SPA SEARCH
SOUTH AMERICA
THE ALVEAR
PALACE
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
If you’re giving Buenos Aires its
due justice—sight-seeing, tango lessons, dining and
imbibing, walking, clubbing, shopping—you should
be exhausted and sore, and at some point during your stay
a massage is going to be just what you need. The newly
opened (early 2008) Fitness Center and Spa at the Alvear
Palace Hotel is just the touch you’ll want. Located
in the Recoleta (Evita’s mausoleum is nearby), this
Old World-style hotel exemplifies European elegance and
offers customized service provided by experienced staff.
The spa features a swimming pool, steam bath, sauna, pressure
showers, hydro-massage showers, relaxation rooms, and
a Ludic Pool—a large Jacuzzi-like pool with a profusion
of tingling bubbles. Before my massage, I walked several
times through the hydro-massage circuit, which is a stimulating
jaunt through a water course of differing temperatures
carpeted with pebbles. For tango aficionados, suggested
treatments from the extensive spa menu are: the Thai Massage
(90 min. $130) that stimulates energy meridians and releases
joint tension with stretching movements; Shiatsu (90 min.
$130), the Swiss Cellular Treatment for Men (75 min. $135)
focusing on the special skin needs of men, and the unique
Caviar Facial Treatment (60 min. $180; at that price you
might as well get in a lick or two). Oh yes, and besides
its fine restaurant 365 (for its number of wines: one
for each day of the year), do not miss the Alvear’s
renowned Sunday buffet brunch in their lush L’ Orangerie
blooming with flowers. http://www.alvearpalace.com
—Bill Strubbe
COPACABANA
PALACE SPA
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
It’s hard to believe that the most
famous hotel in Rio de Janeiro, the Copacabana Palace,
has been around for more than 80 years. With its façade
still as fresh and bright as when it welcomed South
America’s first globetrotters in the early 20th
century, this classic confection of timeless glamour
continues to draw some of Rio’s most demanding
visitors. Now a member of the Orient-Express family,
the Copacabana Palace last year unveiled the new Copacabana
Palace Spa, which stretches across three floors, offering
an array of treatments that reflect the excitement of
Rio in rather imaginative ways. Choose the Bossa Nova
package, which includes a body scrub and massage performed
to the rhythm of Bossa Nova music; or the Amazon package,
which uses a hydro-massage and indigenous Brazilian
herbs from the Amazon rainforest, including Andiroba,
Pitanga, and Brazilian nut. The spa also has its own
freshly designed food and drink menu, created by Francesco
Carli, executive chef at the hotel’s popular Cipriani
Restaurant. Indulge in delicacies including cereal tartlet
with mushrooms, tofu hamburgers, and sun-dried fruits—all
delicious yet healthful, and designed to energize you
after your long trip down to Rio. Before long, you’ll
be feeling like new, and ready to hit Copacabana’s
gay beach, which, conveniently enough, lies just across
the street from the hotel. http://www.copacabanapalace.com.br
—Mark Chesnut
THE RITZ-CARLTON
SANTIAGO, CHILE
When possible, I like to recover from
a long, overseas flight in the hotel spa; stretching
out leg and back muscles on a yoga mat, breathing moist
air to re-hydrate airline desiccated sinuses, and rejuvenating
my cramped body with a massage treatment. Minutes after
the bellhop deposited my suitcase in my room on the
Ritz-Carlton’s Club Floor (where they serve
up complimentary pastries, hors d’oeuvres, desserts,
fresh juices, and cocktails), I called the spa concierge
to reserve a treatment and headed up to the roof-top
health club. The 7,440-square-foot space under the arching
glass cupola high above the city bustle provides fantastic
views of Santiago and the snow-capped Andes in the distance.
In addition to the requisite fitness equipment and cardio
machines, there’s a sauna, steam bath, whirlpool,
indoor heated swimming pool, and a sun deck on the terrace.
After a workout and swim, I was ready for my Hot Stone
Massage (80 min. $175), an unusual and satisfying therapy
using heated basalt stones and essential oils to stimulate
and balance energy points of the body. Other great treatment
options are: the Two Zone Massage (30 min. $56), aromatherapy
massage focusing on neck, head, and feet; and the Deluxe
Chocolate (60 min. $134), a luxurious skin conditioning
beauty treatment promoting energy and vitality that
leaves your skin smooth, thanks to cocoa hydration properties.
http://www.ritzcarlton.com
—Bill Strubbe
SPA VIDA
GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA
The province called Guanacaste is the
fastest-growing region for tourism in Costa Rica right
now, and Hilton Hotels Corporation has taken
note. This year, they took over the former Premier Fiesta
Resort and Spa, gave it a beautiful refurbishing, and
relaunched it as the Hilton Papagayo Resort Costa Rica.
One of the most noticeable results of the Hilton investment
is the newly expanded Spa Vida, which now offers 13
treatment rooms—some open-air, some enclosed and
air-conditioned—overlooking a peaceful, adults-only
pool area. Many of the treatments here employ indigenous
ingredients, including volcanic stones and local fruits.
You may soften your feet with a volcanic pedicure, pamper
your face with a deep sea facial, or simply make use
of the spa’s amply sized fitness center, beauty
parlor, Jacuzzi, and sauna. Afterwards, enjoy gourmet
Costa Rican, Italian, and international cuisine at one
of the resort’s three restaurants. Then retire
to the handsomely redecorated guest rooms and bungalows,
which are tucked into the hills overlooking the beach.
You’ll be lulled to peaceful sleep with only the
distant sound of the waves to soothe you. http://www.hilton.com
—Mark Chesnut
|
Masters
of Food and Wine