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Top 6 Spas: Editor's Picks
U.S.
 Hualalai Sports Club & Spa, Hawaii
At this favorite Big Island spa, physical fitness meets mind/body relaxation on a backdrop of old Hawaii. Following the trend of healthy living, this spa on the Kona-Kohala Coast now provides wellness consultants and coaching. Relax in a lush outdoor garden before entering a thatched-roof massage pavilion for a Hualalai Macadamia Nut Scrub. (808) 325-8000, www.fourseasons.com/hualalai
The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York
On the 35th floor, soaring above the Manhattan skyline, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, New York is the place to find your Zen center in between taking bites out of the Big Apple. Thai Yoga massage is performed in the new custom-designed Thai Yoga room. Dark teak wood and gold leafing make you feel like you’ve landed in a Buddhist temple. (866) 801-8880 or (212) 805-8800, www.mandarinoriental.com
 Golden Door, Escondido, California
At this sun-drenched California valley destination spa, a mere 40 guests partake in a weeklong bespoke program combining world-class fitness instruction and treatments (four weeks are designated men only). Get your feet “dirty” with the new Sabai Thai Foot Ritual, using fresh-cut limes dipped in soft Thai White Dirt. Save time for the daily (and highly competitive!) water volleyball game. (800) 424-0777 or (760) 744-5777, www.goldendoor.com
International
The Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, Bordeaux-Martillac, France
Plunge into a barrel bath at this storybook French spa in the heart of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards. Signature Vinotherapie treatments use deep, natural spring water chock-full of minerals and vine and grape extracts. Need a break from healthy living? Head to La Tour des Cigares, a half-British, half-Cuban club where you can savor Havana’s finest. 011-33-55-783-8383, www.sources-caudalie.com
Spa Eastman, Quebec, Canada
Just one hour outside Montreal, on 315 acres offering incredible views of Mont Orford, the Spa Eastman feels like a small country village. Individually decorated pavilions are surrounded by hiking trails, and, during the summer, gardens yield fresh vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. (800) 665-5272 or (450) 297-3009, www.spa-eastman.com
Banyan Tree Spa, Bangkok, Thailand
You’ll feel like you’re floating at this 39th and 40th floor spa hovering over busy Bangkok. The dedicated Spa Suites offer exclusive spa benefits, and the Champaka, Lavender, and Sandalwood Suites even have their own spa treatment rooms, where you’ll enjoy a welcome footbath or other treatment in the privacy of your own room. (866) 822-6926 or 011-66-2679-1200, www.banyantreespa.com
U.S. | International | Editor's Picks | Cruise Lines
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The Platinum List
Isn’t
it great to hear firsthand from a friend about a wonderful travel
experience, complete with tips on where to stay and where to play?
Welcome to the ever-popular Celebrated Living
Readers’ Choice Platinum List, which is like having more than 38,000
friends share their travel preferences in one superb best-of-the-best
list. And what a list it is: 130 luxury hotels, 48 legendary golf
courses, 26 sumptuous spas, and 10 top cruise lines.
Two
highlights of the survey, for me, actually take the form of statistics
— we received 10 percent more entries than last year, and a whopping 79
percent more of you reported you read Celebrated Living regularly. As editor, that’s music to my ears.
For your eyes, our Platinum List has a handsome new design, courtesy of CL’s
talented art director Marilyn Calley. The pages are fresh, engaging,
and filled with images that will make you say “I want to go there,” or,
also fun, “We’ve been there and loved it!” As one reader commented,
“These picks are a mix of places already visited and those I dream of
visiting.” See for yourself, beginning with a handy pullout compilation
list on page 49.
 Of
course, we wanted to entice and reward you for taking the time to weigh
in with your outstanding travel knowledge. Grand Prize winner Henry de
Lagarde is glad he participated. He was randomly chosen to win a
two-year lease on a 2007 Lincoln MKX, MKZ, or Navigator (he chose the
MKZ and is pictured with it here), and 500,000 American Airlines
AAdvantage miles. Ten Second Prize winners received 50,000 miles each.
Quite an incentive, I’d say.
We hope you’ll agree that the rest
of this summer issue is as entertaining and enlightening as the
Platinum List. There’s a feature story on Heidi Klum, a look at
chartering fabulous yachts, five great summer motorcycle rides and
several bikes to enjoy them with, a tour of several cool European
castles, and more. Or, for those weekends when you want to just sit
back and enjoy your own backyard, check out our cocktail story, with
recipes perfect for poolside sipping — and for contemplating where
you’d like to go next.
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