8 Tropical Spa Resorts

Indulge in a little pampering for body and soul at
one of these destinations

By Elizabeth Armstrong

You're stretched out on a lounge chair on a golden beach, with a cool drink next to you, the warm sun overhead, and the soothing sound of waves lapping the shore. Can you get any more relaxed than this? Well, quite possibly, if you've checked into a spa resort.

Many resorts throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and the Bahamas have full-service spas on site, where you can opt for an exotic body wrap, melt away during a massage or rejuvenate with a facial. There are treatments meant to be enjoyed by couples, as well as treatments that can be administered in your room or under palm-frond canopies overlooking the ocean. Spas can also offer therapies designed to relieve skin that's been exposed to too much tropical sun.

Following are eight spa resorts. Five are all-inclusive; three are not. All-inclusive resorts include accommodations, all meals, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, some land and water sports, entertainment, activities and gratuities in a single rate that is paid in advance. Spa treatments, however, incur additional fees.

You can learn more about these and other spa destinations, and check rates, when you visit Vacations To Go, or call (800) 998-6925.


Puerto Morelos, Mexico

Stretched along a secluded beach 15 miles north of Playa del Carmen, the El Dorado Royale is popular among vacationing couples and honeymooners. No children are allowed, and guests must be at least age 18. Upon arrival you'll be greeted with a glass of champagne, setting the stage for your stay at this laid-back but classy resort.

The full-service spa has an array of treatments. Cool down a sunburn with the 50-minute cucumber treatment, detox your skin with a seaweed wrap, or feel tension drift away during an aromatherapy massage. A spa pool, sauna and steam room are available to guests.

If all this pampering leaves you feeling languid, retreat to your room's private terrace and take a nap in your personal hammock. The breezy accommodations are inspired by local Mexican motifs, with carved wood furniture and indoor Jacuzzi tubs. Swim-up casitas, located along a lazy "river" that winds through the property, are a whimsical option.

There are a plethora of restaurants and bars here; choices include Italian fare, pan-Asian cuisine and pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven. Resort amenities include nine pools, a fitness center, two tennis courts, kayaks, snorkeling gear and paddle boats.


Puerto Aventuras, Mexico

Purify, restore and revitalize -- that is the mantra at Aventura Spa Palace in Puerto Aventuras on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, south of Playa del Carmen. The highlight of this 1,266-room property is its full-service spa. Start out in the hydrotherapy area, then move on to one of the treatment rooms, where scented candles and soft lighting set a serene mood. Choose from an extensive menu of therapies, many of which are offered at a palapa by the sea.

Stay fit on one of four lighted tennis courts or two nearby championship golf courses, or head to the beach for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Participate in yoga, tai chi and meditation classes, and get your heart pumping in spinning, kickboxing and aerobics sessions. The rock-climbing wall and the 14-obstacle fitness trail provide additional challenges. There are several pools, including a cross-current pool and an elegant indoor pool.

The Aventura Spa Palace is all-inclusive and restricted to guests ages 18 and older. Rooms are outfitted with two-person Jacuzzis, plush robes, a minibar and a liquor dispenser. Ask for accommodations on the quieter north side if you want to be in a calmer environment close to the spa -- most activities take place on the busier south side.


Manzanillo, Mexico

Mayan influences inspired the design of Barcelo Premium Karmina Palace on Mexico's Pacific coast, located in Manzanillo between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. Three massive arches mark the entrance, and Mayan-style carvings grace walls and pillars. Formerly known as Karmina Palace Hotel, the 324-room property was acquired by Barcelo Hotels and Resorts in March 2006. The all-suite, all-inclusive resort welcomes guests of all ages.

Treatments at the spa run the gamut and include salt glow scrubs, reflexology sessions and aloe spritzers (perfect after a day in the sun). Smooth, heated obsidian rocks are used to soothe tense muscles during hot stone massages. In early 2006 the spa introduced a Japanese therapy called Reiki, designed to balance a body's energy and generate inner peace. Packages incorporate several treatments; the "his and hers" combines massages for both participants with a facial for her and haircut or manicure for him.

