The best destination spas
In 2005, Travel and Leisure magazine rated many international spas based on their service, ambience, treatments, and value. The top ten spas with the highest overall ratings were named the best destination spas in the world. This article will list the top ten spas as decided by Travel and Leisure and provide information on their services, location, and specialization:
10. Lake Austin Spa Resort
Lake Austin Spa Resort, located in Austin, Texas, was ranked 10th among the best in the 2005 awards. Specializing primarily in the areas of fitness and self-awareness, Lake Austin Spa Resort offers fitness classes, water sports, gardening, cooking , self-awareness, special interests, relationships, and arts and crafts. They have been voted among the top ten best spas in the US by many sources over the past four years.
9. Canyon Ranch at the Berkshires Health Resort
Canyon Ranch at Berkshires Health Resort, located in Lenox, Massachusetts, was voted ninth best in the 2005 awards. The 100,000-square-foot spa contains yoga studios, indoor swimming, indoor jogging track, tennis, racquetball and squash courts, rooms of spa and 126 hotel rooms and suites. Some of the activities offered at Canyon Ranch at Berkshires Health Resort include hiking, biking, tennis, canoeing, kayaking, rowing, snowshoeing, and skiing. Canyon Ranch specializes in health-related spa visits and therefore offers stress management, pain management, and smoking cessation packages, among others.
8. Terme di Saturnia
Terme di Saturnia, located in Grosseto, Italy, was voted 8th best in the 2005 awards. Staff members speak many languages to serve their guests of many nationalities. Terme di Saturnia is a wellness, health and pampering spa, offering exceptional spa services, fitness classes and diet menus, and cosmetology and dermatology services. The spa is built around a large thermal pool in which, 3000 years ago, Etruscan warriors bathed to help heal their wounds.
7. Golden Gate
Golden Door, located in Escondido, California, was voted 7th best in the 2005 awards. Golden Door offers weeklong health and fitness programs, world-class spa, beauty and fitness facilities, gourmet cuisine, a high proportion of staff per guest, only weeks for men or women, mixed weeks and private weeks for company trips. The food at Golden Door is all organic. His fruits and vegetables are grown in his own organic garden, his turkey is free-range on local farms, and his fish is caught fresh from the Pacific Ocean.
6. Canyon Ranch Health Resort
Canyon Ranch Health Resort, located in Tucson, Arizona, was voted sixth best in the 2005 awards. However, they were voted best overall in 1999, 2000 and 2001. The focus at Canyon Ranch is on health and wellness in all aspects. They offer award-winning, nutritious cuisine, preventive and integrative medicine, fitness classes, healing waters, and programs designed for emotional health as well. Canyon Ranch is located in the desert and offers several types of rooms to choose from during your stay.
5. Rancho La Puerta
Rancho La Puerta, located in Tecate, Mexico, was voted fifth best in the 2005 awards. The focus at Rancho La Puerta is pampering and staying fit. The pampering services offered at Rancho La Puerta are numerous, offering eight different types of massages, seven types of body treatments, five different facials, salon services, head, hand and foot services, and hydrotherapy. In addition, they offer fitness classes, Pilates, tennis, arts, crafts, lectures, and walks.
4. Hilton Head Health Institute
Hilton Head Health Institute, located in South Carolina, was voted fourth best in the 2005 awards. The focus at Hilton Head Health Institute is on weight loss and chronic disease management. Mainly, they help people learn healthier eating habits to lose weight, prevent or control diabetes, or improve cardiovascular health. They also offer smoking cessation classes, fitness classes, and spa services.
3. Green Valley Spa
Green Valley Spa, located in George, Utah, was voted third best in the 2005 awards. While Green Valley Spa doesn’t appear to have a specialization, it does seem to suit nature lovers. Guests can hike, mountain bike, rock climb, and go horseback riding in local state and national parks like Zion Brice, Grand Canyon, and Snow Canyon. However, Green Valley Spa also offers weight loss and fitness activities, general spa services, award-winning cuisine, medical procedures, and spiritual activities.
2. Mii Amo
Mii Amo, located in Sedona, Arizona, was voted second best in the 2005 awards. Mii Amo’s focus is on physical health, emotional well-being, and spiritual renewal. Activities at Mii Amo include hiking, yoga, tennis, water aerobics, meditation, photography, and Native American storytelling. In addition, Mii Amo offers general spa services.
1. Miraval – Life in balance
Miraval – Life in Balance, located in Catalina, Arizona, was voted the best spa in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine in 2005. Miraval’s spa offerings include massage and hydrotherapy suites, a full salon, a quiet room, wet steam, dry sauna and whirlpool rooms. In addition, they offer numerous activities, including fitness, golf and tennis, nutrition, creative expression, meditation, yoga, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and climbing, among others.