SPA resorts of the Middle Sea

Peninsula Halkidiki in the past belonged to ancient Macedonia, the center of Hellenic mythology. It was here that Mount Olympus was located, the legendary abode of the ancient Greek gods. Today there are beaches stretching beyond the horizon, pine groves, large hotel complexes. And also – spa salons of all stripes, where they do massage with honey, one of the most delicious rituals here. The divine honey aroma compensates for the slight discomfort during the procedure, because honey is one of the most powerful natural detox agents.

Before a massage, you can relax in the Turkish bath or sauna. This is both pleasure and preparation for massage at the same time. When the skin is sufficiently steamed, the beautician will apply a thin layer of honey and distribute it with gentle massage movements over the entire surface of the back, so that beneficial substances penetrate into each pore, made the skin soft and elastic… The end of the treatment is a relaxing bath with rose petals from a nearby garden.

Sitting in a sun lounger, do not forget – it was in Cyprus that Aphrodite was born and Richard the Lionheart got married. Limassol or Larnaca, Pathos or Ayia Napa – in any of the resorts of Cyprus you can find beaches, sea, quality service and hospitable attention. But in search of a good massage, it is best to turn your gaze to Paphos – the place is not pretentious (despite the name), but quite democratic.

Some hotels there look like castles. Almost all of them have their own sandy beaches, several pools and restaurants – from Greek, Japanese and Spanish cuisine… Everywhere they cook deliciously, almost home-style – after dinner you are tempted to relax, lie under an umbrella and lie there for the rest. But it’s better to pull yourself together and go to explore the sights that are in the old city: an open-air park with the famous Paphos mosaics and the ancient Odeon amphitheater, the antique Forty Columns Castle and the port fortress. And don’t forget to make an appointment: a massage overlooking the Mediterranean is a double pleasure.

The island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean is one of the most cosmopolitan places in the world: for centuries, a variety of peoples came here to live. Local spas offer Indian, Chinese and Japanese medicine treatments using the best European cosmetics.

Some spa hotels hide under huge palm leaves and tall pine trees. Trees are intricately woven into stone walls and roofs covered with thatched sugarcane, resulting in courtyards with pools, soft light and gentle aromas of unknown flowers. Some of the procedures are done inside, and some – in the garden, in cozy gazebos, to which a path of large stones leads. The scrubs here are composed of sea salt, oil, lavender flowers, pineapple and lemon. After the massage, it is very pleasant to lie on a huge bed in an alcove by the pool and drink a tonic drink made from herbs and ginger.

If you don’t want to sit around, head to the sports center, surrounded by a tropical garden. Take customized pilates lessons or yoga – this is a sure way to bring the body closer to perfection.

Option number one – a resort located on the Aegean coast Bodrum, which is called the “Turkish Cote d’Azur” – for several decades in a row respectable people from all over Europe come here. Local spa hotels offer treatments from almost all spa menus in the world – from balneo and chromotherapy to African massages. And when you get tired of resting so powerfully, go to the town itself: see the fortress of St. Peter, built by the knights of the Order of Malta, arrange shopping for yourself and, of course, have dinner with freshly caught sea bass.

Wellness option number two – Turkish town Fethiye, to which there is a picturesque road winding along a serpentine among mountains overgrown with eucalyptus and pine trees. This is a region with a rich history: for amateurs there are ruins of fortresses of the Rhodes knights, and Roman amphitheaters, and Lycian rock tombstones. The air in these parts is healing, saturated with the sea, forest and herbs. Several spa hotels are hiding in the nearby bay, where every year they invite some world star of alternative medicine – a healer from Southeast Asia or a guru in Tibetan bell therapy.

Before traveling to Turkey, be sure to check out the best beaches in the country.

Three texts are not enough to list all the joys that await you on the island of Bali. Balinese massage is clearly one of the top three local pleasures. For example, during a procedure called Sum the master concentrates on your chakra energy centers and removes (successfully!) possible blockages. Ayurvedic procedure Tri-Dosha Is a deep tissue massage using a healing oil that matches your energy type. As a result, the head is inevitably cleared, feelings are renewed, the world begins to play with new colors, and you again begin to selflessly love life. True, an incident is not excluded: you can SO love life in Bali that you want to stay here.

It is no secret that hundreds of our compatriots live in Indonesia. Some started their own businesses, others bought real estate, and still others founded surf schools and teach tourists to stand on the board (read our material on what a person who dreams of moving to Bali needs to know). Therefore, between spa treatments, photographing sunsets, swimming in the ocean and excursions to ancient Hindu temples, you can seriously think about moving to a pretty tropical island for a while. Well, or just come back here again – in order to once again “clear” the chakras.

It seems that in the capital of Hungary, one has only to dig deeper, as a hot spring will surely come out of the ground – in the depths of the country there are whole thermal seas with unique healing qualities of water. Immersion in it not only cures a long list of all kinds of diseases (from rheumatism to asthma), but also “tightens” the skin, “washes away” cellulite and “dissolves” extra pounds.

There are about 70 pools and baths in Budapest. And most of them are not just public baths with a thermal pool, but real architectural monuments. Visit the baths Gellert, «Cut» or “Rent“Worth it even for those who are not going to swim – just to quench their thirst for beauty.

But if go to Budapest for a spa vacation, it is better to stay in one of the thermal hotels, of which there are also many. The most pleasant, perhaps, are located right in the center of the city, right in the middle of the Danube – on the island Margitsiget… Guests can spend time moving from the thermal pool to the jacuzzi, and from the aroma chamber to the infra-sauna, and alternating mud therapy sessions with oxygen therapy. You can endlessly combine all kinds of procedures, especially since the prices here are simply ridiculous by European standards (the price of a day package is from 55 to 90 euros).

“East Hawaii” – this is the second name of this tropical island in China, because it is located at the latitude of the real Hawaiian Islands. In terms of area, Hainan is almost four times larger than Cyprus, half of its territory is occupied by relict forests, there is practically no industry, and due to this, the air here is exceptionally clean. Perhaps for this reason, Hainan has the longest life expectancy in China – 80 years. The climate here is quite mild: no exhausting heat, average water temperature +26 degrees.

The main “audience” of the resort is families with children, divers and those who wish to heal a little. Local medicine centers use only traditional chinese methods combined with the use of natural medicines. And the healing thermal springs of the complex are very popular. Nantian – 30 pools with thermal water of different temperature and chemical composition. Some of them are quite unusual – for example, the pool “Coconut milk” or “Coffee”. 

The main local attraction is the very last pool – with fish making peeling. It is worth standing still in it for at least half a minute, as dozens of small fish begin to pinch different parts of the body. The sensations are quite pleasant, but very ticklish!