SPAS IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Nassau's newest spa is the one at Marley Resort & Spa
Mandara Spa at Atlantis
The luxurious Bali-inspired Mandara Spa at Atlantis offers 47 treatment areas in a two-level refuge from the mega resort’s Vegas-meets-Disney environment. Rich dark woods, comfortable furnishing, water features and a prevailing sense of calm provide the yin to the yang of the bustling Atlantis casino.
From the spa’s extensive menu of services, I enjoyed the Lime and Ginger Body Scrub which turned out to be more of an impressively-administered full body treatment than a mere scrub. For those looking for something extra special at Mandara, I’d recommend the Villa Bathing Rituals offered in a beautiful spa suite built for two, or the combination day packages with captivating names such as Cleito’s Tropical Tryst and Poseidon’s Awakening.
Red Lane Spa
Somewhere in between the intimate spa at the Marley Resort & Spa and the grand Mandara at Atlantis is Red Lane Spa, the spa brand for Sandals Resorts. Shortly after settling into my butler-attended suite at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort in Nassau, I boarded the luxury resort’s ferry to Sandals Key, a private island, a three-minute cruise from the pier. This is where guests will find Red Spa’s Zen Garden, one of three spas at this “luxury included” resort.
A collection of thatched huts that serve as treatment rooms and relaxation areas, the Zen Garden hugs one end of this tiny island. Away from the pool and dining area, it’s a quiet space with the prevailing sound nothing more than the Atlantic Ocean massaging the island’s sandy shores.
For a true island experience try the West Indian, a body treatment including elements representative of the locale – according to the therapist: spray mist for rain fall, a duvet wrap for the warmth of the people, hot stones for the climate and a sea sand foot exfoliation. It’s a wonderfully relaxing and grounding treatment that offers a true sense of place. The Zen Garden offers a limited menu - one outdoor shower, four thatched treatment huts, a Zen-like lounge and a “hut gazebo” for enjoying a spa lunch or just soaking up the ambience under a Bahamian sky, but despite its tiny size, it’s a special spa experience and a perfect complement to the romantic, candle-lit main spa which, unlike the Zen Garden, does have its own four walls. The spa vibe is good in the Bahamas.
