Relaxing Spa Resorts Worth The Splurge
When suffering from burnout or showing physical symptoms of stress, a trip to the spa can be more necessity than luxury. If one has the means, turning the trip into an indulgent vacation can be more than worth the price — imagine big comfy beds, fancy food, massages, whirlpools and the works.
With accolades and renown from publications like Travel + Leisure, Forbes and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as acclaim on TripAdvisor and Yelp, these spa resorts have rooms and treatments that may require a splurge, but it's one that guests won't regret.
The Lodge at Woodloch (Hawley, Pennsylvania)
One of the most charming hotels in America, The Lodge at Woodloch is an adults-only getaway in the Poconos with impressive amenities, including its Aqua Garden that has an outdoor whirlpool guests can use year-round, an indoor pool that was specially designed for aquatic fitness classes, and soaking pools featuring heated "Hydromassage WaterWalls." Splurge-worthy treatments include the Sleep Ritual, a relaxing 75-minute massage for $370 meant to help guests get back to their natural sleep patterns, and Rosemary Awakening, a body treatment that utilizes rosemary and mint along with other essential oils to cleanse and detoxify. Rosemary Awakening can run up to $365 for 125 minutes.
Mii Amo (Sedona, Arizona)
Sedona is the kind of stunning, serene destination favored by retirees and couples looking for a quaint getaway. Mii Amo offers guests three, four and seven-day stays filled with food, meditation, exercise, art classes and both luxury spa and Native American-inspired therapies that can run up to $3,000 but include spa credits and food.
Sundara Inn & Spa (Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin)
The Wisconsin Dells are known to be a family-friendly getaway, but skip the famous waterparks and heads straight to this spa resort surrounded by picturesque pine trees for a more relaxing vacation. Its extensive spa options include treatments and massages infused with CBD, Thai bodywork, meditative reflexology, a thermal mud wrap, coffee bean firming body wrap and a signature salt scrub treatment. A weekend spa day package with three treatments will come in just under $400.
Twin Farms (Barnard, Vermont)
Situated on a secluded plot of 300 beautiful acres in New England, Twin Farms consists of quaint cottages, cozy rooms and artfully decorated farmhouse suites. As the seasons change, so do the landscape, the menu and the activities available at this resort. Twin Farms' Bridgehouse Spa offers treatments such as a Detoxifying Herbal Wrap — $290 for 90 minutes — that cleanses the body of toxins and promotes lymphatic flow.
Amangiri (Canyon Point, Utah)
At its 25,000-square-foot Aman Spa, the oasis that is Amangiri offers Navajo-inspired spa treatments, as well as pilates and yoga classes. The spa has a water pavilion with a sauna, steam room, heated step pool and plunge pool, as well as a flotation pavilion with a finishing salon and private space for relaxation. You can receive one of three Grounding Rituals for $400, or all three for $750. A sister resort, Camp Sarika, is also planned for an April debut, making Canyon Point a top destination for 2020.
Westglow Resort & Spa (Blowing Rock, North Carolina)
A hidden American gem in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the village of Blowing Rock is home to the relaxing Westglow Resort & Spa. The resort is a cozy, intimate spot with just 11 guest accommodations and a staff-to-guest ratio of four to one. There is access to daily guided hikes, fitness classes and spa facilities that include an indoor pool, whirlpools, steam room, sauna and relaxing private treatments. Spa services include Raindrop Therapy, in which oils are dripped onto the spine from six inches above and then rubbed into the entire body to help with back pain and immune function, and a Firming Seaweed and Mud Wrap, which uses algae, vitamins and minerals taken from french green sea clay and seaweed to firm and tone skin in a luxurious treatment — neither of which will run you over $150.
Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa (Ojo Caliente, New Mexico)
Whether you're looking for a spa getaway or a lovely date spot, the private outdoor mineral pools and multiple therapeutic massage options at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa make for complete relaxation. Taking influence from the Native American cultures that have thrived in New Mexico, one particular treatment rubs blue corn, prickly pear and sea salt into the skin to nourish it and improve circulation for $109. Visitors can also enjoy Southwest dining, plus hiking, biking and birdwatching.
The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch (Saratoga, Wyoming)
A spa resort with a ranch culture vibe, The Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch has activities like cross-country skiing, ice fishing and sledding in the winter, and rock climbing, mountain biking and ATV rides in the summer. After tiring themselves out, guests can then treat themselves to one of many spa treatments, like the $250 Medicine Bow Massage, which is catered to every guest's preferred methods and pressure levels, or a $225 Head, Hands and Feet Teepee Detox, which includes an exfoliating hands and arms treatment, a sage cleanse and an aromatherapy scalp massage and detox foot bath, as well as a guided meditation.
Canyon Ranch Lenox (Lenox, Massachusetts)
Located in the lovely and photogenic Berkshires, Canyon Ranch Lenox appears to be a typical luxury spa resort at first glance, but unconventionality is quite celebrated as well. Guests can meet with a Healing Energy Expert, who will find and correct any energy imbalances in the body, take part in Qi Gong (a meditative exercise dating back to ancient China) and even have a tarot card reading that offers insight and guidance. A "digital detox" is also encouraged, with specific areas designated for (minimal) cell phone use, so that guests can focus on learning some watercolor or Ayurvedic yoga when they're not indulging in massages that target arthritis or the lymphatic system and Eastern body treatments. A $900-a-night stay includes meals, activities, access to spa facilities and a $160 credit for services.
Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa (Point Clear, Alabama)
In Point Clear, Alabama, you'll find a vastly underrated beach town with a renowned Southern resort. Established in 1847, the Grant Hotel Golf Resort & Spa is one of the oldest hotels in America and has checked in the likes of Dolly Parton, Patty Labelle, Colin Powell and Margaret Thatcher. Located on 550 picturesque acres in the Gulf Coast's Mobile Bay, its elegant rooms have luxurious bedding and great views of the marina and its restaurants serve Southern cuisine, craft cocktails and dishes using fresh local ingredients and seafood. Guests also have access to tee time at the 36 holes of Lakewood Golf Club, bike rentals, jogging trails, kayaking, sailboating, beach volleyball and walking tours. The best part, of course, is the spa, which offers an Ashiatsu massage (an Asian technique in which the therapist uses their feet to deliver a deep tissue massage) for $250 on weekends, cupping therapy and chemical peels.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa (Montauk, New York)
The Hamptons are a popular weekend getaway, and Gurney's is one of the most iconic places to stay. Guests have access to a private sand beach that the resort is located on, but they can also enjoy the ocean indoors at the resort's indoor seawater pool surrounded by impressive floor-to-ceiling windows. The Finnish rock sauna is purported to improve circulation, blood pressure and relieve pain, while the Russian steam room is infused with eucalyptus to open up pores and improve breathing. Body treatments include a seaweed and mud scrub, a rose aromatherapy treatment and facials for anti-aging or brightening. Room prices can range anywhere from $500 to $1,300.
La Cantera Resort & Spa (San Antonio, Texas)
At the Loma de Vida Spa, guests of La Cantera can enjoy spa offerings in the resort's gardens or private cabanas, such as the Clearing Himalayan Salt Stone Mineral Massage or Hydrating Shea Butter Wrap that will run you $200-$240. Fitness classes, golfing at two 18-hole courses, a tennis court and multiple pools are also on-site for more active activities, and award-winning chef Andrew Weissman's Signature restaurant offers classic Texas Hill Country cuisine with dishes like dove, quail and venison.
