Time to slow down.

How to choose

Almost every hotel at this level has a spa. The ones in this collection are different, because wellness shapes the whole stay rather than filling an afternoon. They have large spas with pools and heat rooms, programmes that run over several days, and settings that help you rest: hillsides, vineyards, quiet bays and gardens.

In Thailand, Six Senses runs two island resorts with wellness at their centre, and Aman brings its own spa approach to Phuket and to the gardens of Nai Lert Park in Bangkok. Keemala and Rosewood Phuket add their own approaches, rooted in local traditions and longer programmes. In Portugal, the Douro, Sintra, Comporta and the Algarve each have a retreat where the spa sits among vineyards, pine woods or gardens.

The best way to use a retreat is to give it time. Three nights is a minimum to feel the difference, and five or more lets a programme work. Book treatments when you book the room, because the most popular therapists and times go first. If you want something specific, such as sleep, movement or nutrition, ask us and we will suggest the hotel whose programmes fit.

These hotels are also good for people who simply want quiet. You do not have to follow a plan to enjoy a pool in the hills or a long walk before breakfast.

Questions

Good to know.