TOP 10 GETAWAYS
A taste of paradise begins in the best spa havens, set in idyllic destinations for the open-minded and the adventurous.
BEST NEW SPA GETAWAY JOALI, MALDIVES The journey to Joali, one of the newest luxury resorts on Muravandhoo Island, is certainly for the curious and valiant. Two transcontinental flights and one seaplane ride later, I find myself at this destination resort, fringed by pristine white sand, blistering blue waters, and a manta ray-shaped jetty. The philosophy of Joali is apparent from the moment I arrive: castaway location, dramatic tropical architecture by design studios Autoban, Atolye4n, and Studio Glitt, and fabulous in-room elements imbued with the perennial joyful spirit of living. The smallest touches in my 240-square-metre water villa make the most meaningful impressions—welcome Ruinart champagne and chocolate coconut treats, objets d’art in the form of brass pineapples and cocktail shakers adorn the living room, while a state-of-the-art lighting and mood control system, controlled from an iPad, sits by the bedside table. Then, there is the sumptuous bathroom, which sets the bar so high that normal life seems invariably dull—luxurious Verde Lapponia marble against rose-gold taps, with artisanal amenities such as a Marvis Amarelli Licorice Toothpaste. My first morning, I ride over to the Vandhoo Restaurant, where my carb-free resolve is instantly weakened after a bite of the most delicious pain au chocolat. Lunch is spent lazing at one of the poolside cabanas at Mura Bar, with watermelon juice and lobster rolls. As an opening special, I have the honour of sitting in the woods with Turkish artist-musician Görkem Şen, who plays his proud invention, a purely acoustic stringed instrument called Yaybahar that sends vibrations through the body, putting me in the right mood for my continued exploration of the island. The Joali Spa by Espa is an indulgent retreat on its own. Serious spa enthusiasts will delight in the 28-page menu, with treatments designed especially for Joali. Placed in the trusted hands of my Bhutanese therapist for a Mindful Massage, with a promise of a renewed sense of positivity, I begin with mindful breathing, before infused oils are massaged into metamorphic zones on the feet and body. Then, warm rose quartz crystals are used to sculpt and tone the facial contours, while an intensive hair-and-scalp pink mud works its wonders on my tresses. The after-spa relaxation takes place in a curated library filled with transformative wellness books from yoga bibles to clean-eating guides. So emotionally stimulating is my time here that I feel compelled to add more wellness goals to my list of resolutions for the new year. —Emmilyn Yeoh Muravandhoo Island Raa Atoll, Maldives. Tel: +960 658 4400. www.joali.com
MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND RESORT TRISARA, PHUKET, THAILAND The road to paradise is indeed windy, but fringed with coconut trees and seafoam at the shores of the Andaman, you just know you’re going somewhere exquisite as the chauffeur-driven Volvo XC50 cruises up the tropical hills of northwest Phuket towards this private luxury villa resort. It’s only 15 minutes away from the new Phuket International Airport, but it feels a world away. I arrive at the welcome pavilion, perched on a level overlooking the beachfront, where on this breezy day, rows of coconut trees sway their big hellos as the waves of the Andaman Sea leap up high, in some kind of symphonic show. Trisara is my kind of paradise—aptly named in Sanskrit after “Garden in the Third Heaven”—for the next four glorious days. STAY: Behind a wooden door, down a tree-shaded path, surrounded by verdant tropical green and birdsong, sits my Ocean View Pool Villa that opens up to unspoilt views of the Andaman Sea. Trisara comprises of 39 private villas and suites built individually on terraces, with 30 residential villas higher up on the island headland. With 240 square metres of Thai-chic luxury of bedroom, living, bathing, and terrace space, you wouldn’t need to venture out of your private confines. Make it a point to catch the sunset at the edge of your private infinity pool—there’s nothing quite as spectacular. EAT: Begin your day with a hearty breakfast, although I did throw the diet to the wind for the scrumptious Thai omelette and coconut water over fruits-and-grains. I was on holiday! Lunch is a veritable Thai feast at Seafood at Trisara—try the “mama-style” yellow crab curry, and lobster stir-fried with fresh tumeric—which also transforms into a Sunday Jazz Brunch with the freshest catch, cooking stations, tapas, wine, and live music. For dinner, we were treated to the newly minted one-Michelin-star Pru restaurant, where chef Jimmy Ophorst served up a truly world-class farm-to-table menu. Think mangrove black crab dressed in its own reduction, “carrots cooked in the soil they came from”, aged duck cooked in an open wood fire with pickled Thai cherries, and a curious confection of organic beetroot semifreddo with a sourdough ice cream and mountain almonds. Eat for pleasure, and don’t forget to try the homemade cookies and coconut chocolates in your room. DO: Start the morning right with a yoga session at the private sala by the sea, where the sound of ocean waves do add to the vibrational quality; or a PT session to work off those heavy dinners. SPA: The award-winning Jara Spa is built around a centuries-old ficus tree that represents the concept of this holistic space, with its five pillars for rejuvenation, fitness, beauty, spirituality, and youth. Start your stay with the Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia Spa Awards 2019-winning Royal Trisara 6 Hand Massage that combines three different massages, Thai herbal compresses, and aromatic oils to deeply relax and harmonise your body’s energy. Close with the Sodashi Samadara Ultimate Age-Defying Facial that engages the energy of rose quartz with the potent Samadara anti-ageing cream to infuse your skin with hydration so you leave this paradise completely beautiful, inside out.—Natasha Kraal 60/1 Moo 6, Srisoonthorn Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, Thailand. Tel: +66 76 310 100. www.trisara.com