We’ve been kneaded by four very skilled hands at once, slathered in seaweed and wrapped in toasty towels scented with eucalyptus, fed frozen grapes while reclining in a sunken tub sprinkled with rose petals — divine experiences all. But when our nerves were jangled last week by too many deadlines and a steady barrage of bad economic news, what we longed for was the heavenly what-me-worry Rapunzel’s Secret Hot Oil Treatment ($115).
The Fairmont Kea Lani (from $525 per night) is a place of great optimism. And not just because the sprawling resort sits on Wailea Beach, Maui, sharing some of the world’s most expensive and gorgeous oceanfront property with other luxe hotels such as the Four Seasons and the Grand Wailea Resort. Nearly every restaurant at the Fairmont is completely outdoors, taking advantage of those spectacular vistas and salty breezes.
The famously French Guerlain Spa has recently opened its pearly gates pour les Américaines at the Regent Bal Harbour just north of Miami Beach. Renowned for its customized treatments and immensely indulgent therapies, such as the two-hour Exceptional Orchidée Impériale anti-aging facial ($390) or 45-minute 5-Senses Hydrotherapy bath ($125), the 10,000-square-foot spa exudes glamour and Gallic sophistication.
“Spa” and “Hawaii” are two of our favorite words, so when we were invited to Maui to experience the spanking-new spa at the just-remodeled Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (from $395 per night), we couldn’t resist. The 17,500-square-foot space is called Waihua, a Hawaiian word that refers to the rainwater caught by the large heart-shaped leaves of the taro, an edible plant that has a revered place in Hawaiian life and lore.
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