A Loch Lomondside resort has been named the world’s best spa for romantic breaks by a top-selling magazine. Cameron House and The Carrick received the nomination in a guide recently published by Good Housekeeping to the leading spa breaks across the globe.

The hotel and golf resort was named as one of the top 10 in various categories along with venues in France, Switzerland and Austria.

The magazine’s guide includes an array of very different retreats to suit various needs, wants and budgets.

Factors taken into consideration when conducting the survey included value, luxury, eco, coastal charm, romance and serious detoxing.

The guide says: “Perched on the edge of Loch Lomond, Cameron House is the perfect destination for romantics.

“And Carrick Spa is housed in a sleek, contemporary building.

“Thermal experiences, a gym, indoor pool and yoga classes are on offer, but the rooftop infinity pool and hydrotherapy pool are highlights.”

Other UK spa resorts named in the guide include The Sanctuary Spa in London, which is branded “a spa tardis, offering an amazing range of facilities and treatments.”

Further afield, the Mayr and More resort in Klagenfurt, Austria, is named as best for a serious detox and the French venue of Les Sources de Caudalie is picked as best for a luxury treat.

Good Housekeeping editor Lindsay Nicholson said: “If you’re in need of a well deserved break to recharge your batteries for 2012, the Good Housekeeping Global Guide to the 10 Best Spas is a great starting place.

“Complete rest, relaxation and a lot of me-time will have you looking and feeling great and prepared to tackle the challenges of the year ahead.”

The full verdict on Cameron House and The Carrick can be read in the guide which is on sale with the January edition of Good Housekeeping.

That copy of the magazine is now on sale.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the debut of The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa. Owned by the Tourism Development & Investment Company — the leading developer of cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi — The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa marks the launch of the Westin brand in the emirate.

The hotel features 172 premium guest rooms, several restaurants and lounges, a Heavenly Spa(R) by Westin and state-of-the-art meeting facilities.

The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa boasts a prime location along the fairways of the championship Abu Dhabi Golf Course, which underwent extensive upgrades in January 2011 and is managed by Troon Golf, the world-renowned luxury golf course management company. Additionally, the Westin is the only hotel in Abu Dhabi to offer sweeping views of the putting green from all guest rooms. Close to the heart of down town, the newly constructed hotel is just a ten-minute drive from the exhibition center and 20 minutes from the Corniche.

Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and Middle East comments: “We are excited to introduce the Westin brand in Abu Dhabi in association with the Tourism Development & Investment Company and with this opening, we hope to elevate the emirate’s position as a leading tourism destination in the region. We believe that the hotel will be a leading wellness retreat in Abu Dhabi’s emerging centre.”

“Westin is enjoying phenomenal international growth, fueled by the success of our distinctive positioning,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “We are proud to open this new hotel in Abu Dhabi, where we offer a respite from the rigors of travel with the help of our signature brand amenities, designed to send travelers home feeling better than when they arrived.”

“This is a momentous year for TDIC as we are achieving a number of significant delivery milestones, of which the Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa is one,” said Ali Al Hammadi, Executive Director of Project Services at TDIC. “We are delighted to collaborate with Starwood, with whom we are working very closely to build this landmark destination, and we are looking forward to a successful launch.”

The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers sets a welcoming tone. Upon entering the lobby, guests will begin to breathe more easily as they are greeted with soothing elements like relaxed lighting, natural botanical beauty and stimulating music. The hotel decor features neutral tones, water features and a mix of stone and wood elements. The Westin Heavenly Spa consists of six treatment rooms and an outdoor relaxation area in a tranquil garden setting. Guests can experience a range of Heavenly packages and specially-developed treatments targeted at golfers such as the “Golfer’s Recovery.”

Guestrooms, which include executive suites and a presidential suite, are all outfitted with the world-renowned Westin Heavenly Bed(R) featuring lush sheets, down cushioning and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. Another industry first, the Heavenly Bath(R) creates an invigorating spa-like experience, enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly Shower(R) Heavenly(R) Robe and exclusive White Tea Aloe bath amenities. In-room, high-speed Internet access and an ergonomic work space will offer travelers convenience and productivity in a tranquil setting.