Elsewhere, you can take lessons in salsa and merengue dancing or engage in a variety of land and water sports. Find serenity in the Buddha Garden or wander the paths that wind through lush, shady gardens filled with tropical flora.

Dining options include buffets, three restaurants, a beachfront taco bar, poolside grill and 24-hour room service. Romantic Carioca, the resort's signature a la carte restaurant, is housed under a palapa and suspended above the ocean on a cliff-top setting. After hours, this restaurant morphs into a disco.

Suites have balconies or patios, separate sitting areas and minibars that are stocked daily. Some two-bedroom ocean-view suites, which sleep four adults and two kids, have private plunge pools on the terrace.


Runaway Bay, Jamaica

This charming resort located in Runaway Bay is reminiscent of an old Jamaican village, with gingerbread architecture, a town square and cobblestone streets. It's a fitting setting for the Jamaican street party that takes place here for guests every Friday. Other weekly events include a beach party, talent show and casino night.

Grand Lido Braco is restricted to guests ages 16 and older, and it is all-inclusive, which means an array of activities and sports are available at no extra charge. There are three tennis courts, 84 acres of hiking trails and two pools, as well as waterskiing, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking and scuba diving for certified divers.

If you're feeling particularly indulgent, head to the spa for a champagne and caviar facial, where a mild cleansing is followed first by a champagne enzyme peel, then by an antiwrinkle treatment, a facial massage and finally a collagen and caviar mask. Massage services include Swedish, aromatherapy, deep tissue, pressure point and sports varieties, with sessions designed for couples, too. Exfoliation treatments consist of an aromatherapy salt glow, Caribbean peppermint scrub and seaweed body polish.

Varied dining options at Grand Lido Braco include the nouvelle cuisine of Piacere, the Japanese fare of Munasan and Italian dishes served alfresco at La Pasta. There also are buffets, 24-hour room service and the traditional Jamaican favorites of the casual Reggae Cafe.


Nassau, Bahamas

Luxury resort Sandals Royal Bahamian, located in Nassau, is a couples-only retreat for guests 18 and older, and it is all-inclusive. The flagship of the Sandals company, it boasts eight gourmet restaurants and its own offshore island, Sandals Cay. Reached by private ferry or kayak, the cay is home to two unspoiled beaches, a freshwater pool and a seafood restaurant serving traditional Bahamian cuisine.

Sailboats, hydrobikes, canoes, kayaks and snorkeling gear are available to guests at no extra charge, and Sandals even includes two scuba dives per day for certified divers.

The Red Lane Spa blends European spa therapies with Caribbean style, offering wraps, scrubs, massages, facials and lip and eye treatments. Services sport such cheeky names as It's a Guy Thing (a facial for men) and From C to Shining Sea (with vitamin C and nutrient-rich seaweed to rejuvenate skin).

Perk up with the Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Wrap, which uses coffee beans, as does the Java Jive Scrub. The spa's signature Salty Margarita Scrub exfoliates with lemongrass and natural sea salt. Experience several different massage techniques with a 50- or 80-minute Discovery Lane Massage Sampler. There also are special massages for couples and mothers-to-be.

There are 13 categories of accommodations at Sandals Royal Bahamian. Top-of-the-line suites include the services of a personal butler.


Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

A 25,000-square-foot spa is the heart and soul of The Regent Palms, an all-suite resort on beautiful Grace Bay Beach in the Turks and Caicos. Treatments are Mediterranean-inspired and use indigenous ingredients, all amid a setting of water gardens and tropical landscaping.

