Many holidays are often dominated by all-you-can-eat-buffets, sight-seeing by luxury coach and drinking copious cocktails by the poolside ? hardly the ingredients to improve your health, fitness and spiritual wellbeing.
However, it seems the tides are turning with hotels all around the world now providing exclusive settings where guests can devote themselves to improving their health and wellbeing.
From yoga to kickboxing and facials to pedicures, Hotels.com has scoured the globe to find the healthiest hotels that allow travellers to pamper their minds, bodies and souls.
Hotels.com lists the world?s top ten healthy hotels:
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Hotel: Kamalaya Koh Samui, 4.5-star
Destination: Thailand?
Built around a cave that was once used by Buddhist monks to meditate, this destination is perfect for travellers seeking a relaxing and healthy holiday. Within the resort?s tropical landscaped grounds, guests can choose from over 70 treatments which incorporate holistic medicine and complimentary therapies from Eastern and Western traditions. No matter what enriching experience the traveller is after – be it a detox holiday, a weight loss program, stress management or yoga and fitness classes – each guest?s goals will be met at the Kamalaya Koh Samui.
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Rooms at the Kamalaya Koh Samui start at $300* per room per night. To book a stay at Kamalaya Koh Samui, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
?Hotel: Bagus Jati Health & Wellbeing Retreat, 4.5-star
Destination: Bali, Indonesia
Australians looking to discover their inner yogi in complete serenity and quietness will find their perfect holiday at the Bagus Yati Health & Wellbeing retreat in Bali. Perched on the mountain ridge of Ubud, the hotel?s individual villas are surrounded by tropical gardens and views over the river valley below. Balinese yoga instructors offer a wide range of daily classes and teach visitors how to strengthen their body and still their mind in one of the two circular yoga pavilions made from indigenous materials. The retreat also offers detox programs and an Ayurvedic Spa.
Rooms at the Bagus Jati Health & Wellbeing Retreat start at $159* per room per night. To book a stay at Bagus Jati Health & Wellbeing Retreat, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
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Hotel: Grand SPA Resort A-ROSA Kitzbuehel, 5-star
Destination: Tyrol, Austria
Located in the centre of one of Europe?s most popular mountain destinations, this traditional spa hotel offers a wide range of outdoor activities all year round. In winter, guests can explore the slopes, covering more than 170km while as soon as the snow melts, travellers can embrace the numerous biking and hiking tracks. The hotel offers a wide range of fitness and wellness activities including aerobics, pilates, golf and volleyball. After activity-packed days, hotel guests can relax in one of the hotel?s saunas, steam baths, Turkish sauna or the ice grotto.
Rooms at the Grand SPA Resort A-ROSA Kitzbuehel start at $279* per room per night. To book a stay at Grand SPA Resort A-ROSA, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Les Sources De Caudalie, 5-star
Destination: Bordeaux, France
Whilst many Australians like to enjoy a glass of wine at night, little is known about the long list of additional health benefits the grape juice provides. This luxurious spa hotel in Martillac, in France?s Bordeaux region, is spectacularly surrounded by vineyards. The hotel offers unique vinotherapies, combining the virtues of fresh hot spring water with those of local wines: Merlot wraps, Sauvignon massages and Cabernet body scrubs are among the treatments on offer. Guests can also use the hotel?s swimming pool, gym, tennis courts or hire bikes to explore the local town.
Rooms at the Hotel Les Sources De Caudalie start at $305* per room per night. To book a stay at Les Sources De Caudalie, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: The Travancore Heritage, 3.5-star
Destination: Kerala, India
Ayurveda is a holistic system of alternative medicine from India that can help relieve stress and to restore the body to its natural state of equilibrium. Kerala is a peaceful place to achieve balance in mind, body and soul. In the progressive and pristine southwestern part of the country, visitors are introduced to the key concepts of the Ayurvedic philosophy, can try out new exercise methods and learn how to prepare Ayurvedic meals amid an exotic landscape of sandy beaches, tropical rivers and colourful jungles.