Other signature Westin amenities include the brand’s SuperfoodsRX menu designed to treat guests to exceptional food combinations rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Guests can also choose from 10 varieties of JING tea with recommendations from a tea sommelier at “The Lounge,” where they can enjoy sweeping views of the golf course. Other dining options include an all-day dining restaurant “Fairways,” a Moroccan restaurant “Agadir,” as well as an English-style bar, poolside restaurant and bar and cocktail lounge. The hotel also offers extensive meeting facilities comprised of three ballrooms, a conference center, board rooms, and a business center, as well as and catering for up to 400 people.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts currently operates nearly 50 hotels in the Middle East, including five hotels in Abu Dhabi. Westin has two additional properties in the Middle East — The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina in Dubai, and The Westin Jeddah in Saudi Arabia (currently closed for a complete renovation). The brand continues to grow its presence in the Middle East with nearly 25 new hotels slated to open in the next few years, including The Westin Saraya Aqaba in Jordan and The Westin Muscat in Oman.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG(R) offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.

Our golf and spa resort is one of the ideal places to stay in Birmingham for holiday shoppers, with The Summit and Galleria malls, and one-of-a-kind boutiques in Mountainbrook and Homewood nearby.

With rates starting at just $209 a night, this special package includes two nights of deluxe accommodations, two breakfast buffet vouchers per day and 20% off treatments at our 12,000 sq ft Aveda Spa. Choose from a variety of treatments, whether it’s a Warm Stone Massage to release muscle tension from carrying too many bags; a Rosemary Mint Awakening Body Wrap to reenergize after a long day; or a Caribbean Therapy pedicure to rejuvenate tired feet after walking from store to store.

A day of shopping is sure to work up an appetite, too. Settle in for a meal at Brock’s, one of our critically acclaimed Birmingham, AL restaurants. The menu here features Mediterranean tapas, ranging from hummus and grilled chicken sausage to drunken goat cheese and marinated mushrooms; creative grilled flatbreads; and main courses pairing locally grown produce with prime beef and fresh seafood. There’s also an extensive wine list and signature cocktails.

If you’re traveling with someone who’d rather spend their time golfing than shopping, the Renaissance features one of the best Birmingham, Alabama golf courses. The RTJ at Ross Bridge Golf Club offers the third-longest in the world and features gorgeous hill views and 18 challenging holes.

To book the Shopping Pamper Package, visit the hotel website,  and use code ZQP when making reservations.

Complete with over $300 of extra value, the Summer Escape and Play starts at $79 per night (per person) and runs from May 20 – September 30, 2011. Package features include:
• Unlimited daily golf on The Palmer, The Squire, The Haig or The Estates courses with complimentary replay rounds
• Nightly accommodations onsite at PGA National’s award-winning resort hotel
• Club storage and access to PGA TOUR-quality practice facilities with unlimited practice balls
• Access to the Waters of the World mineral pools at The Spa
• Daily breakfast, with ample selection of hot and healthy items
• Fifty percent off clinics at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy

“Our Summer Escape and Play package is ideal for taking full dawn-to-dusk advantage of the resort’s array of championship golf, luxuriously appointed rooms, world-class spa and numerous amenities including fine dining at Ironwood Grille and popular iBAR,” says Joel Paige, Vice President and Managing Director.

Complimentary replay rounds are booked at the course the day of play following the first round. A $30 cart fee applies at the course for the first round of the day (each day). A $50 surcharge applies to play The Champion — site of the Honda Classic and famous “Bear Trap” — one of the most demanding, three-hole stretches on the PGA TOUR. Taxes and resort fees are not included. Rate based on double occupancy and availability.

Source: Worldgolf

Treat yourself to a vacation in a premier destination, Sedona, Arizona.  Whether it is hiking, mountain biking, exploring national parks and monuments, wine tours, gallery hopping or relaxing by a sparkling pool it is here for you.  Enjoy a spacious suite, great food, with golf, spa and local attraction discounts included at an unbelievable all inclusive price.  Let the resort’s concierge customize an itinerary that will suit your interests. 

The Extended Stay Plus Package includes:

•    Five or more nights in a premium spacious one bedroom suite with microwave oven and refrigerator
•    Breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Grille at ShadowRock for each adult on this package
•    Kids twelve years and younger eat free off the kid’s menu with dining adult
•    Daily Happy Hour in the Coyote Lounge limited to domestic beers, house wines and Margaritas
•    Complimentary high speed internet access and Spa fitness club access
•    25% discount off Spa body treatments, facials and massages
•    25% off greens fees and club rentals at the adjoining Sedona Golf Resort
•    Complimentary Sedona SuperPass Coupon Book offering discounts on over 100 of Sedona’s favorite attractions, activities and restaurants

The Extended Stay Plus Package is valid through March 31, 2012 and starts at just $329 a night. 

