The most relaxing spas from around the globe

With its windswept beaches and immaculate golf courses, Baja California has become one of Mexico’s best-loved boltholes. The 33km stretch of coast near Cabo San Lucas is dotted with starry hotels and spas frequented by the Hollywood crowd and intrepid Europeans willing to make the trek. It’s worth it. The spa at the old-school Esperanza offers modern reworkings of ancient Mexican healing remedies; there’s an aloe wrap, a body mask using red clay from the surrounding desert, a coconut and Bajan lime exfoliation, and even a beer and lime facial.
At the nearby One & Only Palmilla, where the spa is made up of private villas with secluded courtyards, ingredients are equally indigenous. Compresses made from local herbs, chocolate oil, and obsidian hot stones are all designed to achieve máalob kuxtal (‘wellbeing’ in Mayan).
Across the Pacific, at Mi Xun, the spa at the Temple House Hotel in Chengdu, bespoke bamboo tools are used to exfoliate, cleanse and pamper. Located in a heritage building, the spa offers Parisian Thémaé products made from tea extracts.
Saunas and plunge pools are a highlight at the Chedi Andermatt spa in Switzerland, which also comes with a scented salt steam bath. Austrian brand Alpienne was called in to create a bespoke range of products based on plants and fruits from the surrounding Alpine slopes.
Last but not least is Matteo Thun’s spa for the Richard Meier-designed Falkensteiner Hotel Jesolo in Venice. It boasts indoor and outdoor pools and a private beach with outstanding views, while treatments range from bespoke Acquapura facials to cryotherapy.
As originally featured in the December 2015 issue of Wallpaper* (W*201)
The spa at Esperanza offers modern reworkings of ancient Mexican healing remedies
The nearby One & Only Palmilla spa comprises clusters of secluded villas and courtyards
A hop across the Pacific brings us to Mi Xun, China, and Tables Temple House Hotel
The minimalist spa offers Parisian Thémaé products made from locally sourced tea extracts
Warm up after a dive down the slopes at the Chedi Andermatt spa in Switzerland, with a dip in a scented salt steam bath
Austrian brand Alpienne was called in to create a bespoke range of products based on plants and fruits from the surrounding Alpine slopes
Matteo Thun’s spa for the Richard Meier-designed Falkensteiner Hotel Jesolo in Venice
... where you can take your pick from an indoor or outdoor pool, or a private cove beach.
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Emma O'Kelly is a freelance journalist and author based in London. Her books include Sauna: The Power of Deep Heat and she is currently working on a UK guide to wild saunas, due to be published in 2025.
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