Travel To Wellness Inc.

HOLISTIC HOTELS, WELLNESS HOTELS

by Judy Chapman

The next generation of hotel accommodation will be wellness and lifestyle rooms that provide the ultimate anti-dote from hotel-life. Appealing features include natural bedding, posture-sensitive chairs and if your lucky your own spa treatment area! What’s next? Healthy mini-bars? We hope so!

Here is a sampling of holistic hotels in the Asia/Pacific region:

Shanghai’s first earth-friendly designer hotel has now opened. The Urbn Hotel, China’s first carbon-neutral hotel is located adjacent to the historic tree-lined French Concession district. The small but luxurious hotel features 26 contemporary spacious rooms, 24-hour concierge and earth-conscious mod-cons as well as in-room treatments, yoga and tai chi classes. In every room, sunken lounges, eco-linens and bedding, Ba Yan Ka organic products and in-room fitness kits as well as a stone walk-in-shower and free-standing luxury tub. For more info

Of all the hotels opening this year it's The Storrier that’s the hot new favorite. While there’s no spa facility, the 72-room Art Deco boutique hotel in Potts Point Sydney is sanctuary-like with its warm and earthly vibe, yummy robes, Molton Brown bath products and sleep-enhancing bedding. Named after Sydney artist Tim Storrier, the former backpackers has been lovingly restored by A Hotels who plan to open several other artist-inspired hotels (Brett Whitely and John Oleson to be exact). Superior, Deluxe and Executive rooms are cocoon-like spaces, each fitted out with LCD flat screens and MP3 player, a built-in workstation and high-speed ideal for executive and independent-minded travelers.
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No need to share lockers with other guests at the newly opened Chi Edsa Shangri-La in the Philippines. Guests who check into one of the six Residential Spa Suites on the 5th floor are treated like celebrities. Not only is your accommodation directly connected to the spa, you have private entrance to the spa facility. This innovative concept brings new meaning to the idea of ‘relaxed leisure’ and ‘speed vacation’. Comforts include posture sensitive chairs, a yoga matt, healthy cuisine menu, cozy robes plus an open concept bath and shower. Not to mention all the mod-cons inclusive of DVD and I-pod docking stations. Your ‘retreat’ is adjacent to a private library, reading room and yoga studio all adding to the quiet atmosphere. There’s no need to change from your clothes either after being pampered in the spa - simply wrap yourself up in your fluffy robe and drift back to your suite to bed.
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Over at newly opened CHI Spa at Shangri-La Resort & Spa is a secluded compound of ten sea-facing residential and spa bures (traditional Fiji houses) that offer something even more special. Book the ‘Dusk til Dawn’ treatment where you stay overnight in a spa bure fitted out with open air showers, outdoor plunge pools, steam room and changing area. The experience starts at 5pm (dusk) with an outdoor bath followed by a scrub, massage and light cuisine served on the terrace just inches from the Pacific Ocean. Picture mouthfuls of sushi, seafood shots, avocado wraps and chocolates while you gaze over blue waters. The next morning, you are awakened by a therapist with a tray of fruits, bircher muesli and juice – and a hydrating facial! It’s also worth mentioning is that the residential bures come with your own spa butlers and are child-free zones.
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It’s the little things that count at The Barai, a resort located on the beachfront at Hua Hin in Thailand. New are eight amazing spa residential suites that set a new benchmark in wellness accommodation. Occupying around 1,360 square feet, inside each of these ‘hotel within a hotel’ concepts your own steam room, soaking tub and a Thai-style treatment area. Your own espresso machine, private dining area, cocktail hour at five plus top notch in-suite service by the spa butler– think complimentary ironing anytime. All this plus you have exclusive entrance to the spa, a maze of courtyards and chamber rooms inspired by Angkor Wat and designed by the renowned Lek Bunnag. For more info

Could this be Melbourne’s first wellness hotel? The Adelphi Hotel, famous for its overhanging glass bottom lap pool, remains one of Melbourne’s edgier hotels. Newly opened on the 9th floor is their Hepburn Spa, where indigenous Australian and Eastern European experiences. But the wellness theme doesn’t stop here. Inside your hotel rooms, a mostly organic menu and in-room treatments. Book their ‘Slumber Party’, the perfect girlie weekend for three friends that includes an overnight stay in the Executive suite, a bottle of French champagne, three yummy hours of treatments per person, a healthful in-room spa dinner and breakfast the following morning. This is also Melbourne’s first night spa with last treatment at 9 pm catering well to city folk who seek after hours down time.
For more info

