They offer many unique services such as and African Red Tea Body Cocktail, Hawaiian Sugar Scrub (complete with chilled pineapple), Thai Yoga massage, and an 8 Step Purifying facial. My favorite way to combat winter dry skin is with Ole Henriksen’s Salt Butter ‘n Mango Scrub.

The treatment room is dimly lit by candle light, and soothing music gently plays in the background – bringing a sense of relaxation. The salt and mango scrub begins with a lavish sea mineral scrub, followed by a warm tropical rain rinse. The therapist then rubs mango and cocoa butter all over, using soft long strokes, to soften and soothe dry skin. Not only is this luxurious and relaxing, the mango butter also gives your skin an even texture and tone.

Everything at this day spa is super exclusive and very comfortable. The staff makes sure you are taken care of and aren’t left wondering where you are supposed to go next (big plus). If you are getting multiple treatments, you may need to wait a few minutes between treatments. At Ole Henriksen you will wait in a private room with exotic tea and purified water to await you next treat (ment).

Ole Henriksen’s spa business has been servicing the LA skin care scene for 3 decades. Located along the exclusive Sunset Plaza section of Sunset Boulevard, Ole Henriksen Face/Body has become a prominent landmark and was awarded best Day Spa by AOL in 2004.

Here, in a chic, but extremely warm environment, Ole and his talented staff work their “magic” on some of the world’s most famous faces; from Naomi Campbell, to Renée Zellweger, Christy Turlington, Ralph Fiennes, Leonardo di Caprio, Kylie Minogue, Alanis Morissette, Cher, Charlize Theron, Mark Wahlberg, Eminem, Matthew Mc Conaughey and Julia Stiles to name a few.

Napa Valley has become the vinotherapy capital of the country.

Vinotherapy became all the rage nearly a decade ago, when the Vinothérapie Spa at Les Sources de Caudalie spa opened its doors in Bordeaux, France. Here, on the grounds of the Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte vineyard, spa-goers could spend the day soaking in wine-barrel baths, being massaged with grape-seed oil, and dining on the most fabulous five-course gourmet meals—all while drinking the château’s highly regarded wines. It was a novel approach, especially when the spa industry in the United States was busy cultivating denial: no coffee, alcohol, or food with taste. But when news began to spread about the antiaging properties of polyphenols in grape seeds and the anticancer effects of resveratrol—a compound found in the skin of red grapes—vinotherapy became the must-do beauty regimen. And Caudalie capitalized on the phe­nomenon, becoming the first company to patent a skincare line based on the findings. Next, with the Bordeaux spa fully booked year-round, Caudalie began opening facilities in Paris, California, Taiwan, Italy, and, just last year, at the Frank Gehry–designed Hotel Marqués de Riscal in Rioja, Spain. Two more outposts will open this year in Gstaad, Switzerland, and at The Plaza in New York City. Until then the Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma Valley is the only Caudalie-sanctioned spa on these shores.

For more on this, visit Departures.com

A feel-good getaway

By Laurie Werner. Want a feel-good getaway? Head to France, where a brand-new spa and a spa with a line of brand-new products are at your beck and call.

Martillac
It’s hard to imagine a more sybaritic environment: a spa set in a Bordeaux vineyard with wine-based treatments and a Michelin-starred restaurant with a 15,000-bottle list of stellar Burgundies and Bordeaux. No wonder Europeans think American spas are like boot camp. Les Sources de Caudalie, which opened last year, is based on the theory that the polyphenols in grape seeds act as antioxidants, and so this vinotherapy spa on the grounds of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard features treatments such as a wine-honey wrap, a crushed-Cabernet body scrub, and a Sauvignon massage. But since the emphasis is total indulgence, new chef Franck Salien’s dishes in the gastronomic showcase La Grand’Vigne and the simpler La Table du Lavoir are sumptuous blends of flavors, as were those of founding chef, Didier Banyols—risotto with cèpes and red Graves, cod with a compote of pears and tomatoes, pigeon with raisins and figs—followed by lavish desserts and a full cheese selection. (With a day’s notice, there’s also a 500-calorie three-course menu in La Table.)

