Image of Thalasso Facilities Aquatonic pools (top) and image of Spa on the Rocks (left) Ayana Resort & Spa Bali, used with permit.

Looking for the world’s best spa? Look no further than the Thermes Marins Bali Spa in the Ayana Resort & Spa on Jimbaran Bay, Bali.

The Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2010 has awarded several key laurels to the Thermes Marins Bali Spa – not only the World’session #1 Spa, it’s also been crowned the Favourite Hotel Spa in Asia.

The Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards are based on an international survey of Conde Nast Traveller readers, and were awarded this year in a prestigious ceremony in London.

“It’s a great honor to win Conde Nast’s highest award in this prestigious survey of international travelers,” said Ayana’s Director of Spa and Business Development (Japan), Michi Sonoda. “This award recognizes our position as a world leader in both Thalassotherapy and traditional Indonesian remedies, and nothing gives us more pleasure than sharing the benefits of our wellbeing philosophy with our guests.”

The Thermes Marins Bali is a 22,000sqm facility that offers ancient Eastern healing and modern European treatments including Thalassotherapy, massage, facials, hair, nail oversight, anti-aging and slimming treatments.

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Bedroom of Resort Villa, Mandala Spa, Boracay. Image Mike Aquino, licensed to About.com

I spent the better section of last week getting acquainted with Mandala Spa and Villas, a spa resort in Boracay Island in the Philippines. (Cue envy from my friends and my wife, who lives for spa treatments.)

Being a relative spa newbie, I decided to grill Pia Mobo, the Mandala’session spa manager, for tips about the best spa treatments to pamper myself with. Pia, herself a mineral spring enthusiast, was happy to share the inside info.

(To read my review of the Mandala, go here: Review of Mandala Spa & Villas in Boracay, Philippines.)

Mandala Spa & Villas’ traditional foot bath. Photo by Raymond Saldana. Image Mandala Spa & Villas, used with permission.

Q: What do you recommend for first-time guests to the Mandala?

A: If our guest asks for recommendations, we usually recommend the Hilot Trilogy. If they want to stay longer, we recommend the Shodhana Karma and the Heritage Package.

But then if we see they’re sunburned, we say, they should try the body treatment we call the Cold Cucumber Aloe Wrap.

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