Almost one-third of 1,500 Australian respondents to a survey conducted by online travel site, Trip Advisor, said they intend taking a holiday at a spa some time in 2013.
Trip Advisor has also named four Australian hotels in the top 10 hotel spas in the South Pacific.
Number one is the Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora, Tahiti. The Hayman Great Barrier Reef is ranked second, with The Lanham in Sydney and the Park Hyatt and Crown Metropol in Melbourne also included in the top ten.
A 90 minute ‘signature’ Ocean Facial at Hayman will set you back $400. But while you’re doing that, you can also keep the kids and teens happy with their own spa packages starting at $20 and including a $170 facial.
For $435, the Park Hyatt offers a 3.5 hour Perfection Package which includes a Vitamin C facial, an hour long aromatherapy massage, a citrus drench body treatment and something to eat from their special spa cuisine. The top of the range at the Crown Metropol appears to be a $230 La Prairie Gold facial which takes about 75 minutes.
Prestigious travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveller has nominated the Chi Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney as the best spa in Australia. They offer a 3 hour Chi Journey for $370 which includes an aroma bath or shower, a massage and a mountain rub!
The best spa in the world according to Conde Nast is the Ananda Spa in Ananda deep in the Himalayas. The spa treatments are very modestly priced: for example, a 75 minute Royal Facial costs only $80. But a 1 bedroom villa with a private pool will set you back around $1,800 per night ($690 for a standard room) – and you have to get there.
Ananda also offers billiards, golf, yoga, meditation, cooking classes, cultural programs, safaris, nature walks and treks, white water rafting and a Visiting Masters program.
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