One of many grotto-like pools found in the grounds of the resort.
Whimsical drawings of Balinese dancers enliven the walls of the Bali-style compounds.
This handmade glass ball fountain is one of the elaborate water features at The Cliff, the Sentosa Resort's stylish outdoor restaurant designed by Yasuhiro Koichi.
SPA BOTANICA
AT THE SENTOSA RESORT
SENTOSA, SINGAPORE;
Located on Sentosa Island just a few minutes'drive from the city center, Spa Botanica is a lush tropical retreat far removed from bustling Singapore. The spa space covers an area of 6,000 square feet (550 square meters) and is set in a renovated colonial building with extensive gardens. Cool and inviting, water and nature are the main features here. Man-made waterfalls, a swimming pool, rock pools, and therapeutic mud pools sit amidst a profusion of ornamental flowers and shrubs. There is also a meditation labyrinth with a spiral walkway, which is a metaphor for self-discovery, and a relaxing tea pavilion.
Each of the treatment rooms, suites, villas and pavilions is named after a local spice or flower. There are 14 indoor treatment rooms, nine beauty rooms, wet rooms and suites, as well as six outdoor massage pavilions with their own private baths and gardens.
Unsurprisingly, the philosophy here is all about growth, regeneration and Mother Nature. Treatments feature an East-West blend of massage, acupressure and hot stone massage together with hydrotherapy, aromatherapy and treatments for new mothers. Bathing rituals are celebrated with a selection of tea tub baths, mud, aromatherapy and milk baths. One innovation is the Galaxy Steam Bath, designed as a Turkish-style steam chamber. Before entering this exotic room where the roof is a blanket of stars, you are invited to smother your body in a selection of medicinal clays and muds. Once inside, you are encouraged to relax and allow the muds to thoroughly cleanse the body whilst a purifying herbal steam infuses the skin. The session is completed with a gentle rain shower.
Fresh mineral-rich mud from New Zealand can be self-applied by guests when entering the Galaxy Steam Bath, A rinse off in an outdoor shower surrounded by flowering vines is recommended for after.
The outdoor meditation labyrinth whose ancient semi-circular pattern is inspired by Hopi American Indian rituals and European maze labyrinths. Walking this spiraling path promotes mental relaxation and quiet reflection.
Frequent afternoon rain showers are a tropical experience to be enjoyed at the spa's lap pool, where a large frangipani tree scents the equatorial atmosphere.
The spa garden features waterfalls, mud pools, bathing pools and outdoor showers where one can relax before or after a treatment.
Other alluring treatments include the Jungle Rain which consists of a herbal-infused mud wrap using Colombian clay, aloe vera and manuka and kanuka essential oils, followed by a Vichy shower and a one-hour chlorophyll butter massage. There is also the Golfers'Tonic that tees off with a relaxing back massage and treatments to relieve aches and pains, as well as the Flight Reviver designed to soothe and rebalance the body after traveling. Men's spa treatments are increasingly popular and the 90-minute Men's Aromatherapy Facial includes a stimulating scalp massage combined with foot reflexology.
In addition, Spa Botanica offers treatments in the wellness realm with a view towards becoming more "results orientated."The focus here is on detox, so there are treatments influenced by the five-elements theory and herbal traditions of Tibet and China created with exciting ingredients such as lotus blossom, ginseng and wild ginger.
The royai bath has a tub made of solid copper that weighs more than a ton. Treatments including the Frangipani Flower Bath and Coconut Bath are given here,
Mimosa and hibiscus balms are applied to moisturize and rejuvenate the skin. Handmade paper-wrapped soap is part of Spa Botanica's natural retail spa range. Loofah sponges are used to exfoliate the skin. A natural leaf fan is perfect for hot Singapore days.
AMRITA SPA
AT RAFFLES
SINGAPORE
Urban spa retreats set in city hotels are now an integral part of hotel life and most luxury hotels offer a spa sanctuary within their premises. The philosophy behind hotel spas is straightforward: arrive at your hotel jet-lagged and fatigued and depart refreshed and transformed. RafflesAmrita is a top-of-the-range brand offered exclusively at Raffles Hotel and Raffles The Plaza in Singapore, Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor and Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Cambodia, as well as at other properties within the group around the world.
Most of us have dreamed of staying at the original Raffles. With its expansive colonial architecture, lush gardens, promises of romantic high teas and afternoon tropical rain showers, it oozes old-world glamour. Inside, the spa is completely private and caters only to hotel residents. Treatments range from luxury European facials to an ayurvedic pancha karma—an hour-and-a-half program of ayurvedic body massage with sesame and herbal oils for your dosha, with a sumptuous shirodhara that is affectionately called "heaven in a cup." Afterwards, as you recline on a lounge chair on one of the expansive verandahs, you can imagine what it must have been like to stay here during the bygone days of the Exotic East.
Across the road is RafflesAmrita Spa at Raffles The Plaza, a perennial favorite among hotel residents and Singapore locals alike. Before your treatment, take a soak in the steam, Jacuzzi and sauna baths, preparing your mental and physical self in the relaxation lounge before being led to one of the 35 treatment rooms. For a romantic treat, indulge in the VIP Couple's Treatment Suite, equipped with its own private Jacuzzi and aromatherapy steam room.
Without a doubt, hotel spas are ideal for relaxation during business trips or to celebrate the end of a holiday with friends and loved ones; the RafflesAmrita Spa Ritual packages are specially created for this purpose. The half-hour Anti-Stress Massage that focuses on releasing tension from the back, shoulders and scalp is perfect to experience on arrival or before an important meeting.
Apart from Bridal Spa Retreats for her and Gentleman's Executive Rescue for him, also recommended is the Day Spa Escape for couples. This includes a soothing back, neck and scalp massage and facial. Or opt for the three-and-a-half hour Total Body Wellness that's all about the sea—think salt scrub, sea mud wrap, sea mud hair treatment, acupressure body massage and aromatherapy facial, and you're probably feeling a whole lot better already.
Amrita's name refers to the legendary Indian "elixir of eternal youth" and reflects the essence of these spas. When you incorporate treatments as part of your daily travel routine, you take the best route towards maintaining ongoing health and longevity.
Raffles Hotel is a Singapore landmark. A noble and luxurious hotel, its spa is reserved for hotel guests.
The women's wet spa area is the place to immerse prior to a treatment. Cold plunge pools, steam, sauna and Jacuzzis are places to connect with your inner self.