Even without the good-for-you elements, though, Caudalie would be worth a visit for its romantic setting—29 rooms in rustic, faux-antique buildings, decorated individually and set around a man-made lake with two swans and an artfully placed rowboat. Best room: L’Ile aux Oiseaux, a separate cottage built over the lake. Best time to visit: during the harvest, September through October. Treatments, $6- $103; products, $4-$78. Rooms, $150-$310. Dinner, $130. Chemin de Smith Haut Lafitte, Martillac; 888-465-8383; 33-5-57-83-83-83; fax 33-5-57-83-83-84.

Megève
You feel healthier just being in this picture-perfect Alpine village. And that’s particularly true at Les Fermes de Marie, a hoteland spa constructed of several Haute Savoie farmhouses brought together on two acres and furnished with extraordinary charm. The inviting spa was put together with an atmospheric mix of local logs, trees, and stones that feels like a Hobbit dwelling—if the Hobbits had hired a good designer. The massages, baths,facials, and wraps utilize ingredients from the mountains—plants and herbs such as edelweiss, juniper, balsam pine, and arnica blossoms—and they’re sensational (particularly the cream baths and fasciatherapy massages). So are the house-brand products created by co-owner Jocelyne Sibuet from plants and various essential oils. Especially good for winter-ravaged skin: Edelweiss Cream No. 2. Treatments, $10-$72; products, $18-$35. Rooms, $250-$445. Chemin de Riante Colline; 33-4-50-93-03-10; fax 33-4-50-93-09-84; www.fermesdemarie.com.

Reprinted from Departures.com

San Francisco Bay Area spas that offer teen facials

But a growing number of teenagers - both boys and girls - are getting facials as part of a healthy approach to skin care, or to address the kinds of skin problems teens used to entrust to dermatologists.

Majestic Day Spa, 541 Athol Ave., Oakland, (510) 763-2273; www.majesticdayspa.com; aesthetician: Shonna Hall; teen facial: 60 minutes, $45 (massage therapist Nathaniel Brown offers massage for those 18 and older).

541 Athol Ave., Oakland, (510) 763-2273; aesthetician: Shonna Hall; teen facial: 60 minutes, $45 (massage therapist Nathaniel Brown offers massage for those 18 and older).L Salon & Color Group, 223 S. San Mateo Drive, San Mateo, (650) 342-6668; www.lsalon.com; aesthetician: Yvonne Rehm; teen facial: 45 minutes, $70

Sanctuary Spa at Bay Club Marin; 221 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera ; (415) 945-3000, www.bayclubmarin.com; aesthetician: Stacy Smith; teen facial: 45 minutes, $60 members, $70 nonmembers (teens younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian).

Yelena Day Refresh Spa, 166 Geary St. Suite 1107, San Francisco, (415) 397-2484, www.yelena-spa.com; aesthetician: Yelena Blumin; teen facial: 45 minutes, $70

Gunilla Skin Butik; 2165 Union St., San Francisco, (415) 931-7318, www.gunillaskinbutik.com; aesthetician: Gunilla Eisenberg; teen facial: 60 minutes, $80, ages 11-19

Source: Sfgate.com ]]> http://spaphoria.com/beauty/day-spas-offering-teen-facials/feed/ http://spaphoria.com/destinations/bliss-london-spa http://spaphoria.com/destinations/bliss-london-spa#comments Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:31:51 +0000 rob Destinations Day Spa http://spaphoria.com/destinations/bliss-london-spa London achieves a state of Bliss this fall when the two-story branch debuts in South Kensington. Expect the same clever details and whimsical services that made the original spa downtown Manhattan’s favorite retreat. The Quickbliss Nail Bar is devoted to hands and feet (the hot-milk-and-almond pedicure is sublime). Other standards include microdermabrasion facials ($55-$135), a carrot-and-sesame body buff ($150), and a 135-minute ginger-rub massage ($200). The hydrating Mudsage wrap and a Four Flower Facial will soon be unveiled, along with Bliss’ new spa-strength skincare line. 60 Sloane Avenue; 212-931-6382, 44-207-584-3888.

