Touch of the Tropics

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PETER ISLAND RESORT SPA

I like to draw things out. I’m the kind who swirls and sniffs every sip of wine, not just the first. When it comes to a spa session, I savor it — no in-and-out rub and run for me. So I find Peter Island’s new $6 million seaside sanctuary the ideal place for stretching a couple of treatments into an 8-hour extravaganza of indulgence.

My first stop is a regenerating soak with Mother Nature, floating as if in the womb in the warm ocean just below the spa. Then, I let the jets of the outdoor Jacuzzi pulse into my joints and loosen my muscles. Just as I’m about to melt, I move to the infinity pool surrounded by river stones and water cascading over tiles. Here I complete my baptism, my ritual cleansing in preparation for the reincarnation made possible by the best spas. But first, a chaise below the wooden pergola beckons me for a 30-minute siesta. Then, of course, I’m ready for a leisurely spa lunch of grilled salmon over field greens and orzo drizzled with olive oil.

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Finally, I move into the spa — but I don’t rush to the treatment room. I first nestle into a cushioned chair in the meditation area lit by aromatic candles. I sip fruit-infused water and listen to the faint babbling of a water feature.

Now totally primed into a blissful groove, I follow Liz, my therapist, to one of the treatment rooms deep inside the 10,000-square-foot spa. Like a great chef, she recommends a customized menu using freshly blended ingredients. The first course is a rigorous exfoliation (Fresh Coconut Rub, $155). After a rinse, it’s back to the table for a Frangipani & Coconut Wrap ($165). Liz gently uses a cactus loofah to coat me in a tropical concoction, then wraps me in a blanket to bake while she massages my head, neck, shoulders and face. After another rinse, it’s time for a full-body massage as the finale.

Almost the finale. To stretch the experience just a little further, I slip a robe over my now-silky skin and head to a wooden bench overlooking the sea, and savor every last moment.

— Debbie Snow

Room rates are $550 to $830 in low season ($1,015 to $1,380 high) Full American Plan: all meals. For reservations and information, call 800-346-4451 or visit www.peterisland.com.

CONTINUED

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