More than 500 miles off the coast of East Africa lies Frégate Island, one of the world's most exclusive and secluded spas. Unlike most oceanic resorts, Frégate is in the process of repairing its local ecosystem, not destroying it – making it a nominee for a Luxist award in the best green spa category.

Founded in 2000, this slice of Seychelles paradise was created with the coal of reversing over 200 years of destructive practices such as coconut and cinnamon growing, as well as tortoise harvesting. Today, Frégate's sanctuary boasts the second-largest herd of Aldabra Giant tortoises in the world. Guests can pay a fee to sponsor or "adopt" one of the animals until it is ready to be released into the island's jungle.

The tiny island includes 16 regular villas and one super-luxurious Presidential Villa, creating an opportunity to relax in true seclusion. Once there, the cliff-top Rock Spa offers panoramic ocean views, pools and waterfalls, and of course the treatments one would expect from such an establishment: various scrubs and oils made from the freshest possible ingredients.

Frégate's most unusual trait is its extreme isolation from the rest of the world – a welcome break from the daily grind – but it will cost you. Round trip flights include at least two stopovers (usually in Doha, Qatar and Mahé, Seychelles) and typically cost over $2,500 total. If money is no object, Frégate may end up being the trip of a lifetime.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Nestled on the north shore of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands, the Sullivan Estate & SPA Retreat is quite literally an oasis in a vast and chaotic ocean. Thanks to its reliance on solar power, it's also among Luxist's best green spa nominees.

Though the Sullivan Estate traces its beginnings to 1962, it has only been in its current incarnation for a few years. In 2005, German-Australian doctor Juergen Klein bought the estate after selling his skin care company, Jurlique. He and his wife Karin, a veteran in the hospitality industry, combined their expertise to create the spa.

The estate is powered almost entirely by the energy soaked up by solar panels that adorn the roofs of nearly every structure on the property. The photovoltaic tiles on top of the main building produce more than 50 kilowatts of electricity every day – so much that the estate often has enough surplus to sell energy back to customers on Oahu's main power grid.

The OlaLoa spa is billed as a retreat for the "seven senses," specializing in solutions for those under unusual amounts of stress. All therapies are drug-free and focus on balancing all states of mind and body, including massages, yoga, Thai Chi and Quigong. OlaLoa also focuses on longevity, emphasizing the value of dietary supplements to go along with a robust exercise regimen.

Treatments include "Synergized," a 3.5-hour program built to enhance circulation and relax muscle that starts with an herbal steam sauna and ends with an aromatherapy body massage. If that's not enough for you, try "Longevity," a 4.5-hour program that begins with yoga or Thai Chi and ends with a Swedish massage. Either way, you can take comfort in the fact that you're relaxing in the most sustainable manner possible.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort is the five star home to an exquisitely developed set of natural springs in the Tuscan countryside, and an Italian nominee for a Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa Retreats.

Located in San Casciano dei Bagni, Tuscany, the resort was built in the 17th century by the Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici (yes, those de' Medicis) to take advantage of the therapeutic properties of the hot springs. Today, one can stay in that same, well-kept residence while enjoying the spoils of mother nature in the seven spa pools and multi-disciplinary areas of the spa.

Fonteverde offers an Oriental area with eastern treatments from massage to reflexology, as well as glass domes for Harmony Therapy, a collection of sonic experiences including the musicalization of your very own brain waves, recorded then given to you on CD. The Mediterranean area regards olive oil as "the element of life," and incorporates it into hydrating, nourishing and beautifying experiences which also utilize the Five Elements of ancient Chinese medicine.

Read more →

Walk into Chicago's SIR Spa and one of the first things you'll find is a refrigerator stocked with beer. It's little things like this that make the establishment a Luxist nominee for best men's spa.

The 4,500 square-foot spa has a masculine feel to it, thanks to exposed brick walls and rich wood trim. Before and after treatments, guests can unwind in the relaxation lounge, complete with overstuffed leather recliners and a 50-inch plasma television. Many of the treatments are done in barbershop-style chairs along the lounge's wall.