The Allison Inn & Spa (Newburg, Oregon)
Approximately 20 miles outside of Portland, The Allison Inn & Spa is situated in the middle of Oregon's wine country, which means it's the perfect place for guests to relax with pinot noir grapes in the form of wine or even a spa treatment like the Divine Wine Facial for $145- $185 or Grape Seed Cure for $190, the latter of which involves a crushed grape seed scrub and a body wrap using organic honey and wine. The Allison Inn also provides its guests with seasonal, farm-to-table dining at its signature restaurant, Jory, and an art collection consisting of more than 500 original local art pieces.
Mayflower Inn & Spa (Washington, Connecticut)
It was at the Mayflower Inn that screenwriter Amy Sherman-Palladino fell in love with the charm of small-town Connecticut and was inspired to create her hit television show, "Gilmore Girls." At this quaint boutique hotel, guests will not only be charmed by the idyllic woodland and wonderful gardens surrounding them, but also the New England cuisine that uses local, farm-sourced ingredients, and the sophisticated accommodations that recall the vibe of a luxurious countryside estate. For even more high-end luxury, the Mayflower Inn's spa menu includes sound healing (in which Nepalese and Tibetan sound bowls are used to improve sleep, blood pressure and stress levels) and Reiki therapy (a Japanese practice focusing on energy and relaxation) as well as Reiki training for those who want to take the benefits home. Treatments run from $275- $320.
Edgewood Tahoe (Stateline, Nevada)
Lake Tahoe's breathtaking views and fresh mountain air already provide for a rejuvenating escape, and the spa treatments, seasonal activities and fine dining at Edgewood Tahoe only add to the picture of a perfect retreat. Skiing and snowboarding make for the perfect winter activities, while the golfing here is renowned in the warmer months. Year-round, the 8,500-square-foot spa offers luxurious treatments like the "Crystal Wellness Massage," which uses gemstones and essential oils to smooth mind as well as body, and the "Earth Connection Ritual," which includes exfoliation, inhalation of essential oils, and a basalt stone body massage as well as detoxifying foot scrub to help "ground" guests and connect them to the earth.
Fairmont Orchid (Waimea, Hawaii)
Fairmont Orchid can be found along the Kohala Coast, an underrated Hawaiian gem, where it sits among stunning waterfalls and tropical gardens with oceanfront views and a white sandy beach. In addition to canoeing, paddleboarding, cultural hikes, snorkeling, golfing, tennis and more, the resort creates a true feeling of paradise with its Spa Without Walls, a serene space where the ancient Hawaiian healing arts are utilized. Treatments include the Island Coconut Polish, which exfoliates the skin with coconut oil and local raw sugar cane, and a body wrap that uses aloe vera, lavender and algae for moisturization, healing and soothing. There are two oceanside signature spa experiences that will run you $369 for 110 minutes.
Grand View Lodge Spa and Golf Resort (Nisswa, Minnesota)
In addition to seasonal activities such as snowmobiling, ice skating, kayaking, ziplining and golfing, Grand View Lodge has more than 70 spa services to offer guests. Get some neuromuscular therapy that starts at $150, a body firming wrap that targets areas with cellulite for $155, or a full-body exfoliation using a Moroccon body buff, sugar or salt scrub also for $155. The romantic location of the resort — it's situated on a lake — has also led to it becoming a popular wedding venue.
Blackberry Mountain (Walland, Tennessee)
The new sister resort of the utterly romantic Blackberry Farm (also located in Walland), Blackberry Mountain sits in the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by 5,200 acres perfect for bouldering, biking, horseback riding and fly fishing, among other outdoor adventures. Wellness and relaxation is promoted through all kinds of yoga and cardio classes offered in the mornings, as well as holistic health practices such as acupuncture and botanical remedies or spa indulgences like a red clay body wrap and a massage that uses willow bark oil and aloe vera. The memories won't come cheap — 110-minute massages run $385.
