Flights of lavish fancy
Maze walking
The Golden Door, Escondido, California
This is an oasis of tranquillity where guests come out feeling rejuvenated thanks to a team of dieticians, therapists and fitness trainers. The spa offers a five-star ambience. It’s owned by the wife of a wealthy businessman, Joanne Conway, who wanted to create “the spa to end all spas.” Guests are gifted a designer tracksuit upon arrival and are made to pick their own fruits and vegetables for their meals. Everyone has a villa, a maid and personal trainer and there’s even a Japanese pond of reflection for people to stare into. No wonder it is frequented by the rich and famous. The clientele: It is a favoured spot for Hollywood ladies including Barbra Streisand, Shirley MacLaine, Susan Sarandon and Jane Fonda.
The cost: £5,750 for a seven-day stay.
Happy tapping
Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
Chiva-Som (haven of life) offers a speciality colonic irrigation treatment and this remains the USP of this highend resort. The accommodation is luxurious, and it has everything one needs to make the stay comfortable. The week-long programme includes two colonic therapies and daily massages. Clients are trained in Emotional Freedom Technique, where you can learn to let go of negativity by tapping various points on your body. The menu is designed in a manner that stimulates the senses and cleanses the body. The clientele: David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, Elle Macpherson and Liz Hurley.
The cost: £9,700 for a week at a luxury suite.
Bark treatment
The Farm At San Benito, Philippines
At this eco-resort people can reconnect with nature and relax in a luxurious ambience. The resort is modelled along the lines of a traditional rice barn — except that they also have flat-screen TVs and private pools. Each villa has its own garden. Your day begins with guests being taught the history of healing oils.There is a new therapy offered here called Malunggay Therapy, where the body is slathered in pulped bark from native trees that are said to have healing properties.
The clientele: Woody Harrelson, Chris Martin and Drew Barrymore.
The cost: A six-night stay in the master villa is £6,100.
Rainforest hiking
The Island Experience, Ilha Grande, Brazil
This eco-resort is built on a small island off the coast of Brazil, 160 km south of Rio de Janeiro. Guests share rooms and aren’t allowed mobile phones or watches. The wake-up call is at 5 am, when residents begin their day with yoga. The food is low-calorie and mostly vegan. The activities here include rainforest hiking, kayaking and South American dances. But guests also get a daily massage to ease their weary muscles. Bedtime is at 8 pm, and the last day culminates with a 3,000 foot climb of a local mountain known as Parrot’s Peak. The clientele: A favourite with Brazilian supermodels such as Gisele Bundchen and Victoria’s Secret star Alessandra Ambrosio.
The cost: Around £1,800 for a deluxe six-night stay. A bargain!
Naked sunbathing
Sha Wellness Clinic, El Albir, Spain
The world’s only macrobiotic spa promises to cleanse the body, and help one achieve total calmness. The spa overlooks the Mediterranean, and every room has a balcony where guests are encouraged to sunbathe naked for therapeutic reasons. Therapies include the space-age Aqua Lab (fitted with a waterfall and flotation tanks) and an oxygen bar with different flavoured oxygen. On the weight-loss programme, calories are restricted to 500 a day. The clientele: Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell, Demi Moore and Simon Cowell.
The cost: £8,000 for the top-of- the-range, seven-day detox and weight-loss programme.