Meet Spa Day: Our Monthly Wellness Newsletter

Hi (HAP)pers,

I’m Shivani Vora, an editor at HAP, and I’m heading up our Spa & Wellness section. I’m also authoring Spa Day, a new monthly newsletter kicking off here, where I’ll share what’s at the forefront of all things spa and wellness-related, from destination-defining retreats to hotel experiences that genuinely move the needle on how you feel.

Wellness, for me, starts simply.

It’s my daily morning meditation. Twice-weekly strength workouts with my trainer. Walking everywhere, through New York City or whatever destination I happen to be in.

But wellness also shows up in less obvious ways. Getting into bed early and watching a great show. Sharing a delicious meal at a favorite restaurant with a good friend or my husband. These grounding moments matter just as much.

With that spirit in mind, I’m excited to introduce Wellness & Spa coverage at Hotels Above Par. We’ll be reporting on hotel spas, wellness retreats, and experiences around the world that are rooted in restoration and genuinely impactful.

In our usual style, we’ll experience select properties firsthand and share what truly stands out, from meaningful rituals and expert practitioners to spaces that make you feel better long after check-out.

The spots on my must-hit spa list for 2026 include:

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc — Dior Spa (France)

Tucked into the heart of the hotel’s gardens, the Dior Spa feels like a secret indulgence. I’m a longtime fan of the brand’s skincare, and a facial here is the most immersive way to enjoy it—luxurious, cocooning, and deeply restorative.

Forestis (Italy)

Set high in Italy’s Dolomites, Forestis is wellness on a grand scale. Its 21,000-square-foot spa spans muscle-soothing treatments, a Finnish sauna, yoga, and sound therapy, all designed to restore the body while the mountain setting quiets the mind.

Six Senses Vana (India)

Beyond the serene Himalayan setting, luxe accommodations, and exceptional food, Six Senses Vana is deeply personal for me. It’s where my father found relief from years of digestive issues—and where I’m hopeful to finally do the same.

Faena New York — Tierra Santa Healing House (opening soon)

The soon-to-open Tierra Santa Healing House at Faena New York is a 17,000-square-foot sanctuary rooted in South American healing traditions. It’s the kind of place where I imagine reviving myself with an IV drip the morning after a night of unapologetic indulgence in the city.

The Farmhouse at Inns of Aurora (Upstate New York)

This ten-room luxury offshoot in the Finger Lakes puts the spa at the center of the experience. Days unfold with massages and long hikes on nearby trails, followed by destination-worthy farm-to-table dinners and free-flowing libations. To me, that sounds like a perfect reset.

But our new division is much more than about me: I’m also welcoming pitches for this new category and inviting writers from around the world to send them my way at [email protected].

And if you represent hotels, resorts, spas, or wellness brands and have news to share, I’d love to stay on your radar.

Read the full newsletter below for more spa and wellness intel, from NYC’s sauna boom to LA’s coolest recovery suite.

Here’s to feeling good from the outside in.

- Shivani <3

Social wellness is booming, and bathhouses equipped with communal saunas, cold plunges, and relaxation areas that encourage IRL hangouts are opening on what seems like every corner in New York City. As record lows and extreme cold blanket the city, a growing number of sober-curious folks, longevity-minded individuals, and business professionals are seeking third spaces where they can trade cocktails for calm. New headline-grabbing hotspots like Othership, Bathhouse, and The Altar are rapidly opening locations and plotting expansion across the U.S. Beyond science-backed therapies, these newer spaces are just as much about setting the mood through innovative and engaging design as they are about sweating out your stress.

Read about our favorite NYC saunas here.

Part of the rise of exclusive members’ clubs booming in cities like New York and Los Angeles, Proper Club is committed to more than just happy hours and social perks—it’s a next-gen concept that bridges social connection and restorative wellness, placing recovery and rejuvenation at the core of the membership experience.

The Ammortal Chamber

And that’s where the Santa Monica Proper’s Recovery Suite comes in: think chic hotel suite, but instead of a plush king-size bed, there’s an Ammortal Chamber that delivers 25 minutes of multi-wave pulsed electromagnetic fields, vibroacoustic sound therapy, multi-wavelength light therapy, molecular hydrogen therapy, and AI-guided breathwork (mine was named Brian, and yes, he was incredibly soothing) promising deeper sleep, better immunity, clearer skin, and a calmer mind.

Contrast Therapy

From there, it’s off to your private outdoor deck for the hot-cold combo wellness enthusiasts swear by—a 42-degree cold plunge followed by a detoxifying 190-degree sauna session.

Red Light Therapy & Fitness

Finish with 11 minutes on the Joovv Red Light Therapy Wall to stimulate collagen, elastin, and ATP for glowing, healthy skin, plus a full-body workout using in-room Hyperice equipment, and a relaxing Theraboot session to soothe tired legs.

Read the full article here.

And if there’s one treatment I’m especially hankering to book, it’s a four-handed massage–preferably in Indonesia or Thailand—where two therapists work in seamless rhythm, easing my tension faster than I could ever imagine and inducing me into a state of blissed-out surrender. Como Shambhala Estate in Bali offers it.