The Mediterranean Infusion, a body wrap that uses a concoction of mint, cucumber, Greek yogurt, honey and lemon, is recommended for skin that's seen a bit too much sun. The Mother of Pearl Body Exfoliation polishes skin with a blend of aromatherapy oil and finely crushed local queen conch shells. Massage treatments are divided into three categories: for relaxation, for energy and strength, and for the soothing of aching muscles. Moonlight and Stars is an evening massage for two, administered in the privacy of your suite's patio, while New Beginnings is for expectant mothers. Some treatments can be enjoyed in guest suites or in white cabanas in the spa's gardens.

Elsewhere on the intimate 12-acre, 72-suite property are a rambling $1.8 million serpentine pool, tennis court, croquet lawn and fitness center. An 18-hole championship golf course is nearby. The staff can arrange snorkeling and scuba diving excursions, and there are early morning yoga and pilates classes.

There are two restaurants: The poolside Plunge serves Asian-themed tapas and other specialties from a wood-burning oven, while Parallel23 offers "tropical fusion" fare in a more upscale setting.

The Regent Palms is not all-inclusive, and it welcomes guests of all ages. Room rates include daily breakfast, round-trip airport transfers, tennis, non-motorized water sports and access to the fitness center.


Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla

Inspired by the architecture of Mykonos, Greece, the whitewashed villas of CuisinArt Resort and Spa are stretched along the south shore of Anguilla, a 35-square-mile island in the eastern Caribbean.

CuisinArt is the first resort to have its own comprehensive hydroponic farm, where freshly grown tomatoes, bok choy, arugula, peppers, herbs and more are used to prepare healthy, tasty fare for the two on-site restaurants. More produce comes from the resort's organic gardens -- Caribbean callaloo (a type of greens), melons, okra and Chinese long beans, for example. Guided tours of the farm are offered three times a week, and you can learn how to make healthy island fare yourself by attending a cooking class led by a CuisinArt chef.

The fruits, vegetables and herbs harvested at the resort's gardens and farm also inspire treatments at the three-story, 8,000-square-foot Venus Spa. Peppermint oils and freshly harvested seaweed are used to rejuvenate tired skin; aloe and cucumber are applied to sunburns; and coconut milk and pineapple juice are added to a body scrub. Reflexology, hot stone massages, body wraps, facials, mineral baths, anti-aging therapies and aromatherapy treatments also are on the menu. For a special treat, indulge in an outdoor massage at sunset, accompanied by soft ocean breezes.

Play on the two-mile sandy beach, or take a dip in the infinity pool. You can also sign up for snorkeling, diving and sunset cruising aboard the resort's 41-foot catamaran.

The 93-room CuisinArt Resort and Spa allows guests of all ages. It is not all-inclusive, but rates do include daily continental breakfast, access to the fitness center, water sports such as snorkeling and kayaking, and the use of the tennis courts, billiard room and croquet lawn.


St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Nestled on 340 palm-studded acres of St. Croix, The Buccaneer has been owned and operated by the same family for several generations. Guests come to enjoy the three pale gold beaches lapped by crystal waters, two freshwater pools, an 18-hole golf course, eight tennis courts and four restaurants. Scheduled activities include nature walks, watercolor classes and daily yoga and pilates workouts. The weekly crab races are a hit among young and old alike.

The Buccaneer's Hideaway Spa offers the gamut of massages, from aromatherapy treatments that send you off to dreamland to full-body sports massages that will soothe sore muscles and get you back on the golf course or tennis court. Lavender and lemongrass are blended with rosemary and orange for the spa's signature treatment -- a fragrant, calming body wrap. For a quick pick-me-up, opt for a mini-cleansing facial, a 30-minute session with exfoliation, toner, moisturizer and mask. There also are spa packages that combine several treatments for sessions that last two to two and a half hours.

This resort is for guests of all ages, and it is not all-inclusive. Rates include a full daily breakfast, snorkeling and kayaking gear, floating mats for use at the pools or beach, scheduled introductory scuba diving lessons, welcome cocktails and a kids' camp for youngsters ages 4 to 12.

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