Sun Spa at IruFushi Beach & Spa Resort, due to open in summer 2008, will launch the first Sleep Spa concept in the Maldives. In collaboration with the resort team, the programme, entitled Sweet Dreams, has one main goal – to help adults and children relax and to catch up on that much needed sleep that many of them can only dream of doing whilst on holiday.

A holiday is something to look forward to, however, the stresses of modern day life can often take their toll and the sheer effort of getting away from work, let alone packing a suitcase and coping with any airport dilemmas can often be quite traumatic. So much so, that even whilst away in the most tranquil of surroundings, it can take some the entire holiday to begin to relax and catch up on their sleep.

For Adults, the Sweet Dreams programme includes:
- Special afternoon and evening spa treatments to encourage a siesta or good night’s sleep
- A yoga specialist who will offer private classes teaching special breathing techniques and stretching exercises designed to encourage relaxation
- Special teas designed to aid sleep
- Massages and baths with essential sleep-inducing oils
- A special extended pillow menu including buckwheat pillows, memory foam pillows, sidesleeper pillows, etc…
- A sleep concierge who is on-call so if guests can’t sleep they can ring for encouragement
- CD’s of poetry, music or a talking book which can be delivered to the room so Sweet Dreams guests can listen to their very own bedtime story
- A Sleep-All-Night-Cap, a special cocktail created by the resort-team using ingredients to aid sleep

Parents can rest assured that the younger member’s won’t lose sleep on holiday either as the Sweet Dreams resort plan extends to children, too. It includes:
- A selection of children’s books that can be borrowed from the library for a bedtime story
- Early evening dinner buffet, bedtime story groups and slumber parties, hosted in conjunction with the kid’s club
- Audio-book or music-related CD’s for children to listen to as they fall asleep
- Sleep inducing drinks such as warm milk or hot chocolate

Commenting on the new Sweet Dreams concept, Tina Dotzauer, PR & Marketing Manager for IruFushi’s Sun Spa says, “We have customised some of the Sun Spa pavilions to include low and mood lighting and special relaxing aromatherapy. It’s customary spa practice to leave a guest to relax for a few minutes after a treatment, but so many times we hear how they would prefer just to stay where they are and take a nap after their massages. Guests on the Sweet Dreams programme will be able to do just that, leaving the spa not just thoroughly relaxed but also refreshed and energised after enjoying a wholesome siesta.”

“In addition, the Sun Spa yoga specialist will show guests who book the 1-week “Sweet Dreams” program how to fill in a sleep diary, which will be discussed each day and aims to give a useful insight into each individual’s sleep patterns and will ultimately help with techniques for sleeping more soundly.”

The Sweet Dreams packages can be pre-booked via Sun Spa’s website www.sunsparesorts.com or on arrival at IruFushi Beach & Spa Resort.
Prices start from US$160 per adult.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, Maldives is on schedule to open for the traditional high season in the Maldives. The 142 all-villa property will debut first quarter 2009 as the first luxury resort on the Addu Atoll in southern Maldives.

The resort on Villingili island is abuzz with more than 1,766 construction workers from 19 countries working tirelessly towards the completion of the project. A group of 27 local employees is currently undergoing basic service training and induction to the “Shangri-La Hospitality from Caring People” signature style.

One of the villa concepts that will be unique to the Maldives is the tree house villa. Each of these, measuring 218 square metres and perched on stilts with a private infinity pool, will offer a special three-metre-high perspective of the island through tropical foliage. The other four distinctive villa designs include water villas with terraces and outdoor showers extending over the clear ocean water; beach villas with separate bedroom and living room; twin beach villas comprising two pavilions and an infinity pool; pool villas and two presidential villas. All villas will be equipped with two iPods and a docking station, a DVD player, an espresso machine and a full range of luxury amenities.

Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa will have two restaurants and five bars offering innovative dining experiences. All outlets will have stunning views of the ocean or lagoon, with some perched above the breaking waves. Khazaanage Restaurant’s concept of three distinctive living rooms, each representing different cultures and cuisines, will be the first of its kind in the Maldives. The three living rooms will be themed to the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and the Arabian Gulf regions respectively.

The resort will feature CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, a secluded sanctuary offering therapies based on Chinese and Himalayan well-being rituals and traditions. CHI will be located in its own spa village in the resort, with spacious individual treatment villas offering “spa within a spa” environments.

“The Village” will be an extensive 30,000-square-metre leisure and water activity focal point. Housed within “The Village” will be the Shangri-La Environmental Centre where guests will learn about the conservation works around Villingili – marine and coral preservation, eco-friendly and energy saving measures adopted by the resort – and enjoy talks about the colourful marine life at the resort”s house reef and the best diving spots around the atoll.

