In Tinseltown, one would expect an abundance of extravagant spas, and the city does not disappoint. Treat yourself to an experience of ultimate luxury and feel like a star for the day. The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown L.A. is a true red carpet experience. After being greeted with a glass of bubbly, relax into a Champagne soak, scrub, and massage. Then rejuvenate yourself in the eucalyptus steam room of this pristine white-and-metallic dream spa. Embrace classic Hollywood glamour at the Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie with a Pure Gold radiance facial and caviar body massage. Take your appointment in a private poolside cabana or in one of six treatment rooms. A rooftop retreat at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Spa is fit for the likes of Elizabeth Taylor (who spent six of her honeymoons here). Channel your inner celebrity with a precious-gem treatment—rich oils containing bits of ruby, emerald, sapphire, and diamond are said to draw upon the stones’ healing powers. For a visual stunner, enter the white-on-white world of Ciel Spa, then the Philippe Starck-designed oasis in the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Coastal retreats offer a new wave of pampering. Go for the candlelit couples’ treatment—a dip in side-by-side tubs followed by synchronized massages. Spend all day at the enormous oceanfront Spa at Terranea located at the posh Terranea Resort on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. With the sounds of the ocean waves crashing outside the treatment room, you can indulge in holistic treatments including a seaweed wrap and saltwater bath, topped off with an aromatherapy massage.