At SIR, even the treatments themselves sound more like something you'd find in an auto repair shop than a spa – there's a "Hand and Foot Detail," code for manicure and pedicure. One of the most popular treatments is the "Tune-Up Massage," targeted at back, neck and shoulders to relieve chronic body pain (30 minutes: $55). The "Sports Massage" includes muscle stretching, compression and release therapy (60 minutes: $100; 90 minutes: $145; 120 minutes: $190).

The spa also offers a number of skin treatments for young and old. Freshen up your face with the "Face Firming Boost," which includes a collagen facial mask to fight wrinkles, or "Acne Treatment," which uses extractions and spot treatment to kill bacteria and heal scars. A variety of body hair trimming services are available as well. Ladies are allowed too – there's even a private treatment suite just for women.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

You won't find La-Z-Boy recliners and a fridge full of beer, but the sleek, modern atmosphere of Nickel Spa makes it an equally enjoyable place to relax. Thanks to its wide range of treatments and therapies, Nickel Spa for men is a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice nominee for best men's spa.

Founded in 1996, Nickel's first location was in Paris. Patrons were soon buzzing about its "Morning After Rescue Gel," and in 1999, Nickel opened the first men's beauty parlor in one of Paris' largest department stores. 2001 saw the opening of Nickel's flagship New York location – in the chic Chelsea neighborhood – and another in London's Convent Garden in 2005.

Nickel has styled itself as a destination for a new generation of men – not just metrosexuals, but any man who wants to be clean and well-groomed. The spa's proprietors encourage first-timers to visit; the company website even includes a section on spa etiquette "to ensure you get the most from your experience and also spare you from any crushing faux pas, red-faced embarrassment or ceremonial frog-marching off the premises.

Once at Nickel, a host of options await. There are manicures and pedicures, facials, waxing, massages and body treatments. Highlights include the "Oxygen Facial," which incorporates a mask of encapsulated oxygen to brighten dull skin (75 minutes: $115), as well as the "Rolling Hot Stone," a Swedish massage combined with the soothing power of heated stones (60 minutes: $170).

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

For those who'd like to ensure that personal relaxation doesn't have an adverse effect on the environment, Luxist's best green spa nominees offer the best of both worlds. The freshly minted Bardessono in Yountville, Calif., is one of the top options.

Founded in February of 2009, Bardessono is the product of a wealth of time and experience that belies its young age. The Napa Valley retreat was conceived by Phil Sherburne, a former Seattle city planner and son of organic dairy farmers. Now a conscientious developer, Sherburne brought Seattle architect Ron Mitchell on board to design the sustainable 62-room hotel. The resort practices green building and operating practices. It is heated and cooled by underground geothermal heating and cooling system. The hotel is powered almost entirely by its 940 rooftop solar panels.

Every room at Bardessono is designed as an environment-friendly personal spa, from the locally sourced stone and salvaged woods to the organic food, bedding and even cleaning supplies. Spa Suites offer an open living space and generous amounts of natural light with a luxurious bathroom, gas fireplace and a private courtyard. The custom bathroom, designed to double as a private spa, features a concealed massage table, a soaking tub, separate shower, and double vanity. The Spa Therapy Center offers rooms for couples' massages and facials. The saunas are equipped with a far-infrared sauna for the ultimate purification.

Specific in-room massages range from the 60-minute Vinotherapie Massage ($125), where your skin will be rejuvenated with organic Chardonnay grape seed oil, to the 120-minute Soothing Warm Stone Massage ($280), complete with river-worn stones applied by an experienced therapist. What better way to relax body, mind and conscience.

To use the words of a Luxist reader: "The resort is beautiful, the accommodations outstanding and the personnel very professional---and it is all green!"

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Where can the modern man go for a complete spa treatment without feeling the least but self-conscious? One place to look is Gentlemen's Tonic, a Britain-based establishment that claims to be both "comfortable and stylish" and "reassuringly masculine."

Founded in 2004 in London's Mayfair neighborhood by French-American Olivier Bonnefoy, the spa nevertheless maintains old-time English sensibilities. Gentlemen's Tonic aims to provide the atmosphere and services of a traditional barbershop, along with massages, alternative therapies and other amenities to make visiting chaps feel sound as a pound.

