Forget hop-on hop-off tourism and frenetic holidays altogether. The global community has spoken loud and clear: 2025 will be the year of quiet travel, where planning vacations that can maximize our physical and mental health is the norm, and chasing after viral locations simply because of their popularity is very much out. This puts the world's best spas under the spotlight, and arguably so.
If there's an observation that emerged from our recent curation of the best design hotels, it is that 'calmcations' — or sojourns that can imbue us with a sense of calm — are on the rise: think anything from secluded cabins and rural retreats conceived to rekindle our connection to nature to gastronomy-led châteaux and, of course, wellness-centric resorts. Needless to say, this is where the best spas in the world, including the top spa hotels, come to the fore. But where should you be looking for them, and how did we select them?
