The Best Spas and Retreats for a Relaxing Bachelorette Weekend
If cupping is more your thing than clubbing, we’re sharing top spas across the country for an actually relaxing bachelorette weekend.
By Kylie Gilbert ·
Robert Rieger
Let’s face it: “Relaxing” and “bachelorette party” rarely go hand in hand. (Just watch the movie Bachelorette.) But in 2024, many brides are rewriting that script, as evidenced by the rise in wellness-focused bachelorette parties.
“Wedding planning can be overwhelming, and my bridal clients often come to me requesting a serene alternative for their bachelorette parties,” says Rabia Malik, a travel advisor at Fora. “These trips have evolved into rejuvenating girls’ getaways, from spa staycations to mindfulness retreats, giving brides the much-needed opportunity to unwind, strengthen bonds with their closest friends, and indulge in some self-care amid the hustle of wedding preparations.”
Of course, it doesn’t have to beall or nothing — if an alcohol-free retreat isn’t quite your speed, a spa day is also a great way to recharge after one too many cocktails. (And many of the properties below also happen to offer recovery services like IV drip therapy.)
If a serene weekend filled with hiking, yoga, and massages sounds more appealing than the typical booze-centric activities, we’re sharing top spas and retreats across the country for an actually relaxing bachelorette weekend.
Best for: The bride who’s seriously devoted to her skin-care regimen.
If you’re looking to infuse some R&R into your New York City weekend, head to THE WELL (centrally located near Union Square) for a private bachelorette party experience tailored to your group’s needs—whether that’s recovery from the night before or de-stressing from wedding planning. In addition to customized massage and facial treatments, THE WELL offers wellness services, including IV drips, cold plunge immersion therapy, meditation and mindful movement classes, and even vibrational energy healing.
Popular among brides prepping their skin for the big day, The Signature Facial ($355 for 60 minutes) uses tailored Biologique Rechere products and LYMA Laser technology to help boost collagen production and reduce inflammation. Once you’re done being pampered in the chic, minimalistic treatment rooms, grab lunch at the Kitchen + Table, the on-site organic wellness café. (For a countryside escape, consider THE WELL at Mayflower Inn in Connecticut, a two-hour drive from New York City.)
Best for: The outdoorsy bride who can’t sit still.
Located on Lake Austin, this all-inclusive resort and day spa is just a 30-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown. In addition to a wide range of massage treatments and custom Tata Harper facials available in the award-winning spa, you can also take advantage of aquatic treatments like an assisted stretching session or floating meditation in the warm indoor pool—or opt for water sports like kayaking and waterskiing. (If hiking the surrounding trails or lakefront yoga is more your speed, there are plenty of activities on land, too.) For a unique bachelorette experience, charter a private boat for a wine cruise to finish off your spa day, or if you’re staying on the property, try the Texas Starry Night ($330 for 70 minutes), a Swedish massage that incorporates anxiety and stress-relieving elements like a weighted blanket to help you get an incredible night’s sleep.
Best for: The bride who’s a wine and wellness aficionado.
To detox from a day of vineyard hopping, check out the spa at Solage, one of the best spa resorts in the wine country located in Napa’s northernmost town of Calistoga. The area is known for its hot springs and mineral-rich mud found only in Calistoga, which serve as the inspiration for some of the stand-out treatments at Spa Solage. The Bathhouse boasts five geothermal pools, including an icy cold plunge pool of 60-65 degrees, an ambient temperature magnesium-rich pool, and a jetted mineral pool heated to 102-104 degrees. The Solage Signature Mudslide ($200 for 75 minutes) includes a body treatment with mud customized with essential oils and finishes with a sensory experience in a state-of-the-art vibrating sound chair.
Best for: The bride who can’t live without her candle-lit evening SoulCycle class.
AIRE Ancient Baths, which melds ancient Roman, Greek and Ottoman thermal bath traditions, first opened in New York City and now has locations around the world, including in Chicago’s River West neighborhood. It’s great if you’re looking for an alternative to the traditional hotel spas in Chicago—AIRE is located inside a restored factory that features exposed brick, industrial beams and candles everywhere. (Who says you can’t have a bit of romance with your friends on your bachelorette?) Bounce between the seven different thermal baths at different temperatures, the indoor/outdoor bath, and the salt exfoliation area—or check out one of the unique body treatments, like The Signature Wine Experience ($650 for 180 min), which revolves around the antioxidant properties of Tempranillo grapes. It includes a head and scalp massage with a honey and propolis hydrating mask, a 30-minute private red wine soak, and a 60-minute full body massage with grapeseed oil.
Best for: The plant-based bride who lives for a structured itinerary.
For a wellness experience that goes beyond the typical spa day, head to the just-opened east-coast counterpart to the celeb-favorite destination in Malibu. The Ranch is a luxury health and fitness retreat set on a historic lakefront estate in the lower Hudson Valley, less than an hour from New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey. In addition to plant-based seasonal meals, your three-night stay (rates start at $3,275) includes a morning guided hike through the trails surrounding the property and afternoons filled with strength training, yoga or meditation classes—plus a daily 50-minute deep tissue restorative massage. (Don’t worry, there’s nap time on the schedule, too.) You can also sign up for chiropractic treatments, energy healing, a sound bath, and contrast hydrotherapy through a hot and cold plunge pool.
Best for: The artsy bride who loves essential oils and organic skin care.
