minute Earth Ritual ($256), 230-minute
Metal ($416), 170-minute Wood ($326), and 230-minute
Siam Suite Journey ($540). The latter, one of Six Senses’
VIP Journeys, takes place in a sumptuous suite and includes
an herbal scrub, Thai herbal compress, and foot massage.
Every treatment includes the Fire and Water Ritual,
which is to say, access to all facilities. I was led
to the men’s locker room and assisted/catered to
throughout by at least one male assistant. First stop,
the Flotation Pool, a darkly atmospheric, almost cinematic
room illuminated solely by the glow of changing, colored
lights. After bobbing around for a while, I headed to
the brighter, warmer Vitality Pool, a gigantic Jacuzzi
overlooking the South China Sea. Sets of metal pipes
serve as recliners while a froth of bubbles, jetting
up from in between them, massages you. Next, a sit in
the Hammam, also a cinematic space with little stars
flickering overhead against a simulated night sky. To
literally cool off, I visited the Snow Room, where powdery
snow coated the ground and a pedestal. Leaving pressed
footprints behind me, I headed to the specialized experience
showers—one cool, one warm—and braced further
when a chilled, minty mist sprayed my entirety. Eager
for a little balance, I rested on a heated ceramic recliner,
then settled down in a Foot Bath throne so my feet could
fully thaw out in warm, bubbly bliss. By now it was
time for my treatment, the 80-minute Six Senses Fusion
Massage ($150), an exclusive combination of Swedish,
Thai, Sports, and Aromatherapy. The blend of stretching
and kneading with essential oils of my choice was a
winning gamble, to say the least. http://www.mgmgrandmacau.com
—Lawrence Ferber
CLUB ON THE
PARK
OKYO, JAPAN
What does the weary salary man do at
the end of a stressful day on the job in Tokyo? If he’s
anywhere near the Park Hyatt Tokyo, he just may head
to the hotel’s Club on the Park spa, where a new
line of men’s facial and body treatments has been
introduced this year. Created by the Australian company
Aesop, the treatments include deluxe facials, designed
for long-haul travelers, which make use of masks and
exfoliants to detoxify and rejuvenate frequent fliers
who’ve spent too many hours in the air. Don’t
think that the Club on the Park is neglecting its female
clientele; this 22,600-square-foot oasis offers plenty
of TLC for both sexes, with massage, shiatsu, aromatherapy,
reflexology, and even “head therapy” (aimed
to improve blood flow and firm facial skin). Blissfully
presiding over the 47th floor of the Park Hyatt tower—and
a world away from the rush of the city below—the
Club on the Park is graced with impressive views of
the city and Mount Fuji. After you’ve detoxified
and refreshed, you may relax, work out in the gym, enjoy
the 26-by-65-foot swimming pool, and even indulge in
gourmet delights from the poolside menu. http://www.hyatt.com
—Mark Chesnut
SIX SENSES
SPA
MALDIVES
Life doesn’t get much better than
on the tropical Shangri-La of Soneva Gili Six Senses
Resort & Spa. From the moment you cross the waters
of the crystalline blue lagoon and step ashore, it’s
“no news and no shoes” on this tiny island
of sugar white sands and rustling palms. Each humongous,
over-the-water villa is stunning with an air conditioned
bedroom, open lounge and bathroom, private sunning deck,
and an upper look-out deck. The extensive organic garden
serves up fresh fruits and vegetables daily, and candlelit
dinners are enjoyed on the beach with wavelets lapping
at your feet. After several days of snorkeling, scuba
diving, kayaking, wind surfing, and yoga, my body was
ready for some TLC, so I scheduled a treatment at the
Spa Center (ask for Timmy; former clients include Roger
Federer and Michael Schumacher), with its balconies
and treatment rooms open to the lagoon. A unique feature
is the glass floor panel beneath the massage table.
Through the face rest I could see an occasional fish
swim past as I relaxed into the traditional European
Full-Body Massage (60 min. $125). Other options from
the extensive pampering and signature therapies include
the Soneva (90 min. $360) luxurious footbath, a cleansing
facial, a stress relieving scalp massage, and a massage
performed by two therapists. The Pada Dhara (45 min.
$95) is a great pick me up after flying, easing the
discomfort of tired, swollen legs and feet with the
application of herbal oil. An hour before sunset I swam
out to a hammock suspended over the turquoise shallows
to marvel in the colors, lights, and shadows that comprise
this magical time of day. http://www.sixsenses.com
—Bill Strubbe
Continued
1
| 2
NEXT>>
|
Masters
of Food and Wine