We are increasingly aware of how our choices affect our mental and physical wellbeing, meaning access to nutritious food, holistic treatments, low-impact exercise and personal training, is more important than ever.
City hotels must be able to facilitate these lifestyle choices. Being able to take a morning swim and be guaranteed an excellent massage therapy are no longer luxuries but necessities.
So where do we rate for really delivering on the wellness front?
Last year, London’s Claridge’s unveiled a brand new 7,000 square-foot spa complete with a small but beautifully designed heated pool, steam room and sauna. Located in the hotel’s newly constructed basement level, Claridges brings us an all-star cast of therapists and beauty specialists, including acupuncture with master practitioner Ross J. Barr and Josh Wood blow-dries.
The newly-opened Raffles London at The OWO refers to itself as an “urban sanctuary for holistic wellness” with its enormous 27,000 sq ft Guerlain spa spanning four floors of the hotel. L’Atelier Guerlain offers a range of fragrances and make-up alongside its menu of beauty treatments. And there’s a 20m indoor swimming pool with double-height ceilings, a state-of-the-art gym and selection of cold-pressed juices and nutritious dining options to eat in or take away.
Bulgari Rome packs an impressive punch with its 20m2 pool and sumptuous Roman bath aesthetic. The “Workshop Gymnasium” training method was exclusively created for Bulgari by Lee Mullins and takes a customised approach to training and nutritional supplements.
In Paris, two of our favourite grande-dames – Rosewood Hotel de Crillon and Ritz Paris – have world-class spas with fitness studios, indoor pools and relaxation areas.
Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental Ritz are in a close tie for the lead in Madrid. Following extensive renovations, the latter offers a 14-metre indoor swimming pool, fitness centre, range of holistic therapies, and facial treatments from the Swiss brand CellCosmet. While Four Seasons brings an interesting visiting practitioner programme to the city’s hotel spa scene, with sound healing, reflexology, Japanese facial and deep face-lifting massage.
Hong Kong has Four Seasons and Rosewood competing on either side of Victoria Harbour. Rosewood’s Asaya spa offers full regenerative stays focused on emotional, nutritional and physical health, in conjunction with a fully customisable treatment programme. While Four Seasons promotes a treatment menu for pre- and post-natal care, as well as its resident healers, tai chi, kinesiology, gong baths and meditation sessions.
And on rare occasions of less favourable weather, our favourite hotels of Marrakech – Mandarin Oriental, La Mamounia and Royal Mansour – all have indoor pools and state-of-the-art spas.
Last but by no means least, it’s none other than Aman for New York City, never failing to impress us with their slick, gimmick-free aesthetic and seriously good treatments. Located on the corner of 57th and 5th Avenue, its prime inner-city position in no way detracts from the zen-like peace and privacy once you step inside.
Aman’s 25,000 square feet sanctuary, on the 9th, 10th, and 11th floors of the hotel, includes hammam and banya spa houses, yoga and Pilates studio, a 20-metre heated swimming pool, cryotherapy chamber and hair and nail salon, in partnership with celebrity hair stylist, John Barrett.
Wellbeing is an important part of our offering to Nota Bene travellers and we make it a priority to learn about your lifestyle. That includes allergies and intolerances, whether you like a certain type of fresh juice or a particular milk with your morning coffee, preferences for fitness training, restorative treatments, anti-ageing products or massage therapy. And if we don’t already know who to ask for, we make sure to track down the very best and get them booked for you.
Let’s talk about WELLNESS AS PART OF YOUR JOURNEY and see how we can help you achieve your healthy lifestyle goals.