Reprinted from Departures.com

The Woodlands, TX — It never fails to amaze me just who might be seen in our hometown. Recently Salvatore Ferragamo visited the Urban Retreat Spa & Salon located in the Marriot Waterway. Urban Retreat opened its doors one Monday especially to accommodate him and his entourage. In fact, the spa is normally closed on Monday unless there is a special request for a large group.

When Salvatore Ferragamo finished his day at Urban Retreat, he was so impressed that he invited the owners along with a few staff members to enjoy a fantastic journey to his private estate and vineyard in Florence. The crew enthusiastically accepted, and it was a vacation they will never forget.

He took them on a tour of his vineyard and explained the importance of wine and its history. Salvatore also expressed interest in opening a spa –at his vineyard– like Urban Retreat that offers Vino Therapy. This should come as no surprise. The Ferragamo family is notorious for pioneering so many other innovative ventures in fashion and style, why not this too?

While the Staff that made the trip have returned with some exciting stories about their visit; Allison Del Papa, the Spa Manager, is already busy with plans for others like Ferragamo to spend a relaxing day enjoying all the spa offers. Allison explains, “Many of our future clients have heard through the grapevine of our spa and want it for themselves” adding “We will continue to thrive on bringing more of what clients are looking for in our services”. When I pried for a few more names, Allison sat back in her chair with wide eyes and a smile. From her reaction, it is obvious that Ferragamo is not the first celebrity to enjoy the Urban Retreat — but he may be the most handsome.

The owners of this luxury spa are Johnny Greene and Dr. Ulupi Choksi. Dr. Choksi has practiced medicine for 15 years. He is well respected in the medical community with his specialization in endocrinologic disorders and has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association. Dr. Choksi brings his knowledge and medical experience to Urban Retreat allowing the medical aspects of beauty and skincare to be offered to clients. These valuable services are preformed by a licensed and certified staff. The menus of supplementary medical services are endorsed by 28 well-respected local doctors from the Houston Physicians Medical Association, an association Dr. Choksi is proud to apart of.

Your visit will start off with a consultation and an explanation of services. One of the most popular among men and women is the Laser Hair Removal, a service many spas advertise but rarely deliver. When you are deciding to have any procedure done, it is best to check out all your options. The lasers at Urban Retreat are top quality. An equally popular package is the Skin Rejuvenation — MicroPeels, TriChloroAcetic Acid (TCA), and Timeless Peel. The Laser Facials are performed by the best Lasers on the market with quality and safety being of utmost importance. Other services include the Titan – a procedure using infra-red light to give what some rave is the ‘no downtime lift’. It is preformed on any area of the body desired.

After leaving Urban Retreat, I was intrigued by their success and found out a few things. I took a moment to ask clients leaving Urban Retreat why they love this spa so much. Many clients expressed appreciation for the privacy offered by the location. Urban Retreat has the same and, most of the time, better services than most similar spas found in shopping centers yet has remained competitive in price. Each guest leaves refreshed, rejuvenated and feeling just as the notable celebrities that have dropped by. The hotel valet service was rated A-plus by the spa’s clientele. When checking out, you simply give your claim ticket to the Urban Retreat receptionist and it will be validated for you. Nothing could be easier – it sure beats trying to locate a parking spot. There is no other spa in The Woodlands that compares favorably to Urban Retreat.

I have learned Urban Retreat is more than a Spa & Salon: It is luxury personified. We may not all be Salvatore Ferragamo – but for one day, we too can taste the good life at Urban Retreat.

It’s obvious we missed Salvatore, perhaps more celebs will find their way to Urban Retreats’, urban retreat. .Go here to check them out online

HISTORY Former financier Jamie Ahn’s newest venture opened last fall following the success of his Acqua Beauty Bar (which, natch, doesn’t have a bar).

