Spa

Published: 12:00am, 6 Oct 2006

On the grapevine

With its stylish guest cottages, soothing spa and panoramic views of the Mayacamas Mountains, The Lodge at Sonoma in California's wine country is consistently voted a top place to stay. To sample the best of this luxury lodge - and the region - book the Five Senses of Sonoma package for two (weekdays only until November 14, from US$539 a night). Guests will see Sonoma's harvest bloom with two VIP wine-tasting passes to three local wineries, hear some of the Lodge's favourite soothing jazz tunes with a gift CD, taste artisan-inspired cuisine and a flight of wine for two at Carneros Bistro & Wine Bar, receive two 50-minute massages at the Raindance Spa and enjoy a seasonal gift featuring the rich scents of Sonoma. Call 1 707 935 6600, or visit www.thelodgeatsonoma.com.

Let your hair down

Soothe stressed tresses and tired souls in one go at the Seaham Hall Hotel and Serenity Spa.

The luxury hotel and spa resort, perched on the edge of the North Sea in England's County Durham, offers the country's first concept hair spa. Specialised therapies include Hedonistic Hair, a full consultation, head massage and micro-mist strengthening for GBP75 (HK$1,090), and combination hair and body packages such as the Ten Years Younger package (GBP265) which includes, among other treatments, a cut, colour, blow-dry, manicure and time in the spa.

Vibrating hairwash stations mean the pampering begins the moment you sit down. Accommodation and package rates range from GBP195 to GBP575. Call 44 191 516 1400, or

visit www.designhotels.com/seahamhall.

Far pavilions

Situated near the towering limestone cliffs and crystal clear waters of the famous Krabi National Park, the Rayavadee spa resort is already a high-class hideaway. Now spa lovers can be privately pampered in one of the resort's new Spa Pavilions, each featuring its own exotic private garden and outdoor Jacuzzi. Rates for the Spa Pavilions are 19,000 baht (HK$3,950) a night for two until October 31 and 21,500 baht from November 1 until December 23. Call 66 2 301 1850, or

e-mail [email protected].

Vin-tastic

Bathing in Bordeaux may seem like a waste of good wine, but not when it's part of the Macanese Sangria Ritual at the Mandarin Oriental Spa in Macau. Harnessing the healing and anti-oxidant properties of grapes, the treatment begins with an exfoliating body scrub of red-wine grape seeds and grape-seed oil. Then it's out to your private tropical garden and into a Jacuzzi filled with a stimulating and nourishing concoction of white-wine grape seeds, jasmine and rose, where you can unwind with a timely glass of sangria (this time to drink). After a 30-minute soak, the treatment ends with a soothing 80-minute grape-seed-oil massage. The Spa, Wine and Dine package for two (from HK$3,169 a night, until December 31) includes the Macanese Sangria Ritual, a three-course Portuguese dinner and one night's accommodation. Call 853 567888, or visit www.mandarinoriental.com.

Head for the Hills

Not content with being the world's largest golf club, Mission Hills will soon boast the largest spa facility in Asia. Opening in phases over the next nine months, the Mission Hills Spa will offer three distinct spa concepts. The first is two clubhouse spas, Spring Hill Shenzhen (already open) and Forest Springs Dongguan, both featuring a streamlined menu for people on the go. For those with time to indulge in longer rituals, there is Spring Valley, a resort-style spa. The jewel in the crown, though, is the Wellsprings destination spa, nestled in the breathtaking highlands of the National Park Reserve in Dongguan, offering packages that revolve around multi-day stays for a holistic health experience. Call 86 755 2802 0888 (Shenzhen) or 2973 0303 (Hong Kong), or visit www.missionhillsgroup.

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