Located along the beautiful Red Rock Scenic Byway, Sedona’s gateway to world-famous red rock country and Arizona’s only designated byway, Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa, a 219-room property is only 90 minutes north of Phoenix. Guest accommodations feature two-room suites with separate living rooms and private patios or balconies, with breathtaking views of Sedona’s majestic red rocks or the Sedona Golf Resort. In-room amenities include fireplace, flat screen televisions, minibar, high-speed Internet access, microwave oven, coffeemaker, and iron/ironing board. Additionally, the resort boasts three heated pools, two restaurants, and is the area’s largest conference facilities in Northern Arizona with 20,500 square feet of meeting space. Complete meetings packages are available.

Source: Getaway to Sedona

A creative feat, the hotel has been jointly designed by Didier Gomez for all of the interior areas, architect Rachid El Andaloussi for the building itself and landscape artist Isabelle Linski for the exterior areas and recreation areas.

The Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa has been designed as something of a tribute to its natural surrounding environment, with an appreciation for tranquillity and Mogador’s wide open spaces. A seamless continuity has been established between the indoors and the outdoors, noticeable from the hotel’s huge lobby and an impressive view that stretches away into the distance, beyond the golf course and out across the ocean. In total harmony with the vast natural décor of Mogador and its wild spirit, the purity of the design combines superbly with the overall elegance and authenticity. Mashrabiyas and Essaouira dry stone are used extensively, forming a symbolic link between these two environments.

From the majestic hall, decorated with huge Moroccan lanterns and a plant wall, guests can directly access two of the hotel’s key attractions. The Tea Lounge celebrates and perpetuates time-old tea rituals while the astonishing Tiki So (whose bar is comprised of no fewer than 50,000 pieces of glass) proposes an extensive cocktail menu, in tribute to the first rum routes which began here in Mogador. From the superb panoramic terrace, you can enjoy the view across the swimming pool, close to which you will see the Kasbah Café where you can tuck into delicious wok and tajine dishes while watching a cooking show, while the Atlantic is a shrine to Essaouira’s mouth-watering seafood.

Sofitel is particularly keen to forge a link between French culture and local culture. At the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa’s Atelier aux Arômes (Taste Workshop) the talented duo of chefs Philippe Bourdon and Fatima Targa have pooled their considerable talents to bring you the best of French and Moroccan gastronomy. A safe bet for anyone keen to enjoy a hearty dinner served in a décor comprised of mashrabiyas, oak wood and imaginatively displayed regional products including spices and argan oil.  Finally, when night falls, the So Lounge is the new “must-see” establishment in the cité des Alizés in which you can take advantage of the warm Moroccan evenings.

The decorative schemes for the bedrooms form a natural extension to this project. Mashrabiyas are extensively used, in addition to clawed wood, dry stone and Moroccan patterns featured on padded fabric…Didier Gomez has paid an impressive tribute to the nearby white town, where intense colours, exotic wood varieties and Moorish patterns subtly combine in the contemporary design of the furniture. This priceless sense of well-being accompanies our guests until the moment they drift off to sleep, in the exclusive and luxuriously soft MyBed™ bedding by Sofitel. In each bedroom, the beds look out across the ocean for a delightful sensation of escapism from the moment you awake.h marks the first cooperation of this kind between Essaouira Sofitel Luxury Hotels and the brand famous for its Crocodile logo.

The Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa is located just a few kilometres to the south of the attractive town of Essaouira, famous for its fishing port, its thousands of seagulls, its ochre ramparts, its white homes with blue shutters and its gentle climate all year round. It has a total of 147 bedrooms and suites in addition to 28 villas with private swimming pool blending in perfectly with the luxurious landscape of the Mogador estate. A site of this kind is ideal for discovering a wealth of activities, while your children, who are treated as genuine little Princes and Princesses at Sofitel will never forget their stay here and the happy moments they have spent in the Children’s Villa.

A dedicated health and fitness building is home to the 1300 m2 of the So SPA and the So FIT in a colourful and relaxing decor. This luxurious area, carefully designed to help you recover the harmony of your body and mind proposes 8 exclusive treatment booths, a traditional oriental steam bath, with three basins, a wave pool, in addition to a spa lounge area simply perfect for relaxing with its astonishing waterfall. For the Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa’s So SPA, Sofitel has joined forces with two widely recognised experts in the beauty field, Clarins and 5 Mondes.