VIBE The three-story space features mahogany, mother-of-pearl, and a honey onyx bar built onto a rough-hewn 3,000-year-old tree.

BY DAY After lunch at Town next door, Midtown bankers slip in for a shave, shoe shine, and mini-facial in the men’s spa upstairs.

SIGNATURE TREATMENT The Cosmecellar Facial ($395) combines high-tech and biotech to transform skin in 90 minutes.

BY NIGHT Attorneys hold court in the lounge’s leather banquettes, taking breaks for the gelatin-thickened warm pedicure soaks in an adjoining room.

COCKTAIL TO ORDER A frothy, antioxident-rich mixture of pink mangosteen juice and Champagne (gratuit, with treatment).

Reprinted from Departures.com

Six getaways take a new approach to getting in shape—both in mind and in body—by helping you push yourself first, then pamper yourself later.

By Gail Harrington

A week of 5:30 a.m. wake-ups, 12-mile morning hikes, communal living, and total detox from caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and other banned substances may be beneficial, but this type of program isn’t for everyone. Fortunately, there are many ways to have a fitness getaway without giving up creature comforts and at least some of your vices. A growing number of spas and specialists offer options for travelers wanting to push their physical limits and jump-start lifestyle changes while enjoying a beautiful destination. So if you’re looking for weight loss, body toning, athletic competency, or a transforming experience, here are six that offer plenty of choices, and coffee too.

Your Own Private Hawaii

For those who prefer a personalized approach, Pure Kauai will put you in an exclusive beachfront home and bring the boot camp to you—including personal trainer, massage therapist, yoga and Pilates instructors, life coach, nutritionist, and private chef. “We create a customized program based on a client’s goals, personal style, and length of stay,” says Phil Jones, president of Pure Kauai, “that includes workouts, island adventures, healthy Zone-style or vegetarian cuisine, and accommodations in select hotels, private villas, or exclusive beachfront homes on Kauai’s north shore.” If you are focused on weight loss, Jones gets you started on a long-term plan, eating five meals a day, dropping 500 calories from your normal daily intake, and increasing your activity level. The day starts with yoga, weight training, Pilates, or martial arts before breakfast, followed by a four- or five-hour adventure such as hiking, outrigger canoeing, surfing, horseback riding, golfing, cycling, swimming, or snorkeling. Late afternoon leaves time for massages, facials, life-coaching sessions, nutritional counseling, or even tarot card readings. “Teaching people to maintain a fitness program over the long term is our goal,” Jones says, “but sometimes they aren’t as interested in losing weight as having a healthy vacation. We arrange private horseback rides on Princeville Ranch, hikes through Waimea Canyon with return trip by helicopter, and golf with a pro at the Prince course. In the summer, guests can kayak the entire Na Pali Coast, a 20-mile all-day adventure.” $ Rates, $3,000-$10,000, depending on accommodations, cuisine, and activities requested; 866-457-7873; www.purekauai.com.

Climb Every Mountain

During Hike & Spa Weeks, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and the Beaver Creek Hiking Center together challenge guests to aim high—scaling one of Colorado’s famous “fourteeners” (mountains at least 14,000 feet high). The six-night program outfits guests with hiking gear and conditions them for the big climb with Rocky Mountain training hikes, après-hike yoga, and treatments at Park Hyatt’s Allegria Spa. “Starting slowly on day one, we climb 1,000 to 1,500 feet in elevation over three or four hours so guests can acclimatize to the altitude,” says Nate Goldberg, Beaver Creek resort hiking director. Then the group works up to hikes from five to seven hours long. In late afternoon, hikers return to Park Hyatt for a swim in the outdoor pool and spa treatments. “Our Reflexology-and-Hot-Stone Massage is a great remedy for aching feet, and the Hiker’s Massage assists stretching, flushes toxins, and relieves sore muscles,” says Gaye Steinke, general manager of Allegria Spa. By day four, depending upon the weather and your stamina, you climb either 13,237-foot Notch Mountain or one of the fourteeners, such as 14,446-foot Mount Elbert, Colorado’s highest mountain and the second highest peak in the lower 48. “Summit or not,” Goldberg says, “the week is a confidence-builder for people who love to hike, burn calories, and earn their desserts.” And staying in a mountain-lodge-style room at the elegant Park Hyatt in the heart of Beaver Creek Village is another Rocky Mountain high. Hike & Spa Weeks are June 20-26 and September 12-18. Rate, $1,525; 970-827-6658; www.beavercreek.hyatt.com.

