FROM A COLOSSAL ROMAN-INSPIRED BATHHOUSE IN THE QUAINT ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE TO AN APOLOGETICALLY EXTRAVAGANT SANCTUARY IN THE EMIRATES SKY, THESE DESIGN SPAS ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE AS STUNNING AS THEY ARE SALUBRIOUS

BY AMANDA McCOY

EYNSHAM BATHS

The Cotswolds, England

Estelle Manor is a paragon of the bucolic beauty of the English countryside. Located about an hour and a half outside London along the edge of the Cotswolds, the hotel is tucked within a grade II Jacobean landmark mansion, where intricate details like a grand stone gate and original hand-carved paneling spin century-old stories of England’s upper crust. The manor debuted in 2023 as a country outpost of the Mayfairbased private members club Maison Estelle, and its spa – a dizzying 32,000-square-foot Roman-inspired bathhouse – followed last spring. It took five years to bring the spa concept to fruition, but everything here is intentional – even the oils, balms, and scrubs used in the treatments and rituals were developed in-house from medicinal plants.

The experience begins down a winding path through an old-growth forest as the neoclassical structure comes into view. Once guests are checked in and given a buttery soft poncho to change into, they are escorted to the light-flooded Tepidarium, the main bathing hall that soars two stories high and is finished with stone columns, intricate pilasters, and handshaped bricks. There are ten treatment rooms (including a couple’s suite), where a range of healing rituals are performed, all rooted in ancient Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese holistic traditions. The spa’s signature offering, the Thermal Journey, ushers spa goers through six different thermal areas of various temperatures, from an icy Frigidarium to a lavender-scented Hay Sauna. The Hideaway, an al fresco pool lounge, is ornamented with a cascading waterfall, natural wildflowers, and woodland ferns, while the domed Tea Lounge features distressed plaster walls and a Breccia Medicea marble bar. Guests can choose between two different circuits depending on their wellness goals: one designed for eradicating stress, the other for reenergizing the body and mind. estellemanor. com/eynsham-baths

T SPA

Tremezzo, Italy

The Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a treasure chest along the peaceful shores of Lake Como. Cradled by the Grigne Mountains with views of the village of Bellagio in the distance, the art nouveau private mansion-turned-resort features gilded period suites with sumptuous décor and dazzling lake and garden views (pro tip: book a rooftop suite to drink in the vistas from a whirlpool on your private terrace), picturesque outdoor gardens dripping in multi-colored blooms, and a floating pool deck atop the lake. But its calling card is the T Spa, located next door to the property in a former 18th century library. The ambiance is a dream: original frescoes and floor mosaics frame floor-to-ceil – ing windows overlooking the calm, sailboatdotted waters. An adults-only infinity pool appears as if it’s flowing into the lake, while a tri-level fitness center invites guests to stretch, squat, and sweat amid 36 0-degree views of coastal Italia.

There are five treatment rooms, along with an amenity-packed Spa Suite that boasts a whirlpool tub, sauna, and steam shower. Here, in a cocoon of warm wood, couples can embark on a romantic Suite Time experience that includes an 8 0-minute massage, herbal teas and freshly baked treats, and an additional hour to bask in the private amenities. The treatment menu features a delicious platter of body and facial therapies, plus signature rituals like the Grand Detox, a 11 0-minute treatment that includes a white and green clay body wrap, lymphatic full-body massage, and scalp massage.

Additional facilities include a panoramic sauna, dimly lit salt relaxation room, a Mediterranean bath to soothe and pamper tired muscles, and an Italian marble-clad Hammam with a heated plinth and water blade-style shower. At the end of your session, get glammed up for a classic Italian feast on the hotel’s candlelit dining terrace in the spa’s beauty parlor, offering blow-outs, conditioning treatments, mani/pedis, and more. grandhoteltremezzo.com

TALISE SPA

DUBAI, UAE

Commanding double-height mosaic columns in shimmering shades of blue, yellow, and green, oversized golden vases, and intricate patterned floors: the Burj Al Arab’s 18th-floor Talise Spa is a masterclass in maximalism, a fitting finish for a property lauded as the world’s only seven-star hotel. The lavish wellness center is spread over two floors and features more than a dozen treatment rooms along with Jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools, and an athlete-level fitness center, where expert trainers are on hand for one-on-one guidance. Its infinity-edged pools, encased by walls of glass overlooking the gulf, are worth the 12-hour flight alone, the perfect perch for devouring an Arabian sunset with a side of caviar and champagne.

Treatments journey far beyond the traditional massage and facial, using advanced stem cell technology, powerful LEDs, radiofrequency, and powerful youth-boosting products from many of the world’s leading skincare houses for transformative results. The Golden Journey body ritual, for example, harnesses the mighty powers of plant stem cells with colloidal gold to promote DNA repair, while the three-step Leg School treatment tackles cellulite and improves vascular leg problems. The Sublime Youth Infusion facial, developed by the Swiss power – brand Clinic Lemanic exclusively for the spa, combines radiofrequency tech, LED therapy, and plant stem cells to lift, contour, and sculpt the skin while reducing puffiness, inflammation, and fine lines. The Romantic Moonlight Swim is the ultimate special occasion treat for couples, offering lovebirds exclusive use of the infinity pool at night after a body-rejuvenating massage replete with champagne, cherry red roses, and monogrammed robes. jumeirah.com

THE RITZ-CARLTON SPA LANGKAWI

Langkawi, Malaysia

Along a tranquil bay off the coast of northwestern Malaysia, a crop of cocoon-shaped pavilions rise from the water like Malay bubus, traditional fish traps crafted from bamboo or rattan. The spa suites’ woven design is just one way Ritz-Carlton pays homage to the resort’s Langkawi setting; the treatment menu is a love letter to the indigenous healing ceremonies and rituals practiced on the island for thousands of years. Within the airy wooden walls of the pavilions, with views of the emerald water and old-growth rainforest peeking through the planks, guests drift away into a soul-soothing dreamscape atop the Andaman Sea.

The spa comprises six floating treatment rooms (three outfitted for couples) connected via overwater walkways, plus a swanky pool deck, relaxation rooms, a beauty salon, and the island’s only Hammam, where a centuries-old Lulur (Javanese for “coating of the skin”) experience offers a full-body foam massage, marine mud wrap, scalp treatment, and steam room session. The resort’s signature offering is the 120-minute Mystical Ocean and Earth Ritual, a deeply revitalizing full-body experience that calls upon indigenous essential oils, marine mud, and hot stones to calm aching muscles, regenerate dull skin, and lavish the body with a soft, youthful glow. The Mandi Bunga bathing ritual is a must, inspired by the ancient Malay method for dispelling bad energy. After a rhythmic massage designed to cleanse your energy centers and alleviate any muscle stiffness, you’ll soak in a bath of fragrant flowers and healing essential oils with sweeping views of the sea as your backdrop. ritzcarlton.com