Long flights dehydrate your skin; business meetings are stressful; and prolonged use of your laptop or BlackBerry tend to cause muscle strain. With hectic schedules leaving little time for relaxation, no wonder hotels and resorts, and even airports have packaged 30-minute therapies to offer travellers temporary relief. Here are some to to try out before hopping on to that next flight.
AUSTRALIA
Feel the tension melt away with a Volcanic Express massage at The Day Spa in The Observatory Hotel, Sydney. Heated volcanic stones are rubbed across your back, shoulders, arms and legs kneading out any kinks and knots. The hot stones are then placed in a row along your back and limbs, allowing the heat to penetrate and soothe your muscles.
Cost: A$105 (US$103.27) for 30 minutes
HONG KONG
Frequent travel, weather changes and stress tend to dull the skin. Somme Institute has developed a solution – a 30 minutes express facial designed to release vitamins deep into the skin and return it to its original healthy and radiant state. Relax as a specialist gently administers Somme Institute’s signature regime with Molecular Dispersion Technology 5 (MDT5), instantly cleansing and refreshing your skin. This treatment is available exclusively at The Oriental Spa in The Landmark Mandarin Oriental and is an ideal pick me up for busy executives.
Cost: HK$780 (US$100.54) for 30 minutes
INDONESIA
According to Chinese belief, the body contains chi, a constant energy flow through channels that connect at reflex points on the hands and feet. Four Season Hotel Jakarta offers a specialised hand and foot massage that relieves tension, improves blood supply and restores the body’s natural equilibrium through moving the chi, removing all aches and leaving you loose and rested.
Cost: IDR220,000 (US$24.62) for 30 minutes
MUMBAI
Getting neck or thumb strains from using your smart phone or laptop? Therapists at The Oberoi Spa in The Oberoi Mumbai will have you loosened up in a jiffy. Tension in the hand, arm and neck muscles are eased with kneading and soothing stokes while aroma infused hot towels get you in a relaxed state. Moreover, The Oberoi Spa is the city’s first and only 24-hour spa, making pampering yourself all the more convenient.
Cost: INR2,500 (US$56.38) for 30 minutes
NEW YORK
Enjoy a calming lavender salt scrub at the Oasis Day Spa in Affinia Dumont Hotel. A combination of natural, mineral-rich Dead Sea salts and aromatic essential oils massage and exfoliate your skin while drawing out impurities and improving circulation. Finish off with a European Vichy Shower six showerhead massage and emerge invigorated and refreshed.
Cost: US$70 for 30 minutes
THAILAND
Destress and detox at the same time in a herbal rainforest steam sauna at the RarinJinda Wellness Spa Resort Chiang Mai. Lemongrass infused hot steam soothes the body, lowers blood pressure, improve one's complexion and helps weight loss.
Cost: THB1,000 (US$33.39) for 30 minutes
SINGAPORE
Refresh Bodyworks’ Fish Spa & Reflexology at Changi Airport offers transit passengers a unique exfoliation experience. Customers immerse their feet in a pond of Garra Rufa, or doctor fish, and allow the tiny fish to nibble away dead skin cells. The treatment may be ticklish but it leaves your feet smooth and renewed.
Cost: SG$22 (US$16.90) for 20 minutes
Erica Rae Chong