Build a Better Beach Body

Amansala’s Bikini Boot Camp puts guests on the path to looking good in a swimsuit, but women aren’t the only enlistees doing basic training just outside of Tulum, Mexico, on the Yucatan coast. Limited to 12 recruits, this six-night program boosts mind and body wellness, with a mix of fitness, meditation, and yoga classes, outdoor adventures, low-fat cuisine, and pampering. No relation to Amanresorts, the eco-chic Amansala is the fantasy retreat of Melissa Perlman and Erica Gragg. “We’re a Robinson Crusoe escape with New York style,” says Perlman, noting the remote location, powdery white-sand beach, and turquoise waters, plus the eight rustic-but-stylish cabanas with mosquito-net canopies over the beds, 400-thread-count linens, plush towels, and Aveda bath products. Clearly, Amansala’s Bikini Boot Camp isn’t about deprivation. It’s a place to dive into a fitness program and dine barefoot on grilled fresh lobster served alfresco. A day begins with fresh fruit and herbal tea, followed by meditation, yoga in an open-air studio, and a lunch of grilled-shrimp salad or catch of the day and fresh vegetables. Afternoons include jungle hiking with a Mayan guide, mountain biking to Tulum’s oceanfront ruins, trekking to a secret swimming hole that must be descended by rope, snorkeling in cenotes, body sculpting on the beach, Pilates workouts, or power walks on the sand. And if you’re not tuckered out, there’s free time left for kayaking, hanging in a hammock, beachfront massages and reflexology, and Mayan treatments with mustard-colored clay, honey, and essential oils basted and baked onto the body and washed off with an ocean swim. Cabanas have upstairs rooms with king-sized beds, loft ceilings, and private terraces; downstairs rooms are ideal for two friends, with double closets and two queen-sized beds that hang on ropes from the ceiling. $ Rate, $1,575; 529-84-804-0865; www.amansala.com.

Rock Your World

In the red rock country of St. George, Utah, near Zion and Bryce national parks, Red Mountain Spa helps guests design their own boot camps from a choice of more than 50 different fitness classes each week and outdoor adventures such as hiking, snow shoeing, rock climbing, horseback riding, cycling, and kayaking. “Many guests set up their workout schedules through the concierge before they arrive,” says Red Mountain general manager Deborah Evans. “Our guests are extremely active and push themselves hard.” Start off with a 6:30 a.m. guided hike on one of 30 different trails, ranging from two to four miles for beginners to an eight- to 12-mile advanced hike that involves some scrambling and trail running. An afternoon might include a combination of hip hop, Chi Ball, Pilates, and aquatic classes, New York City Ballet Workout, and rock climbing instruction. Beginners do two to three climbs in an afternoon, ranging from 30 to 55 feet, while advanced climbers make 100-foot climbs with a private guide. “With our Choose Your Own Adventure option, guests can do any outdoor sport one-on-one with a certified guide on an hourly basis, or create customized day trips,” says Nancy Ottmann, Red Mountain’s director of health and fitness. A spa with 14 treatment rooms stays open until 10 p.m., allowing guests to maximize activity level during the day and still have time left for soothing remedies such as the Slickrock Survival Massage, Red Rock Therapy (which uses juniper oil), Fango Leg Wrap, or the Sports Massage. In-room spa treatments are available for guests in Red Mountain’s two-bedroom villa suites, which have three fireplaces, bathrooms with whirlpool tubs, needle-head showers, and river-rock floors to stimulate reflex points in the feet. Rates, $260- $460; 800-407-3002; www.redmountainspa.com.