Addu Atoll has more than 25 good diving sites teeming with marine life such as eagle rays, hawksbill turtles, black tip reef sharks, spinner dolphins, coral and colourful reef fish. Manta rays can be seen all year round. One of the best dive sites in the Maldives, the dramatic 140-metre shipwreck “British Loyalty” is located within a half-hour boat ride from Villingili Island. The shipwreck, with its hull resting at 33-metres, is covered in black coral.

The natural dense vegetation of Villingili island sets it apart from many other Maldives resorts. The three-kilometre-long island features 12 hectares of lush vegetation, 17,000 coconut trees, towering banyan trees, 45 species of plants, three natural lagoons and nature trails for guests to explore.

Villingili is surrounded by inhabited islands. Guests will take one of the regular speedboat runs to Gan and explore by bicycle the five neighbouring islands connected by a 17-kilometre road which is the longest in the Maldives. They will be able to set out with a picnic and discover the fascinating lifestyle and culture of untouched Maldivian villages or stop at a coffee shop to chat with the locals over a meal.

The Maldives” second international airport, Gan International Airport, is an eight-minute boat ride away from the resort and Male International Airport is 70 minutes by air.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and manages 55 hotels under Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 50 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com

The Spa and Hammam at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus introduces a decadent approach to the authentic hammam (Turkish bath) experience, combining the traditional cleansing properties of the bath with the indulgent delights of contemporary, western treatments. Covering an area of 2,100 sq m (22,605 sq ft), the Spa includes three separate hammams (men’s, women’s and couples) – a first in the city. Nine treatment rooms and one VIP Spa suite (with whirlpool) are arranged around a pillared pool, sky-lit from a height of 6.7 m (22 ft). The pool features underwater music, whirlpool and poolside relaxation areas. Other features include pre- and post-treatment lounges and men’s and women’s locker areas with steam room and sauna.

The Spa’s hammam experience blends the time-honoured Turkish bathing ritual with a 21st century sensibility. Guests are taken on a journey through several stages of cleansing, purification, massage and relaxation, scented with traditional attar (essences) of rose, pine, sandalwood or lemon. In addition to cleansing rituals, the Spa offers a series of customised hammam treatments, where a bathing ritual is combined with one or more modern therapies (such as salt peels, facials and ‘wrapless wraps’) to maximise the beneficial heat of the hammam. Treatments are based around the Monaco-based, all-natural Daniele de Winter skincare regime and the skin technology brand, Dermalogica.

The design of The Spa and Hammam is subtle and understated, decorated in light marble with coloured mosaic tiles. The minimalist interiors are punctuated by indigenous touches, such as ornate tas (water bowls), kese (cloths for rubbing down) and peştemal (a wrap worn in place of a robe). Accents of wood and mother-of-pearl on jewellery boxes and hand-held mirrors further infuse an air of Ottoman elegance.

Hammams evolved from the Roman bath and were originally used for ritualistic, religious cleansing. They soon developed into a popular social gathering, where separate groups of men and women would meet to prepare for and celebrate ceremonies and social events. The Spa and Hammam at Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus extends these traditions with a range of celebratory group packages.

Fitness Studio

The Hotel’s bright and airy Fitness Studio occupies a private 324 sq m (3,488 sq ft.) area, set apart from The Spa and Hammam. It contains Technogym equipment, free weights and a separate stretching and exercise room. All the cardiovascular equipment comes with individual LCD touch-screen televisions and headphones. Fitness instructors are on hand to help guests maximise the benefits of the available facilities.

Hair and Beauty Salon

The salon offers a range of hair and beauty services and uses the Jane Iredale natural make-up range.

Outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi

The Hotel’s heated, outdoor swimming pool is located on the waterfront terrace, parallel to the Bosphorus, with views across the shimmering strait to the serene beauty of the Asian hills. The pool also features a heated whirlpool and relaxation deck.

For more informations please visit : Finest SPA ‘s Hotel Directory

The Taj Lake Palace resort in Udaipur, southern India, is to add to its wellness offering with a new spa boat.
Launching in August, the Taj Spa Boat will enable guests to enjoy signature spa experiences onboard while travelling across the Lake Pichola to the resort.
Featuring two treatments rooms, a lounge and a bath, the boat has been created in the same style as traditional Indian royal ceremonial boats and is also in keeping with the design of Lake Palace Resort.
Guests will be able to ire the boat for either a half or full day of spa experience, such as a Sunset Spa Escapade.
I recommend to all the guests to try this fabulous Spa Escapade at the Sunset, just magical and romantic.

For more information visit Taj Lake Palace