The Soft Power Spa Matrix

on the ground reports to help you figure out your spa vibe

I love spas. I could and would spend three months at one eating healthy food and going on morning hikes. But that’s the thing. Everyone can find a spa they love, but it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re going to spend the money to stay in a spa, it should suit your particular agenda, whether it is in-room massages, sleep studies, long hikes with five almonds as a reward, or eating strangely dense bread. So I present the spa matrix: sorted from relaxing to rigorous, woo-woo to scientific.

Only spas that you’d stay at for at least a weekend are included—day spas are a whole different breed. I also only wanted extremely honest first-hand accounts so they’re either spas I’ve been to or ones that grizzled veterans of the beauty and wellness trenches I know have attended. If you have any recs, tell me because I’m dying to hear.