The Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. What better way to relax and unwind in some of the country's top destination spots just in time for the christmas season.
Holidays are a time for relaxation-- and what better way to relax than treating yourself to a soothing massage at the spa?
Your stress and tiredness will surely melt away as you visit some of the country's top salons and spas, conveniently located in top tourist spots.
1. North Haven Spa's Strawberry Bliss Package. (Visit North Haven Spa at Ferguson Rd., Baguio City or call 074-300-5022)A strawberry-based treatment in Baguio City is only natural. If you love these antioxidant-rich berries, you will go nuts with the Strawberry Bliss Package at the North Haven Spa.
About 3 and a half hours long, this package consists of a soothing foot scrub, a strawberry paraffin wax treatment, a body scrub that makes use of fresh and organic berries, a rose petal bath, aromatherapy massage and a berry-based facial.
It is indeed a strawberry overload. The price for the treatment starts at P795.
2. Neo Day Spa's Pearl Body Scrub. (Visit Neo Day Spa's branches in Bonifacio Global City, Greenhills, or Boracay. Call them at 02-815-8233, 02-584-6789 or 036-506-3131)Many people tend to shy away from body scrubs because they feel an hour's worth of their time is best spent away from therapists who are bent on rubbing them raw. The experience is quite the opposite with the Pearl Body Scrub at Neo Day Spa.
The treatment makes use of oyster shell powder combined with a cream base, and is massaged softly into the skin by a therapist. This is probably one of the softest scrubs available and you end up dozing off, then wakingup to smoother and healthier skin. Price for the treatment starts at P1,150.
The Neo Day Spa also has a "Zen Bodywork" massage, their signature massage, that hits the right pressure points and continued in long, relazing strokes. It is so soothing that you are likely to fall asleep. This costs P1,550 for a 90-minute massage and P2,000 for a 2-hour massage.
3. Mandarin Island Spa Caffe Latte Body Scrub and Wrap. (Visit the Mandarin Spa at the Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel in Station or call 036-288-3444)If you're nursing a hangover from the holiday's festivities, you may want to consider kicking back at the Mandarin Island Spa, which offers a nice coffee-based scrub and wrap that makes use of local coffee, Zea powder, essential oil, goat milk and mint extract.
Aside from giving you a relaxed feel, the blend is supposed to redistribute fat cells and decreases the formation of cellulite--perfect for holiday binges. Charges for a hotel stay cost around P8,000.
4. Mandarine Reflexology Foot and Body Spa. (Visit the spa at Casa Susana Building, Madrigal Avenue in Alabang or call 02-809-6108)Mandarine Spa is a straight-to-the-point wellness spa. The services are no-fuss and highly addictive. There are no wraps and body scrubs, but it is what it is--a clean and cozy reflexology center at the heart of southern Manila.
The dimly lit rooms are spearated by wooden walls, each consisting of a reclined chair-bed with a lampshade and a wooden barrel with piping hot water in which you dip your feet.
Treatments with the best immediate results are the Basic Foot and Reflex (for tired feet and detoxification) and the reasonably priced 2-hour Combination Foot Reflexology and Body Massage (for total relaxation and detoxification).
Plus, there are Chinese reflexology therapists, along with trained Filipina therapists, who can knead and rub your body aches away. Prices range from P501 to P1,000.
5. Hot Stone Massage at the Ylang Ylang Spa. (Visit the Spa at Taal Vista Hotel in Tagaytay or go to www.asmaraspa.com or www.fuegohotels.com)The stones here are hot and relaxing while the massage had a strong, deep pressure that makes one feel like he or she is beeing smoothened from the inside out.
It is best to start off with a body scrub such as the coffee scrub so you can relxas as therapists expertly apply pressure with stones on different parts of your body, causing your muscles to loosen and your mind to drift off to sleep.
Though it takes some time to rinse off the coffee grains from the scrub, afterwards, your skin will seem to glow. The small is wonderful--and don't worry about people mistaking you for a walking Starbucks coffee.