Finally, golf has emerged as a popular attraction for travellers, particularly in Morocco which has seen a wealth of new greens spring up recently. The Sofitel Essaouira Mogador Golf & Spa   invites golf lovers to discover the 36-hole Mogador golf course designed by Gary Player. As an ambassador for a certain “Art of living”, along with the golf course Sofitel shares a passion for precision, a sense of friendliness and a quest for perfection. Sofitel’s other establishments in Morocco are all located at well-known golfing destinations including Marrakech, Agadir, Fez and Rabat.

Source: eTravel Blackboard

Setting a new benchmark in leisure, The Mere’s health club and spa is the finest in the North West.

With a well established reputation for quality and exclusivity, the health club and spa is one of only a handful of spas in the north of England to offer the popular ‘Fishy Feet’ foot treatment and bespoke skin consultations from luxury beauty brands Carita and Aromatherapy Associates.

The impressive facilities also boast a 20 metre swimming pool, larger than those traditionally offered by health clubs and spas, as well as a hydrotherapy vitality pool and thermal zone, complete with hammam, caldarium, aroma steam room, salt infusion and experience showers.

It is also the only health club and spa in the area to boast a Rasul room, an ancient Arabic cleansing bathing ritual that uses mineral-rich mud, heat and steam and can be used by couples or alone.

No expense has been spared on this simply outstanding development which features seven luxury treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and spa lounge serving a range of healthy dishes using fresh, local produce from across Cheshire.

Situated in the club’s listed stables building, the health club and spa combines a stunning, contemporary interior with all the historical charm and period features of the existing building.

The owner and CEO of The Mere, Mark Boler, comments: “The Mere has been a leading leisure venue in Cheshire for more than 75 years and we have invested heavily to ensure that we have the finest facilities in the North West of England.”

Co-owner, Gary Corbett, added:

“I am delighted that phase one of our £15 million re-development is now complete and am confident that The Mere now provides the ultimate in luxurious but affordable health, well-being and day spa experiences in the region.”

Part of an ongoing £15 million redevelopment, the health club and spa at The Mere is setting new standards for quality and luxury across the North West. For more information, visit: the-mere.co.uk

Source: Easier.com

Leave the snowy blasts of winter behind this holiday season and enjoy a fun-filled coastal holiday vacation in Marco Island at a resort that boasts three miles of pristine beachfront property, a lavish spa, private championship golf course, spacious accommodations and exquisite amenities. This south Florida oceanfront hotel’s holiday deal gives travelers the gift of complimentary accommodations on Christmas Eve with the purchase of a four-night stay that includes Dec. 24. Guests will also receive a $100 resort credit per stay to use at The Spa at Marco Island, fine dining and resort shopping. Rates for this exclusive holiday hotel package start at just $339* and accommodations must be booked by Dec. 21. Reservations for this holly, jolly Christmas vacation may be made online by using promotional code HOL at www.marriott.com/mrkfl

In addition to offering guests breathtaking gulf views and white sand beaches, the Marco Island Marriott Resort is home to The Spa at Marco Island, an amazing retreat in itself that pampers guests with lavish amenities and Balinese-influenced treatments, therapy baths, massages and a full menu of indulging spa luxuries. Golf enthusiasts will find this Naples golf resort the perfect spot to enjoy a majestic blend of golf and nature at The Rookery at Marco, a private course recently redesigned with native surroundings that include shallow wetlands that provide a sanctuary to many bird species.

Inside the resort, spacious guest rooms and suites provide guests with the ultimate in luxury accommodations. The well-appointed rooms include private terraces, lavish amenities, plush bedding ensembles, modern electronics, Internet access and Plug-In technology. In-room entertainment includes a 36-inch flat screen TV, cable/satellite service with premium movie channels and pay-per-view movie options.

*Rates are per room per night and valid for stays from Dec. 21-27, 2010 when booked by Dec. 21, 2010. Guests may arrive earlier and must stay over Christmas Eve to qualify for the free night and resort credit. Resort credit is per stay/per guest room and may not be applied to the room rate or redeemed for cash. Please visit hotel website for additional terms and conditions.

Charles Head, general manager of Fairmont St Andrews, said:

“It’s is fantastic to receive this recognition and everyone at the resort is delighted. “Over the years we have collected many awards but to receive one that recognises both the golf and spa sides of our operation is particularly special. I know everyone works very hard to maintain consistently high levels throughout the resort and things like this make it all-the-more worthwhile.”

The World Travel Awards is the most comprehensive and prestigious awards programme in the global travel industry and was established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in travel and tourism. With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies in more than 160 countries globally, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades a travel product can receive.

