USA Today: 10 beach resort spas for a romantic getaway
Surf, sun and sand may go hand in hand, but there’s never room for stress at a beach resort. Whether you’re escaping for Valentine’s Day or planning a romantic summer sojourn, these 10 beach resorts offer award-winning and one-of-a-kind waterfront treatments.
1. Aulani, Hawaii
Escaping stress can’t be any easier at Aulani, a Disney resort and spa in Kapolei, Hawaii. Home to Oahu’s only outdoor hydrotherapy garden, Laniwai Spa features six rain showers, hot and cold whirlpools, herbal pools and a reflexology path. This private, secluded paradise’s menu lists more than 100 treatments, many of which incorporate techniques native to Hawaii.
2. Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos
At 5,000 square feet, the resort’s Anani spa isn’t the largest on the list, but it’s pure bliss for those looking for beachfront treatments and a boutique-esque ambiance. All six treatment rooms have outdoor showers, and there’s even a spa beach bed on the sand.
3. Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, New York
Located in idyllic Montauk, N.Y. Gurney’s pampers guests with the healing properties of the sea. The spa’s forte is Thalassotherapy and its best asset is a new indoor pool filled with water drawn from the nearby Atlantic.
4. Half Moon Resort, Jamaica
After celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2013, Montego Bay’s Half Moon Resort pulls out all the stops for guests at its 68,000-square-foot spa. Guests can receive treatments in open-air bungalows built over the water, and release tension in the spa’s relaxation lounge, meditation labyrinth and yoga pavilion.
5. St. Regis Monarch Beach, California
b.Its namesake may be a Spanish village, but Spa Gaucin at Laguna Beach’s St. Regis Monarch Beach is just as SoCal as it is Mediterranean. The award-winning spa lived up to its five-star rating in 2014 while adding a new purifying detox ritual and a wellness program that marries relaxation with hikes on the bluffs, SUP, surfing and yoga.