Awaken the Inner Warrior

Just north of Tucson, Miraval Life in Balance Resort & Spa challenges men through the ultimate boot-camp-meets-luxury-spa, “Conquering Your Inner Everest,” created by retired Army Airborne Ranger infantry officer Joe MacDonald, manager of the resort’s Challenge Department. “Men in our program know what they’re signing up for and must be in good physical condition,” says MacDonald. Designed to help men face their inner fears, the five-day, four-night program includes survival training, climbing instruction on Miraval’s 32-foot rock wall, and a workout with former Mr. Universe, Nordine Zouareg. Yoga, meditation, classes such as “What Keeps Getting in the Way,” and a sweat-lodge purification mentally prepare the men for a 36-hour mission—the ascent of 7,700-foot Baboquivari Peak. The climb culminates with a 350-foot rise that requires ropes to reach the summit. “As a military officer, taking care of my men was the prime objective, and my mission here is no different,” MacDonald says. Taking the edge off the maneuvers is knowledge that you’re coming back to a 135-acre resort with casita-style rooms that face the Catalina Mountains or a cactus garden, three swimming pools, tennis courts, stables, gourmet cuisine, fitness center, and spa. En route back to Miraval, they serve protein- and carb-boosting chicken wraps and Gatorade in the van. Later, there’s a victory dinner with increased portions to replace nutrients lost during the climb, followed by the sharing of mountain-survival stories. Day five concludes with the Quantum Leap, when each man climbs a 25-foot pole and stands on a disc at the top. Connected to a rope held by the other men, he leaps from the pole and is slowly belayed to the ground. “Of course, you can’t fully conquer your inner Everest in five days,” admits MacDonald, “but we begin the process of awakening the spirit for transformation.” Rates, $3,600 for the April 5-9 program and $3,000 for August 23-27; 800-232-3969; www.miravalresort.com.

Blaze New Trails

Accessible only by boat, plane, or helicopter, Vancouver Island’s isolated Clayoquot Wilderness Resorts take boot camp to the back woods with an eco adventure-spa combo that includes four nights at Clayoquot’s Floating Resort at Quait Bay, a floating lodge 100 feet offshore, and three nights at Wilderness Outpost at Bedwell River, a stylish tented camp beyond the bay and nine miles up a fjord. “Our guests expect challenges, and this ancient biosphere of old-growth forest and virgin seacoast has endless possibilities for them,” says John Caton, general manager of both Clayoquot resorts. “In fact, there are so many trails for hiking and horseback riding, and river and sea kayaking routes, that guests can take on more strenuous feats day by day and build endurance without repeating a single adventure.” They can take a boat trip from Quait Bay to Flores Island and hike the eight-mile Wild Side Trail or hike from the Outpost into Strathcona Provincial Park, ascending 4,000 feet through river valleys, cedar forests, and fern gardens to the glaciers and ice caves, a 15-mile trek that takes eight hours round-trip. Many guests do repeat climbs of Lone Cone, on Meares Island, challenging their last time to reach the inactive volcano’s 3,000-foot summit, as well as multisport circuits that combine, for example, hiking, horseback riding, and kayaking or mountain biking and canoeing. During their stay at Quait Bay, guests receive two daily spa treatments at the Healing Grounds, a shoreline spa nestled among cedars and giant ferns. The 16 floating lodge rooms have magnificent coastal views and private decks, while the Outpost’s 16 beautifully furnished tents have river or rainforest views and are linked to dining, massage, and shower tents by a cedar boardwalk. Low-fat cuisine relies on local seafood, organic produce and herbs, and broth-based reduction sauces, with vegetarian and even Atkins options; dinner is a five-course meal paired with British Columbia wines. Rate, $6,500, including round-trip airfare from Tofino to the resort; 888-333-5405; www.wildretreat.com.

