Once the tree has been trimmed and the stockings hung by the chimney with care, it’s time to treat yourself to a little holiday pampering. Festive spa treatments at these high-end hotels are all but guaranteed to give you the warm, fuzzy feelings synonymous with the most wonderful time of the year.
Even Texas experiences a seasonal weather swing this time of year, and this Four-Star lakeside gem is ready for it.
The major ails of the season (anxiety, dry skin, sickness) are addressed with the 80-minute Winter’s Gift Package at the Four-Star Austin spa. Expect a pine-infused scrub applied to hands, back or feet to get rid of flaky skin followed by a massage that uses aromatic frankincense to ease stress and increase immunity.
Post-treatment, head to the spa’s relaxation room to reap the benefits of its Himalayan salt wall (another stress reliever) or take a turn in the eucalyptus steam room.
Afterward, head up to the luxury hotel’s Live Oak lounge for city views and a holiday-themed cocktail — the Winter Truffle will get you all holly and jolly with a mix of vodka, Irish creme, raspberry syrup and a bright, tart topper of dehydrated raspberries.
Toast the holidays with a glass of vino or two at this luxe Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Napa retreat, but don’t skimp on the spa treatments, either. The Five-Star Meadowood Spa’s treatment rooms are reason enough to book an afternoon of indulging — these sumptuous suites offer a cozy-chic ambiance complete with a private steam shower.
Get a taste of the season with the enticing Peppermint Wonderland experience. The 60-minute service begins with a peppermint foot and leg scrub followed by a peppermint-infused milk bath in a classic copper tub. A cup of minty hot cocoa (or sparkling wine) finishes things off.
Another holiday treat: the 90-minute Forest Healer Essential Journey. Get massaged and exfoliated head-to-toe with a blend of fir needle, eucalyptus and rosemary oils designed to transport you to a wintery paradise.
Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
A schedule of seasonal events enhances the convivial air throughout this Four-Star Roman hillside hideaway, including those at its 26,000-square-foot spa.
On Christmas Eve, the facility offers a festive way to prep for the big day: an 80-minute, caviar-infused lifting and firming La Prairie facial meant to give you a serious Yuletide glow. Continue the pampering on December 25 with a luxurious, forest-inspired scalp massage featuring a unique blend of Aromatherapy Associates essential oils.
On New Year’s Eve, spa-goers can really indulge with a 110-minute body treatment, wrap and caviar massage performed by two therapists at once.
The spa services at this glamorous Four-Star downtown L.A. hotel provide a well-deserved dose of Christmas magic. Downright decadent, the four Nutcracker-inspired treatments sound good (and sweet) enough to eat.
Treat weary feet with The Mother Ginger pedicure: a vanilla, lavender and mint soak, followed by a brown sugar scrub and massage using frosted sugar cookie and cinnamon lotion. Other saccharine-enhanced offerings include a Sugar Plum Body Polish topped off with sugar plum chiffon, and a Frosted Facial with a mint scrub and a rosemary-mint tea cooling compress.
Perhaps the most indulgent treat is the chocolate stone massage for two — this service uses soothing cocoa-infused oils and basalt stones and ends with a champagne soak for two.
If you’ve lost your sense of Zen in all the Christmas chaos, a trip to Bali should do the trick — especially if you indulge in one of this Four-Star oceanside resort’s over-the-top holiday spa treatments.
For the ultimate gift, opt for the 2.5-hour Diamond Miracle extravaganza. This opulent couple’s experience combines a crystal foot soak, sea mineral body scrub, a silk- and pearl-enhanced therapeutic massage and a coveted facial using diamond-dust-infused Crème de la Mer products.
The treatment culminates in a romantic bath with 500 floating rose petals and a glass of sparkling sweet wine. The setting in a private thatched-roof spa suite perched on an ocean-facing ledge provides the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your special someone over the holidays.
If all the shopping has left your muscles feeling a bit mediocre, head straight to this Montecito, California, oceanside resort’s Sense, A Rosewood Spa at Miramar Beach to find a treat for your feet. The 30-minute Alpine Peppermint Foot Treatment is for anyone weary of the holiday hustle. It starts with a peppermint-infused salt foot scrub followed by an alpine-inspired herbal acupressure massage to ease both stress and aches.
For another humbug cure, try the lavender-infused Silent Night Scrub and Massage to prepare your body for a restful night of slumber.
If holiday stress and harsh winter weather wear on you, this Dominican Republic escape will leave you shining bright. The Four-Star hotel recently debuted the world’s first spa from Natura Bissé, a beloved Barcelona brand known for its skin care products.
Try the Diamond Experience Rose Massage, in which a therapist will use diamond dust and a Moroccan damask rose oil to leave your skin looking angelic. Make your spa day even merrier by visiting the 30,000-square-foot spa’s wellness bar, popping into the Swedish sauna and hammam, and luxuriating in the indoor-outdoor Aqua Garden’s freshwater pool under the warm Caribbean winter sun.
