The trend toward incorporating locally grown herbs, fruits and other ingredients into spa treatments is making its way into many luxury resorts.
The CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa in Anguilla has its own hydroponic farm, growing vegetables as well as herbs—parsley, chervil, thyme, sage and mint—which are incorporated into the Venus Spa’s treatments. A popular choice and ideal for sunburnt skin, the hydroponic cucumber and aloe wrap uses cucumbers grown in the greenhouse. Other spa treatments capture the essence of the island, such as warm seashell massage, using heated seashells, and the Caribbean warm stone massage, for deep relaxation and improved circulation.
At the Away Spa at the W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island, the Nourish Wrap uses the local Noni fruit (known to be a anti-aging treatment) and a combination of aloe, green tea and antioxidants to bring out its guests’ “beauty” glow. In Jamaica, the signature Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay combines coconut, mungbean, spices and lavender with frangipani monoi oil to polish the skin, followed by a warm milk bath, after which guests are cocooned in opulent foil wrap. Coconuts are plentiful here and also a key element in many Jamaican dishes.
On the other side of the globe, the Salinda Spa at the Salinda Phu Quoc Island Resort and Spa in Vietnam offers holistic treatments rooted in Vietnamese philosophies and centuries-old healing techniques. Treatments are named by their mission: relax, rejuvenate, energize, hydrate or detoxify. The luxurious five-star Salinda Phu Quoc Island Resort and Spa opened in late 2014 on Phu Quoc island, which has been referred to as the last pearl of Asia. Incentive planners take note: This combination of unspoiled destination, five-star amenities and elegant spa fits the bill for been-there-done-that qualifiers.