The Elms Hotel & Spa (Excelsior Springs, Missouri)
Since the late 1880s, The Elms has harnessed the benefits of the mineral waters of Excelsior Springs, where for more than 125 years, people have come to take a soak and have a relaxing stay. When not enjoying classic Midwestern fare or exploring the attractions of the area (the hotel is located about 30 miles outside Kansas City), guests can treat themselves to luxurious spa treatments such as a Support Hydrotherapy Bath with lavender and peppermint to relieve body aches, headaches, digestive issues and mild sunburn, or the Signature Rose Petal Salt Scrub, which uses dried rose petals, sea salts and essential oils to exfoliate the skin. The Elms Ultimate Spa Package, with eight services and lunch, costs $680 per person.
Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford, California)
A splurge-worthy hotel located in California's Napa Valley, Auberge du Soleil has a Mediterranean vibe with views of mountains and vineyards surrounding accommodations named after the southern French towns that inspired them. The restaurant has won a Michelin star award for 13 years in a row, and the 15,000-bottle wine cellar — all of which can be enjoyed in the elegant dining room or outdoor terrace — has been recognized by Wine Spectator. The luxury extends to the spa, where an aquatic therapist offers a rhythmic water massage with gentle rocking and stretching in a mineral pool for $220 and various facials use collagen and vitamins to smooth fine lines and increase hydration — but they can run up to $355.
Spruce Point Inn Resort & Spa (Bar Harbor, Maine)
Stay in a cozy cottage or tastefully decorated guest room at Spruce Point Inn with amenities such as covered porches, deep soaking tubs and gas fireplaces to heighten the comfort of its seaside locale. When not exploring the wonderful coastal town of Bar Harbor through sailing, biking or strolling downtown, guests can relax at the resort's spa with treatments such as a Hungarian or blueberry facial, aromatherapy massage and other traditional offerings.
Lansdowne Resort and Spa (Leesburg, Virginia)
Located on the Potomac River, Landsdowne Resort and Spa is a Washington, D.C.-area escape featuring classic Virginia cuisine for food lovers, 45 holes and a driving range for golfers and multiple pools, trails and courts for active vacationers. For a more relaxing way to pass the time, the resort's Spa Minérale takes advantage of access to the surrounding wine country with offerings such as a vinotherapy facial or a cabernet cacao mani-pedi.
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa (Acme, Michigan)
In addition to a private beach club, three championship golf courses, multiple pools and hot tubs, an indoor water playground and a health club with five tennis courts inside, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is home to a 7,000-square-foot spa with a wide range of traditional services. The extensive spa menu includes treatments that utilize natural ingredients native to northern Michigan, facials with probiotics and peptides and even a massage specifically meant for those dealing with cancer. Four hours of Pure Serenity (the spa package) will cost $290.
Glenwood Hot Springs Resort (Glenwood Springs, Colorado)
Go on a romantic adventure in the Rockies, where Glenwood Hot Springs Resort has provided guests with all the spa benefits of its thermal spring water for more than 130 years. The world's largest mineral hot springs pool offers a chance for rejuvenation and renewal with its 15 minerals, and the Spa of the Rockies menu includes treatments such as the Wild Honey Steam Wrap for $145 that uses honey and infrared heat to smoothen and hydrate the skin, and the $179 Altitude Adjustment, a full-body massage that utilizes Oxygen Inhalation Therapy to relieve altitude sickness symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and headaches.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Lake Buena Vista, Florida)
One of many resort hotels that have been established since Walt Disney World opened in 1971, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has modern amenities with a Victorian facade. Guests of all ages can appreciate festive, top-tier dining options (sometimes with the company of their favorite Disney characters), as well as a pool featuring cabanas, a whirlpool and a 181-foot-long water slide. While the kids can get their hair and makeup done along with choosing a princess costume and accessories at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, adults have access to Senses, a full-service spa. With access to facials and massages using tropical ingredients for around $200, in-room celebrations for birthdays and holidays and convenient transport to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot via the Resort Monorail, a stay at the Grand Floridian will make it worth every penny spent on a trip to one of the most expensive destinations in America.