Now six months old, The Emporium Hotel is Brisbane’s (Australia) grooviest boutique hotel to date. Designer-clad rooms feature a mix of antiques and contemporary pieces sourced globally plus necessaries like wireless, cutting edge entertainment technology, free local calls and a self-catering kitchen. While there’s no spa (yet), you can still spoil yourself on complimentary Molton Brown bathing products for your spa bath or book in-room massages. The standout is their new ‘Babymooners Escape’ overnight stay for pre-child couples who are deservedly pampered with a customized eight-pillow supportive pregnancy menu plus options like romantic rose petals and candles turndowns and the ‘Divine Decadence Treatment’ comprising a full body massage, exfoliation, facial and hand, food and scalp treatment. A No Smoking Policy applies throughout. For more info

Take an elevator up to the fifth level at I.Sawan Residential Spa & Club in Bangkok and discover an entire floor dedicated to wellness. Even better, stay overnight in one of the six spacious spa cottages that houses not only a living area and separate bedroom but also your own spa treatment area. Plus Mbps wired, wireless broadband and I-Pod station so you can listen to heart opening songs as you soak in your tub where bottles of salts and oils are within arms reach. As well as spa treatments, there are half and full day ‘Escapes or Retreats’ themed around ‘Purity’, ‘Energy’ and ‘Harmony’ while the nail bar is the best in Bangkok to have your nails buffed, oiled and pampered. Back at your spa cottage though I recommend a classic Thai massage. Once you’ve been stretched, pulled and pummeled into shape– well you won’t want to leave. For more info

Also in Bangkok is the fabulously stylish hotel, The Metropolitan, where wellness flows throughout. From in-room yoga mats to complimentary stretch and yoga classes for guests, the philosophy here is all about rejuvenation. The sleek hotel rooms are made from natural materials as well as the usual modern necessities including wireless. However, it’s GLOW, one of the best and most healthiest hotel cafes in the region that has guests returning time after time. It feels so great to wake up and drink fresh organic juices or wheatgrass shots and for lunch and dinner, their meals are high-energy and loaded with enzymes with temptations like sugar-free desserts and organic wines. Shambhala is their holistic spa - that comprises a steam room and aqua facilities await. P.S. The Guinot facials are superb!
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The Plateau at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong was one of the first hotels in the Asia-Pacific region to transform hotel-life as we know it. Forget busy foyers and elevators. Guests who check onto the 11th floor have direct access to all the hotel's wellness facilities including the fitness & exercise studios, swimming pool, sauna and treatment rooms. Book one of their residential suite that feature an oversized bath and rainshower, a luxurious futon area for treatments and Aesop amenities. Late arrivals can order in-room massages as late as 11pm. The entirety of Plateau reaches 80,000 square feet, all dedicated to health, beauty and fitness. Treatments by Carita, Decleor and June Jacobs brands are epic. For more info

Check into ‘The Mandarin Suite’ at The Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, an expansive suite fitted out with a living room, dining room, kitchenette, study room, bedroom, a marble bathroom stocked generously with Aromatherapy Associates products and a spa treatment area for two! Designed in opulent Chinese style with cutting edge western functionality, interiors include resorted antique furniture and priceless art pieces. But it’s the generous sized bathroom fitted out with your very own steam room and tub with hydrotherapy jets overlooking Hong Kong’s skyline that will excite the senses. Recommended at Mandarin Oriental’s signature ‘Time Rituals’ where you handpick your own blend of treatments. Time will disappear as skillful therapists press crushed hot herbs along your spine in the privacy of your own suite.
www.mandarinoriental.com

A penthouse with your own staff and spa! Where else would you rather be? The Spa Penthouse Residence at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai is conveniently positioned on the third floor of the Dheva Spa Residence. Seclusion is all yours with private lift access to the spa as well as in-room healing therapies. The palatial suite, decorated with European furnishing houses a luxurious drawing room, dining room, wardrobe and make-up area. Built-in spa treatment facilities include an indoor and outdoor massage area, steam room, bathtub and outdoor Jacuzzi. Order in Thai, Burmese, Laos and Ayurvedic treatments plus there’s the newly opened dedicated Ayurveda wing for those seeking more serious detox and anti-aging retreats. Dheva Spa is Mandarin Oriental’s first destination spa located on 60 acres in Northern Thailand. Designed to replica ancient palaces exquisite facilities include a traditional Hammam, hydrotherapies, heated scrub tables and watsu. For more info

Judy Chapman is an author, freelance spa writer and the Travel to Wellness asian-based contributor.