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Rooms at the Travancore Heritage start at $138* per room per night. To book a stay at Travancore Heritage, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Parrot Cay and COMO Shambhala Retreat, 5-star
Destination: Provinciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Caribbean)
Set on a private island in the Caribbean, the Parrot Cay is a popular place to relax in privacy and explore the stunning natural environment. Improving guests? mental and physical health is a focus of the resort and visitors can practise yoga and pilates with the world?s leading instructors. The exclusive and healthy menu at the hotel follows the ?living food? diet where food is minimally cooked to maximise nutrients and natural flavours.
Rooms at the Parrot Cay and COMO Shambhala Retreat start at $634* per room per night. To book a stay at Parrot Cay and COMO Shambhala Retreat, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Canyon Ranch Health Resort Tucson, 5-star
Destination: Arizona, USA
The Canyon Ranch Health Resort strives to educate and inspire guests to lead a healthy and fulfilled life. Set in the Sonoran Desert, there is an abundance of outdoor and indoor activities to choose from, including hiking, bike riding, yoga and golf. Guests not wanting to leave the property can choose from over 40 daily fitness classes to stay in shape including water sports, racquetball, dancing classes and basketball classes. The heavy exercise is rewarded with a healthy, balanced cuisine that will leave guests satisfied and with new cooking ideas to take home.
Rooms at the Canyon Ranch Health Resort Tucson start at $1,049* per room per night. To book a stay at Canyon Ranch Tucson, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Injidup Spa Retreat, 5-star
Destination: Western Australia, Australia
One of the best healing features of this hotel is its sensational setting on a secluded beach, surrounded by a national park. Amidst the Margaret River wineries and rocky headlands, activities for visitors are designed to rejuvenate. Fishing, wineries and horseback-riding are just some of the activities that revolve around the stunning surrounding landscape. Upon return, guest can enjoy one of many customised body and facial treatments available at the on-site spa or spend their time in their private villa. There are even private chefs available to spoil the traveller?s tastelands with their favourite food or new, healthy surprises.
Rooms at the Injidup Spa Retreat start at $650* per room per night. To book a stay at Injidup Spa Retreat, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Moevenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, 5-star
Destination: Amman, Jordan
The Moevenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea is located right at the edge of the Dead Sea. Besides being an extraordinarily spectacular landscape, this sea is a record breaker in many ways: Not only is it the lowest body of water on earth and the world?s lowest point, it is also the world?s richest source of natural salts and minerals. Its contents are well known for relieving pains and sufferings while nourishing and softening the skin. Visitors of this destination can benefit from the therapeutic value of the water and the mud in many ways. A large variety of mineral treatments are available at the in-house spa, while guests can also just step into the water and float effortlessly around while enjoying the oxygen-rich air. And there?s no need to bring along any sunscreen as at this venue – the harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered through three natural layers that will prevent you from sunburn.
Rooms at the Moevenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea start at $151* per room per night. To book a stay at Moevenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
Hotel: Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort, 5-star
Destination: New Zealand
This resort is located alongside the Lake Taupo volcanic zone and its natural hot water springs. Guests at this destination will be greeted by stunning views across Lake Taupo and the volcanoes of the Tongariro National Park upon their arrival. Finding themselves adjacent to the Taupo Hot Spring Spa, visitors can benefit from steaming mineral pools or enjoy one of the many spa therapy treatments and wellness programs aimed at maximising the healing impacts of the hot water from volcanic depths. The destination itself also features a warm-water playground with slides for younger guests, and the area offers plenty of outdoor excitement such as rock climbing, bungee jumping and skydiving so that every traveller can find their perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.
Rooms at the Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort start at $122* per room per night. To book a stay at Taupo DeBretts Spa Resort, visit: Hotels.com or call 1800 846 835.
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*Offers and example prices are inclusive of fees and taxes, subject to availability and change, and are valid as at May 03 2011 for a limited time only and conditions apply. For great hotel deals and promotions, visit www.hotels.com.
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Source: Hotels.com