The Best Luxury Spas - Where To Travel For Wellness In 2018

As we enter 2018, for many of us, thoughts are turning to how we will enjoy our travel experiences in the new year. The post-festive period is a time of resolutions and rejuvenation, and travel can provide the perfect way to kick start your year with wellness in mind.

For travellers who enjoy a little indulgence, the chance to unwind, escape the humdrum, and simply breathe in an exceptional destination is high on the list of priorities. And there are few better ways to do so than a visit to one of the best spas in the world:

| Travel Inspiration

1. Best Luxury Spa In London, UK: ESPA Life at Corinthia

Nearest Hideaway: Kensington Gardens

Open: Daily, 9am-10pm

A seamless and indulgent fusion of high modernity and impeccable Victoriana, The Corinthia - a short distance from Westminster, in London - is one of the most decadent and groundbreaking spas in the British capital. Offering an award-winning, holistic approach to health and wellbeing, ESPA Life has assembled a globally-acclaimed team of naturopaths, acupuncturists, herbalists, osteopaths, and spa professionals to ensure nothing but the very finest treatments and experiences for their guests.

With 17 treatment rooms spread across 4 floors - including everything from Thermal Floor rooms to vitality pools, and ice fountains to marble heated loungers - this is one of the best settings in which to indulge in a day of pampering. Whether it's a traditional massage or beauty treatment, an appointment at the Daniel Galvin Hair Salon, or even an alternative therapy, ESPA Life offers nothing but the best.

Recommended Treatment: ESPA Time

You'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to a selection of treatments, with everything from sports massages to bamboo joint releases available, but for a one-off visit, the ESPA Time treatment might be the best choice. With packages lasting between 2 and 4 hours, ESPA's experts will select the most suitable treatments for you, and tailor them to you personally. It's a fantastic introduction to Corinthia

2. Best Luxury Spa In Marrakech - La Mamounia

Nearest Hideaways: Dar Lain and Dar Hasnaa

Open: 9am to 9pm

Visiting a spa in Morocco isn't just about relaxation: it's an authentic, immersive cultural experience. In Morocco, both men and women regularly frequent 'hammams' (local bathhouses) to unwind, with body care rituals being an integral part of the culture for thousands of years. And a treatment at La Mamounia in Marrakech is the perfect opportunity to experience the ritual of the hammam for yourself.

Ascending a set of magnificent, Majorelle stairs, you'll be offered an assortment of entirely authentic Moroccan treatments. Beautiful, traditional architecture, with zellige tilework, authentic tadelakt plaster, and countless arcades and alcoves create the perfect setting in which to enjoy a traditional therapy, featuring nothing but pure, natural, local products: Ghassoul clay from the Moulouya Valley, saffron, and black soap are all regularly used at La Mamounia.

Recommended Treatment: The Private Spa

There's plenty to choose from on the menu at La Mamounia, with plenty of classics including facials and massages, and even some more unusual therapies, such as hypnosis-based treatments. Perhaps the best way to experience the beauty of La Mamounia is the Private Spa.

The Private Spa offers you completely individual access to a hammam, a jacuzzi, a hairdressing salon, and a multipurpose booth with 2 treatment tables, a shower and a dressing room - allowing you to curate your own perfect session in complete seclusion.

3. Best Luxury Spa In Bangkok - The Mandarin Oriental

Nearest Hideaway: The River

Open: 9am to 10pm

Known to locals as the 'City of Angels', Bangkok is a vibrant, bustling melting pot of global culture. Our luxury apartment - The River - lies on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and doesn't just offer our Members a chance to enjoy this exciting destination, but is also situated in proximity to what is frequently regarded as one of the best spas in the world: The Mandarin Oriental. A short river shuttle ride will transport you from the city to one of the most impressive spas on this list.

The treatments at the Mandarin Oriental have a simple but ancient and traditional Thai focus. Good health and beauty are achieved through methods including massage, herbal remedies, and meditation, and an afternoon in the spa's 100 year-old teakhouse is the perfect way to experience these restorative techniques for yourself. Treatments are often performed on the traditional floor mattress, and blend both Western and Thai techniques. The experience is tailored to your individual needs, and is determined via a private consultation on arrival - complete with a soothing cup of tea.

Recommended treatment: 'The Perfect Day'

With an extensive and detailed list of treatments on offer, ranging from simple massages and facials to Ayurvedic therapies, making the right choice at the Mandarin Oriental is a challenging task. Fortunately, the dedicated staff will help guide your decision, and ensure your experience is exceptional. Possibly the best option to enjoy all the luxury of the spa however is 'The Perfect Day', which is available to individuals and couples alike.

Lasting 5 and a half hours, this package includes a body wrap, body scrub, massage, age repair facial and a meal, along with herbal and fruit teas and 'spa snacks'. All of the treatments are completely bespoke, and you can choose from any on offer to suit your own personal taste.

4. Best Luxury Spa In Miami - The Carillon Hotel and Spa

Nearest Hideaway: The Carillon

Open: Wellness Resort open 24 hours, reservations required for spa

Our apartment in Miami - The Carillon - is set within the same building as one of the best spas in the city (and the US), the Carillon Wellness Resort. Set along 750 metres of private beach, this resort is a luxurious and impressive complex. With floor to ceiling views of the Atlantic throughout its 70,000 square metres, it's also the largest and most comprehensive wellness resort in Florida, and a must visit for travellers to the city seeking respite, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

With everything from a fully-equipped, state-of-the-art fitness suite (with two storey rock wall), to a treatment menu offering almost every kind of therapy imaginable - both modern and traditional - a visit to the Carillon Spa is more than just a chance to revitalise: it's a one-of-a-kind memory that will last long after you've returned.

Recommended treatment: The Thermal Experience

With so many exceptional options, it's tricky to narrow down the offerings of the Carillon. But if you only have time for one visit, the thermal experience is surely top of the list of must-trys. This exclusive treatment mirrors European hydrotherapy traditions, and involves a journey through nine uniquely tailored spaces and rooms, forming a wellness circuit unlike any other.

The route will take you through a herbal laconium, crystal steam room and experiential rains section, as well as a sauna and variety of spas, before ending in Miami's only igloo - where three arctic mist treatments will cool you down, improve circulation, and boost your energy.

call a concierge