The Ritz-Carlton, Macau’s ESPA
Photo Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company LLC
Forbes Travel Guide unveils its 2016 Star Awards recipients on February 22. Visit www.forbestravelguide.com on Monday for the complete list of winners.
With Chinese New Year upon us, it’s time to take that “New year, new you” mantra to heart. The most pleasant way to reinvent yourself is a series of luxurious spa treatments, of course. These indulgent Hong Kong- and Macau-based services should help slim, smooth and reinvigorate your skin so you’re ready to face whatever the next 12 months have in store for you.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong
If you’re setting out to conquer 2016, Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA may have just the thing. The highest spa in the world — this sanctuary is perched on the 116th floor of the hotel — just introduced a brand-new wellness program called New Year Awaken. The exercise and treatment combination is all about relaxation and well-being, so expect a healthy welcome drink, a wellness consult and customized fitness advice, followed by a tough workout. Once you’ve sweated out the holiday residue, jump into a treatment room and lay down for a red clay and algae gel mask, followed by a warm shower and an 80-minute face and body treatment with aromatic oils. After the service, indulge in the vast sauna facilities or make your way to the relaxation room overlooking Victoria Harbour.
The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong, Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
A session at Five-Star The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong is what dreams are made of. Before even getting to one of the 17 treatment rooms, however, gratification begins in the lavish relaxation areas, where you can unwind in the vitality lounge, crystal steam room and dry sauna. For a fresh-faced start to 2016, ask about the new Seconde Peau (Skin) facial from Biologique Recherche. As an alternative to injections and fillers, the innovative facial uses a patented “Electroporation” high-frequency pulse that snaps open pores for 60 microseconds at a time, allowing a mask made of 80 percent hyaluronic acid to permeate the skin. Sound complicated? It is a little bit, so all you really need to know is that you emerge with skin that feels smooth and looks radiant. Before or after the treatment, head back into the dimly lit relaxation room to curl up in a fur blanket and sip rosemary-ginger tea.
The Ritz-Carlton, Macau
Just opened in the summer of 2015, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau unveiled glorious marble interiors and extravagant spa services. The pampering begins at ESPA on the third floor, where you’re greeted with a warm towel and tea in the spa reception area. Behind an imposing doorway lie 13 treatment rooms and suites, as well as a massive women’s relaxation area where bird-nest hammocks swing around a glistening vitality pool, ice fountains, a wet sauna, a dry sauna and more. Rooted in traditional Chinese techniques, the signature services are perfect for post-holiday stress relief, mind-and-body balancing or just plain pampering. For ultra-hydration and relaxation, try the Pearl River Chi or opt for a Jade Reviver to ease stress and brighten skin.
The Peninsula Spa, Photo Courtesy of The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong is well known for its attention to the tiniest of details and this dedication only continues in the Five-Star, 12,000-square-foot spa. After a welcome tea and personal consultation, you’re invited to unwind in the relaxation area, where you can visit wet and dry saunas and showers, all while enjoying beautiful harbor views. The spa has recently added many tech-forward treatments, including a new line of exclusive facials by Margy’s Monte Carlo. Try The Ultimate Aesthetic Facial, which aims to contour, lift and stimulate collagen production through the use of ultrasound and radio frequency. The process may sound a bit clinical, but it proves surprisingly relaxing because it’s followed by a wondrous head and neck massage that may very well put you to sleep.
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
Known for its gorgeous outdoor pool, secluded location and elegant rooms, the Four-Star Plateau Spa here has quite a following. Located on the 11th floor, the Hong Kong spa is a peaceful oasis with manicured gardens and calming neutral interiors. Just in time for dry winter skin, Plateau Spa has introduced a Winter Warmer service that’s sure to polish your skin to perfection. The brightening experience includes a ginger and raw sugar body scrub, followed by an aroma oil massage with an herbal infusion. Hoping to freshen up your face as well? Try the Blue Diamond Brightening Facial; this signature treatment is perfect for clearing up post-party pores and giving skin a boost using diamond peptides.