Just an hour and a half drive from Los Angeles, you’ll find one of the best spas in the world in the small, artsy town of Ojai. Located inside a Spanish-style casita on the property of the Ojai Valley Inn, the spa is luxurious yet cozy, with fireplaces in the treatment rooms. To ease away aches and pains, try the Flower Seed CBD Scrub & Massage ($250 for 75 minutes), which starts with a CBD sugar scrub (blended with sustainably sourced hemp flower, sweet orange and cranberry seed) and is followed by a therapeutic massage using CBD oil infused with rose buds and lavender. With two pools, a fully-equipped gym and outdoor yoga studio, a spa cafe, and an artist cottage (where you can make candles, soap or pottery), you’ll have tons to do when your treatment is over. The views from this popular bachelorette destination are also pretty amazing. At night, catch Ojai’s magical “Pink Moment,” when the sun goes down and shines a pink glow on the Topatopa mountains.
Best for: The bride who loves meditation—and a margarita.
For brides looking to infuse some wellness into their Miami Beach bachelorette weekend, consider retreating to The Standard Spa on Belle Island, where tarot card readings are offered alongside martini happy hours. Described on their website as “part recovery center, part new-age ashram,” the Scandinavian-inspired spa is centered around a “hydrotherapy playground” featuring a Turkish-style hammam, aroma steam room, ice room, roman waterfall hot tub, arctic plunge, treatment baths and an infinity pool. The spa menu is anything but basic, featuring treatments like Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation ($275 for 90 mins) and a Sound Healing Massage ($359 for 120 minutes), a customized massage that incorporates the calming sounds and gentle vibrations of crystal bowls.
Best for: The bride who’s obsessed with her beauty sleep and infrared sauna blanket.
As the name suggests, The Lake House on Canandaigua is located on Canandaigua Lake, one of 11 freshwater lakes in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. (There are also three wine trails, making it a great bachelorette weekend destination.) At the Willowbrook Spa, you’ll find free-standing barrel saunas with lake views and a spa garden, inspired by the local ingredients found in the spa treatments (like yarrow, eucalyptus and lemongrass). Many of the treatments—like a detox massage that incorporates breath work and acupressure as well as an infrared body wrap—infuse both herbal and high-tech elements. For a truly zen experience, try the Deep Sleep massage ($320 for 80 minutes), a mind-body treatment that includes “slow rhythmic touch, coupled with a grounding scalp massage and paired with sleep-inducing tea and tincture.” It also incorporates an infrared amethyst biomat to help with stress and digestive issues and “balance the body’s energy centers.”
Best for: The bougie bride who’s always skiing or hiking out west.
If you happen to have no budget constraints for your bachelorette weekend, consider the luxury wellness hotel Amangiri, located in stunning red-rock country (close to both Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park). Even if you aren’t on a hike, mindfulness walk or doing butte-top yoga, you’ll be able to take advantage of awe-inspiring views from the Aman Spa’s treatment rooms and outdoor treatment terraces. Check out the water pavilion with steam room, sauna, plunge pool and heated step pool or the flotation pavilion with a private relaxation area. The extensive spa menu of massages and beauty treatments is centered around the themes of grounding, purifying and nourishing. Try the 60-minute personalized massage ($275) or for the full works, a three-hour ‘journey’ ($855) that includes a body polish and wrap, massage and facial.
Miraval also has locations in Austin and the Berkshires, but their flagship spa and wellness resort is located at the base of the Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona. It provides a real escape from reality—in fact, the resort is digital device–free, removing the pressure of capturing the perfect Instagram-worthy bachelorette content. For those who aren’t staying on property, the day spa package at Miraval includes full access to resort amenities, including three heated pools, a mind-body fitness center and the spa (with steam rooms, saunas and quiet lounges). The spa menu features desert botanicals like prickly pear, Arizona clay and purple sage. For glowing skin, try one of their most popular treatments, the Cara Vida facial ($235 for 50 minutes), which uses “cold-pressed, organic, vitamin-C-rich chia seeds [to] exfoliate skin and a mask of organic local Arizona honey.”
Best for: The low-key bride who’s happiest by the water.
Situated on the Georgia coast, Sea Island boasts pristine beaches that are the perfect backdrop for a relaxing bachelorette weekend. The Mediterranean-inspired Spa at Sea Island Resort (open only to hotel guests) is centered around the “restorative power of water”—evident from the giant waterfall in the atrium, mineral soaking tubs and treatments that incorporate aromatherapy-infused showers and tub soaks. Their signature treatment, the Sea Island Massage ($340 for 90 mins) starts with dry brushing and includes a rejuvenating scalp and foot treatment. Outside of the spa, there are a ton of activities available, from beach yoga to tennis to wildlife bike tours.
Best for: The glam bride who wants five-star pampering.
The Palm Springs Yacht Club is a massive spa and wellness facility located on the property of the five-star desert chic Parker Palm Springs hotel. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a thimble of cucumber-infused vodka along with your bathrobe to kick off your spa festivities. Choose from a wide range of personalized spa treatments, from facials to reflexology to a hot stone massage, or go for the Yachtsman’s Voyage ($600 for 2 hours 45 minutes), including a 60-minute massage, 60-minute facial, and 45-minute spa manicure for the full works. Once you’re done being pampered, head to Norma’s on the hotel property for a bite—the brightly colored open-air terrace restaurant is a great way to take in the serene mountain views.
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