Plenty of modern perks adorn the establishment as well. Guests enjoy music consoles and LCD screens in every private haircutting station and treatment room; newspapers and magazines from all over the world serve as additional diversion. Each treatment room comes with a private shower for those who prefer a quick rinse before or after a rub-down. But no funny business, warns the company's website: "When being massaged, please ensure that your undergarment is kept on at all times."

For those who can't make the hop across the pond, Gentlemen's Tonic also has a single U.S. location in Houston. For those outside London and the Lone Star State, there's a line of products available on the web including basics like shampoo ($22) and conditioner ($23) up to a shaving gift set for men with sensitive skin ($81). Unfortunately for the ladies, this Tonic is only for Gentlemen.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

One&Only Palmilla has been nominated for a Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa.

The property, which is part of the One&Only luxury resorts brand owned and operated by Kerzner International, has long been a favorite retreat for Hollywood celebrities and savvy travelers alike since it originally opened in 1956. One&Only Palmilla is located in Los Cabos, Mexico and offers dramatic views of the Sea of Cortéz. It recently completed an extensive, $120 million expansion and renovation project.

The resort's One&Only Spa is a luxurious indoor/outdoor 22,000 square foot facility inspired by the artistic and architectural themes of Mexico with stunning natural vistas of the Baja landscape. The spa is comprised of six buildings surrounded by lush landscaping and features 13 private treatment villas, accommodating either one or two people – allowing guests to enjoy their spa regime in complete sanctuary, whether for a few hours or a half-day.

Read more →

With 20 locations around the world, its own line of take-home products and an attitude almost as refreshing as its spa treatments, Bliss is an obvious candidate for Luxist's best day spa award.

Bliss was founded in 1996 as a stand-alone spa in New York's stylish SoHo neighborhood, setting itself apart from rivals with its irreverent approach to relaxation. The proprietors of Bliss chose to play R&B tunes instead of the usual elevator music – "whale music," as they call it – and brownies replaced veggies at the spa's snack table. The approach made waves in the industry, and soon the spa's popularity helped it expand beyond the Big Apple.

Today, Bliss boasts that it has given "a million massages, a trillion triple oxygen treatments and about a bazillion Brazilians." Some of the treatments that made it a hit include "Best of Skintentions," a traditional facial combined with skin-specific exfoliation and a massage (60 minutes: $120), as well as "Blissage 75," which includes a warm wax foot softening wrap and a massage (75 min: $150).

For those who'd like to take some Bliss home with them, the spa offers a full line of skin care, anti-aging and general beauty products. Offerings include "Fabulous Foaming Face Wash" ($34) and "Best of Skintentions" daily moisturizer ($35). For those who'd prefer a bricks-and-mortar spa, new locations have just opened abroad in Singapore, Barcelona and Hong Kong; a Dubai spa is also in the works.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.

Many establishments tout their low impact on the environment, but Calistoga Ranch in California takes green to a new level. Its harmony with the Upper Napa Valley's pristine wilderness makes it an obvious choice for a nomination for a Readers' Choice Award in Luxist's best green spa category.

Founded in 2004, Calistoga is nestled in a secluded canyon a mere 90-minute from San Francisco by car. Set on 157 acres, the resort boasts 47 guest lodges and 27 owner lodges, all of which are designed to share the feel of a vintner's estate. The lodges were all built to ensure that the area's streams, lakes and ancient oak trees wouldn't be disturbed; each lodge features floor-to-ceiling glass doors that create a seamless flow into the resort's copious outdoor deck space.

Calistoga's spa is adorned with warm wood and encircled by trellised walkways. Relax in soaking pools shaded by mossy oaks above and graced by a babbling brook below or head inside to receive organic treatments in a private room. Afterwards, recline on deck chairs and gaze out into the expansive forest before you.

Try the spa's "Calistoga Cure" treatment, an exfoliating salt body scrub followed by a mineral bath in your own private outdoor tub, a polarity session, and a massage. Or check out the "Soul Soother," which begins with a yoga session in your own lodge and continues with an aromatherapy massage at the spa and ends with a lunch at the onsite Lake House restaurant – all without ever leaving your personal Napa paradise.

Cast your vote for your favorite spa until March 31st. Winners will be announced on April 1.