Stress is undiscerning; eventually, it comes for us all. But it can be bested. If you feel like things are boiling over, it might be time to treat yourself, and thankfully, Canada has some of the best and most luxurious spas on the planet.
From coast to coast, Toronto to Tofino, the perfect pore-refining face mask and full-body massage is often only a short drive away. And thanks to the versatile All-New Volvo V60, that short drive is anything but stressful. Along with Volvo’s famous dedication to safety, the V60 is a smooth, Scandinavian ride with seats with lumbar support, along with interior design that creates a harmonious and relaxing environment.
With stress-melting treatments, these are the spas redefining relaxation for Canadians.
Thermea by Nordik Spa-Nature, Winnipeg
Found after a surprisingly short drive out of downtown Winnipeg, Thermea whisks you away from the city not with sheer distance, but with its atmosphere and amenities. As the name implies, this spa—one of many in the Nordik family—stresses the importance of the thermal cycle, a 2,000-year-old tradition adapted from Nordic countries that takes your body from hot to cold. In the end, you’ll feel more relaxed than you thought possible. Luckily, that’s where the resort’s hammocks come in.
Sacred Stone Spa, Tofino, B.C.
From Thai and Lomi Lomi massages to specialty scalp and back rubs, this Tofino hot spot offers seemingly every massage option available under the bright B.C. sun. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; clients can complement their massages with seaweed skin treatments, clay wraps, and a detoxifying stint in the infrared sauna that helps everything from circulation to chronic fatigue.
Miraj Hammam Spa at the Shangri-La, Toronto
Located in Toronto’s opulent Shangri-La hotel, the Miraj Hammam Spa puts old-world traditions into the modern lap of luxury. Experience the royal treatment in the marbled steam room, soothe and rejuvenate your skin with a Crushed Cabernet Scrub, and leave having experienced the intersection between French, Middle Eastern, and Toronto traditions.
Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara, Parksville, B.C.
This Parksville B.C. spa offers restorative pampering from head to toe, with its sprawling 20,000 square feet featuring everything from a hair salon and mani-pedis to full-body massages, all complemented by the facility’s signature detoxifying warm water mineral pool found in its eponymous grotto. Perhaps the only thing as relaxing as the spa itself is the magical drive through the forested coast of Vancouver Island.
Balnea Thermal Reserve, Bromont, Quebec
The scenery surrounding this Quebec spa is so spectacular that it’s almost easy to forget about the reserve’s indulgent list of treatments. You can float on the lake with a book or do yoga by the shore; you can steam in the sauna or cool off in a cold basin. Finish your day with a walk on their year-round trails and a relaxing, full-body massage, and you’ll be relaxed enough to watch the stress roll off of you.
Ste. Anne’s Spa, Grafton, Ontario
While Ste. Anne’s Spa features seven cottages across its massive 400 acres, there’s no luxury quite like its Main Inn. And it’s no wonder that guests leave feeling like royalty, since the Main Inn is a restored and renovated castle older than Canada itself, dating all the way back to the 1850s. But in spite of its old bones, this modernized Grafton, Ontario, haven features comprehensive spa packages and even its own line of skincare products.
Rainspa at the Place d’Armes Hotel, Montreal
Located in the heart of Montreal, Rainspa is luxury taken in at your own pace. You can drop in for a quick after-work massage or book a 90-minute weekend couples treatment with your significant other. No matter how long you’re there, be sure to go for the Hammam Experience. With roots dating back before the Ottoman Empire, these Moroccan baths detoxify and relax the body, improving circulation and easing tension in your muscles.