6. Devarana Spa's Halo Halo Body Scrub. (Visit Devarana Spa at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati or call 02-867-3333)Scrubs are definitely overlooked when it comes to spa treatments as most people opt for a massage or facial. Many scrubs hurt, mostly from the combination of ingredients used, or the pressure applied by the therapist.
The Halo-Halo Scrub at Devarana might make even the most scrub-phobic person into an avid body scrub patron. It uses ingredients from the well-known Filipino dessert "halo halo" and its delicious smell lingers on your skin for days.
The best part is that their use of red bean pasta as a base for the scrub makes it gentle and relaxing. A stay at the hotel starts at around P6,500.
7. Herbal Harmony Massage at Chi Spa. (Visit Chi Spa at the Garden Wing, Edsa Shangri-La Hotel or call 02-633-8888 for reservations or inquiries)Herbal Harmony is the Chi Spa's signature massage, combining acupressure as well as energizing and relaxing massages for the ultimate spa experience.
The techniques are personalized to a guest's current yin and yang, while Oriental oils are used to harmonize one's Chi or energy. It's so relaxing, it can knock you out.
Don't forget to ask for seconds of their hot ginger tea. The price for the 2-hour massage is around P5,000.
Photo from Fuego Hotels website.
8. Watsu at the Mandala Spa and Villas. (Visit the Mandala Spa and Villas in Boracay, Aklan or call 036-288-5858)You haven't experienced a spa until you have tried staying at Mandala. Although located in Boracay, it is far awar from all the parties and late-night-to-dawn drinking sprees.
As you enter, you are greeted by lush greenery and a sense of serenity rarely found on the rest of the island. Everyone should try the Watsu treatment at least once.
Also known as the Water Shiatsu, it is a massage conducted in a pool of water, combined with gentle stretching movements by a therapist. It is deeply relaxing and no two people have the exact same experience. The spa's packages cost from P5,600 to P9,500.
9. Mask Treatments at the Terra Wellness Spa and Pevonia Botanica. (Terra Wellness Spa is located at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas. Call them at 02-638-9145 to 46. Universal Aesthetics Pevonia Botanica is located at the West Tower Stock Exchange in Pasig. Call 02-634-8210 for stockists.)Moringa, better known as "malunggay", has many health benefits, including antioxidant properties. When paired with Virgin coconut oil and Vitamin C, this treatment becomes an effective enemy against aging and skin damage caused by the environment.
A relaxing hour-long facial at the Terra Wellness Spa will cause you to fall asleep and wake up to soft and deeply moisturized skin. Treatments cost from P800 to P2,200.
Meanwhile, a luxurious way to stop skin from ageing is through the Universal Aestheticsa Pevonia Botanica's caviar mask treatment.
The face mask contains Russian caviar, ground-up pearl powder and Escutox TM (an alternative to Botox) to help relax facial wrinkles. This treatment was originally introduced in Sydney, but Pevonia is now available in select spas around the country.
The Pevonia caviar treatment set costs around P17,000, but individual face mask treatments are reportedly cheaper.
10. Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi Massage at Kai Spa. (Kai Spa is located at The Regency Hotel, Station 2 in Boracay. Call 036-288-6111-117)When in Boracay during the holidays, don't settle for one of those hurried massages on a blanket by the shore. The stray grains of sand and idle chatter of the masseuses are anything but relaxing.
Instead, head to Kai Spa at The Regency in Boracay and ask for a Hawaiian Lomi-Lomi Massage.
The long strokes and just the right amount of pressure of this particular massage will definitely easy any of your stress. The massage costs P3,024.
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The Photo above is the kiddie's pool. maximum depth of this pool is only 3 feet. This pool is suitable even for babies although as a precaution, adult supervision is advised.
This is their Lagoon shaped swimmming pool. Here children and adults can enjoy swimming or just by simply relaxing in the water to unwind city life. maximum depth of this pool is only 4 feet.
If you want to explore the underwater world, all you have to do is go to this location, situated inside the resort and they will do the rest.
This is their crocodile statue. The background is a semi-swamp-jungle type of scenery. This is located at the Tambuli-West.
This is our get together. We talked, laughed and reminisced the happenings in 2009. We we all one big happy family.
