With the hustle of holiday parties over, it’s time to give yourself a break by taking a trip to a luxury destination spa. There’s no better way to start the New Year. More than pampering palaces, destination spas provide comprehensive life enhancement programs that nourish and rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. With people rushing to get back to their normal routines and congesting airport terminals, complement your trip by booking a private jet to and from your destination.
The BodyHoliday | LeSport, St. Lucia
Photo by Jim G
The only resort in the Caribbean to win a Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice award as a Top Destination Spa in 2015, BodyHoliday is an all-inclusive resort that blends everything you love about island resorts and destination spas. Participation in one of the spa’s many activities and classes—which include archery, diving, golf, tennis, cycling, tai chi and yoga—is optional. If you’d rather sit back and relax, check into the Wellness Centre for a restorative personalized treatment. Unlike some resort spas, BodyHoliday does not skimp on food. Chefs prepare healthy, fresh meals at the resort’s various dining options, including the award-winning Tao.
Golden Door | San Marcos, California
Photo by Paul VanDerWerf
Rated as Travel + Leisure’s top spa destination in the world, it won’t take you long to reach the Golden Door when you charter a private jet. The 60-acre California resort takes its inspiration from Japan’s traditional ryokan inns, providing you with an immersive spa experience that doesn’t require an overnight flight, which is great when you want a weekend getaway. The 40 guest rooms are single occupancy—perfect for when you need some time alone—with their own tranquil Japanese gardens and moon viewing decks. With a staff-to-guest ratio of 4:1, the Golden Door perfectly meets all your needs. And, you don’t have to worry about packing; the resort provides you with all the clothes you’ll need, save undergarments. Wellness activities at the Golden Door include fitness, nutrition, mindfulness, and pain management with treatments such as acupuncture, reflexology and chakra cleansing. As you enjoy your day, the kitchen prepares organic cuisine using fresh ingredients from it biodynamic garden. Making you feel even better about your stay, the Golden Door recently pledged 100 percent of its profits to charities.
Rancho La Puerta | Tecate, Mexico
Set on over 3,000 acres in the foothills of Mexico’s Mount Kuchumaa, Rancho La Puerta has been on the Travel + Leisure top 10 list for over a decade. The resort provides a healthy distraction from the stresses of life while encouraging integrative wellness through physical fitness, delicious cuisine, art, mindfulness, nature, entertainment and workshops. The cooking classes in a newly open kitchen, for example, provide a colorful, aromatic experience with world-renowned guest chefs. Between the various activities, delight in the Ranch’s spa experience with treatments that cleanse, relax, restore and energize.
Aro Hā Wellness Retreat | Glenorchy, South Island, New Zealand
Photo by Tom Hall
If the cold winter weather has you feeling blue, fly to the opposite hemisphere in a private jet to enjoy warm summer weather. Overlooking Lake Wakatipu, Aro Hā in New Zealand’s Southern Alps is an intimate 20-room lodge with a signature all-inclusive “wellness adventure” program, BREATH. BREATH includes activities such as yoga, strength training, vegetarian meals, spa therapy, hiking, mindfulness training, massage, small groups and food preparation classes. The lure of Aro Hā is its minimalistic-chíc eco-accommodation on a self-sustaining property and its physically challenging program. The setting between snowcapped peaks and a cerulean lake makes the experience unforgettable.