align your chakras
NAMASTE AS LONG AS YOU WANT (OR CAN AFFORD TO)
THE GAINSBOROUGH BATH SPA, BATH, UK
As far as high-end hotels go, this one has it all: complimentary minibar, big cloud-like beds, heated bathroom floors. But there’s one thing that puts The Gainsborough in a class of its own – hot springs run beneath the city of Bath, and this is the only hotel in town that has direct access to the mineral-rich thermal water. Guests are advised to free up an hour to “take the waters” with the Bath House Circuit, where you move between two thermal pools, a sauna, steam room and ice alcove before floating in the main pool to finish. But you’ll regret leaving without having booked in a few more spa sessions, so we’d advise freeing up a whole day (or two) instead.
thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk
THE WESTIN LANGKAWI RESORT & SPA, LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA
Westin hotels take R&R very seriously – as proven by the Well-being Movement, which puts an emphasis on the health and fitness of guests – and this coastal outpost is no different. There’s a focus on superfood (so breakfast is a guilt-free way to start the day), and if you only packed your one-piece and yoga pants, you can borrow fresh trainers from reception. They’ll come in handy if you sign up for a forest tour to see the area’s amazing flora and fauna. The Heavenly Spa, which overlooks the resort’s exclusive beach, features allwhite linen, open-plan decks and a pool; it’s Jlo’s “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” music video come to life. Nab one of the villas and you’ll never have to leave thanks to your own piece of private beach, in-room spa treatments and guided meditation. Goodbye, unnecessary human interaction.
westinlangkawi.com
SOHO HOUSE, ISTANBUL, TURKEY
Soho House has a reputation for being an exclusive spot where cool, creative types can network, take meetings or, more likely, lie by the pool to see and be seen (but never photographed, thanks to the strict no-photos policy). The recently opened Istanbul location is no exception – it’s housed inside a 19th-century palazzo, in the hip Beyoğlu neighbourhood, with high ceilings, marble floors and plush couches to wait on if your room’s not quite ready upon arrival (though you could always try heading to the Mandolin Terrace restaurant and admire the view over a daiquiri instead). If you ask us, though, it’s all about the Cowshed Spa, “a place to meet friends, eat, drink and shop” as well as indulge in a little grooming. Book a full day of pampering in your own treatment room – the Sleepy Cow Body Treatment is out of this world – or have a hamam session and hang out in the lounge all afternoon.
sohohouseistanbul.com
“It’s an exclusive spot where cool, creative types lie by the pool to see and be seen”