Gail Harrington regularly writes about spas. This is her first article for Departures.

$ Establishment accepts no charge/credit cards or accepts cards other than the American Express Card.

Reprinted from Departures.com

Voted Number One Destination Spa
for Weight Loss-Cuisine-Yoga-Fitness-Mind Body Program
by the readers of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine

During your visit, you will enjoy a complete well-rounded program of fitness, advanced body and skin care, nutritionally balanced gourmet meals and health related educational lectures. You will enjoy the privacy of your own guest cottage accommodations, and of course the attentive, personalized care of our highly skilled staff of professionally trained specialists.

The mornings will start early with an invigorating hike on our many trails or the energizing walk along our neighboring golf course. After a satisfying breakfast, it is on to fitness classes where you will experience our program that is tailored to meet the needs of all fitness levels.

Come afternoon, feeling revitalized from exercise and a delicious lunch often served on our outdoor patio, you can reap the rewards of our many spa treatments. Revel in a hydrotherapy soak, an aromatherapy massage, facial, seaweed wrap or a hand treatment.

Evening is spent among new friends or quietly in the comfort of your private cottage. The group gathers in our Evening Room to relax and socialize while indulging in appetizers and specialty teas. The warm glow of the fireplace enhances the tranquil setting of the Dining Room where you will indulge in a gourmet dinner created with culinary expertise.

Before retiring for the night, join the others for one of the many educational lectures offered during the week.

For more information, Visit Calavie Online

Since buying the Cal-a-Vie spa near San Diego three years ago, John and Terri Havens, a New Orleans businessman and his wife, have turned what was a sleepy, frayed-at-the-edges encampment into an intimate, beautifully restored retreat. All 24 Provence-style guestrooms have been redone, as have the common rooms, using French and Italian country antiques, many from the Havens’ own collection (the 16th-century Italian chandelier in the dining room used to hang in their foyer). The centerpiece, however, is the 5,000-square-foot bathhouse, complete with travertine marble tile, hydrotherapy, a Vichy treatment room, and extra showers for the seaweed-wrap treatment. This spring, construction on a 16,000-square-foot gym with a weight room, pool, and tennis court will be complete (the spa hopes to attract more men).

But perhaps as impressive as the renovation is the extraordinary level of individual attention and commitment to each guest (the staff-to-guest ratio is an impressive five to one). Unlike too many other (less serious) spas, days at Cal-a-Vie are scheduled from dusk to dinner. There’s the hike or walk at 6:15 a.m., followed by breakfast, then spinning, Pilates, stability ball, and other classes—all before lunch. Most guests, even the best-conditioned, find the morning sessions strenuous, despite plenty of encouragement from Judy Wood and her motivating team of trainers. Which makes the afternoon treatments come as a relief, especially Ron Hamilton’s Hawaiian-Swedish hybrid massage, the magnetic therapy, the trance-inducing scalp treatment, and hydrotherapy with a cooling mint rubdown.

With so much exercise, food becomes almost sacred at Cal-a-Vie. Steve Pernetti, who hails from the Golden Door, monitors every guest’s caloric intake, preferences, and allergies. The good news is that he whips up unusually delicious—and healthful—meals, such as baby spinach with orange-ginger dressing (made with sesame oil); Hoisin shrimp with low-fat lobster curry sauce over sweet potato purée (a better source of carbohydrates than regular spuds); and a chocolate mousse that ingeniously uses tofu.

The spa is designed to be social. It’s popular with couples and family members (such as mothers and grown daughters), and many guests come to be fast friends. So if a hideout is what you want, this isn’t one. Then again, in Cal-a-Vie’s holistic vision of wellness, a little bonhomie is good for you.

Seven nights, $5,490; includes meals, fitness classes, and 16 treatments. Three- and four-night stays are also available. At 29402 Spa Havens Way, Vista, CA; 866-772-4283; http://www.calavie.com/.

Reprinted from Departures.com