The five-star Fairmont St Andrews resort boasts two championship golf courses, the Torrance and Kittocks, and has played host to a number of prestigious events, including both the Open Championship’s final local qualifying and the Scottish Senior Open.

A recent £17m redevelopment has benefited the entire resort, including the sumptuous spa complex which offers a range of treatments including locally-themed massages, facial and relaxation therapies and exclusive Kerstin Florian treatments in 12 chic treatment rooms.

Source: TravelDailyNews

Each Heavenly Spa by Westin features signature treatments and experiences aimed at mind-body wellness and revitalization, including unique programs that reflect local culture and customs.

Currently available at 20 Westin Hotels & Resorts worldwide, the spa will expand to more than 28 additional properties by 2011, and is built upon two of the Westin brand’s core philosophies: preserving wellness on the road and helping guests feel better when they leave than when they arrived. The expansion of the Heavenly Spa by Westin brand is part of the brand’s aggressive global growth strategy. Westin’s hotel openings this year span China, Greece, Japan, India, Mexico, the United States, and Canada including The Westin Nanjing in Shanghai, China and The Westin Santa Fe in Mexico City, Mexico.

“The successful growth of our Heavenly Spa by Westin brand underscores the strong appeal of our distinctive wellness positioning,”

said Nancy London, Vice President and Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels.

“We will continue to aggressively expand our spa portfolio to nearly 50 Heavenly Spa by Westin properties by 2011 in key destinations around the world including Mexico, India and China.”

“Heaven” Makes its way to Thailand and Savannah

The Heavenly Spa by Westin at the Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa Phuket opened its doors August 11, 2010. Six spa treatment rooms and two spa suites are spacious and thoughtfully named after the seven pillars of well-being: beauty, life balance, harmony, aqua, vitality, nature and nutrition. Designed with the very latest in wellness and relaxation therapies and equipment, treatment rooms include Thai style massage beds, Ayurveda wellness rooms, Vichy showers, and custom made treatment beds, incorporating elements of sight and fragrance into the face cradle allowing guests to slip into deeper relaxation. Local products and methods are incorporated into spa treatments like the “Luk Pra Kob,” a steamed Thai herbal ball with bergamot, pandan, tamarind leaf, camphor and turmeric used to relieve muscle tension and stress, as well as virgin coconut oil known for its nourishing properties for the hair and scalp.

Visitors to the new Heavenly Spa by Westin at the The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa are welcomed by the beauty of historic Savannah combined with the Westin brand’s modern classic design. Guests can relax over a suspended dish of orchids in one of 20 treatment rooms named after Savannah’s historic “squares.” Each treatment room features images of these “squares,” or urban parks, as captured by local photographer Ricky Willis. The room styles reflect the range of treatment options, including a brand new deluxe couples’ suite complete with a tub for two and a pair of heated massage tables; numerous “wet rooms” featuring Vichy showers and Scotch Sprays; and “traditional” treatment rooms, which are personalized to reflect the needs of each guest. Westin hotel’s commitment to renewable resources is evident in the choice of bamboo flooring and treatments that use natural ingredients.

Westin Heavenly Spa Signature Treatments

Signature menu items include Rollerssage, a unique massage service in which pure, perfectly round crystals are heated and rolled over the body for a deeply penetrating massage that’s utterly calming and completely absorbing; Celestial Body treatments to detoxify, hydrate and heal; and Heavenly Glow facial treatments to purify and enhance beauty. Beyond providing a respite for physical rest, relaxation and recovery, the spa aspires to uplift guests and encourage them to focus on the betterment of self, elevation of spirit, enhancement of mood, improvement of outlook and total body wellness.

A gentle chime signifies the beginning of the treatment, when guests enter a peaceful and calming zone. Therapists begin treatments with a signature serenity welcome, a ritual that combines aromatic oils with massage of the face, neck, ears and scalp.

Heavenly Spa by Westin Bath Line

Created in partnership with Bliss Spa, the new Heavenly Spa by Westin Bath Line is used during signature Heavenly Spa by Westin treatments. Specially designed to soothe the senses with a calming blend of botanicals and natural ingredients, the collection is available in White Tea Aloe, Green Tea Grapefruit, and Chamomile Lavender. Each product in the line, including a Heavenly soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body oil, is made of natural ingredients such as wheat proteins and mineral peptides; true essential oils; and vitamins A, C, and E. The White Tea Aloe amenities were inspired by the brand’s signature White Tea fragrance debuted in Westin guestrooms earlier this year and are also available in the Heavenly Spa by Westin locker room. The Heavenly Spa by Westin bath products are available for sale in the spa or online